The Great Escape

It's quite possible you've been dreaming about a grand adventure in the Maldives with your family or your friends. The good news is, you can have one, and it'll be as dreamy as you've imagined. But here's a secret... you can make it affordable, too.

- Ambika Muttoo

You’ve probably seen a million glamorous videos on social media about the Maldives. All that glamour comes with a price tag, right? Wrong. Of course, a trip to this island(s) nation isn’t going to be cheap – no vacation abroad is. But the Maldives offers all sorts of resorts, at a variety of budgets, which is what social media doesn’t tell you about.

Firstly, the Maldives is visa-on-arrival, which makes it a more hassle-free vacation. Flying over the ombre waters of the Indian Ocean dotted with islands and lagoons is an unforgettable experience. This was the first reason why we picked Kandima, a resort in Dhaalu Atoll. Dhaalu Atoll also has a domestic airport, which you can fly into and then take a 20-minute boat ride to Kandima. But the resort owners also own Manta Air, which operates seaplanes, which means you can get great deals on transfers. Serendipitous!

The Kandima is about “affordable luxury” – which does sound like an oxymoron. Let me provide clarity. It unfurls over a three-kilometer-long island, roughly split into two areas – Uptown and Downtown. You can walk to explore or hop onto buggies that cruise the island every 15 minutes or so. The first thing that will hit you is the space itself and how verdant it is. The ocean curls by you wherever you are and, through the greenery, you’ll find little pathways with benches overlooking the water. Therefore, the number one luxury is atmosphere. Water, air and sunshine. Nature’s bounty is plentiful here.