Maldives —
10 nights in paradise on Meeru Island
The final stop on our three-week honeymoon — after Zanzibar and a Kenya safari — was ten glorious nights on Meeru Island in the Maldives. An overwater villa, all inclusive, baby sharks in the shallows, scuba diving, a catamaran tour, a romantic beach dinner surrounded by a love heart, a surprise GF birthday cake and the most spectacular sunsets we have ever seen. Oh — and Podge played football against the staff, got injured, visited the island doctor, then got a dodgy stomach and went back again. Nicola continued sipping cocktails throughout. Paradise. 🍹
What this trip gave us:
The honeymoon finale
Ten nights in the most beautiful place on earth.
After three extraordinary weeks — starting in Zanzibar and then heading on safari in Kenya — we arrived on Meeru Island in the Maldives for the final chapter of our honeymoon. Ten nights. All inclusive. An overwater villa. And the Indian Ocean in every direction as far as the eye could see.
The pace of life on Meeru Island is exactly what you need after a busy few weeks of travel. Nicola threw herself into the scuba diving — the marine life in the Maldives is extraordinary and she dived throughout the stay. Podge lay in the sun, played golf, boules and pool, and made very enthusiastic use of the all inclusive drinks policy.
Every evening we sat out together listening to the live bands play as the sun went down over the ocean — and the sunsets in the Maldives are genuinely among the most beautiful things we have ever seen. We did a catamaran tour, had a couples massage and swam out from the beach one afternoon to find ourselves surrounded by baby sharks in the shallows. Completely harmless — and completely breathtaking.
The romantic highlights were something else. A private dinner on the beach, the table surrounded by a love heart made of flowers and candles, the ocean lapping nearby — it was one of the most special evenings of our lives. And when Nicola's birthday came around, the resort staff surprised her with a beautifully made gluten-free birthday cake. A genuinely lovely touch.
Now — the other story. Podge joined a football match against the resort staff, took a knock and ended up at the island doctor. Recovered. Then got a dodgy stomach and ended up back at the island doctor a second time. Throughout all of this, Nicola was absolutely fine and continued sipping cocktails with impressive dedication. The staff were brilliant throughout — warm, professional and endlessly good-humoured about the whole thing.
Ten nights was not enough. We would go back tomorrow.
The highlights — what stood out most
Waking up above the turquoise lagoon, stepping straight from your deck into the warm Indian Ocean — the overwater villa experience is everything you imagine and more.
Swimming out from the beach and finding ourselves surrounded by baby sharks in the shallows was one of the most extraordinary wildlife moments of our entire honeymoon.
Every evening, live bands played as the sun went down over the Indian Ocean. The Maldives sunsets are among the most spectacular we have ever seen — anywhere.
A private candlelit dinner on the beach, the table surrounded by a love heart of flowers — one of the most romantic evenings of our lives. The Maldives does romance brilliantly.
The marine life in the Maldives is world class — Nicola dived throughout the stay and loved every session. The visibility, the coral and the fish are extraordinary.
The resort staff went above and beyond — baking a beautiful gluten-free birthday cake for Nicola was a wonderfully thoughtful touch that made the celebration extra special.
Turquoise waters, golden sunsets and paradise found
From the overwater villa and the baby shark shallows to the spectacular Indian Ocean sunsets and the couple who made it all the way to the Maldives and back to the island doctor twice.
Watch our short
Inside our overwater villa on Meeru Island
The overwater villa was one of the most extraordinary places we have ever stayed — watch our reel for a look inside and a feel for what makes it so special.
Our overwater villa on Meeru Island 🏠🌊
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Common questions
Maldives FAQ
What to pack for the Maldives
Maldives packing essentials — what we'd bring
The Maldives is hot and sunny year-round — temperatures hover around 28–32°C with high humidity. Pack light, bring plenty of sun protection and don't forget your underwater camera! These are the things we would not leave home without.
The tropical sun is intense — especially on the water and during boat trips. Reef-safe sunscreen is strongly recommended to protect the incredible coral. Pack plenty.
View on Amazon →Mosquitoes can be present in the evenings on some Maldivian islands. A good repellent is worth having — especially for outdoor evening dining and the sunset band sessions.
View on Amazon →Essential for the overwater villa, snorkelling, boat trips and any time you are in or near the water. You will not want to miss a single photo opportunity.
View on Amazon →Staying hydrated in the heat is essential — even on all inclusive where drinks are included, having a water bottle for beach and activity days keeps you going.
View on Amazon →Full days out on the water, taking photos and videos will drain your battery fast. A power bank keeps you connected and means you never miss a moment.
View on Amazon →For resort evenings, beach dinners and anywhere that is not the pool or beach — light, breathable linen keeps you cool and looking great in the tropical heat.
View on Amazon →Useful for staying connected — Wi-Fi on remote Maldivian islands can be patchy, especially away from the main resort areas.
View on Amazon →The Maldives uses Type D, G and K plugs — don't arrive after a long journey with nothing charged. An adaptor is essential.
View on Amazon →There is an island doctor on most resorts — as we can personally confirm! — but having your own first aid kit for minor things is always a good idea.
View on Amazon →Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These are all things we'd genuinely pack for a Maldives trip.
Planning your own Maldives trip?
The Maldives is one of those places that you spend years dreaming about and then arrive and realise the reality is even better than the dream. Go. Stay longer than you think you need to. And maybe avoid the football match against the staff.
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