The Maldives is the ultimate dream holiday destination, one of those magical, impossibly photogenic places that just jumps off the page of every travel brochure. Many of the team at Caribtours have been lucky enough to experience the islands first hand, so we asked them to share their experiences, travel tips and insider knowledge…

Karen, Travel Adviser
“For me, the Maldives is a cut above anywhere else in the Indian Ocean, in all aspects. The cuisine, the staff, the quality of accommodation, and the HUGE beaches which you have to yourself… I couldn’t fault a thing. One thing I loved was feeding the stingrays at Hufaven Fushi. I know it sounds like a normal kind of thing to do out there, but you get really involved and it’s a lovely thing to do. Snorkelling straight from your villa is amazing too. As a keen diver, I have had the pleasure of experiencing dive sites all over the world, but I can honestly say the Maldives was the best. Even on a rainy day the water is so clear, and the fish are just spectacular.”

Ellen, Marketing
“The Maldives is picture perfect. White sand, blue sea and palm trees… just stunning. One thing I would recommend is that you pack your shorts and flip flops in your hand luggage, or within easy reach, especially if you’re getting a boat transfer. The heat will hit you as soon as you arrive! And on the subject of the heat, make sure you’re sensible and keep out of the midday sun; being so close to the equator, you can burn really quickly if you’re not careful.”

Fiona, Travel Adviser
“I suffer a little from being claustrophobic, so I was not too enthralled with the idea of snorkelling, but I so wanted to do this. As I tentatively went into the water with my snorkel gear, I could feel the anxiety beginning to surface and I started to breathe deeply to calm myself down. As I became immersed in the underwater world that is the Maldives, I forgot all about my worries. I saw so much sea life, turtles, eels, every colour fish you could imagine, and I must have been in the water for hours, the sun had started to set when I finally surfaced!”

Rosemary, Operations
“I spent my honeymoon in the Maldives, and it was a thousand times better than my expectations. It’s a remote island paradise where you can really recharge your batteries, and once you’re there, you can’t stop smiling, you just can’t believe how pristine the water and the beaches are. The amazing sealife, the seafood barbecues and the outdoor showers… everything about it makes you feel totally relaxed.”

Sally, Reservations Manager
“The Maldives is totally exclusive, more so than any other destination in my opinion, and you really do benefit from unrivalled privacy in your resort. I particularly loved Four Seasons Resort Landaa Giraavaru, the level of service is unbelievable and, like so many of the Maldivian islands, the beach is truly amazing.”