A Dream Trip: The Maldives

I remember Christmas morning of 2000 like it was yesterday. It was special because my cousin and I knew we were both getting computers. Not just a computer that everyone in the family could use, but our very OWN! I already had a desk set up and ready for it in my bedroom, and had my AOL messenger account ready to go. The excitement was building and I could not wait. When Christmas morning finally came, we got my computer set up and I stayed on it all day. The first thing I did was look up an awesome screen saver (DUH!), and I remember typing in “perfect beach” and a gorgeous picture of clear water, palm trees and white sand popping up. I thought “WOW, this really is the perfect beach!”, then searching for where the picture was taken. I found out it was taken in this place called the Maldives. I immediately set it as my screen saver and every time I used my computer (which was A LOT) I dreamed that I would one day go to this exotic, perfect place called the Maldives.

Over the years, I’ve looked it up for a graduation destination, honeymoon destination, and other occasions, but it always seemed out of reach. A crazy long flight from the States, VERY expensive lodging prices and just not enough vacation days to spend there, kept me from booking the trip every time. However, the perfect time came along when we found out that we would be living in SE Asia (the closest we will ever be to my dream destination) and the Maldives immediately went to the top of our “must see” list. It was also the perfect place for us to spend our five year wedding anniversary.

Lucky for us, AirAsia offers direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to the capital city of Malé in the Maldives for around $200/person round trip. Literally the same price as it is to go from Colorado to Texas back in the States. The flight times were a little strange, but I was not complaining on only four short hours to heaven on earth. The day finally arrived and we set out on the ultimate anniversary trip. We got in to Malé very late at night, and had to stay overnight at a local hotel close to the airport. The next morning we caught the first flight out on Maldivian Airways to fly 45 minutes south to an airport called Kadhdhoo. The flight was amazing! We flew over all kinds of islands and atolls, and they were stunning from above. Once we arrived at the airport, it was another 25 minute boat ride to the resort.

We chose to stay at Six Senses Laamu, we had heard amazing things about it and it was the only resort in the Laamu Atoll, so it is completely isolated and private. All I can say about it is PERFECTION. We were lucky and got to book our stay using points (woo hoo!), so the overwater bungalow that I had dreamed about all those years, was actually attainable and we could spend money that we weren’t having to spend on the room towards other things. Our jaws literally dropped when we pulled up to the hotel jetty by boat. It was UNREAL! I’ve never seen anything like it, and just like straight out of a screen saver. The water was the clearest, most turquoise color I’ve ever seen, almost as if it were illuminated from below, and the sand was sugary white. The resort was all wooden, all on stilts over the water, surrounding the gorgeous island.

We were greeted by all of the management staff and introduced to our GEM (guest experience maker) who would help us with anything we wanted or needed during our stay. Our GEM, Ash, took us around the property, showing us all of the facilities and explaining everything. Then, he took us to our overwater bungalow, complete with our own bicycles to get us around the island. Finally, we got to see this dream of ours in person…and all expectations I had were blown away. It was BEYOND my dream, beyond my expectations, it was absolutely perfect.

Everything was done so beautifully, with an indoor/outdoor rustic feel that made you fully embrace the beautiful surroundings. We had an awesome sundeck where there were padded lounge chairs, hammocks over the water, an eating area with a clear table so you could see the fish swimming by, and a ladder for us to get up after jumping in the ocean. There was even an upstairs deck to take in the best views of the island!

Inside, a huge king bed with silky bedding and a pillow menu (yes, please!) was waiting for us, along with a bottle of champagne. The outdoor bathroom had a huge shower over the ocean, with multiple shower heads and a ladder for you to go in the water if you wanted, a completely clear bathtub that looked down over the fish, even the water closet had a clear floor for you to watch fish while you relieved yourself! It was totally over the top, and insanely amazing. I still get excited just thinking about it, just look at that bedroom view!

The first thing we did was pop the champagne and jump in that water!

We couldn’t believe we were finally in the Maldives, and not only were we there, BUT it was better than we imagined. I absolutely love when reality beats your dream and expectations, because it rarely happens. You hype a place up for so long, yet most of the time, something is just a little off, keeping it from being all that you imagined. Here, I can honestly say, nothing was off. The weather was perfect, the resort was amazing: the service, the food, ambiance, room, everything, and the destination was perfect. A place that is so remote, you are hours away from the nearest CONTINENT. In the middle of the Indian Ocean, on a tiny piece of land, disconnected from everything. It was truly a dream come true. A very unique and special place.

Breakfast and dinner were included in our daily rate at the resort, and with an amazing breakfast buffet and four restaurants on the island, the options were plentiful. We had breakfast every morning out over the water, where we watched eagle rays, colorful fish and reef sharks swim by.

On our actual anniversary date, October 13th, we decided to not get each other fancy gifts or do some big fancy candlelit dinner on the beach, but do something the resort offered called “Robinson Crusoe for a day”. This is a special day package where a private boat takes you to a private, remote island in the middle of the atoll, sets you up with lounge chairs, towels, lunch and wine, and leaves you there for five hours. An island to ourselves with no one else around?! No Europeans in speedos, no crying children, no tacky tourists, etc, etc…this was too good to pass up! Complete isolation, serenity and peace is just we wanted, so this was what we would get each other for our anniversary.

We were boated from the resort about thirty minutes, by the nicest boat crew, to the island they call “picnic island”. When we arrived it was truly spectacular. Once again, our expectations were blown away and we could not have imagined a more perfect place. A small, sandy island surrounded by nothing but calm, turquoise, perfect water. A little hut with a table and chairs, a couple lounge chairs and a small little outhouse were all that was on the island. When our boat crew pulled away, and were out of sight, all we could see was ocean. No people, no boats, just US.

We spent the day walking around the tiny island, swimming in the water, having amazing conversation, snorkeling out in the reef and eating a delicious lunch with a bottle of rosé. It was the MOST perfect day, and I cannot put into words how much we enjoyed it. Best present I know either of us have ever given each other.

As we pulled away from the island, this little place that now meant so much to us, we decided to rename it from “picnic island” to “two moon island” (I will let you think about why…).

While on the way back, our boat crew asked us if we would like to snorkel at a reef that was on the way to the resort. Of course, we said “absolutely”! We are so glad we did because we were incredibly lucky to see 3 Hawksbill sea turtles swimming around the corals. Hawksbills are on the critically endangered species list, so to see that many in such a short period was pretty incredible.

After arriving back at the resort and thinking the day could not get any better, we were surprised by a “Happy Anniversary” cake and decorations on the bed. We also had a voucher for a one-hour couples massage at the resort spa, all complimentary with our stay! We also found out that the resort was hosting free cocktails and appetizers for the sunset on the beach, and traditional Maldivian dancing. It was a great way to end the most incredible day, and we watched a gorgeous sunsets that evening.

The rest of our stay at the resort consisted of lounging on the pristine beach, swimming in the pool and the gorgeous ocean, and enjoying the perfect weather. Honestly, our favorite thing to do was hang out on the sundeck of our bungalow and snorkel around. We even spotted a massive sting ray right next to our bungalow! So awesome!

One morning we even got up early to watch the sunrise over the ocean out on our sundeck. Such an incredible sight!

Another day spent on the beach, another day in heaven…

Each evening, the sunsets seemed to keep getting better and better, and the colors were some of the most vivid I have ever seen in my life! The Maldives were definitely showing off for us! Not to mention, after the sunset, all the stars seemed to surround us, they could be seen so well. The Milky Way was on full display and could also be seen from the comfort of our private sundeck.

On our last night, we did a lobster BBQ dinner on the beach. Complete with all lobster appetizers, a lobster salad and a whole lobster for the main course. It was so delicious, and we sat enjoying it with our toes in the sand on the beach, under the stars.

I could go on and on about the amazing time we had in the Maldives, and the Six Senses Laamu Resort. It was THAT good, and that special. It truly was a dream destination for us, me especially. When we pulled away from the resort jetty after calling it home for 5 days, I started to get tears in my eyes. In my head, my dream, this special, special place was going away, it was over. I did NOT want it to end! However, I was quickly reminded by my husband and one of the many reasons that I love him (he makes me laugh when I need to most), who said to me “You know you just had the trip of a lifetime when your wife starts to cry as you leave.” I burst into laughter and that is when I realized that our memories and moments created on this trip would be with me for a lifetime, not left in the Maldives, but coming home with us, and that is what dream trips are all about.

Happy Travels,

Courtney