When the sea is not a dream destination, the Maldives is not a dream destination for me either... then why go? 555

The decision to travel to the Maldives was driven by the impending expiration of flyerbonus points at the end of the year. Among the available destinations, the Maldives emerged as the most appealing option due to its novelty and allure. A solo trip to India or Bangladesh was deemed less suitable at this time.

Initially, it seemed like there would be like-minded individuals to join the trip. However, in the end, it turned out to be just another solo adventure, just like all the others!

While a trip to the Maldives may seem daunting, it's actually quite straightforward to plan. The most challenging aspect is determining your travel goals and securing your desired accommodation. Finding the perfect destination and booking the ideal lodging can be time-consuming and require careful consideration.

Note: 98% of the photos in this trip were taken with a mobile phone.

Accommodation

Choosing the right accommodation is crucial for a memorable Maldivian experience. Individual preferences vary, so it's essential to identify your priorities. Our selection criteria included:

1. Proximity to the airport: We opted for an island within easy reach of the airport, considering our limited stay. However, we avoided Male's urban island.
2. Culinary Delights: We craved authentic Maldivian cuisine, particularly tuna dishes. The absence of alcohol was not an issue, as we are non-drinkers.
3. Amenities and Safety: We prioritized cleanliness, safety, engaging activities, and a beachfront coral reef.
4. Novelty: We sought a recently established resort with minimal online reviews.

Due to booking the flight for only 3 days (initially planned for 4 days, booked the outbound flight with friends, then got ditched, so delayed booking the return flight. After much deliberation, by the time we decided to book the return flight, it was too late. About a month before the trip, the award tickets for the desired date were sold out, so we had to change it to 3 days instead, which we didn't really want to go that much anyway, so we thought it was good enough for just 3 days). And since we would be doing outdoor activities all day anyway, we canceled the luxurious overwater accommodation and the Seaplane we had booked initially, and opted for a budget-friendly local island. In the end, we settled on the island of Guraidhoo, which is home to the Maldivian people, and the accommodation called Raakani Villa & Spa.

Although this accommodation has only been fully operational for a few months, there are few reviews. However, our intuition tells us that it should be okay.

The room was clean and well-maintained. The accommodation was conveniently located near the pier, just a short walk away. The beachfront offered access to a coral reef for snorkeling. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The food was delicious and the portions were generous. However, the drinks, particularly the fruit juices, were not very flavorful and tasted diluted. The desalinated water used in the accommodation had a slightly salty taste. Wi-Fi was available in both the rooms and common areas.

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On our last day, Uncle Ahmed and the young staff member walked us to the pier. They waited until our boat departed, waving goodbye. I was deeply touched. I have never had such a warm send-off before.

Travel

• Bangkok-Maldives-Bangkok: Bangkok Airways, 6,645 points redemption

I really enjoyed the service. The seats were spacious and comfortable, and the Business Class offered iPads for watching movies. However, the food was just average and not very tasty. If I have the chance to visit the Maldives again, I would definitely choose Bangkok Airways.

• Airport-Male: Ferry 1 USD

Travel time is approximately 10-15 minutes, not far

• Villingli ferry terminal-Guraidhoo: 2 USD

We took the ferry to Guraidhoo. The ferry to the island leaves twice a day. Initially, the accommodation informed us that it was at 2:00 PM. However, when we arrived, it turned out to be 3:00 PM. This wasted our time in Male, which was not pleasant. It was hot and dirty, and as a lone woman, I felt uncomfortable walking down some streets as I was stared at by men. The ferry takes over 2 hours to reach Guraidhoo, which is the last stop after Gulhi and Maafushi.

• Guraidhoo speed boat-Airport terminal: 20 USD

On the way back to the airport, we took a speedboat, which was convenient. It was a small boat that could accommodate about 20 people. There were some moments when it tilted close to the water, which was a bit scary, but the price was much higher than the ferry. However, it only took 35 minutes.

Activities

• Private Snorkeling Trip: 25 USD

This was an incredible experience. If we had been in a larger group, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to go out on such a small boat. It was so small that we couldn't believe it was seaworthy! There was one person driving the boat and the resort owner who went along to supervise and dive with us. At some of the dive spots, there were no other boats or people around. It felt like we had rented the entire ocean just to go snorkeling by ourselves. As the boat sailed, small fish would jump alongside, chasing after us. It was incredibly cute! The coral reefs were stunning, the water was crystal clear, and there were so many different kinds of fish. We saw fish in all sorts of colors, fish with horns, fish with heads that looked like Paddle Pops, fish with strange, fan-shaped tails, and many other underwater creatures that we didn't even know what to call. (Apologies for the lack of underwater photos. I don't really like taking photos underwater as I feel it takes away from the experience, and I didn't bring my underwater camera.)

I'm not usually a fan of the ocean or coral reefs, but I still enjoyed this place. Compared to other places I've been to in Thailand, such as the Surin Islands, Tachai, Phi Phi, and Similan, I prefer the Maldives. However, those trips were several years ago, so it's difficult to compare.

It's better to compare it to the Emerald Heart, Burma Sea trip, which I went on just a month before. Overall, the Maldives trip was like heaven compared to the hellish Emerald Heart trip.

• Snorkeling in front of the accommodation: Free

There are coral reefs and fish, but it's not as beautiful as going out to sea.

• Activities with new friends

My new friends were already planning to go scuba diving, so I joined them on two boat trips. The first trip was for snorkeling, where we saw a large turtle and beautiful underwater plants in vibrant colors. The current was strong, but luckily we could hold onto a rope to navigate. On the second trip, we took a boat ride to watch the sunset and the stars at night while waiting for the group that went on a night drive.

There are also many other activities that we didn't do, such as going on a party boat, scuba diving, surfing, fishing, etc.

Food

Some dishes will taste very similar to Thai food, such as this breakfast dish, Mashuni, which is tuna mixed with coconut, chili, and onions, served with Roshi flatbread. A fried egg is also included. The taste is similar to eating mackerel salad, but the texture is finer. We booked our accommodation with breakfast included.

Another dish we enjoyed was Garudhiya Baiy. Unfortunately, we ate it on the beach at night, so the photos didn't capture much. The main components were a clear soup similar to tom yum, tuna fish, grilled whole fish, stir-fried vegetables, and side dishes of shallots, lime, fresh chilies, dried chilies, fried shallots, and something resembling fried seaweed.

Typical one-dish meals, such as pasta or stir-fried noodles, are available. We even ordered stir-fried noodles with tuna, which was delicious.

The price of food, including juice, service charge, and tax, ranges from 175 to 650 baht.

Travel Companions

• Fortunately, I met some great new friends on this trip, from India and Germany. They were so much fun and kept me entertained the whole time. They even tried to convince me to go scuba diving, which made me feel a bit guilty as a Thai person who doesn't know how to scuba dive. I almost did it, but it was too close to my flight back.

• A beautiful native bird landed on us out of the blue. Uncle Ahmed told us it was a lovebird... a very auspicious name. It followed us around even though we didn't give it anything. It wouldn't go to other people who walked by. It flew wherever we turned, following us closely. We tried to shake it off, but it kept coming back. It took us a while to finally get it to leave, and it made us a little scared.

Safety Precautions

• Solo female travelers: Be aware that you may feel uncomfortable or unsafe walking alone on local islands or in Malé, as you will mostly encounter men. This is not just your perception; my German female friend also felt the same way. Therefore, it's advisable to dress modestly, remembering that the Maldives is a Muslim country. However, there are also kind people willing to help. For example, a friendly uncle offered me a free ride on his motorbike when he saw me lost and walking far from the pier.

• If you need to use cash, even though you can use dollars, you will get change in rupees. So, think carefully before spending money, as you may not get much change back. You may not be able to use it again.

• If you go alone, you may not have anyone to share the cost of things like accommodation and boat rentals. So, the cost will be higher than if you go with someone else. You need to be prepared for this.

Expenses

For this trip, the total cost (including flights, accommodation, food, and activities) was approximately 13,990 Thai baht (including 4 small bottles of water that I brought myself).

Summary

While some may believe that a true Maldivian experience requires staying in a luxurious water villa and arriving via seaplane, we found ourselves pleasantly surprised by our decision to cancel our initial reservation at a high-end resort. This alternative approach allowed us to experience the Maldives from a different perspective. Although some might argue that staying in a more modest accommodation resembles a typical Thai vacation, we firmly disagree. The experiences we had during this trip surpassed all our expectations. Our initial indifference towards the ocean transformed into a deep appreciation, leaving us eager to return. We wouldn't hesitate to embark on another solo adventure to the Maldives. Now, the only question that remains is when we will finally accumulate enough flyer bonus points.