Hello, I’m SINAE, a travel writer.
Before visiting the Maldives, many travelers naturally assume that the farther a resort is from Malé, the more beautiful and impressive it will be.
However, the geography of the Maldives is slightly more complex than that. The islands are grouped into clusters of lagoons and atolls extending north and south, with another major group surrounding Malé. Many newly built resorts are located far from the capital not necessarily because those islands are more beautiful, but because there are simply very few unoccupied islands left within the more accessible central area.
To reach a remote resort, you may need to pay an additional $600–$700 per person for a seaplane transfer. The journey can also take considerably longer than expected. Including the waiting time at the airport and the transfer itself, it may consume nearly half a day. In some cases, travelers arrive in the Maldives during the day but do not reach their resort until evening.
One of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of a Maldives honeymoon is therefore not to compromise on the quality of the hotel, but to choose a resort closer to the main island.
By doing so, you may save around $600 per person in seaplane expenses, while also preserving a significant amount of valuable vacation time.
In my previous post, I shared a detailed review of the speedboat transfer and our Plunge Pool Water Bungalow at Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa. Today, I would like to focus on the activities and experiences available throughout the island.
Complimentary Kayaking and Paddleboarding from the Private Beach
We stayed for four days and three nights. I initially wondered whether we might eventually run out of things to do, but the reality was quite the opposite – we were surprisingly busy throughout the stay.
From the main beach, guests can enjoy several complimentary water activities, including kayaking and paddleboarding.
Snorkeling equipment is also available without charge, while paddleboards can be used free of charge for approximately 30 minutes per person.
Since these activities are included without an additional fee, it is easy to spend the day swimming, paddling across the lagoon, and enjoying the water at a relaxed pace.
Having now visited four Maldives resorts – the St. Regis, The Westin, The Ritz-Carlton, and Sheraton – I found this island to have the largest overall grounds and one of the most expansive beaches.
The island has a naturally long, narrow shape, with an uninterrupted beach extending along almost one entire side. This creates a noticeably greater sense of openness and provides plenty of space for guests to find a quiet section of sand.
To be entirely honest, I had assumed that a resort located close to Malé might feel less beautiful or less special than one reached by seaplane. After spending time here, however, I began to question whether traveling much farther was truly necessary.
The lagoon was beautiful, the beach was spacious, and the island itself felt far more secluded than its convenient location might suggest.
👉 Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa – Check rates on Agoda
👉 Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa – Check rates on Expedia
One of the Maldives’ Long-Established Resorts
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa first opened in December 1973.
It was the fifth resort to open in the Maldives and celebrated its 50th anniversary in December 2023. Although the property has an exceptionally long history, it underwent an extensive renovation in 2019, so it does not feel noticeably dated.
Instead, its history gives the resort a unique advantage. Because Sheraton established itself here so early, it was able to secure a remarkably spacious and naturally beautiful island long before resort development became as competitive as it is today.
Standing on the wide beach and looking across the lagoon, I found myself thinking that this may be one of the greatest strengths of an older Maldives resort: it occupies a location and scale that would be extremely difficult to obtain today.
Shine Spa – A Peaceful 60-Minute Escape
I highly recommend setting aside at least one day for a treatment at Shine Spa. What makes the spa particularly distinctive is that it occupies an entire private island of its own.
Even the journey there feels like part of the experience, as guests cross a beautiful wooden footbridge surrounded by tropical scenery and water. Whenever possible, I would suggest booking a daytime appointment rather than an evening treatment. The surroundings are especially picturesque in daylight, and you can appreciate the scenery along the bridge and around the spa island much more clearly.
The spa grounds are far more spacious than I expected. There is a generously sized sauna and Jacuzzi area, while the treatment rooms are arranged as individual villa-style buildings. From the room, the ocean stretches out directly ahead, creating a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere.
I booked a 60-minute massage, and the time seemed to disappear almost instantly. The technique felt exceptionally refined and professional.
It was quite different from the more casual massages I have experienced elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Every movement felt deliberate and assured, leaving the impression that the therapists had received extensive and highly disciplined training.
The experience does not simply end when the massage is over. After the treatment, guests can spend time in a dedicated relaxation room with a cup of tea.
The sauna and Jacuzzi facilities are also available, allowing you to remain at the spa and unwind rather than having to leave immediately. It is worth allowing extra time before or after the appointment so that the experience never feels rushed.
Adopt a Coral – Supporting Marine Conservation
There are two particularly attractive snorkeling areas around the resort. The first is located in front of the water bungalows, where coral formations and tropical fish can be seen beneath the surface. The second, much larger snorkeling point lies directly in front of the dive center.
This is also where Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa carries out its coral restoration work. Beneath the water, triangular, pyramid-shaped frames have been installed as part of the conservation project. Seeing them underwater for the first time was genuinely fascinating.
Small coral fragments are carefully attached to these structures before the frames are placed into the sea. Over time, the coral grows naturally around them.
As the coral becomes established, it creates shelter for fish and other marine life. When more fish return, the surrounding underwater ecosystem gradually begins to recover.
In this way, restoring coral is not simply about creating a beautiful snorkeling site – it contributes to the protection and regeneration of the wider marine environment.
Guests do not need to participate in the Adopt a Coral program in order to snorkel in the area. The site can still be explored independently. For those who would like to take part, the program costs approximately $200–$300, depending on the size of the coral frame. According to the resort, all proceeds are used for environmental conservation.
Participants also receive an update by email approximately once every six months, including photographs showing how their coral has grown. I found this particularly meaningful. It allows you to commemorate your Maldives journey while contributing to the protection of the ocean at the same time.
Dolphin Cruise – Sunset Dolphin Watching
The dolphin cruise departs in time to search for dolphins before sunset. Advance reservations are required, and this is a paid activity rather than a complimentary inclusion. However, the surrounding waters are known as a dolphin habitat, so the likelihood of encountering them is relatively high.
The excursion lasts approximately one to one and a half hours. We departed aboard an attractive boat inspired by a traditional Maldivian design. Towels were arranged at the front of the vessel, allowing guests to sit comfortably and enjoy an unobstructed view of the sea.
We saw far more dolphins than I had expected. There appeared to be well over one hundred of them traveling in groups. It was not simply a single pod appearing briefly in the distance; dolphins continued to surface in different areas around the boat.
Watching so many of them move together through the water was one of the most memorable moments of the trip.
The return journey was timed perfectly with sunset. We were able to watch the sky change color, take photographs, and enjoy the final part of the afternoon on the water.
The cruise combined wildlife, scenery, and a beautiful sunset without feeling overly long, making it a very satisfying way to spend the late afternoon.
How to Save Both Time and Money in the Maldives
Naturally, most of us would love to stay at one of the Maldives’ most extravagant private-island resorts. However, once you begin calculating the accommodation, transfer, dining, and activity costs, the total can become astonishingly high.
A practical way to manage the budget is to choose a resort reasonably close to Velana International Airport and confirm whether the speedboat transfer is included in your package. In our case, the round-trip speedboat transfer was complimentary when booking the all-inclusive option.
It is also worth carefully comparing all-inclusive and full-board packages with the cost of paying for meals individually.
After reviewing the restaurant prices myself, I found that ordering each meal separately could easily result in a higher overall expense. Since guests remain on the island, there are naturally no outside restaurants or alternative dining options nearby.
With a full-board or all-inclusive plan, we could order what we wanted, enjoy the water and activities, and relax without repeatedly checking the price of every item on the menu. That sense of freedom made a meaningful difference.
Once the major expenses had already been settled, the experience felt considerably more effortless. We could simply eat when we were hungry, spend as much time as we wished in the water, and enjoy the island without constantly calculating additional costs.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons the Maldives is so often described as paradise. At the right resort, daily life becomes wonderfully simple: beautiful water, good food, meaningful activities, and very little else demanding your attention.
For travelers hoping to experience the Maldives without unnecessarily adding the cost and inconvenience of a seaplane, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa offers a compelling balance of accessibility, space, activities, and natural beauty.
In my next post, I will share a detailed review of the restaurants we experienced through our full-board package.
※This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you