This is a stunning resort, in an expensive locatio...

This is a stunning resort, in an expensive location.

The staff are charming and helpful, but the weather outside of peak season can be very changeable.

The nature spotting opportunities are great but don't expect to do ANY activity for free even if It's "included" or part of your full or half board. There is a tourist tax to pay here and it's high at about 12%.

The food and drinks are incredible, even the "bog standard" buffet. i.e. Not the restauraunts where you can eat as part of your food deal.

Make friends with "the egg man" and all the chefs who man live cooking stations at the buffet early.

Make an effort to ask where staff are from and speak to them in their language or about their culture.

English appears to be the most widely spoken language it seems, even over local dialects, and staff often use it to communicate with each other over "Maldivian" dialects.

Bring U.S. dollars if you want to tip, but some local currency too especially for excursions to the main land.

Tipping is not expected, however it's good manners to offer money especially to lower paid or physically hard jobs. The staff here are often packed in like Sardines and most share rooms and work 13 hour shifts! So remember this if someone doesn't understand or doesn't smile.

The rooms are spacious and well thought out, but do ask for housekeeping to pay extra attention to your floors and toilet! Standards of cleanliness vary and on arrive our bathroom stank for days before I recovered enough from jet lag to make a point of it.

You will be hot, and humid, but The air con. and fans do work...although noisy.

Don't go outside after they "fog" the island to rid it of mosquitoes or for an hour or so after if you can help it...It stinks! In more ways than one ;-)

Do bring mosquito tablets and ask for more adapters for your electrical sockets and soap for each sink!

Also invest in asking for a couple of spare towels or bath mats or floor mats, the shower will leak and your feet will be wet often and the floor is super slippy when wet!!

Do bring your own snorkel, flippers and mask. Do go snorkling, Do expect to see many of the cast of blockbuster movies such as " A sharks Tale" "Finding Nemo" and "Finding Dory" or at least fish that look the spitting image of them.

DO PICK UP A COUPLE OF FREE LIFE JACKETS AND WEAR THEM OR STRAP THEM TO YOU IN THE SEA UNTIL YOU CAN SWIM WELL USING YOUR NEW SNORKEL FLIPPERS E.T.C. AND KNOW THE TIDES AND CURRENTS OF YOUR PRIVATE BEACH!

Choose an island Villa over a water Villa and get your own private bit of beach. And 3 showers and a bathtub.
Make sure your Villa is away from the Diesel fumes coming from the generator of the team village, and away from any planned construction work!

Go to the spa! It's worth it! Because....You're worth it!

Bring factor 100 waterproof sunscreen! UVA and UVB rated.

Have fun guys! Lots of love
Bryony.