Sri Lanka/Maldives

[LJ9]

Need a bit of help from all those avid jet setting travellers that make up the TEF!!

Myself and the wife are looking to book our honeymoon and thought of the above destinations. Our thinking is to do a week in each with Sri Lanka being the rough and ready (day trips, sight seeing etc) and the Maldives being the calm and relaxed week of the trip.

We're not looking for a resort as such n Sri Lanka as we will be out for most of the time spent there but definitely something plush for the Maldives.

So...anyone been? Got any ideas of where to stay? What to do?

Anything at these early stages is going to be helpful so please just throw whatever you know at me and I'll definitely take it into consideration.

Cheers all.

[pumbaa]

Been to the Maldives twice. Paradise IMO. We went to Meerufenfushi first, then Meedhupparu the second time.

Meeru is one of the larger islands, but was fantastic. Transfer was a 1 hour speedboat from Male, so nothing too stupid.

Meedhupparu wasn't as good, mainly because at the time (2004) it catered to a largely Italian client base. I think that has changed since. Smaller island, still fantastic though and never seemed busy. Transfer was a sea plane from Male, which was brilliant. Quite disconcerting that the pilot pitched up in flip-flops though.....

[juddie]

I did this lj9. My advice? Defo do sri Lanka first, because Maldives is perfection and Sri Lanka won't compare. We did sri Lanka second and regretted it. In saying that, you'll be knackered after wedding and Sri Lanka might be a bit hectic?

Both amazing places. Maldives best of the best IMO. If you can do a water villa,  loads of fun. And take a sea plane. If you go all inclusive be prepared to come back fat as fook.

Defo recommend, best holiday of my life.

[juddie]

Stayed in medhufushi in Maldives, the fortress in Sri Lanka. Would recommend both.

[THE FLASH]

Worked in the Maldives for a bit.....tuna industry....very nice except for the shitty fish canneries I had to visit.

[@MacPhlea]

Went on honeymoon to velidhu island resort back in 1988 - brilliant experience - especially if you enjoy sunbathing, snorkelling, scuba diving or anything to do with water sports.

As Juddy says all inclusive is a must and Sri Lanka is a bit of a let down after the lord mayor's parade so what I would suggest is skipping it and taking a weekend stop over in Dubai - worlds biggest duty free, amazing hotels and the 'desert nights' trips are fucking brilliant - just don't shag your misses on the beach and watch out for jetski's when swimming in the sea

[Chubbs]

wanted to go maldives for out honeymoon, but for what we wanted it was well out of out price range, and we wanted to go for more than just a week.

instead we went for Koh Samui which was a lot cheaper and got a good deal on our own private pool villa. (still cost an arm and a leg mind)

[juddie]

Chubby makes a good point... In Thailand you can get more bang for your buck. Some of the deals over there are amazing. Websites like Destinology and secret escapes are quite good.

[LJ9]

Thanks for all that. Definitely was thinking of Sri Lanka before Maldives and Pumbaa I will check out those places in the Maldives.

Any names of the resorts you stayed in or anyone else got anything?

Thanks again TEF!!

[Lash_sumthin]

we stayed on Olhuveli a few years back and it was great

http://www.olhuvelimaldives.com/island/island.php

[nevillew]

I've never been to the Maldives, but visited Sri Lanka many years ago. It's more of a 'seeing' place rather than a 'luxury beach' type thing. It's also quite crowded and hectic.  There are some nice hotels down the west coast from Colombo though (Hikkaduwe, I think it's called)

Depends on what you wnat from a holiday/honeymoon I guess.

[THE FLASH]

One of my old contacts has been in touch....Tourism Minister busted with Alcohol in his case on way back from China......major shit!

[jutty274]

Worked in the Maldives for a bit.....tuna industry....very nice except for the shitty fish canneries I had to visit.

Fuck me is there anywhere you haven't worked. Your passport must have as many stamps as Beckhams.

[Frigby Daser]

Did the Sri Lanka / Maldives combo last year for honeymoon. Sri Lanka especially is stunning. Make sure you take the train from Kandy up through the hills in Nuruwya Eliya - it takes all morning, but your driver will drive you back to Kandy and you can stop off at a tea plantation and factory on the way back. Sigiriya is great too -we were there on a bank holiday so the stairs (a relic from the early 1900s) that take you up to climb the rock were thronged with thousands upon thousands of people - google it and you'll see what I mean. I don't normally get vertigo, but that was something else! The people are great, the food is even better, and the scenery will really surprise you. On our last night we came back to a hotel south of Colombo before flying out, just for one night - Mount Lavinia Beach hotel. It was the General Governor's residence during British occupation, and it is more English than anything you'll find in the world - in a good way - colonial perfection. If you go there, please ask them to send my sunglasses back that I left in the suite.

After the charm of SL, whilst the Maldives was luxurious, it didnt hit the spot in the same way as SL, but thats more personal preference. There's only so much lying on a beach, eating and drinking you can do. We were on Kurumathi Island, which is the largest and one Kuoni send a lot of people to. It was great, but mates have mentioned a few smaller, probably more exclusive islands that may be more your cup of tea. The snorkelling was great - sharks and rays everywhere, but the highlight had to be the moment I sat in a romantic restaurant, checked the news on my phone when my wife wasnt looking, to find that we'd signed Alberto Comazzi.