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Holiday Hotel Accommodation Near Best Maldive Islands Beaches
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The MALDIVESWe've been to a lot
of beaches and the Maldives is the clear winner of the world's best.
And there's one
beach in the Maldives we've voted as the world's best beach. It's the
beach at Sun Island in the southern group of these 1192 coral islands in the
Indian Ocean, south of Sri Lanka.
![]() Sun Island, Maldives
Why is it the
world's best best beach?
Look at the Sun Island beach photos then imagine you're there - white sand, smooth as
talcum powder greets you, as you immerse yourself in the most
beautiful aquamarine water you can imagine.
The perfect palm trees on Sun Island complete the dazzling panorama of the beach voted by a number of travel writers as the world's best beach. ![]() Sun Island main beach
The Sun Island
Resort and Spa is situated perfectly on this pristine beach. The big
free-form swimming pool stops at the edge of the beach sand, where
distinctive Maldivian thatched huts allow you to take in the sun and the
spectacular sights without getting sunburnt.
![]() Sun Island Resort pool
The Maldives are
only a four hour flight from
Singapore.
There are two ways to get to Sun Island when you fly into the Maldives capital Male. Male international airport is on its own island, so there's a flotilla of speedboats waiting right outside arrivals to take you to the numerous island resorts, many of which cater to honeymooners. Sun Island is the biggest of the Maldivian Islands and therefore is the best island to visit - THE most beautiful beaches on the Maldives, perfect for honeymooners, couples and families because of that rare blend of privacy and varied activities.
On arrival at the
long jetty at Sun Island Resort and Spa, some travellers have reported
weeping with delight at the dazzling beauty in front of them. This is
where Robinson Crusoe meets resort living, and the best beach snaps you'll
ever take are right in front of you. It takes an hour to walk around
the pure white sand beaches of Sun Island, with the alluring over-water bungalows
half way around.
AccommodationAll accommodation is near the edge of the beautiful beaches all the way around Sun island, apart from
the water bungalows with their Thai Restaurant at the end of the jetty.
You'll stay in spacious tiled beach bungalows with their own sun loungers
outside to sit back, relax and enjoy the views of these perfect beaches.
Our tip is the superior beach bungalows to the right of
the jetty, numbered from 150 to 178 -
on a beautiful Maldives beach, and near to all the resort facilities including the
big restaurant.
![]() Sun Island Resort beachfront
Accommodation packages at many pretty island resorts in
the Maldives are "all inclusive" (AI), which means accommodation, all meals
and some alcoholic drinks. The alternative is
"full board", which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner but not alcoholic
drinks. Because the Maldives is Muslim and doesn't encourage excessive alcohol, all inclusive is different here than in some parts of the
world such as the Caribbean, where AI means alcohol supplied to excess.
In the big restaurant at Sun Island Resort and Spa,
the food is plentiful, varied and very good. You are assigned your own
table and waiter and it's customary to tip, which assures you of personal
service at all times and also a good chance of moving tables near a good
beach view.
Because alcohol is flown in from Dubai, it can be expensive with dinner, but there's a big wine list available. Try the Californian Zinfandel red (open it early and let it breathe) or the Italian Orvieto Classico white, which has a light fizz and is almost like champagne from France. These are both reasonable at $23 a bottle. ![]()
Photo of Sun Island Resort dining area
Because some of the workers here are from Sri Lanka and
India, you'll taste some of the best curries you've ever had.
The bacon with your eggs at breakfast is beef bacon because Muslims don't
eat pork.
Here at Sun Island Resort and Spa, the Muslim management and staff were very attentive, friendly and lovely gentle people, genuinely interested in making visitors happy. The beautiful
beaches on the Maldives' Sun Island are swept every day by women staff
members to maintain that picture-perfect postcard panorama, while your room
is cleaned twice a day by room boys who are happy to help regardless of
whether they are tipped or not.
It's obvious that this local Muslim view of riches is focused on goodness and happiness, perhaps a little different from the Western pursuit of material riches. That's another reason this is a beautiful, pure, best beach holiday. Many Maldives islands have pretty beaches but sharp
coral in the shallows, distracting from the beauty. At Sun Island, you
can walk from the pool across the white powdery beach and into the stunning
water that has sand as smooth as it is on the beach.
![]() Sun Island vegetation
What to Do The focus in the
Maldives is relaxing on beautiful beaches. When you've
finished your bountiful breakfast, stroll the few metres to the
stunning beach in front of the biggest pool in the Maldives, grab a
beach towel and recline under one of the round thatched huts on the
perfect beach sand. You can spend hours gazing at the
beautiful flat sea in front of you with its plentiful sea-life
waiting for you to join them.
And you have to try the
Araamu Spa in its peaceful tropical gardens, near the overwater
bungalows. Try the couples' spa where all your clothes are
delicately removed and you lie with your partner in your natural
state surrounded by natural foliage around you and above you. It may
sound
daring, but it is one of life's great pleasures if you can
relax and go with the flow.
![]() Photo Maldives beach cafe
Near Sun
Island Resort's reception are two bars and a games area, featuring
everything from table tennis to billiards. If you want a bar
that's away from it all, find the
Beach Bar near the Water Sports
area.
Here you can shelter
from the tropical sun and watch or take part in everything from
windsurfing to kayaking and waterskiing.
Another favourite
activity is a Hello Neighbours daytrip to two nearby islands - the
locals' island to see Maldivian life as it's been for centuries, and
Holiday Island which is another of the Villa Hotels resorts.
You can also go on a
sunset cruise, sunrise or sunset fishing trip
where you're sure to
catch some of the plentiful fish, or just escape to an isolated
stretch of these beautiful Maldive Island beaches on Sun Island and read a good
book.
Or take a bike for $21 a week and cycle around the island - no traffic, no helmets, just you and nature. And if you really have
to check the internet to see what's happening back at home, Sun
Island Resort and Spa has just upgraded to high speed broadband with
instantaneous access.
Because of global
warming many Maldives islands are facing rising water levels which
can threaten their beautiful beaches, leading to an ingenious system
in which the sand is pumped back onto the beach.
![]() Barefoot pilot - Maldives style!
Summary
The Maldives and particularly Sun Island have
magnificent beaches that really have to be seen to be
believed.
The main beach near on arrival at Sun Island has the whitest sand and most
stunningly aquamarine water you will ever see.
This is enhanced by the
perfect positioning on this palm-lined beach of the resort pool and
bar, plus thatched beach huts that will make you feel like Robinson
Crusoe in comfort.
The water is warm, crystal clear and perfect. Sun Island has been
voted twice by the Maldivian government as the Maldives' most
environmentally friendly resort.
A perfect Best Beach Holiday
destination we highly recommend. Go to Sun Island and you'll never forget the
Maldives.
* Accommodation provided by Sun Island Resort & Spa |
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Best beach holiday travel destinations are written by dedicated photo journalists, published and edited by the Best Beach Holidays Travel writer. Contact Best Beach Holidays to submit your beach holiday articles |
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