12 October 2021

The Maldives conjures up images of white beaches, palm trees, turquoise sea, blue lagoons and colourful marine life. Constance Moofushi resort in the South Ari Atoll is a perfect example of all of these things, as we discovered during our week long stay at the resort. After a very comfortable flight via Doha with Qatar Airways, we landed in Male International Airport at around 7am. I will admit the thought of hopping on another plane to reach my destination left me feeling a bit exhausted. However this was soon replace with giddy excitement as we boarded our seaplane to take us to our paradise Island. In fact that seaplane was one of the highlights of visiting the Maldives, a total adventure in itself. Taking off is a noisy, bumpy experience but the sight of the numerous little coral atolls from the air was captivating. We felt like VIP's landing in the water next to the jetty where the welcoming staff awaited our arrival with big smiles and refreshing juices. The Constance Moofushi is a tropical paradise, a haven of peace and relaxation with a very rustic laid-back feel. We stayed in one of the beach villas which are set upon the white sand and surrounded by lush vegetation for extra privacy. They have traditional classic thatched roofs with big windows and a large outdoor sundeck with hammock, providing a very authentic Maldivian experience. They all have beach views and were were lucky to be west facing so enjoyed spectacular sunsets and sundowners from our sun loungers every evening. The hotel is an all inclusive resort. We ate some of our meals in the Manta restaurant, with breath taking views of the ocean. It was buffet style with everything freshly prepared by the chefs at live cooking stations. The food is 5-star quality, inspired by culinary traditions from around the world, so you could try something different every night. We thoroughly enjoyed the local fresh fish and sushi. For a relaxed a la carte meals the beach grill Alizees served excellent seafood and meat dishes accompanied by fine wines from the impressive cellar. Four our last night we booked a special private and secluded dinner on the beach, at the waters edge. This romantic experience of dining under the stars was a memory I cherish. There are plenty of activities on offer in the Maldives, and it will be of no surprise that most are water based. The resort offered scuba & snorkelling, boat tours, fishing charters and dolphin & whale watching. As PADI qualified divers, we could not pass up the opportunity of jumping in the Big Blue. We were not disappointed. With crystal clear water and such varied sea life, it is impossible not to be completely enchanted by diving the Maldives. On days we wanted to hang about closer to the shore, we borrowed snorkel, mask and fins from the dive centre and spent hours exploring the reef witnessing the beauty and abundance of life surrounding the atoll. And if in need of anymore relaxation there is the stunning overwater U Spa by Constance offering amazing treatments to help ease away the stresses of daily life. Our weather was ideal as we went in March which is the best time to visit the Maldives. Between November and April you can expect dry, sunny days with plenty of blue skies and average temperatures of 30C. My trip to the Maldives was incredible and I honestly did not want to leave. When you are surrounded by water and nature you get a real sense of deep relaxation, it is a desert Island experience like no other. I hope you get to experience this heaven on earth soon, please give me a call so I can help you find your perfect stay at me favourite holiday destination.