Guilt-free relaxation is one of the best reasons to reward yourself with a trip to the Maldives… not to mention the wonderfully friendly people, gorgeous beach hotels and out-of-this-world diving.

The experience is magical, from the moment you first see the hundreds of tiny atolls from the air: green dots surrounded by rings of pristine white sand, in turn surrounded by reef and the ever-changing blues of the ocean.

There’s a perception that the Maldives can be boring – no temples to explore, no markets to haggle in. This perception melts away the moment that you’re greeted by the huge Maldivian smile. As soon as you’re whisked away by speedboat or floatplane to begin an utterly spoiling and peaceful holiday, stop thinking about the outside world and indulge in relaxation and spectacular ocean views.

Beach Hotels and Resorts

Choose a resort with care. There’s only one resort per island, so if you don’t like it, you won’t be able to just check into another one. Asking specific questions will help avoid disappointment: ascertain the size of the island, whether it is favoured by a particular nationality and how far the house reef is from the beach.

Soneva Fushi Resort: this resort on Kunfunadhoo is one of the Maldives’ most upmarket beach hotels. Settle into a luxurious beachfront suite, and prepare for a tough regimen of snorkelling, dining and relaxation. The food is a wonder of the reef – tuna steaks that seem to have leapt straight from sea to plate.

Coco Palm Resort: the 100-room resort on Dunikolu Island is a very new and stylish seraglio. Villas overlook the property’s azure lagoon – so close you can drop straight into the water from its deck then climb back up into a splash pool. Later, take a stroll along the beach to the pier for a sunset fishing cruise where, if nothing else, you’ll be sure to catch an exceptionally good view.

The Beach House at Manafaru: the Beach House stands out as one of the Maldives’ best beach hotels. Situated in the unspoiled northern Maldives, 35-acre Manafaru’s lush, jungle-filled interior is a haven for wildlife, so if you get bored snorkelling in the coral reef lagoons or sunbathing on the powder-white beaches, you can go on adventurous expeditions into the wild.

When to Go

The year is divided into two monsoon periods, the northeast monsoon from December to March – the drier months – and the southwest monsoon from May to November – wetter months with stronger winds and more storms. The transitional periods – mid-April and late November – are calm with exceptionally clear water.

Having said all that, there is remarkably little difference in the average maximum temperature, which hovers about 30 degrees all year round with sea temperatures also constant at about 27 degrees. Continual sea breezes stop the heat from ever becoming stifling.