Honeymoon at Maldives - Taj Coral Reef resort

[sameerrao]

Well Gentlemen (I use the term loosely of course), you are now talking to a happily married man.

My wife and I spent our honeymoon in the country of Maldives - a country composed of 1200 atolls or islands in the Indian Ocean. Each island is basically formed out of coral structures with lovely light blue lagoons surrounding it.

Flying in, you see lovely ring like atolls - glistening like jewels in the ocean.
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1108/dsc9965rd0.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc9965rd0.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3299/dsc9966qy4.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc9966qy4.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8328/dsc9969nq1.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc9969nq1.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7866/dsc9962aa7.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc9962aa7.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/73/dsc9963kh1.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc9963kh1.jpg)
Amazing - isn't it! 8)

Each island has a hotel to itself and is self-contained - got its own restaurants, water equipment rental, etc. Therefore picking a good hotel is
critical as you are pretty much locked in - in a manner of speaking.

We picked the Taj Coral reef and the guys met us at the airport and guided us to the speedboat to take us to our hotel (island) - about an hour away.
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/6724/dsc0337hs6.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0337hs6.jpg)

We selected a seat on top to enjoy the view better. We passed some lovely islands en-route
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/5696/dsc0335zo7.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0335zo7.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/4004/dsc9977mz8.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc9977mz8.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3484/dsc9982rs0.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc9982rs0.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8563/dsc9987zc1.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc9987zc1.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1340/dsc0314bv6.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0314bv6.jpg)
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/470/dsc0318vy4.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0318vy4.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/5553/dsc0328gb6.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0328gb6.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/4310/dsc0332fl3.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0332fl3.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7052/dsc0333lh7.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0333lh7.jpg)

At last we arrived at the hotel.
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7219/dsc9996ay9.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc9996ay9.jpg)

It was quite cool with nice pool, coral formations, beach, buffet restuarants and an a-la-carte restaurant, etc. There were approximately 30 beach cottages and 20 water villas on the island - so there weren't too many people. A good thing as the island is quite small - you can walk the circumference in about 7 minutes easy. :lol:

Some random pictures of the island amenities and views:
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/9361/dsc0287in0.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0287in0.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8108/dsc00041ya1.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00041ya1.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/6264/dsc0012jm1.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0012jm1.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/5504/dsc0021va0.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0021va0.jpg)

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7674/dsc0024xz9.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0024xz9.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1695/dsc0033eb9.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0033eb9.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7417/dsc0040vf5.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0040vf5.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/6041/dsc0049fz0.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0049fz0.jpg)

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http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8134/dsc0087ee0.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0087ee0.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/2268/dsc0089dr3.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0089dr3.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/976/dsc0096wv0.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0096wv0.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7721/dsc0106mn9.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0106mn9.jpg)

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8614/dsc0140xi4.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0140xi4.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/396/dsc0176oz5.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0176oz5.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1451/dsc0184lv8.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0184lv8.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/5642/dsc0225xe6.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0225xe6.jpg)

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/6232/dsc0255nb4.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0255nb4.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3333/dsc0266rv0.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0266rv0.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1893/dsc0272zs4.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0272zs4.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3323/dsc0286tw0.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0286tw0.jpg)

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/4553/dsc0216bu2.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0216bu2.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8290/dsc0011rh2.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0011rh2.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/2328/dsc0069bo3.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0069bo3.jpg)http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7637/dsc0065gu3.th.jpg (http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0065gu3.jpg)

Overall, it was a fantastic experience. I highly recommend Maldives or Mauritius (a similar country) for a romantic holiday or for a sea oriented holiday. Simply fantastic!!!

[Pokiou]

Those are fantastic shots.. could you PM how much it cost to go there and the rooms and so forth ?? im getting married next year and i wanted to take the wife to be to either the Caribbeans or Maldives.

[sameerrao]

Let's just say it is quite expensive. We went in the off season (May to July end and Sept to October) and it was USD 885 total for the two of us for the room and all meals included. Drinks are extra. During the peak season the rates are approximately double that.

Make sure you get a deal with food included. It is very expensive to go a-la-carte.

You can deal through your travel agent or by visiting the hotel website directly. Lot of info here --> www.visitmaldives.com

[twboy1999]

wow
looks amazing

[silentm]

great pictures! gotta love the look of the water color there :) too bad it's so expensive but i guess you get what you pay for.

[pzgren]

i love the maldives... i've been there three times before and the next trip is planned this december. did you go diving or just snorkeling?

very nice pics sameerrao...somehow frustrating because it's raining since days overhere....

[sameerrao]

Is that price per night or the whole trip? What about the flights? Thank you for the beautifull pics!

It is the total price for 3 nights stay. Flights were cheap from India - cost us a total of $400 for the two of us.

[davide]

http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0225xe6.jpg

LOVE that picture!

[philip]

Super looking, how is the scuba diving? Thanks for sharing it. How long is the plane flight from Texas? Great colors.

[sameerrao]

Super looking, how is the scuba diving? Thanks for sharing it. How long is the plane flight from Texas? Great colors.

It was a short 2 hour flight from India where I was at the time. From US, I am guessing it will be 23 hours or more with wait times included. :lol:

Scuba is fabulous.

I think from the US, the Caribbean looks the best bet.

[dutchmasterflex]

Holy crap.

The Indian Ocean just got bumped up on my list of places to visit before I die.

Cool photos. Did you get a chance to do any scuba diving out there?

[philip]

Nothing that nice in the Caribbean untill Castro dies.

[TT]

What a terrific place!!! Must have been great! Thanks for the pics!

[Z3uS]

Beautiful place mate! Hope you had a great time.

[ZfrkS62]

WOW!

I think i just found the place to go for my honeymoon too :D (no idea when that will be, other than within the next 4 years)

Looks like an absolute BLAST!

Congrats on the new wife! (how does she tolerate your redheaded italian mistress? :lol: )

[ARMAN]

Pics are beautiful and thats exactly how I imagine a good vacation :P
Did you live in those houses on the water right? I saw simular(or maybe same) resort with those houses on the water some time before on a telly and from that time this I imagine as a perfect vacation place :)

Thanx for pics Sameer :wink:

BTW what those tatoos mean that your wife has in the pics?

[sameerrao]

Holy crap.

The Indian Ocean just got bumped up on my list of places to visit before I die.

Cool photos. Did you get a chance to do any scuba diving out there?

Maldives or Mauritius is definitely worth a visit before you kick the bucket.

WOW!

I think i just found the place to go for my honeymoon too (no idea when that will be, other than within the next 4 years)

Looks like an absolute BLAST!

Congrats on the new wife! (how does she tolerate your redheaded italian mistress? )

So far its been all good. I've taken her out in the car and she liked it. I appreciated the fact that she got in gingerly and asked me how much force to shut the door with. Thoughful girl!

Pics are beautiful and thats exactly how I imagine a good vacation
Did you live in those houses on the water right? I saw simular(or maybe same) resort with those houses on the water some time before on a telly and from that time this I imagine as a perfect vacation place

Thanx for pics Sameer

BTW what those tatoos mean that your wife has in the pics?

There are water villas (what you were refering to) and beach villas (exactly what it sounds like). I wanted a water villa, but had to settle for a beach villa because the former were all sold out. Upon arriving at the Taj, I realized I had made the better choice.

Some of the water villas were in quite sad state with tons of moss on the walls. I think they are better in some of the other resorts. There are pros and cons to both kinds of houses. :)

The tattoo, to which you refer, is a temporary dye called Mehendi that brides and close female family members apply to their hands and feet just before the wedding. This is done in virtually all Indian weddings which is replete with a lot of color, music and ceremonies. The mehendi are usually in fantastic patterns. The dye wears off in about 20 days.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/444/dsc0196oa3.th.jpg (http://img183.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0196oa3.jpg)

[stradale]

Congrats on your marriage, Sameer! IMO you couldn't have picked a more romantic place for your honeymoon. It's the image that pops in my head when I think of paradise.

[ARMAN]

The tattoo, to which you refer, is a temporary dye called Mehendi that brides and close female family members apply to their hands and feet just before the wedding. This is done in virtually all Indian weddings which is replete with a lot of color, music and ceremonies. The mehendi are usually in fantastic patterns. The dye wears off in about 20 days.

Thanx for explanation ;)