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Determine
what your budget is - this will immediately narrow your list of
potential resorts.
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Decide
what you’re likely to be interested in. For instance, the
Maldives is a great place for diving - if you’re going to be
spending a lot of time diving then you must be aware that
different resorts have different standards in their diving
facilities. Some resorts are also naturally better for divers
than others. You’ll want to choose a package that’s best for
diving (it’s possible to get diving packages so you don’t
have to spend a fortune on additional diving expenses on a daily
basis). Further, some resorts offer a wealth of activities and
entertainment – others are very chilled and offer fewer
activities (perfect if you just wish to laze by the sand gazing
at the crystal blue waters).
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Decide
what type of package would be the best for you - most resorts
are quite pricey when it comes to food and drink so while a bed
& breakfast package (room & breakfast only) may at first
appear cheaper, after paying for all food and drink it may in
fact be more expensive than an all inclusive package.
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Full
board may be a good choice in many cases as all meals are
provided, although the guest still has to pay for drinks (a good
choice for those who do not drink too much alcohol). If on the
other hand you enjoy a tipple or five then the All Inclusive
option may well be the optimum package for you as drinks can be
sinfully expensive at most resorts.
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Some
resorts may cater to specific nationalities - for example
predominantly Italian, German or Japanese clientele. This may be
a problem if you like to mingle but are unable to speak the
dominant language.
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Most
resorts offer a wide range of accommodation types - decide which
of these is best for you. For example, a standard beach villa
would be typically a few metres from the sea while a water villa
is located in the waters itself. Water villas can be beautiful
and offer the chance to see the marine life swim by while
looking from the window - but they are considerably more pricey.
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Travellers
with children should try and choose a resort with a kids club if
possible - there is a world of difference between resorts when
it comes to providing facilities that keep the kids entertained.
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If you
do wish to spend a day exploring the capital Male as an
excursion then you may not want to choose a resort that’s not
too far away - some resorts do not offer this as a day trip so
you may want to check this prior to booking.
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You
may also want to consider when during the year you wish to go -
the optimum time with regards to weather are between December
and April when there is the most sunshine and least rain. At
these months, there’s no surprise to learn that the prices
tend to be far higher.
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Some
resorts (even the pricey ones at times) may not offer a personal
TV in the rooms - this is usually intentional to promote the
"no news, no shoes" feel of the island. Few people
come to the Maldives to watch TV but if this is a comfort
that you simply cannot live without then check with your travel
agent before booking to see if your chosen resort offers one.
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If the
look, feel and architecture of your lodging is important to you
then you will want to research and find the best resort for you
- some can be more modern, almost like a standard hotel room
while others are traditionally built with thatched roofs and
even a partially open-air bathroom.
