Meeru Island Resort :: View topic

Ritchie

First of all a big thank you to this forum for helping us have the best holiday as first timers to the Maldives. Without the forum I would never have discovered a number of things – not least the gorgeous iced coffee!

My trip report is my contribution to the forum. I can’t stop thinking of Meeru since our return and definitely still have holiday blues.

Started off in the VIP lounge at Manchester which meant a relaxed couple of hours in peaceful surroundings before the flight. The airport being remarkably quiet anyway.

We booked premiums seats with Thompson (never done before). I never felt cramped the whole flight, the service was fine, food fine, entertainment worked so thankfully the flight was very uneventful.

We had a long wait for the seaplane (about hour and half) which when you just want the get there seemed a long time. This was only because we were waiting for people from other flights so I suppose couldn’t be helped. Seaplane is as has been said, hot and cramped but is an experience we are glad we did. They drop you off in the middle of the ocean on a pontoon at which point we did wonder if we were going to be abandoned but of course the plane stayed with us until the boat arrived and then we set foot on Meeru.

Lovely lovely Island. I emailed requesting a water villa in the low 500’s but was quite prepared to see what offers were made should our room not have been ready. Our home for the next 2 weeks was water villa 503. I could not fault the villa – beautiful room, kept spotlessly clean by Ali, beautiful view – WOW! You could sit on the porch and watch the reef sharks swim by. Many a time I put my sunbed in the sea and sunbathed while watching the fishes swim by. It also kept me cool because it was hot hot hot. Lovely!

Blue sky for 2 weeks. We had rain one night which was very noisy on the roof and a bit scary – but also exciting. I didn’t want to wish for rain but quietly hoped that we might experience a thunder storm (can’t believe I was wishing for rain!!). No storms though.

We did manage to lock ourselves out of our villa the first night though! Anyone else ever done that or are we the only stupid ones?! We didn’t realise at the time that the veranda door had a latch and of course, sitting on the porch the door shut and we had locked the front door too! Thankfully the waiters at the Pavilion pool were still around and saved the day!

We ate at the Maalan restaurant and the food was very good. The Sunday roast scrummy. We met a couple who were visiting for the 6th time and didn’t care too much which room they had but they wanted to make sure they ate in the other restaurant – so I wouldn’t worry about which restaurant you are allocated, they both look equally as good. You do get the sea view at the Maalan though which is again beautiful.

Ate at the Asian Wok twice, lovely menu choice. We did the full moon dinner which was also very nice. I’m glad I packed my torch (room did have one too) because it was fun to watch the crabs scuttle away as you walked the beach in the moonlight.

One of my favourite memories will be the stars. I have never seen stars like it! There seemed to be so many and so bright.

Most days we did a walk around the island, as I found the sun too hot to lie in so a walk was my way of still getting a tan. The walk took about an hour but this was ambling and stopping for a dip in the Indian ocean and a dip into the lovely air conditioned toilets! (which by the way were always kept immaculately clean).

The sea was so warm as was the pavilion pool. It was lovely to prop myself up at the end of the infinity pool and gaze out to sea or sit with a cool tiger beer in one of the two Jacuzzis.

We went to watch the football match - staff v guests on Sunday afternoon with more tiger beer. My husband rated the Tiger beer and had many a tipsy evening in the Pavilion Beach bar enjoying it!

There are rats as has already been reported. We saw about 4 the whole time we were there. It in no way put us off any part of the holiday. In the evenings when we walked to the restaurant we could hear all sorts of rustling in the tropical bushes which was a bit off putting but we used to joke it was the leaves falling, or the sweet little geckos! It all added to the experience!

The inner part of the Island as you crossed from East (where the water villas are) to West (where the Dhoni bar etc is) (I hope I have that right!) could be quite smelly and noisy sometimes, which I presume was from the generator. We had a few go’s on the driving range and I used to say to my husband that it reminded me of Jurassic park with the big fences needed for the range and the golf course. This is in no way a complaint. We used to like to walk and experience all of Meeru, not just the beach and sea views which by the way I thought were amazing. I will never forget the different colours of the sea, I want to cry just thinking about it now! This will be another favourite memory.

I had many an iced coffee, sometimes with rum sometimes not. The best and this is just my opinion were at the Asian wok. Yum, yum! I dread to get on the scales now though.

I read somewhere on the forum that the sea can be quite noisy by the water villas and thought how lovely that would be. It did take a while for me to get used to and I love the sounds of the sea. I was expecting gentle lapping of the ocean which is what I got but I didn’t expect the distant roar of the sea where it crashed against – would it be the edge of the reef? It was quite loud and for the first few nights I had trouble sleeping because of it. Sounds like a complaint – but it’s not meant to be, just again one of my observations which might help someone considering a beach or a water villa. I wouldn’t have changed my choice of villa for the world (unless of course I could have had a JWV on the stilts – these looked lovely too).

Our water villa did have a jacuzzi and a day bed but we didn’t use either. I didn’t really see the point as there were too many other beautiful views to see.

I did get up on a two occasions to watch the sunrise which was lovely to experience. And we watched many a sunset at the Uthuru bar and on a couple of occasions at the Dhoni bar. We spent most of our time at the Uthuru bar and the Pavilion bar. I’m not sure whether this was because we were located this side of the Island.

There did seem a difference between the two parts of the Island but all parts of the Island are lovely in their different ways. You could watch the boats while sitting in the Dhoni bar or as we did on a couple of occasions, my husband went to watch the football on the screens in the Kakuni bar and I sat and chilled watching the sunset. Don’t let the fact that they screen some football games put anyone off. After all it was my husband’s holiday too and if he wanted to watch a game then why not. I didn’t want to join him so did my own thing and we were both happy. Perhaps this is why someone called it ‘chavtastic’ on trip advisor. If you don’t enjoy football or crowds, you don’t have to go far to enjoy peace and quiet,

Everyone who worked there, from the waiters, the room boys and the boys who kept the paths clear of leaves, and those that cleaned the public areas, we all very friendly and respectful. It was quite humbling really.

I could go on and on so I hope that I haven’t bored you. Time to stop here I think. I expect I will nip in and out of the forum often to see how others are getting on. If you are going soon I am sure you will all have a wonderful time.

Will we go back? Who knows. I have lovely memories but it was once in a lifetime holiday for us and I can’t imagine spending that much on a holiday again (don’t regret spending it either!) However, if a good price came up in one of the standard rooms I would perhaps think about it….so maybe one day…..x

sams

Hi Ritchie, what a lovely trip report Smile

You enjoyed all the things that make Meeru special to us.

By the way, the first time we went it was to be a once in a life time holiday, but we have been well and truly bitten by the Meeru bug and have been lucky enough to go back a few times now.

madmalteaser

What a lovely report Ritchie! Like you, I expect this trip to be a once in a lifetime experience for me. My other half and I have never spent this amount of money on a holiday before and are not likely to for a very long time in the future after so I want to experience as much as Meeru has to offer while we're there.

It sounds like you had a truly wonderful time and it's made me all the more excited for my trip - even though it's still 10 months away!

shazdav

Sounds like you had a lovely time. We're going for our 30th wedding anniversary in october. First time maldives - can't wait!

Jen

Lovely trip report and brought back many, many memories and also tears to my eyes (this often happens when I think of Meeru its just so wonderful). Don't dispair many of us on here said it was a once in a lifetime holiday.....but once you've been it spoils you for anywhere else, or this is what we have found. We have managed 3 trips so far The first for Vow renewals 30th Anniversary. We are now going back in 4wks for an unexpected trip (so it feels even more exciting) but we are going into the 'Garden Rooms' to make it as cheap as possible and it isnt too much more than a good holiday elsewhere which I know we wouldn't enjoy half as much. We feel Meeru and the Maldives is just right for us in every respect even in the 'cheaper' rooms.

So one day I'm sure you will go back, you could even miss a couple of holidays to save the money to do it.

Jen

Billy

Nice report.

Many people have said it was a one off special holiday mate, only to return and return. Wink

Its funny how some of the really simple things can really enhance a holiday experience.

Casey Jones

Great report Ritchie Very Happy

Thanks for some valuable feedback...the stars as you say are quite something to see. If you live in a big city with a lot of light pollution be prepared for something special Very Happy

Casey

JillyB

Lovely report Ritchie...thank you!

Colin & Jenny

Glad you had a great time.

Don't be fooled though...

Ever since we honeymooned in Meeru we have only ever holiday'd in the Maldives since!

Cheers

Colin & Jenny

Glad you had a great time.

Don't be fooled though...

Ever since we honeymooned in Meeru we have only ever holiday'd in the Maldives since!

Cheers