Maldives...

[Bes]

£650 for The Maldives? Just LOL.

We got our flights and accommodation for free (on points) and still spent £1400 between us.

Also Maldives is overrated. Go somewhere with some proper culture like the East cost of Africa, South America (i.e. Fernando do Noronha in Brazil), Caribbean or the Far East (Not Phi Phi as it's way over-touristed) if you want an idyllic beach setting AND some actual culture. Most of those will also be out of budget though. For £650PP, I suggest a Greek island.

 

[Pc-Gamer12]

Thanks guys, were going to go somewhere like marsa alam in Egypt, our budget has raised to £850pp

 

[Bear]

£650 for The Maldives? Just LOL.

We got our flights and accommodation for free (on points) and still spent £1400 between us.

Also Maldives is overrated. Go somewhere with some proper culture like the East cost of Africa, South America (i.e. Fernando do Noronha in Brazil), Caribbean or the Far East (Not Phi Phi as it's way over-touristed) if you want an idyllic beach setting AND some actual culture. Most of those will also be out of budget though. For £650PP, I suggest a Greek island.

The Maldives is not overrated at all and only an idiot would go there for the culture as expecting a cultural experience from a minute island with nothing there in the middle of an ocean is plain moronic.

 

[Devrij]

This is where my mum went last month. I was jealous to say the least.

Their cabin was on stilts so they could watch little sharks swim under it or go to dinner on a gazebo out on the reef with nothing but blue sea all around. It's way out of my budget though!

 

[Bes]

The Maldives is not overrated at all and only an idiot would go there for the culture as expecting a cultural experience from a minute island with nothing there in the middle of an ocean is plain moronic.

My point is that you might as well go somewhere with some culture as well as somewhere with nice scenery, beaches, etc but only an idiot would infer that from my post

And IMO it is overrated and is overpriced compared to other parts of the world.

 

[big_white_dog84]

I went to reethi beach for my honeymoon in 2010. Just under £5k for 10 night all inclusive in a water bungalow on stilts in the water. Paid a further $300 on activities, tips etc. got trapped for a further week by the volcano at Bandos. It was rubbish.

Reethi beach was absolutely amazing. I am the tightest person you will ever meet and I still think it was by far the best £5k I have ever spent. I would go again tomorrow, but I have a child on the way, so it might be some time before I get to go again

 

[Tunney]

The Maldives is not overrated at all and only an idiot would go there for the culture as expecting a cultural experience from a minute island with nothing there in the middle of an ocean is plain moronic.

There's plenty of tropical islands with amazing culture. Caribbean, Polynesia, SE Asia...

 

[Azza]

There's plenty of tropical islands with amazing culture. Caribbean, Polynesia, SE Asia...

He isn't saying there such places don't exist... he's saying you wouldn't go there thinking you were in for a cultural experience.

 

[Flukester]

My point is that you might as well go somewhere with some culture as well as somewhere with nice scenery, beaches, etc but only an idiot would infer that from my post

And IMO it is overrated and is overpriced compared to other parts of the world.

You goto the Maldives to escape culture, escape everything that you do in every day life. Sure, it's a kind of fake paradise, but who would holiday on deserted island with no amenities. It's called a holiday, and one thing for sure, you come back the most relaxed person on the planet....

It's expensive as the job of running resorts on individual coral surrounded islands must be massive... There also very few places that offer similar for less money without sacrificing things that I love about the place, one which is high on the list is safety. Nothing ruins a holiday more than worrying about being out after dark if you are going to catch a bullet or be kidnapped / mugged (anyone fancy a walk around after dark in Mexico for example ?). Walk around in the Maldives after dark and all you will hear is the waves gently lapping on the beach, and maybe the odd cry of a fruit bat

It can only be overrated in your opinion if you have personally experienced it, other wise you are just guessing.... There will always be people who can't stand this kind of holiday and prefer the culture and busyness of experiencing another country, but for many the perfect escape is the Maldives.

 

[Bear]

My point is that you might as well go somewhere with some culture as well as somewhere with nice scenery, beaches, etc but only an idiot would infer that from my post

And IMO it is overrated and is overpriced compared to other parts of the world.

It's hardly surprising its expensive as the islands are so small there isn't any room to grow your own food so everything is imported out to the middle of no where, you have to build a resort where there are no materials and have to power the island. So no it isn't over priced at all.

No you were being a moron, if someone wanted culture they would go somewhere with culture, not to an island where no one even lives there and there is nothing to do there. The fact that millions go there every year means they don't go there for what you wanted but what they wanted.

If you had just said you didn't enjoy it as you prefer more cultural places and thought it expensive then no arguement.

 

[Dr House]

Where else is similar to the maldives with the huts in the water ?

Much cheaper and also very nice
http://www.pangkorlautresort.com

 

[Bobcat]

I tend to choose different holidays depends on how the working year has been, if its been a ruff year with lots of stress (as it usually is), then i feel a few weeks on a island with little else to do but read books and literally cut myself off from the world to unwind is in order, which works for me, but may not work for others

If someone usually likes lots of culture and an active holiday, they would be silly to choose a 'cut off from the world' holiday on a small island, its all about choosing a holiday destination that is right for you.

 

[NotAGolf]

Much cheaper and also very nice
http://www.pangkorlautresort.com

Pretty sure it's not that much cheaper. I looked at that resort after I saw it mentioned on this forum by someone (was probably you!). Comparing to the Maldives, the actual place itself looks (as in accommodation and services etc) nicer, but the surroundings aren't quite as idyllic. There's something very special about being about to walk around the entire island in a few minutes.

 

[Dr House]

Pretty sure it's not that much cheaper. I looked at that resort after I saw it mentioned on this forum by someone (was probably you!). Comparing to the Maldives, the actual place itself looks (as in accommodation and services etc) nicer, but the surroundings aren't quite as idyllic. There's something very special about being about to walk around the entire island in a few minutes.

Its not cheap but you can get quite good discounts form time to time.

As others have said I could do it for 3 days max which is why I like the place I posted so you can fly into Thailand or other parts of SE Asia after you are done with the relaxing part of the holiday and actually see something interesting.

 

[Bes]

It's hardly surprising its expensive as the islands are so small there isn't any room to grow your own food so everything is imported out to the middle of no where, you have to build a resort where there are no materials and have to power the island. So no it isn't over priced at all.

No you were being a moron, if someone wanted culture they would go somewhere with culture, not to an island where no one even lives there and there is nothing to do there. The fact that millions go there every year means they don't go there for what you wanted but what they wanted.

If you had just said you didn't enjoy it as you prefer more cultural places and thought it expensive then no arguement.

Woah there is a lot of passive aggressiveness and petulant childish comments on this forum.... Exactly why I do not post or read much any more. Calling someone a moron for expressing an opinion or an idea is just pathetic and reflective of the social ineptitude of the individual.

You know exactly what I meant in my original post - why not take the opportunity to go somewhere with some culture too. It was my opinion. Note the use of the word IF in my original post... It was a suggestion. The OP does not sound very well travelled (given he was looking at the Maldives on that budget) so I was giving him suggestions for a slightly different holiday experience.

 

[Bobcat]

IMO you said "but only an idiot would infer that from my post", but when Bear says "No you were being a moron" its somehow now classed as an insult..... If you cant take it, don't dish it out would be my suggestion.

 

[Bear]

Woah there is a lot of passive aggressiveness and petulant childish comments on this forum.... Exactly why I do not post or read much any more. Calling someone a moron for expressing an opinion or an idea is just pathetic and reflective of the social ineptitude of the individual.

You know exactly what I meant in my original post - why not take the opportunity to go somewhere with some culture too. It was my opinion. Note the use of the word IF in my original post... It was a suggestion. The OP does not sound very well travelled (given he was looking at the Maldives on that budget) so I was giving him suggestions for a slightly different holiday experience.

There is no childishness, as I said already if your opinion was that you don't like it because it is expensive and that you prefer more cultural places then that's fair enough. No one could argue with that as that's your preference.

Not understanding why such a place would be expensive and to say its over priced is ridiculous. To say it once again, why suggest somewhere with culture when someone is saying they were interested in the Maldives. When someone says they want to go to the USA or Australia, do you suggest they go somewhere with more culture?

Actually next time someone asks about a holiday in Australia I might suggest a holiday in Australia is over priced and they should go to somewhere with more culture.

 

[Fuzz]

For those that are saying that you could only stand going to the Maldives for three days.
I can't see anyone in their right mind going that far away for just three days. It's a ten hour flight!!


LOLCulture

 

[Guest2]

One of my mates is there with his wife at the moment.

Yesterday he put a comment on facebook - "This time tomorrow"

Another friend replied "anal?"

The next person to reply was friend in Maldives father in law - "Have fun!"



Personally I would love to go - But then I love swimming, snorkeling, drinking and eating

 

[Glaucus]

It looks amazing, but is there much to do, I assume scuba is big. But is it just mainly lying on a beach and eating out.