This was kind of an unexpected trip. We weren’t really planning on taking another big vacation until 2019, before we’re set to leave Riyadh. When we realized I was pregnant, and factoring in having a newborn plus twin toddlers in tow, we thought “Wouldn’t it be nice to have one last really memorable trip with just the four of us?” And we could make it a baby moon! The timing worked to celebrate our anniversary as well. Perfect.
So, what made us choose the Maldives for this trip? For the ease of travel with The Gents, we really wanted to go somewhere with a direct flight from Riyadh. There are a lot of options, but we wanted to get out of the Middle East. To Male it’s just over four hours.
We certainly could have gone to Europe. Now being 5 months pregnant I knew I was not keen on the idea of running all over a city with twin toddlers and having to plan every detail. Plus, where’s the fun is a Michelin starred restaurant if you can’t have the wine pairings?! ;)
It seems like nearly everyone J works with in KSA has been to the Maldives. We’ve never done a beach vacation together. The thought of lounging on an island and having someone arrange plans for us was idyllic.
Oh! And we could just make it in time before the monsoon season starts. The best time to visit the Maldives is between November and April. The high season falls between December and March, which is when things are more expensive. The monsoon season runs from May to October, peaking around June.
Factoring in all of this above, the Maldives was a no brainer. It’s a place I always dreamed of going to, but it’s really long and expensive trip from the US. It been on my bucket list, but I never really thought we’d be able to vacation there. I actually got a little emotional when our seaplane landed on Niyama, probably hormonal, but this place is so special and you feel it immediately.
We were literally in a jungle. Sure, there are all of the modern amenities available so we didn’t rough it. There is something about being surrounded by pure nature for five days - seeing lizards and hermit crabs, hearing birds and the ocean breaking, taking showers outside, feeling saltwater, stars shining bright diamonds, and the moonlight on skin. It’s grounding and makes you appreciate nature even more.
Below is a pretty detailed recap of the trip and the resort. We’re so glad we were able to make this dream adventure a reality. It truly was a luxury experience. Although J promised me that we’d be back one day, I’m not sure we would have been able to do this had we not been living in the Middle East. And for that I’m grateful. xo…
Transit – We flew Saudia direct to Male International Airport and then a 45 minute seaplane via Maldivian Aero direct to Niyama. There are a ton of islands/atolls to stay on so the seaplane or ferry time from Male varies. The seaplanes don’t operate after 3:30 in the afternoon because they would be flying into the sunset and returning in the dark. Depending on when you arrive in Male, be prepared that you might have to stay a night on the capital island. When you book your flight and resort be sure to communicate with the resort so they know your flight details and can arrange your transportation accordingly.
Safety side note for parents – we used the KidsFly Safe CARES Airplane Safety Harness with The Gents on the Saudia leg. It was so nice to not have car seats! Overall experience was 50/50. C actually did really well with it. He’s less of a wiggle worm than R, who just can’t sit still for long. C also does a better job of not slouching when seated so the harness stayed in place on him. And they’re now both clever enough to know how to work a seat belt, so they often unlatched themselves. There is no way a convertible car seats would ever fit on the seaplane seat so if you’re thinking of bringing your toddler, save yourself some trouble and get the harness. On the seaplane they just used the lap belt and were fine with it. Children under two can sit on your lap on the seaplane.
Male – since we arrived to Male in the afternoon, right when the last seaplane was leaving, we booked a night at Hotel Jen. A representative picked us up from the airport island and we took a five minute boat ride to the capital island where a van was waiting to drive us a few blocks to the hotel. There are a lot of hotel options. It’s a small island so nearly all restaurants are in walking distance. We even walked to dinner with The Gents, sans stroller because the sidewalks are pretty narrow and tough to navigate with it. Was good for them to walk a bit since they’d been on a plane most of the day.
Important cultural note – Maldives is a Muslim country. Even with it being incredibly hot and humid you’ll notice that most women are covered head to toe or dressed modestly. Men also wear pants. You will hear call to prayer when you’re out. Some friends of ours visited the Maldives on their honeymoon and she had said that she felt uncomfortable dressed in Western weather appropriate clothing as she got a number of looks from people. Since we were flying out of Saudi, J and I both had our legs covered and wore short sleeve shirts. Although we were uncomfortably hot when we landed, we didn’t feel inappropriate. On the resorts you can wear whatever you want!
Hotel Jen coordinated with Niyama to know what time our seaplane was leaving Male the following morning and ensured our transport back to the airport. At the airport, a rep from Niyama was waiting to check us in on our flight and then put us on a shuttle to the seaplane terminal where we waited in the Niyama lounge until the flight as ready to board. I had heard that the friendliness and service here was impeccable. We weren’t even at the resort yet and I was already impressed with all of the escorts and handlers we had at this point, which were at least five different people just that morning.
Niyama – we arrived at Niyama Private Islands just after 8am. It was an early start to the day, but wonderful to take advantage of the full day at the resort. As we stepped off the seaplane we were greeted by staff members, a cool towel and juice cocktail. Each couple/family is assigned a person/concierge who takes care of them for their stay. Mahey introduced himself to us and walked us to a golf cart to give us a quick tour before taking us to our villa. The resort is set on two small islands, with a connecting bridge. Restaurants, shops, gym, and spa are nestled into the grounds.
We opted to reserve a beach studio with pool, rather than one over the water. If you have small children you have to sign a waver to stay over the water. For peace of mind and less stress of having to hover over the boys, the beach was more than fine! And we were really happy that we got a room with a pool. It made for an even more relaxing experience. We could go down to the beach for a bit and once The Gents got tired of the ocean (it was work for them!) they could splash in our private pool. Also nice to be near their beds when it was nap time. The resort had cribs/playards that they set up in the room. The studios are situated so that they’re very private, with wood fences and trees surrounding each. We rarely heard or saw anyone on either side of us. Beach cruisers are provided to easily get around and ours came with kid seats. C&R loved their bike rides with us. And it was a bit of a workout for me. If only my balance wasn't so off being 5 months along. HA!
There are SO many resorts to choose from, but there aren’t many luxury resorts with a kids club that will take children under 3 without a parent or traveling nanny present. It’s $20/hour for kids under 3, but totally worth it when the boys needed to let of some steam or J and I wanted some quiet time. We never dropped them there for more than an hour, so it wasn’t a big expense. What we did take advantage of was the babysitting services in the evening. By the time the evenings came the boys got a bit unruly at dinner - being tired from the long day, dealing with a two hour time difference and being out in the heat makes a less than enjoyable experience for all. An early dinner, movie in our air-conditioned room and a cool bath made up their evening so J and I could have a few dinner dates.
Speaking of dinners, the restaurants are really well done. The only one we didn’t eat at was Edge. SubSix was a really cool underwater experience, but it was topped by dinner high in the trees at Nest. They had a crab pre fixe dinner one evening that was phenomenal! Honestly, one of the best meals we've ever had. Take advantage of all of the fresh grilled fish and seafood, shashimi, and anything else that’s a special for the day. You won’t be disappointed.
And last, but not least to note is the Maldives is a playground for people who love water sports. I think most people definitely go for diving and surfing. We don’t dive, and clearly I couldn’t surf, kite surf or parasail, but there’s still so much to enjoy even if you’re not into any of these activities! On our last day we at least got out for a private breakfast dhoni cruise with The Gents. It was beautiful and the perfect way to cap off this wonderful week.
