Comments
- Hi Carl, my fiance and I are off to Sun Island for our honeymoon on August 5th, and I just wanted to say your website is great! Really useful. Didn't know about the rule about electrical items in your hand luggage, for example. Thanks for providing such a great site. We're even more excited about going than we were before! We'll let you know how it goes. xxx
- HI, Carl, just got back from Sun Island, Maldives.
As you rightly said, the journey was soul destroying. The planes are not designed for the likes of me (20 stone plus). We paid for extra leg room but it wasn't brilliant. On my next long haul I will definately upgrade the flight whatever the cost. We arrived at the back end of the Indian monsoon. Torrential rain and dark grey seas. I thought we had gone full circle and were back in Ramsgate harbour. Thank God for your advice regarding the sea plane. No one should consider any alternative (As you say, all those we heard that that come over on the boat were desparately trying to upgrade to the plane for the return journey). We had a great welcome to a fantastic resort. We had three ropey days of weather followed by a week of sunshine. Then we had 3/4 days of tropical storms (up to 8 hours at a time) with 80+ miles an hour winds. Some people who had arrived during our second week were strongly considering going home early due to the weather. Apparently June and July are the months of the rainy season. As you say, the temperature doesn't change but this really is the rainy season, big time. This and the journey were the only down sides of the holiday.
Accordingly there is a lot of fresh water hanging around, which means Mozzies. I had about 20 bites on my lower limbs (some big and bleeding when scratched) but some faired a lot worse than me.
The food was exquisite and providing you bear in the mind the AI rules you will never go hungry or thirsty. We drank gallons of diet coke (the real thing). Apparently it is brewed under licence on an uninhabited Maldivian Island from desalinated water. But, trust me, it IS the real thing. We disagreed with your comments on the desserts. They were superb. Apparently it is the sole responsibility of the Bangladeshy chefs. There is also masses of fresh fuit available at meal times. The omelettes (with all the options, including chillis) were lovely. Since getting home I have bought an omelette pan and I am going to try and recreate them (but I'm sure they won't be so good).
We were going to have a couple of meals in the restaurants. We didn't bother as we found the main restaurant food so good (and free). We avoided the mini bar, although my son took a coke by mistake. He erroneously thought it was one we had put in there .....and that cost us 5$.
Bikes were a must (as you said). You could cycle the island in about half an hour. Sore bum for 3 or 4 days but then you get used to it (excuse the pun). Your advice re tipping was spot on although I went a bit over the top being in holiday mode. The friendliness of the staff was excellent. Our waiter was fantastic and amply rewarded. After a few days he would see us walk in and would disappear and get our drinks without being spoken to. The names on their badges are their surnames although those are the ones that people use.
The toilets are attended for most of the time and are spotless. One of the 'toilet boys', Mucklash, asked us to go and meet his family in Bangladesh. He said that we would only need the air fare. I really believe this was a genuine offer and not just a ploy to get a tip (although he got one anyway).
The diving is a must, if you have the slightest inclination in that way. However, my daughter, Emma, and I did a few snorkel sessions on the reef. We saw, Stingrays, sharks, lion fish, puffer fish, moray eels, dolphins, other rays, along with HUNDREDS of other exotic tropical fish species. This was just snorkelling! Some divers saw the whale shark, Manta Rays and Turtles (we didn't). However, since getting home we have booked up to do our PADI diving qualifications.
I took some snooker chalk and a shuttlecock with me having had previous experience of resort equipment. I needn't have bothered. All the sports equipment etc. was faultless and top quality except for the pool tables, which were crap. Torn and knackered. We were advised to give the included trip 'meet the neighbours' a miss. When some people came back we were glad that we did just that. The 'sunset fishing was well worth it, though. The kids had 15mins each on a jet ski. This was quite long enough and cost 80$ for both of them.
Your web site (and others) stated that there were no down sides to this holiday unless you are really picky. That is absolutely spot on. As I said before the weather and the journey were the down sides but you can't do much about them.I think you have covered just about everything else. Get in touch if you need any clarification etc. I'll be back in touch soon. Until then, many thanks and don't forget to let me know where you are going next year so we can read your reviews.
All the best Big John.
- Just a quick note to say Carl you are amazing - i have searched over to find comments regarding sun island, then i find you the night before i am due to go!!!! Horahh!!!
- Thank god for your comments Carl - you are a star!!
- Just finished reading your brilliant web site on Sun Island. My husband has booked for us to go for my 4oth,flying out on 6th August (8 weeks yipee). Found all the information on your website very helpful. Cant wait to go, will email when we get back to let you know how we enjoyed it (That is if we come back! are they recruiting for staff!! Ha ha)
- Amazing website – how helpful are you! The time that has gone into this to help others. I’m Godsmacked.
- We were a bit funny about coming as we are a gay couple, but thank you for alleviating our worries!
- Just looked at you website it is brilliant! We are going in Sep and are very excited!!
- Well done for producing such an awesome web site. I was discussing with my wife why anyone should go to such trouble to create something of this magnitude. But I expect that you will derive pleasure from helping people have a good holiday.
- Your website is fantastic it is good that someone like your self has taken the time to set it up.We have found Trip Advisor to be an excellent source of information also, not just for the Maldives but for other trips. But nothing compares to your website for a more honest approach.
- What a great site and honest review!! I'm a Sun Island veteran and you have it down to a tee! I answer lots of questions on trip advisor, so will now send them to this site!!
- We have just returned from Sun Island,and had a wonderfull time, the place is truly paradise. Our holiday was made better by being well prepared, this was down in no small part, to your excellant website, everything anyone needs to know about Sun Island, prior to going, is included, the only excepting being the Little Mermaid Diving Center, more info on this can be found on the resort website. So a big thanks Carl for helping us to make our hloiday truly wonderfull !!!
- P.S Carl, Hussain your waiter, ours also, says Hello!!!!!!
- We have just returned from our honeymoon on Sun Island.Have to agree with everything Carl says. This was a truly perfect honeymoon destination- Yes the sea is turqoise and the sand is really icing sugar white. The marine life is incredible. We were fortunate to see Nurse Sharks, Eagle rays and reef sharks in abundance. I found the whole thing quite overwhelming an on one occasion was snorkelling in the sea and found myself having a little weep because it was so truly beautiful and peaceful. The Maldivians are so laid back and friendly and I loved the fact you didnt have to dress up in heels and dresses.
- My only moan was I wish with the all-inclusive you could go to any bar and get a drink. It was a pain in the bum as the main bar was sometimes overcrowded with slow service, would have liked to drink at the Club Green Bar or at the ~Thai Restaurant. Also wish they did cocktails as part of all-in- Holiday just not the same without cocktails!! Found myself with a £100.00 bill at the end just on Banana Coladas as they were really delicious!!
- Plus points-The sea plane- you must do this. Beautiful scenery and fantastic experience. The Aaramu Spa-heaven, absolute heaven. Worth every penny. Sunstar Thai Restaurant excellent food, lovely views. The Water Bungalows- if you are asking yourself the question is it worth upgrading the answer is YES.We spent two nights in a deluxe room, it was little tatty to be honest with the seaview obscured by trees and shrubs. We upgraded for the last 12 nights and it was the best thing we did-worth every penny and lovely to walk down into the sea every morning and feed the fish and spectacular views. Thanks Carl again for your brilliant site and for those of you going off to Sun Island, enjoy and you lucky people xxx
- My self and my new wife gemma will be travelling out to sun island on the 18th of june 24 days and counting. Our wedding is on the 16th of june. We are extremely excited we have just bought our snorkelling gear ready for the fantastic marine life. By the sounds of it sun island is paradise. This website has been a god send there is everything you need to know.
Awww....thanks. <carl blushes> ;-)
- 10 out of 10 for the best Sun Island site I have seen
Yep, you're right. Im just crap really. Diving section coming up!
- Carl, Just read your website and was in stitches. Myself and Girlfriend went in June 05 and like you had no problems - The is a bit of an age gap and we had are you mother and daughter(i'm wearing well) and once we said no- friends and smiled never got asked again. In fact the 3 beach boys near the main bar used to take care of my partner better than I do, had to explain she was not getting treated like that at home . They Made sure she had 2 loungers under a palm tree , table, extra towels for a pillow and the waiter was called over as soon as she appeared - I was off diving by then - one thing missing off your activites is Diving - the school is good and diving great'
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John, thanks for your kind comments.
I have exchanged encrypted messages with my man at Sun Island. As we speak, he is busy preparing to build an extension to the Golf Bar. Lowered below ground level and sound proofed, the entrance walls will be mirrored, so your wife will think the bar is empty. You can safely sit in the extension enjoying a cold beer. All resort bar staff have been trained to answer "i havent seen him all day" to any wifes enquiring about the location of their husbands. If you tip more than 10 dollars, the answer becomes "I havent seen him all week" For another 20 bucks the answer becomes "Who?"
Next week the escape tunnel will be finished, so after having a beer hidden in the golf club bar, a small monorail whizzes you back to your room. You emerge from just under the bidet and can then claim to have been snoozing when wife returns.
- Carl, found your website on Google and read it with interest. Im off on Honeymoon next month and my wife is not the easiest of people to please - i think she takes after her mother. Your attention to detail is amazing. I am so pleased that apart from the few justified gripes you have with the Resort, 99% of it seems to match the travel agents descriptions and this really helps put my mind at rest. Is the Golf Club bar secluded enough for people like me to hide from the wife when I need a bit of solitude?
Thanks for providing me with a great laugh reading your website. Its well thought out, easy to navigate and you come in the first page of Google - not an easy feat. I will email you separately to ask you about how much you would charge to build a similar website for my company.
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- 'Carl, just wanted to say thanks for such a fantastic website. Informative, interesting and helpful and I laughed out loud at most of it!
I only wish you could write a report like this for every destination I wanted to visit. Sod Craig Doyle and Judith Chalmers the BBC should employ you!! Fantastic and well done-loved it. Off on honeymoon in May to Sun Island feel confident and excited and definitley more knowledgeable, Bye for now xx'
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I cant stress enough - none of the staff actually care!
Everyone is so layed back, it wont cause any problems. You will get asked
if you are brothers once by the barman and by your waiter. i just smiled and said no, and they got the hint.
We got superb service and became known as "the two boys who drink vodka at
1pm" at the Beach Bar. All the staff spoke to us, no one asked us if we wanted a twin room, it was all pretty normal. Relax, you will have a great time and wont face any oppression or awkward situations.
- I thought i would e mail to say what a great web site you have started. Me
and my boyfriend went to the resort last feb and are going again in
november. We thought that being gay would cause us issues so we took a girl friend along and thought that it would make things eaisier. It did to a certain extent but two men and a women sharing brought more attention than not. I was wondering whether you had any hints or tips about it as we are going on our own this time and i need some advice as ant my partner is worried so some self help tips to show him would be great.
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- I loved reading this website, its hilarious!!! I am sat at work laughing my head off! (and dreaming of my Honeymoon - May 07!) You have given me loads of tips to enjoy the holiday to its full potential.
Thankyou for entertaining me!!!
Katie x'
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Hey Sandra, let me put your mind at rest.
Were a couple of 30ish year old shirt lifters who are certiainly "Out" but dont make a deal about it or talk about it unless asked. We treat everyone with respect and simply expect the same back. The culture in Maldives is that gayness simply isnt discussed, but of course now they all the internet and sky tv, so its not alien to them.
No one questioned us, and everyone knew we were in the same room. No one actually cares. Its a bit of a novelty for them, because the whole gay scene for maldivians is secret - so to see a couple together really helps the gay staff. It gives the gay Maldivians hope of a better life, and the security that not every country is anti gay.
If anything, we found we got better service.
No one will mind, care or give you any problems. Promise. Just observe their Muslim sensibility - like any straight couple should too - by not snogging on the beach in front of them, or going toplesss in public and you will have no dodgy looks or comments at all. Enjoy! It really is so relaxed out there its hard to explain until you go.
Re:drinks.
No alcohol is for sale in any shops. Only in the bar. My comments about filling up bottles was just my sense of humour. A vodka & coke from the minibar costs about 6 quid, so not too bad compared to London prices, but it can add up over a few weeks.
----- Original Message ----
Hi Carl,
- I am thinking of travelling to the maldives with my girlfriend who has her reservations about the homosexuality issue, however we are never openly out on holiday anyway so I think it will be OK. When you were there did it ever come up in conversation that you were gay? It worries my girlfriend that people will treat us differently there because we are two women together and she thinks they may give bad service or something, did you ever find it a problem?
- Also, we are well known for liking a drink in our room at our leisure and by this i do not mean the mini bar that sounds awful. If i order a drink i.e a sprite like you suggest, and then go back to the main bar, are you saying that they fill the bottle up for you at the bar, or do you have to order vodkas and then sneakily fill up the bottle? Also do they allow you to take drinks back to your room, from the sound of it they do not. Do any of the shops on sun island sell alcohol that you can take to your room?
hi Carolyn
no, no bathrobes are supplied in the bedroom. Its SO bloody hot, you wont miss them! Even though the heat is very humid, you will be bone dry minutes after taking a shower.
In the Amarru Spa, they do supply thin cotton robes to cover your modesty when you walk to a massage treatment room, and even they brought me out in a sweat.
Hope this helps!
- Hi! Off to Sun Island soon. Have read about every review going so think I have a pretty good idea of what to expect! But nowhere can I find the answer to this question - are bathrobes supplied?'
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Hi Graham
In September, sunrise is 6am, sunset at 6.15pm.
Rooms 391 and upwards are on the west side of the island and should give you a good view. There are beaches all around that area, so if your not staying there, there is plenty of space to lie on the sand and watch the sunset.
Enjoy yourself, you will have a great time!
Message:
- 'Which beach rooms would you recommend to view the sunset? am booked to go end Sept, can't wait.'
HI Terri, sorry for the delay getting back to you - just got back from work.
1 - at 21 and 25 you are very similar age to me any my boyf. There are LOTS of couples there, typically from 18 to 60. Mainly 20-30. Lots of Russians as well, but also lots of English! You will have no problems feeling that you fit in.
2 - Dining. Terri, its so bloody hot, i didnt wear shoes for 3 weeks! Nothing at all at that place is formal. at all. Eating in wet swimming trunks is frowned upon, but everyone eats in shorts and t shirts. Tell boyf not to worry at all.
3 - not sure what airline you are with. If its Airtours/MyTravel those seats give you extra legroom, but nothing else so i believe. There are no seat back tvs or multiple movies, so bring a few books and magazines with you for sure.
4 - Weather in August is the end of the rainy season, but the temperature always remain around 28 degrees. Tropical storms are lovely to watch and tend to be over pretty quick. You may want to take a rain jacket with you to keep dry if you go out during a storm, but you certainly will not be cold!
----- Original Message ----
- Hi Carl,
- I have booked a holiday for two weeks with my boyfriend to Sun Island. We will be going in September. I am 21 and my boyfriend is 25. I was wondering when you were there were there couples our age or is it mainly middle aged couples? I was also wanting to ask when dining at night is it formal for men or can you just wear combats and t shirts as my boyfriend does not want to take dress trousers and shoes. I noticed what you were saying about the flight that it is boring. I have upgraded to Premium economy so does this mean we will get extras? Finally do you know what the weather will be like in September?
- Message:
- 'hi carl, just read your website and found it really helpful, me n my hubby fly out on sun 8th april and we are really looking forward to it, its sounds like we will still need to take quite a bit of spending money even though we are AI, thanks for all your info!'
- Reply date: 28th Mar 2007
Hi Carl,
I have just checked out your website and found it to be a very honest and quite accurate review of Sun Island. Our experience (hubby and myself) was similar to yours - a wonderful holiday in a beautiful setting with just minimal gripes (I totally agree about the 'business centre'). If you haven't already done so, I strongly suggest you write a review (and post your weblink) over at TripAdvisor - I think future guests would find your comments very helpful. Good job matey!
Debbie x