You want to visit paradise? You grab your sunscreen and you head to the Maldives.
When Nick and I started planning our honeymoon we had our heart set on Europe. I had come home with books on Italy, the French Riviera, Budapest, you name it. One day after work Nick said he had a proposal for me - and 'not to get mad'. He said he had been doing some homework and how would I feel about a beach trip instead.... my response 'tell me more'. He proceeds to tell me about the Maldives, and the first thing I had to do was to Google it - because I had no clue where on the planet this place was. After one Google search and 500 pictures of the most insanely blue water I've ever seen I was sold. I had lived in Italy, we could always plan a honeymoon in Vienna, but this was a once in a lifetime trip.
So we packed our bags and the Tuesday after our wedding we left Chicago O'Hare for the first of 8 flights on our honeymoon adventure. Need proof?
We went Chicago to Amsterdam (where Nick lost me in the airport because we were running to try and make our connection and I had to be paged over the intercom, yep that's a story for another time) from Amsterdam to Munich, then from Munich to Doha - where we got to fly on Qatar's Dreamliner (AMAZING) then from Doha to Male (the capital of the Maldives) then from Male you take a seaplane to the island we would be spending the next 10 days on. To a lot of people this seems like a lot - but Nick and I love travel - I honestly think I could have kept going!
Arriving in Male our minds were already being blown. I have traveled pretty extensively, but I can saw that this is the most perfect water I have ever seen in my life. The beauty of the Maldives takes your breath away.
One dilemma? No luggage. I mean, with that many stops was I REALLY that surprised? It took 3 days before the first bag showed up - then 5 days before our second bag arrived. I had never been more excited to see my own stuff. It was so hard to complain though - I was in paradise, with my best friend, and my new hubby.
Coconut drinks upon arrival.
Exploring the beach on the first day. Get used to this outfit - I wore it 3 days in a row! Thanks United.
Our pool.
We decided to split our trip up - do 4 nights in a private beach villa and then 5 nights in an over the water hut. We keep getting asked which was better and there honestly was not one better over the other. They were each great for different reasons and I'm so glad we decided to do both.
The first 4 nights in the beach villa had a private walkway to a beach, completely open (but private) hut, and outdoor shower and tub. It was the most incredible showering experience ever - sorry, TMI!
The last 5 nights we stayed in this hut. It was also completely private, had a pool on the back deck, and a staircase that led from the deck down into the Indian Ocean. UNREAL.
Nick snorkeling off our hut.
We enjoyed free happy hour each day at 5 at one of the resort bars where we met a ton of really great couples from all over the world. The starting price for a glass of wine here was $21 - so trust me, we made sure we were always at happy hour on time!
The happy hour spot. I know, rough.
There was a lot of relaxation, reading and fun in the sun. Well, maybe a little too much fun in the sun for someone....
This was the overwater spa. Nick and I did a 3 hour package of massages, facials, exfoliations, etc....all done over a glass floor over the Indian Ocean. Now that is what I call relaxation!
Nick convinced me to do a native Maldivian fishing expedition and I was surprised at how much I loved it! You simply drop a line without a rod or reel into the ocean that has a hook on the end and go off of any sudden feeling or movement you get - then you pull like crazy! I was so surprised, it was seriously awesome! People were catching CRAZY beautiful fish - which they would take back and cook for you for dinner. I ended up catching a banana fish, which was cute, but so small it would have barely been a sushi appetizer for us! Nick didn't catch anything. We know who the real fisherman in the family is! :) Here were the captains on our trip....so short!
The resort had 10 different restaurants with some really incredible food. No surprise the seafood was excellent, but the meat was also to die for. Another pleasant surprise - they had 2 wine cellars! We enjoyed a 6 course wine pairing dinner with a couple from Greece and a couple from London. Here I am down in the cellar.
Another awesome restaurant, Ithaa, the underwater restaurant.
Enjoying some pool time on our last day.
We boarded the seaplane back to Male to catch a flight to Doha. I may or may not have shed a few tears knowing we were leaving the Maldives and I had to throw away my room key....
