Touching down in the Maldives you feel a warm sea breeze and as you step out of the airport everything looks and feels like paradise, it’s as if everything you hoped for in a holiday is right in front of you. The turquoise sparkling waters with tiny islands dotted around, golden sandy beaches surrounding each one with swaying palm trees.

We arrived in Malé the capital and where all international flights land. From there you can take a boat or seaplane to your island of choice. Generally speaking many islands have one hotel on and are private islands for their guests.

The Maldives has a reputation for being a honeymoon destination and one of the most romantic places in the world. I would certainly agree, there is nothing quite like it. The island we were headed for was Gasfinohlu, a 5* island. Crafted from the sand banks, this is one of the newer islands in the Maldives. It is truly one of the most special places on earth, an all-inclusive hotel and most definitely the ideal place for a romantic getaway.

The accommodation on the island is incredible, you are treated to a beach villa, with indoor and outdoor bathroom and private pool, these are available with sunrise or sunset views, or you can book an overwater villa. The overwater villas are the dreamy, with a lounge and bathroom with bath that has a panoramic window to the sea, beautiful bedroom and a private plunge pool and sundeck.

A day on this island is ideal, starting with breakfast, which is pre-ordered the evening before and all delivered to your private villa to be eaten outside with a sea view or inside if one prefers the air conditioning. Your butler is always near your villa to drive you via golf buggy to the main restaurant, pool, cocktail bar, spa or dive centre. You can enjoy lunch in the island restaurant over the sea. The bar, perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail has a glass floor, giving the feel of an aquarium. It is an island geared towards adults and couples, with its sister family friendly island only a five minute boat ride away. This island, Kani, is a lively and family friend island, you can visit the cocktail and beach bars if you are looking for some entertainment and travel there and back on the island boat.

Whilst you are in this tropical paradise, you can sit in the sun or shade, read a book or sip cocktails, but the Maldives offers so much more. For any keen scuba divers, as I am, the dive sites are some of the best in the world and the island has its own dive centre so it is very easy and well organised. At the right time of year you can see whale sharks, or manta rays, more fish and colourful coral than you ever hoped to see.

One of the most delightful qualities about visiting the Maldives is the cuisine, the fresh fish and seafood served is exquisite and the chef at our hotel like many others was excellent.
Many hotels including Finolhu offer sunset cruises, you can relax on a beautiful boat with your gin and tonic and watch the sun disappear with your loved one. We were lucky enough to find a pod of dolphins who decided to swim along the side of the boat during our sunset cruise.

If you were choosing to stay on the island for a honeymoon, I would really recommend going all out and opting for the private water villa, there is nothing quite as special. The water villas on the island have a stairway down to the ocean and a private entrance. It is one of the few places in the world where from your bathtub all you can see is a panoramic view of the ocean. The water villas offer extra touches for example champagne and canapes before dinner and it’s lovely to have space to relax with your new husband or wife.

There are not many places in the world that I would say look better in real life than the postcards. The Maldives is however one of them, whether you opt for a family-friendly 4* hotel or a luxurious 6* villa, it is open to everyone and really one of life’s one time experiences.