Maldives: All Inclusive Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort 5 Nights for 2 Guests EXPIRED

Stayed at this place about 3-4 years ago for our honeymoon. Looked pretty new back then and wasn't crowded at all. Staff was very friendly. Hut over the water was great. No back pool on ours (other huts did have them) but we did have an outdoor private shower. Was able to jump into the house reef and snorkel right outside the hut. Reef was amazing. The coral was rich in color and there where plenty of rays, turtles, and even some dolphins in the distance. The island is small but intimate. Make sure to book some activities as you can finish exploring the island in about 2-3 days.

Smart person: https://travel.state.gov/content/...isory.html

"Do not travel to Maldives due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution in Maldives due to terrorism."

Thats enough for me... lol. There are thousands of places to travel to in this world... Many that aren't a huge risk for Covid or Terrorism.

Islands are separated into two groups: Inhabited and Uninhabited. There's a definition regarding schools, hospitals and grocery stores. Resorts are on uninhabited islands and are free to set their own rules. Inhabited islands are where the locals live and are Muslim. No alcohol. No bare skin for men or women. Calls to prayer.

The inhabited islands (to my limited experience) have designated beaches where tourists may dress as they like. At the two islands I visited, the "bikini beaches" were the best beaches available in terms of sand and palm trees etc. On the street, nobody was called out, that I saw, but respect for their culture requires compliance. It is a Muslim country and if you venture off the resort islands you should try to honor their culture. If you don't want to do that, go to Florida instead.

The advantages of the local islands is the $$. A restaurant meal might cost as much as 200 rupiyee ($14), but 70-120 is more typical. A room costs $40 - $100. Dive shops are more eager and less expensive than at the resort. (Hint - "Noodles" = ramen)

Covid though... Resorts are less likely to receive you if you're not coming directly from Male, so go to the resort first then transfer to the local island. There's a "split-stay" form. Confirm in advance with any hotel that they will accept a split-stay from where-ever before you book. (Did I mention that Rocket Travel & T-mobile are Satan?).

Will the local island accept a split-stay from the resort? Can you use the domestic airport after staying at the local Island? Be sure. This resort is WAY to the south. A speedboat will be painful.

And, if you're reading to the end... take mosquito repellant. Even the resort we went to struggled (but failed) to keep us unbitten.

EDIT: Use google maps when choosing a guest house (Local Island hotel). Most are not on a beach. I'm told that which side of the island has sand cycles with the season, but west facing beaches always get the sunset show. At Mala Dihangethi they struggle to keep a beach, but what they have is right there. On Dhigurah, Athiri Beach has sand when you walk out the door. Others have 30 or 40 feet of jungle first.

Another Edit: Masks. On the local Island Dihangethi, no one other than government officials and health clinic staff wore masks. Months ago, someone got sick, but that was then and this is now. On Dhigurah we collected data. Regarding people in the streets, 20% wore masks, mostly young women, 20% wore chin diapers & 60% were unmasked. For people working in the guest houses and restaurants, 100% wore masks.