Maldives

Malé is the international gateway, and transfers onward are by seaplane, domestic flight or speedboat depending on the atoll. Seaplanes operate in daylight only, which frequently determines flight timings and sometimes requires an overnight near Malé.

Transfer costs and durations vary widely between resorts and are a real part of the decision, not a footnote.

Resort islands are the standard, with beach villas and overwater villas the two basic types — overwater for the view and the ladder into the sea, beach villas for shade, space and families. Multi-bedroom residences and, in some cases, whole-island buyouts are available.

The variables that matter: house reef quality, island size, distance from Malé, number of restaurants, and whether children are welcomed or quietly discouraged.

Diving and snorkelling are the reason to be here — manta and whale shark encounters are seasonal and atoll-specific. Beyond that: sandbank picnics, dolphin cruises at dusk, sunset sailing and fishing.

Yacht charter through the atolls is a serious alternative to a resort stay for groups who want to move.

Dining is resort dining — usually several restaurants per island, often with a strong headline room and a beach grill. Private dining on a sandbank or at the villa is a standard offering and genuinely worth doing once.

Full-board and half-board arrangements vary considerably, and understanding what a plan includes before arrival avoids a large and unwelcome bill on departure.

Evenings are quiet by design: a drink at the beach bar, dinner, and stars. Some larger resorts have late bars and occasional programming; most do not, and that is the point.

Symbolic ceremonies and vow renewals are widely offered; legal marriage in the Maldives is not generally available to non-Muslim visitors, so couples typically marry at home and hold the ceremony here.

Guest numbers are limited by the island. Small weddings, elopements and proposals are what the destination does best.

Beyond the water: spa programmes that are among the most serious anywhere, marine biology sessions that genuinely engage children, sunset fishing, and the occasional excursion to a local island for a sense of the country beyond the resorts.