Why are celebs like Vera Sidika crazy about the Maldives?

The Maldives is one of the most beautiful Islands on Earth.

Many times you will see celebrities like Vera Sidika, David Beckham, Gordon Ramsay, and Tom Cruise vacation there.

What draws them there apart from its obvious beauty, is its crystal clear water and white beaches.

Let us find out more about the island below:

1. The Island is made up of almost 2,000 small islands. It is made up of around 1,190 individual islands, peppered across the Indian Ocean, just below India and Sri Lanka.

2. There’s a glow-in-the-dark beach. Guests staying at Dusit Thani Maldives in the Baa Atoll, During certain times of the year, this resort’s beach comes alive with light — at night — giving off a star.

3. Seeing large marine life here is easy both above and below the water. One can snorkel underneath and see hammerhead sharks.

4. Some of its islands are disappearing with over 100 already gone. This is such a common problem for the islands that many have seawalls built around the islands to help break waves or pumps on the beaches, pumping sand back onto land.

4. It has a 100 percent Islamic population. Yes, you read that right! This is especially good to know as it is Ramadan at the moment.

5. As it is an Islamic country, alcohol, bathing suits, and public displays of affection are illegal as it is a Muslim country. Alcohol is not available and homosexuality is also highly frowned upon and illegal.

Women are also barred from wearing bathings suits or revealing clothing (i.e. nothing revealing the elbows, shoulders, or knees).

6. These rules do not apply to the resort islands with them allowing alcohol, pork and women can wear revealing clothing.

7. Some items are banned at the airport like; alcohol, pork and even the Bible (apart from personal use at one’s residence).

7. Every resort is on its own private island. Meaning, there is only one resort per island. So be careful when doing your research on the island you may want to stay at.

8. Although the over-water villas are a beauty to look at, they can also come with a set of challenges. Some of these challenges can be; lack of privacy, dank-smelling bathrooms, and poorly-lit jetties, especially at night-time.

9. The water there is different, as most of it has been recycled, treated, and produced via reverse osmosis desalination. That means you should bring along rehydration salt packets, in essence, the water has no valuable minerals in it.

10. Flights to the resort Islands may double your transportation costs as the island is one of the most expensive places to visit in the world. Budget resorts can cost US$150–350 (Ksh. 15,000-30,000) per night. Guest houses are cheaper at around US$60–100 ( Ksh. 6,000-9,000) per night.

11. There are no schedules for seaplane flights because of the changes in pickups and drop-offs.

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