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Is the Maldives really worth the hype?
I grew up in Italy, where the Maldives were probably the No. 1 winter destination for honeymooners and divers, and I would have never thought I’d check it off as my bucket list destination during summertime with a couple of other friends – like a double date outside NYC…
I feel like I’m holding a HUGE secret I can’t wait to spill!!!
When Stefania, the AMAZING Italian manager of Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, invited me to the resort to experience all its magic (her exact words) and take part in the wellness week she was organizing, my heart jumped out of joy. She didn’t have to ask me twice… I was already booking my tickets with Qatar Airways (whose experience deserves a stand-alone article as well: you can read it here).
Stefania is one of those beautiful examples of online connections becoming real friendships – it keeps happening since I started blogging in 2009! I feel like everyone who follows VivereNewYork has the same energy and good vibes only approach… and when we finally meet, it just clicks. She has been following me for years and when she recognized me in this reel, she reached out via DM (thank you again @aspassopernewyork for sharing her message with me!).
Long story short: Luca and I asked our friends Gosia and Maciej if they wanted to join us, and a couple of months later here we were, laughing, dancing, kayaking, sharing magical sunsets, and making new friends from France, Italy, Australia, and – most importantly – with the incredible Maldivian, Indian, and Sri Lankan staff who felt like family since day one!
If I close my eyes, I can still imagine waking up to sunrise in a super cute overwater villa, breathing in the ocean and connecting with nature on a pristine sandbank (that’s how islands are born!), jet-skiing surrounded by dolphins dancing around us, eating a succulent lobster for a romantic dinner with Luca on the beach at sunset, and jumping straight into turquoise water from our villa steps… all surrounded by love.
So, YES, the Maldives is more than worth the hype; it’s beyond anything you’ve ever imagined!!!
I wrote this post to share all my tips and insights with you so that you can plan your next bucket list getaway with ease and effortlessly: just follow these steps and have the most mind-blowing experience you’ve ever had!!! ✨🌴
✈️ How to Get There
There are plenty of airlines flying to Malé (MLE) from the U.S. and Europe (Qatar Airways, Emirates, Turkish, Etihad, Singapore, United), all with one-stop routes via hubs like Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, and Singapore.
✨ Why We Picked Qatar Airways
- Named World’s Best Airline 2025 by Skytrax for the ninth time(!!!), Qatar Airways offers award-winning business class, and everyone swears by their comfortable economy seats with plenty of legroom.
- Doha’s Hamad Airport recent renovations include such a dreamy garden!!! You can definitely spend some time getting lost in its beauty – it feels like part of the journey!!! I honestly cannot think of a better layover.
💡 Insider tip: Book 1–2 months ahead for the best economy deals + sign up for their Privilege Club and watch for upgrade offers. SO WORTH IT!!! Read everything in this post.
Because of a recent partnership with the beautiful city of Brescia, I was already in Italy, so we flew from Milan to Malé via Doha. It’s about 5½ hr for the first flight (while it’s 12 hr from NYC), and 4½ hr for the second one.
Once in Malé, you’ll take a 50-minute domestic flight with Maldivian Airlines to reach your final destination: the stunning Kooddoo Island in the southern Gaafu Alifu Atoll. No extra speedboat transfer needed here.
Unlike many other resorts, Mercure Kooddoo is right by the island airport – just a 3-minute golf cart ride to your villa, and still, you won’t hear any plane noise while staying at the resort.
Sometimes, you’ll spot a small plane arriving or taking off (only twice a day), and it actually feels like a beautiful, cinematic moment.
🌿 Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort: When to Go + First Impressions & Vibes
From the second you arrive, you’ll feel welcomed and at home. This 4-star boutique-feeling resort gives you all the luxury vibes without being too stiff or intimidating. It’s warm, stunning, and full of heart.
✨ Adults-only.
✨ No boat transfer needed.
✨ Intimate and peaceful with just 68 villas.
✨ Fewer guests during our stay in low season – felt like a private island!
The vibe is casual-chic: barefoot luxury with a soul.
I brought two pairs of sandals (mid and high heels) that never made it out of my carry-on. Flip-flops and barefoot are all you need!!!
We arrived at the end of June, and here’s my first tip for you: skip the most crowded months (December to April), and opt for any other months except November and May (the only two heavy rainy months).
Traveling in low season is your ultimate Maldives hack!
We had 10 out of 12 days of sunshine, just one morning shower and one quick night rain (we were already in bed!). The resort felt empty in the best way possible: more privacy, better deals, and a totally relaxed, exclusive vibe. And the colors after a bit of rain where even more magical… PURE PERFECTION!!!
👙 What to Pack (and What I’d Leave Behind!)
I love having different outfit options, and I also love traveling light, so over the years, I’ve perfected my packing style to always fit everything into just a carry-on and a backpack only – yep, even this time, when I was away from NYC for 7 weeks across cities, mountains, and beaches! I always bring everything I need and plan to do laundry (or hand-wash bikinis and underwear) at least once a week.
Also: I’ve rented most of my dresses via Armoire Style – I LOVE their service!!!
So here’s what I managed to fit in my carry-on for the Maldives:
- 5 long dresses (I only wore 3)
- 5 short dresses
- 1 light sweater
- 6 bathing suits
- 7 undies and 3 sport bras
- 3 shorts
- 3 tops
- 1 skort
- 1 pair of flip flop
- 2 extra pairs of sandals (totally useless!)
- 2 hats
- Rothy’s Lightweight Tote: I’m obsessed with this bag! Made from recycled plastic, it’s spacious, super light, and washable. I bring it everywhere!
- 1 classic tote bag
- sunscreen (see more below)
- OFF! FamilyCare Insect & Mosquito Repellent Spritz
What I wish I had brought: al least 3 cover-ups (easy dresses or wraps to throw over your swimsuit and slip off in seconds). Make sure to add it to your outfit list!!! 👙
Extra outfit I had on while traveling: a bodysuit, sweat pants, sneakers and a light jacket (for the airplane AC).
☀️ Sunscreen Must-Haves
I’m obsessed with Babo Botanicals and can truly swear by them. Both Luca and I wore SPF 50 the first week and SPF 30 the second week, and neither of us got sunburned. We both ended up with a beautiful, even tan, and I’m now showing off an amazing golden glow!
They’re clean, organic, reef-safe, and come in carry-on friendly sizes (I never check a bag).
PS. While I may earn a small commission from purchases made through links on VivereNewYork, I only recommend products I truly LOVE 💛 There’s no extra cost for you and you’ll be supporting my work… THANK YOU!!!
🐬 Unexpected Magic: Dolphins & Marine Life FOR ALL
If I had to pick one highlight of this trip, it would be the marine life. 100%.
Mercure Kooddoo Resort is home to over 400 wild dolphins (!!). The resort partners with Bicocca University in Milan on a special dolphin research project, studying families and different groups in the area, and you can see them up close when you least expect it!
We took a dolphin cruise to spot them, and it was a fabulous experience: we first watched an introductory video explained by the two young Italian girls who are on the island studying the dolphins, and then we got lucky spotting them other times after:
– During our sandbank excursion by boat (they just showed up and swam around us!).
– While jet-skiing around the island.
I grew up terrified of sharks (thank you, movies! 🙃), and only recently overcame my fear of open water in Bonaire. Luca, on the other hand, just got his diving certification right here at Mercure Kooddoo, and loved every single moment of it.
If you’ve ever thought about getting certified, doing it in the Maldives will blow your mind. Marty (his instructor), like the rest of the staff, is super attentive, friendly, and professional. He guided Luca through every step, made him feel completely safe, and even took tons of underwater videos so Luca could remember this experience forever.
And for everyone else, like me: you don’t have to be an adventurous swimmer to enjoy the water here. Just grab your gear, step into the water, and boom: a whole new world of colorful fish, rays, and tiny reef sharks are waiting to say hi and make you fall in love with them!
If you’re staying in one of the overwater villas, you can even step down into the water from your private balcony, or watch your partner snorkeling below the villa through a small window in your room floor… so fun!!!
🧘♀️ Wellness & Spa: Move, Breathe & Reconnect
Some people might think that you’d get bored in the Maldives if you don’t dive. Let me tell you: they have no idea!
I still have some fear of open water (even though I’d spend hours watching dolphins from the boat or the jet ski), however, what I also look forward to during a trip is re-nourishing my soul and staying fit.
When Stefania told me about the Wellness Week she was organizing at the end of June into early July, I got super excited. I still teach fitness classes in New York City, and the idea of teaching a class in paradise literally made me cry from joy. It was truly amazing.
I loved connecting with incredible instructors from Tempo Garage Gym and Radical Fitness while trying their new classes… so much energy!!!
If you can’t make it for their next Wellness Week, you can still stay active and inspired by joining regular yoga, Pilates, beach workout classes, aqua fitness, or sunset Zumba, all included in your stay. There’s also a 24/7 fitness center and an outdoor tennis court if that’s your vibe.
Looking for more activities? Sign a quick release form and use their paddles or a kayak anytime you want!
And then… the spa. It’s so pretty! They offer everything from deep tissue and hot stone massages to sports recovery, aromatherapy, reflexology, body wraps, scrubs, facials, and couples’ treatments. We tried a couple’s massage, and we both felt completely restored and deeply rested. We would have totally booked another one if we had found the time… yep, we were so busy exploring and living every moment that we didn’t – LOL!
Watsu (the Japanese Shiatsu massage done inside the pool) was also an incredible surprise for me. Imagine dancing in the water with a therapist, completely surrendering to your breath and letting your body move in ways you never expected. My new friend Claire from Australia booked her session right after mine and told me it felt like a rebirth. I couldn’t agree more.
Luca, though, got a little seasick… so maybe it’s not for everyone, but if you love it, it will completely blow your mind, like it did for us.
🌊 Top Things to Do in the Maldives
As we already said earlier, one of the biggest misconceptions is that there’s “nothing to do” in the Maldives except lying on the beach or dive. Let me tell you: you’ll never get bored here – unless you want to 😎
Here are some of my favorite things to do that turned this trip into pure magic:
- Rent a Bike
Biking around the resort added an extra layer of fun and ease. Not because the resort is huge, but because it’s so much easier to move around freely, especially if you’re staying in one of the overwater villas! Since the bike rental isn’t included, you can even rent it by the day (we kept it for our entire stay).
- Wellness & Fitness
Join a yoga class, try Zumba, or move your body with beach workouts. You can also paddleboard, kayak, or hit the tennis court if that’s your thing – all equipment rental is included in your stay!
- Sandbank Adventures
Take a boat out to a pristine sandbank in the middle of the ocean. It’s a mind-blowing experience! We even had dolphins show up and swim around us… I still can’t wrap my head around it 🥹💕
- Jet Ski Safari
Circle the island on a jet ski, searching for turtles, rays, dolphins, and baby sharks. Every ride felt like a mini treasure hunt.
- Dolphin Cruises
Go on a dolphin cruise and feel the excitement when they appear out of nowhere. Watching them play and jump in the wild will make your heart go boom!
- Diving & Underwater Discoveries
If you’ve ever dreamed about diving, this is the place to do it: crystal-clear water, colorful coral gardens, and marine life that feels like a living aquarium. Luca got his Open Water certification right at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, and loved every second. You just contact the resort to get started, and they’ll set up your PADI profile and give you access to the online course.
The certification includes about five hours of online study, five dives at different depths (some focused on technique and safety in shallow water, others purely for exploring), and you’ll reach up to 18 meters deep – always guided by a professional instructor.
Luca’s instructor, Marty, was calm, professional, and knew every corner of the reef. He made Luca feel safe and even took underwater videos to remember the adventure forever.
💰It costs around $1,000 (tips not included) and takes about four days. If you’ve ever wanted to dive, this is the most magical place to start! Once you get comfortable, you’ll fall in love with this colorful, silent world where we really feel like “fish out of water” – in Luca’s words.
- Snorkeling from Your Villa
You can easily jump right into the ocean from both the overwater villas and the beach houses. From the overwater villa, you step straight down from your private deck; from the beach house, you just walk a few steps into the crystal-clear water. Put on your gear and explore the colorful fish and corals right under your room (or watch your partner swimming through the small window in the floor if you’re in an overwater villa). So fun and effortless either way!
- Romantic Beach Dinners
We had a private beach dinner where Luca claimed he had the best tuna of his life, and I still dream about that lobster. Candlelight, ocean waves, and the most stunning sunset… pure paradise – thank you again chef!!!
- Floating Breakfasts
One of the prettiest (yup, super Instagrammable) experiences ever! You get a cute heart-shaped or oval tray that floats in your private pool, filled with colorful tropical fruits, pastries, pancakes, eggs, fresh juices, and coffee – all beautifully arranged. It’s luxurious, playful, and the perfect way to start your day with ocean views and total chill vibes.
- Dining in the Resort
Everything you eat and drink always feels fresh, and tasty. Breakfast is probably my favorite part of the day. The pastries are insane (the croissants are to die for!). Fresh fruit, yogurt, savory options freshly made by the chef (eggs, fish, waffles & pancakes…), different juices, and any type of coffee or cappuccino you crave. And then there’s the people like Shifa, Alina, Poppy (just to name a few): they made every single moment feel extra special. If you go, please give them a huge hug from me. They’re phenomenal. 🥰
- Drinks on the Infinity Pool
You can grab drinks or snacks from the pool bar and enjoy them while lounging in the infinity pool. The team there is always attentive, and always asking if you need anything. Almost everything is included (only some cocktails and the coconut waters are extra), and trust me, the fresh coconut water is totally worth it. So refreshing and delicious – highly recommended!
- Spa & Watsu Experiences
Treat yourself to a spa day and try Watsu, the magical water therapy that feels like dancing underwater. I completely surrendered to the movement and breath and it felt magical.
💌 Final Thoughts
If you’re dreaming of a place that will blow your mind and exceed every expectation you’ve ever had… this is it.
The Maldives will stay in your heart forever.
It’s one of those rare places you think about long after you leave, and you might even find yourself planning your next trip back before you’ve unpacked your suitcase 🙃. I’m already ready to go back.
I hope this guide helps you plan a trip that feels just as magical and unforgettable as ours. And if you do go… get ready to fall in love, over and over again!!!
FEEL FREE TO ask me any questions you might have and share your experience… I can’t wait to read all your comments!!!
Ciaooo!!!!
