You know you’re in the Maldives when the flight crew on your inter-island seaplane (two pilots and a flight attendant) are barefoot and in Bermuda shorts.
It’s a uniform that’s wholly appropriate for the mood among passengers and also in keeping with the way of life in this Indian Ocean archipelago, a tropical island paradise.
Since it was first introduced in 1972, tourism in the Maldives has developed to an extent where there are now over 80 resorts operating in the country, with another 35 or so opening over the next few years — not bad for a bunch of small islands (1,190 to be exact) strewn across the ocean like a string of pearls.
Only 200 of these low-lying islands are inhabited, with half the total population of 300,000 packed into the capital of Male — the only island with buildings taller than a coconut tree. The Maldives is made up of 25 atolls — a single one is defined as a group of islands surrounded by a common reef formation — spread over 868 km.
This is the only place in the world with a one-resort-per-island concept, so that while hotel architecture and facilities may differ among individual resorts, there is a universal sense of privacy and exclusivity. This feeling is confirmed when guests are presented with the bill at the end of their stay.
Exclusivity doesn’t come cheap in the Maldives, especially in the five-star category. While a significant number of resorts still cater to the budget-conscious, it’s the five-stars (and higher) that are making waves among travelers in search of the ultimate beach holiday.
An ‘entry level’ beach bungalow with pool at the Four Seasons’ Landaa Giraavaru resort at peak season is priced at $1033 per night, while a Water Villa with pool at the same property will put a dent in your wallet to the tune of $1,560.
Most visitors to the Maldives come from Europe, especially the U.K., Italy, Germany, France and Russia. Asia, primarily Japan and Korea, is a distant second.
Those that come, however, are instant converts.
The turquoise lagoons and deep blue waters of the Maldives are among the most beautiful in the world. A seaplane flight over the islands is one of the best ways to put the things in perspective.
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