Many of us, including myself, have been stuck in one place because of the pandemic. In January 2021 few months after the covid restrictions have been lifted, I decided to get out of this country! I just paid off my Barclays credit card, so I have money to spend on the deposit, the timing was perfect! So then I booked my Maldives All Inclusive Package Holiday, an experience I will never forget!
“Woo-hoo!”
Deciding which country to go to
I do not have a British Passport and the countries that I can travel to without a visa are limited, so I started my search by looking for countries I can visit without securing a tourist visa. I have always dreamed of going to the Maldives and lucky enough, it was on the list of countries that do not require a visa for a Philippine passport holder.
Check out my list of countries to visit using a Philippine passport with no visa requirement. I have also included information on Covid Travel requirements & flight duration from the UK & Philippine airports.
The Maldives is a nation of islands situated in the Indian Ocean. It is known for having crystal blue water, soft snowy sand, and beautiful reefs for snorkelling & scuba diving. That is why it is on my Places I want to see before I die list.
I wanted my holiday to be hassle-free, so I opted for an “All-Inclusive Package.” In my search for travel packages and discount offers, I stumbled upon Voyage Prive, a luxury travel package provider. The website offers exclusive packages for different countries including local UK tour packages.
There were two resorts available during that time. One resort only offers overwater villas and the other was a beachfront villa. For my budget, I have chosen Hondaafushi Island Resort, the beachfront villa resort. I have fully researched the Hondaafushi Island Resort. I have checked their website and reviewed the facilities and amenities available. The resort has a 4* rating on TripAdvisor so I was convinced. I have found my holiday destination.
RELATED POST:
Hondaafushi Island Resort Review
When to go & what was included in the travel package – The Maldives All Inclusive
I wanted to make my holiday extra special, so I chose to go in December 2021. I wanted to celebrate the Christmas holidays in a warm romantic paradise. Plus, I will have months to save up for my pocket money. I picked the All-Inclusive Christmas Gala dinner package.
What’s included in my package:
- 2x Return international flights
- 2x Return Domestic Flight + Speedboat transfer
- 1x Superior Beach Front Bungalow for 2 guests
- 2x all inclusive
- 2x Christmas Gala Dinner on 24/12/22
- $25 credit for Spa & Massage
- 30% discount on all excursions
- GST, Service charges & Green taxes included
The total bill comes to £4,675 for two people.
“Oh, I thought you went alone, Vee?“
“I did!“
Well, I originally booked the holiday for two, It was a gift I wanted to give to my then-boyfriend. To cut the story short, I booked the holiday in January 2021, and we broke up in April 2021. “Tada!!“
Almost did not go!
Since my circumstances had changed, I was facing a dilemma. Do I cancel my booking? Do I move it to another date in the hope to meet a new person(boyfriend) to go with? Or do I take one of my kids, so I do not need to go alone? I was not sure of what to do. It was a hard decision, but I need to make one.
In June 2022, I contacted Voyage Prive. I first decided to cancel. However, because I did not buy extra protection for my holiday, if I cancel, I will still need to pay 50% of the total bill. I was so annoyed; I do not want to waste £2,340 for anything. So, cancelling was off the table.
In October 2022, I contacted them again, to change my travel date to October 2023 and change the name of the second traveller. It was possible to change the date & name however, the international plane tickets that were included in the package were only valid until January 2023, meaning I will need to buy two new tickets which cost £1,310 each. That’s another £2,620.
I contacted them again in November 2022 to change the second passenger to a friend’s name who can travel with me in December 2021. They can change the name, but it will cost me £2,860!!!
“WHAT!?!?!?”
I was losing patience! I was on the phone with the travel agency every day to get it sorted. I was running out of time; I need to decide. I was close to giving up. I was already planning a trip to Scotland instead. Hike in the snowy mountain, Ben Nevis, to destress.
It was clear, I will travel alone! No matter where I look at it, I will be alone! I will be spending Christmas on my own for the first time, in a foreign country.
“How sad does that sound, eh!”
I called Voyage Prive once more on 27 November 2022 to let them know of my decision. They amended my package right away, however, the only refund I got was airport tax for £970, I did not get a refund for the other traveller’s plane ticket.
The Dilemma Continues!
I was expecting a lift to the airport, so I did not book a taxi service, but unfortunately, the plans had changed a day before my flight!
I woke up early on the day of my travel. I have called and left voicemails for all taxi service providers I can find on Google! Everything was fully booked!
I need to think of a plan, I was once again caught in a dilemma. Do I drive to the airport, or do I take the train?
Why is this a dilemma, you might ask?
Well, I drive a fully electric Nissan Leaf that only goes up to 70 to 90 miles! That means I must stop over somewhere to charge my car for 1hr. Who knows if when I get to the EV charging station that there will be an available spot? I might need to wait for hours for my turn to use it. On the other hand, if I take the train, from Cambridge to Heathrow, then I will need to carry my 25kg & 7kg hand carry luggage up & down the stairs to take the Tube.
Can you imagine a 4’9” Asian woman carrying massive luggage? That will be a sight!
Then I remember, there’s UBER!
So, I orchestrated a plan. I will drive to Cambridge, then take the train from Cambridge to Kings Cross. Then when I get to King’s Cross, I will take an UBER to the Heathrow terminal.
“Perfect! How convenient!”
So, then I went to the Trainline website to buy my tickets, and guess what happened next?
“There’s a bloody STRIKE!! Oh God! When is it going to end!?”
I was back on my phone calling taxi services; I got lucky that 24/7 Taxi East Cambs has returned my call. The taxi picked me up at 1 pm I could not explain the relief I felt! I was so exhausted! I was asleep throughout the journey.
BOOK YOUR NEXT FLIGHT TO THE MALDIVES!
London Heathrow to DOHA Qatar
My flight took 8hrs from London to DOHA. It was my first time at DOHA Airport, so I was running around looking for my connecting flight, everything is in English, but the problem was my boarding pass does not say which Gate I am supposed to go to.
I always find it hard to talk to people to ask for help, so I tried to find my way around. I keep stopping at each Flight Information Display System, but no luck.
“Vee, time to ask for help!” I said to myself.
So, I stopped, took a deep breath, and then looked around. I saw a man scanning a passenger’s boarding pass. I briskly walked towards him! Gave him my boarding pass, and then he scanned it!
“You’re on Gate blah blah, it is now boarding and will leave in…. (He looked at his wristwatch) 10 minutes!”
“Great!” Now I need to run to the gate. Running was not easy; I’m not fit enough to dash especially since I’m carrying a 7kg backpack and my tote bag, which was also full of stuff. My bladder was about to burst out as well, I was trying to not wet myself with each step.
I was panting when I reached the gate, I was relieved to see the queue! I Made it! I can’t wait to board the plane to empty my bladder.
DOHA Qatar – Maldives – Hanimaadhoo – Hondaafushi Island Resort
I arrived at Velana International Airport at 16:25, the airport immigration process was quick and easy. The directions of where to go were marked. The immigration lady asked for my passport, return tickets, and the name of the resort I will be staying.
Two minutes! Boom! done! They gave me a tourist visa valid for up to 30 days!
I grabbed my luggage and headed straight to the exit. A representative from Hondaafushi Island Resort was right outside waiting for my arrival. He took my luggage & backpack, brought me to their office, which was right outside the airport, and then he handed me some documents to sign.
The resort representative then took me to the Moonima Airport Lounge where I can wait for my domestic flight to Hanimaadhoo. The Hanimaadhoo airport lounge was spacious, with lots of sofas and couches to sit on. The lounge has varied snacks and drinks to enjoy for free. A compliment from the resort.
The flight from Velana International Airport to Hanimaadhoo Airport took 1hr. From Hanimaadhoo, I then hop on the speedboat for a 15-minute boat ride to the resort!
Check-in time!
“Whew! At Last! I have reached the resort. What a day! “
The journey was exceptionally long. I left London Saturday at 20:25 and reached the resort Sunday at 21:30.
The electric buggy picked me up at the arrival jetty and drove me to the reception to check-in. A Cold Peach-Mango juice was waiting on my arrival.
After I had my dinner at the resort’s restaurant I went straight to my villa. I unpacked and sorted all my clothes. I can’t wait for the morning.
A PARADISE UNVAILS!
The sound of the waves and the singing birds awakened me! As I open my eyes, I can see some sunlight coming through my closed curtains.
“It’s morning!!”
I jumped out of my bed and rushed to the glass door to open the drapes. I could not believe my eyes! Everything they said about the Maldives was true! Turquoise blue water, soft white sand, and the weather.
“Ahhh! The tropical humid weather! 27 degrees Celsius!”
I have never felt so good! My villa was only 3 meters away from the beach. I opened the door, and I stepped outside. I walked to the beach bare feet and stood there waiting for the waves to soak my bare legs. I wanted to scream. It was so beautiful, I could not contain my emotions, I started to cry.
“Why am I alone here!?”
I went back to my room and freshen up for breakfast. After breakfast, I went to the reception to book my excursions. Then I went to the bar. I’m on the all-inclusive right? So, I ordered one drink after another by just around 11 am, I was drunk! Lightheaded, I could not walk straight and had to call the buggy to take me back to my villa. That’s me back to bed! I woke up late afternoon, missed lunch, and was starving. I wasted an entire afternoon being wasted.
“What an idiot!”
The day I will never forget
On my third day in the resort, I rented a snorkelling set. I can swim but have never done snorkelling before, so I was a bit excited and terrified of the idea. I have been watching YouTube videos on how to snorkel, the night before day three. It looks straightforward.
Early morning of day three I went to Jetty two where the house reefs are. There are a lot of fish and small baby sharks. I was the only one there, which for me was perfect! I do not want anyone to be there to watch me. They might figure I do not know what I was doing and laugh at me. That would be embarrassing.
I jumped in the water. I did a few swims, staying close to the steps. After a few tries, I knew I can do it. So, I swam and swam and swam!
The thing is, you can see and breathe underwater, it was amazing. It was easy to lose track of how long you have been there or how far you have gone.
I continued swimming and chasing pretty fish, then I spotted a baby shark. I chased it. It went left, right, forward, and swam farther. I went after it. Then it swam farther more, so I said; “All right then, bye-bye baby shark!”
That’s the point when I said to myself, I should check how far I have gone! So, I looked up, no sight of the safe zone. I turned around, looked up again, and I saw it. It was so far. My heart started to beat faster than normal. I put my goggles and snorkel back, the water gets in my snorkel. I tried to get it out by blowing hard through the tube. It was not working. Looked up again and fixed my goggles and snorkel. Put them back, but then my goggles became foggy. This is when I started to panic. Nothing seems to be working anymore!
My focus was to get the goggles and snorkel to work. I forgot I can easily swim back to the safe zone. I struggle to stay afloat. I was wearing fins; it was not helping either. I cannot move. I keep on going down! This is it. I am going to die! Gosh! I do not want to die here. Not today.
A few minutes later some resort staff showed up in the safe zone. But I know myself, I will not ask for help! So, it took another few minutes to convince me, that it is all right to ask for help especially when you are about to DIE!
I screamed! As loud as I could. “Help!”
One guy heard me thank God! I continuously went up and down the water. I heard someone telling me to move my fins. I saw a guy grab and threw the life ring, but I was too far, and the rope could not reach me. I felt a bit of relief when I saw someone jump into the water. Help is coming. I tried to relax so I will stay afloat.
It was a very embarrassing day for me, I tried to make excuses for my stupid actions. I was so grateful that Manish, the resort security, did not hesitate to jump and save me. I owe him my second life. I will forever be grateful to him.
I went back to Jetty two to snorkel again the next morning, but the experience traumatized me, and even with a life jacket on I could not let go of the steps and enjoy swimming. It is going to take time for me to recover from that incident.
My adventure continues
I stayed at Hondaafushi Island Resort for 10 days and 9 nights, The Maldives All Inclusive. I registered for every excursion the resort has available. Most of the time I am exploring the island with my DJI MINI 3 Pro and GoPro Hero Black 10. On one of my walks, I found two amazing spots where I wild camp.
I made a separate blog listing the things I did during my 10-day holiday in the Maldives.
The island is perfect! I love being on my own and the resort has a lot of spots to go swimming privately. You might think I am anti-social because I always prefer to be on my own, but I have met a lot of people during my holiday, and some have stayed connected with me.
To sum up my experience – The Maldives All Inclusive
My holiday was close to perfect. The island is my perfect definition of paradise. The resort and its staff were amazing.
Am I going back to the Maldives? “Heck yeah!”
Am I going snorkelling again? “Yes, I am recovering! I am going to take scuba diving classes as matter of fact!”
Am I going to book all-inclusive again? “Depends, it will require a lot of brainstorming.”
Will I recommend Voyage Prive? “Yes!”
Will I go back to Hondaafushi Island Resort? “Yes definitely!” Here is a link to my full Hondaafushi Island Resort review.
TIPS:
- Always review travel package cancellation policies.
- Consider paying extra insurance for unforeseen circumstances, like a change of name, travel date, destination etc.
- Book a taxi service, even if someone offered to give you a lift.
- Never snorkel alone!
