Resort Selection

Which are the parameters to be considered to select the ideal resort?
At first sight all islands in the Maldives seem to be similar: all have white sand, all have transparent and warm water, all have a dive for unforgettable diving.
But if you start looking in details at each single resort features, you realize the numerous differences and the difficulty in choosing an island that perfectly matches your requirements.
There are round islands with a beautiful reef; there are big islands without the classical Maldivian charm but with a more brilliant staff, there are islands where the restaurant floor is covered by sand or islands with tiles also on the paths; there are islands for children and so on.
Some of the most important parameters are:

1. Price: Plays a very important role and depends on many factors:
1. Period:
   A resort can have different prices according to the different periods. The New-Eve’s week, the first two weeks of August and the period between the beginning of January till the end of March are considered the most expensive
2. Offers:
   During the year many tour operators have special offers, last minutes, children free or discounts on their catalogue prices, eg. Advance booking. In this way it is possible to find good occasions, but not always a low price satisfies the customers expectations.
3. Resort Quality:
   It is very rare that an exclusive or luxury structure has special offers. Therefore some resorts never have discounts.
2. Island Size:
   Each island has a different size and shape; there are long and thin islands, round islands, big and small islands. For example, Kuramathi is 2500m long, while Dhoni Mighili is only 100m long. The number of rooms of the restaurant & bars, and of the tourists depend often on the island size.
3. Structure Type:
   This defines the level of the resort, of the services and consequently the cost. There are islands without air-conditioning, others with 300sqm comfort villas or others with SPAs under the sea level. In the last period due to high request of comfort and luxury, new extra-luxury resorts have been created; old ones have been restructured, changing a little the classical idea of a vacation in the Maldives. Luckily, many resorts still offer different types of services, depending on different needs and different economic possibilities and can be still afforded by the majority of the tourists.
4. Room Quantity:
   The room number depends on the island size. The bigger the island is the higher is the number of the rooms. Sometimes, also small islands have a high number of rooms. Some resorts have built two-floor bungalows; others have built water-villas which do no increase the number of rooms on the island, but the number of people in the common areas. But even if you are on a “crowded” island, privacy and peacefulness are usually granted.
5. Reef:
   The reef is another important factor. In some resorts where you cannot access the reef from the shore, you have wide lagoons. Other islands, on the contrary, are surrounded by the reef and you can snorkel independently. In this kind of islands the distance from the reef or its size affects the lagoon size.

6. Staff:
   Usually in the Maldives the staff is not so persistent, but there are some exceptions. The majority of the resorts have a discrete animation staff and some of them do not have it at all. If you look for fun, you should consider this parameter.
7. Children:
   Children are accepted almost everywhere. There is however some extra-luxury resorts that does not accept children below 12. There are island with baby-sitting services, mini clubs, islands with discounts for children in certain periods or islands with the ideal conditions for a vacation with your children. The doctor presence on the island and the distance from the airport can be also important parameters.
8. Distance from Male’:
   In an island far from the capital, you will find for sure uncontaminated places. In a resort near Male’ and near the airport, you will not be completely relaxed due to the presence of seaplanes, planes and boats. However this could be an advantage for people with children who prefer to stay near the capital for a shorter transfer and for the near hospital. The resorts that can be reached only by seaplane are obviously more expensive.
9. Sport:
   All resorts offer sport activities, but sometimes they are not free of charge. Some are performed on the island, others in the sea. There are resorts with golf and tennis fields or gym, others where it is possible to practice water-ski and parachute, others are perfect for surfing. However sport is not one of the most important factors in an island selection.
10. Diving:
    All resorts in the Maldives have a diving and you can select a particular island according to its special diving, to the geographical location of the island in the atoll and to your direct or indirect contacts with the diving staff.