The Maldives

I was lucky to visit the Maldives on an educational trip and found my little slice of heaven there. I stayed at three very different resorts, each one the only property on its island.

First up was Kuramathi Maldives, about 1.5 hours by speedboat or 20 minutes by seaplane from the airport. I stayed in a Water Villa with direct access to the warm Indian Ocean. The villa was super spacious, and the air conditioning was a great bonus. Since it’s an all-inclusive resort, everything was taken care of, making it a totally relaxing experience.

Next was Meeru Maldives Resort Island, where I stayed in a Beach Villa. It’s only accessible by speedboat in around an hour from the airport. The villa was cozy and had a lovely terrace where I could unwind and soak in the peaceful vibe. They offer Full Board or All-Inclusive options, and since this was an organised trip, I was on the All-Inclusive plan. The food was incredible with so many choices—it was honestly hard not to overindulge!

The last stop was Kurumba Maldives, just 10 minutes by speedboat from the airport, and this is where I truly found my slice of heaven. I stayed in a Beachfront Deluxe Bungalow where I could open the patio doors and have a stunning view of the beach and ocean right from my bed. Their standard board is Breakfast Only, but you can upgrade to Half Board or All-Inclusive. As part of the trip, I was lucky to be on the All-Inclusive plan here too.

One of the highlights was a try-dive session with the diving school. If you’ve never tried diving, I can’t recommend it enough! The water was warm, and just beyond the wave breakers, the reef dropped off into a vibrant underwater wall full of fish in every shape, size, and colour. I even brought an underwater camera to capture the magic—it was absolutely unforgettable.

On top of that, I explored the island and found a completely empty stretch of beach. Sitting there alone, staring out at the ocean, was my ultimate "slice of heaven" moment. It’s a view that’s still crystal clear in my mind to this day.