The Maldives is in the Indian Ocean and there are several different routes to get there. We chose Emirates from Newark to Dubai to Male. We flew Business Class and the 13 hour flight from Newark was great. It is a four hour flight from Dubai to Male, and then we took a floatplane to Lily Beach resort and transferred by a yacht over to the dock at the resort. It is the most beautiful place I have seen in my lifetime. It is exotic, enchanting, mysterious and offers culture, adventure and you will leave there with an experience unlike anything you will find in the World. It is untouched beauty. Unforgettable experience.
We stayed three nights at Lily Beach Resort they are a full all-inclusive resort started in 2009. Leave your shoes and heels at home, the sand floor lobby and many dining areas are sand, everyone wears flip flops or barefoot. Very laid back, no fancy clothes, guys leave your shirts untucked; ladies forget the makeup and curlers it is care free atmosphere. Absolutely everything is shipped in – everything. A beer would be $15 and cheapest wine $58 a bottle. So all-inclusive is the way to go. You can walk or take a golf cart around the resort. It is hard to put into words, but the personal attention to detail, and service is impeccable. This is not a Caribbean All Inclusive experience, this is quiet, remote, quaint, exotic mysterious experience. Lily Beach would be great for singles, families, couples and anyone who wants a relaxed, exotic atmosphere. It is an unforgettable, life lasting memory kind of a trip.
After three nights at Lily we took a boat, then a float plane to a smaller airport then took two flights on Trans Maldivian Air up to the Hideaway Resort which is Lily Beach’s sister property. I suggest though only one resort for 7+ days. After our final flight to the northern island we were greeted and whisked away on a yacht owned by the resorts owners, then greeted at the pier with the staff waving American flags. The Hideaway is truly a Hideaway, this is more spread out and you would never know anyone is staying here. It is a resort for those you want away from it all to unwind and take in the beauty of being in middle of nowhere. We were in an overwater ocean view villa that was 2450 Sq. feet. It is a long way from the dining/lobby so a “buggy” would pick you up and take you where you want to be or they offer bicycles.
I liked the personal attention and service at the Lily better than the Hideaway, but I like the get away from it all and lay out of the Hideaway better. The Lily would be for those who want to be pampered more and like a more resort nightlife setting. The Hideaway is more for the leave me alone, I like to relax and unwind.
The flight is certainly worth the experience, flying through Dubai was a breeze. The view of the islands from the air was spectacular, you get a sense of excitement and wow before you even step foot on the islands. I am happy I saw Tahiti and Hawaii prior to the Maldives, there just isn’t any comparison. Tahiti and Hawaii have mountains and their own cultures just the Maldives are exotic and the Indian Ocean is peaceful not rough and offers sunsets and sunrises like nothing in the world. Swimming in the Indian Ocean was unforgettable. The absolute smoothest white sand, this trip was like a dream.
