6 questions to find your dream island in the Maldives

The first thing you should ask yourself is whether you prefer a small or a large island. There are small islands like in a picture book, which you can sail around within 5 minutes. Or there are also large islands where you can take long walks on the beach or cycle from your bungalow to the restaurant. The larger islands usually also offer more infrastructure such as various restaurants and a wide range of sports and wellness facilities. Both have their advantages and you have to decide for yourself which you prefer: spacious and cozy or rather small and familiar? You certainly have the island feeling and the barefoot atmosphere everywhere.

An important question that you should probably ask yourself before every vacation. What is your budget and how much luxury do you want or can you afford? There are simpler and fairly cheap islands to very luxurious islands with star cuisine and a personal butler. Do you just want to relax in a hammock on the beach or would you rather relax at the private swimming pool right in front of your bungalow? Do you think an underwater restaurant and good food are important or do you like simplicity and the Robinson Crusoe feeling?

Which activities are important to you during your holiday in the Maldives? Do you want to snorkel? Then definitely choose an island with a house reef. A reef more than 100 meters away is quite stressful because of the current. If you want to dive or take a diving course, make sure that the island has a good diving center. If other activities such as golf, tennis, fitness, wellness or beach volleyball are important to you, check the description of the resort to see whether these are actually offered. Excursions to local islands, snorkeling trips, fishing and kayaking are offered on most islands. If leisurely bathing, relaxing or water sports such as kayaking are more important to you, islands with a beautiful, calm lagoon are suitable.

Where would you like to sleep? Would you like to step out of your bungalow and feel the sand under your feet or would you rather jump straight into the sea from the terrace? I know this is a tough question and both have their charms. There are also different bungalow styles. From typical Maldivian wooden bungalows to bright, spacious villas with a modern design. Think carefully about what you like and where you want to spend your dream vacation.

This question is important because there are resorts that are adults only. So if you are traveling with children, it is important to consider whether the resort is child-friendly and has swimming pools and children’s entertainment. Moreover, water bungalows with small children can often not be booked for safety reasons. Family bungalows (for more than 3 people) are also not available in all resorts.

This question again depends on your budget. A boat transfer is of course much cheaper. But flying in a seaplane in the Maldives is also a unique experience. Not all islands can be reached by seaplane. Depending on how far the island is from Malé, you can travel by speedboat, seaplane or scheduled flight. So if you have always dreamed of flying a seaplane over the islands of the Maldives, make sure seaplane transfers are available.