Why I Don’t Want To Go To The Maldives

by SharonKurheg

So, we were talking with some travel friends about places we’ve gone and have plans to visit. Joe talked about our visit to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to celebrate his big “birthday ending with a zero” that had happened a few months previous.

He also mentioned he picked those because he would have liked to go to the Maldives but it wasn’t an option.

“Why not?,” they asked.

“Sharon doesn’t want to go to the Maldives.”

{{{THUD}}}

Are any of you old enough to remember those E.F. Hutton commercials of the 70s and 80s?

It was kind of the same thing. Everyone just turned around and glared at me. Y’all, it was as if I had suddenly grown 3 heads or something!

And then they all tried to explain to me why I was wrong. LOLOL!

“But it’s so beautiful!” (my reply: “So is Hawaii or any tropical locale!”)

“It’s so relaxing there!” (“So is Key West and it’s a WHOLE LOT closer!”)

“Eventually it’s not going to be there anymore!” (OK, I didn’t have a wise @$$ response to that one, but hell, I’M eventually not going to be here anymore, either!)

Seriously, what am I going to do there? Its sandy beaches. I’m not a beach person. I’d sit and read a book on my iPad. I can do that in my backyard. If I really want to read a book on a beach, well, I live in Florida. Drive an hour to the coast, and there I am.

Going on 23 years in Florida and I’ve never done that. (Note from Joe: There were beach trips in 2020 but that’s because it was the only vacation we could take.)

But I wanted to take their suggestions to heart, so I did some research on things to do in the Maldives. Here’s what I found:

Adapted from The Planet D’s 15 Of The Best Things To Do In Maldives

1. SCUBA Diving

THAT would involve having SCUBA diving certification. Don’t have it, don’t want it. I have enough problems with the 2nd thing on the list…

2. Snorkeling Trips

I’ve done snorkeling a handful of times. Enough times to realize that I have a really hard time coordinating breathing just through my mouth. And I’m not a good swimmer, nor in the best shape, so I get tired halfway through, complete with my calves cramping up, and have to be “towed” back to shore. So yeah, it’s pretty to look in the water for a few minutes but overall, snorkeling is not exactly a “fun” experience for me.

3. Dolphin Watching

Again, I live in Florida. I go deep sea fishing twice a month. I see dolphins a lot. Not a way to entice me to go to the Maldives.

4. Island Hopping

Meh.

5. Meet the Locals

I love meeting the locals everywhere we go. But I do that anywhere we travel, anyway.

6. Surfing

Did I ever tell you my surfing story? When Joe and I went to Hawaii, I think it was the second time, so in 2012, we did an oh-so-touristy “learn how to surf” package. It was run by the Honolulu Fire Department. In fact, I just Googled and yup, Hawaiian Fire Surf School hung around until 2014 or so. So anyway, I’m on my surfboard with this macho man and we get to the point of my turn to try to surf. Nope. Not happening. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I had a panic attack, but there was no way on earth I was going to be on this fiberglass board as the only thing between me and the ocean and I know I’m going to fall off and did I mention that I’m not a strong swimmer? I didn’t CARE that he saved peoples’ lives for a living, I wasn’t going to do it. He said, “How about you just lay on the board and I’ll do all the work?” Nope.

So yeah, surfing? Not happening.

7. Stand Up Paddle Boarding

I wasn’t willing to lie flat on a board and let a fireman do all the work, you think I’m gonna go out on a paddle board? And what happens when my arms get too tired to paddle like they did when we went kayaking in Canada? No thank-you.

8. Visit The Spa

Now, I do love my spa visits. But I have a feeling that, like almost any other resort in the world, it will cost 2 to 3 times as much (if not more) than I’m willing to pay for any spa package.

9. Sunset Romantic Dinner

That does sound lovely. But to be honest, Joe and I are not much for “romantic” dinners. We’ve been known to spend a butt load of money on a special meal (The French Laundry, Victoria & Albert’s). But to splurge on a romantic dinner, where we can look out at the ocean that, I guess, we’d have been looking at all day? Shrug.

10. Scenic Flight Over Maldives Islands

We’ve certainly done our share of scenic flights, including a handful of helicopter rides (the one over Kauai was AMAZEBALLS!). But based on what I can see? Very similar to the flight to/from the Dry Tortugas. Lots of turquoise water, islands here and there, white sandy beaches. Been there, done that.

11. Over The Water Bungalows

Y’all, you can call them whatever you want, they’re still just hotel rooms. The web page with the list touted the benefits of jumping into the water and snorkeling or swimming (we’ve discussed that whole swimming thing to death 😉 ). “With a private deck, it’s perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and pure relaxation.” There’s that swimming again. Annnnnnd I’ve already had two – no, wait….THREE –  precancerous things removed from my body, TYVM.

12. White Sand Beaches

Just like the ones on the Gulf Coast, 75 minutes from my house…that I never go to because I’m not a beach person.

13. Fishing

OK, you got me with the fishing thing. We’re up to #13 and that’s ONE thing I’d be interested in.

14. Parasailing

Wouldn’t the view be exactly the same as the scenic flight that wouldn’t impress me because it’s the same view as key West to the Dry Tortugas? 😉

15. Explore Malé

That might be interesting.

OK. So, 15 things to do and I found 2 of them interesting. I’m not a spoilsport or an ogre, I promise. But really, I just don’t think the Maldives is “worth it” for me. I’m more into other things. I like big cities more than nature (or if it HAS to be nature, let it be a big hole in the ground, like the Grand Canyon. Now THAT impresses me). I like kitschy things. Give me quirky. Oddball. Old, Gothic cathedrals. Even museums. But the Maldives? I’ll pass.

As the good blog says, Your Mileage May Vary.

From Joe (Didn’t hurt to try.)

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33 comments

Wert April 27, 2022 - 4:25 pm

The coral in the Maldives is almost completely dead, sadly. You can snorkel and scuba but what’s the point?

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Mid April 30, 2022 - 2:59 am

It depends on where you have snorkeled. There are more than 2000 islands. And majority of them have lush coral gardens

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patrick April 27, 2022 - 4:28 pm

As you elaborated so well, the Maldives is not for everyone. Just like going to the Mountains or New York or Florida or a ton of other places is not for everyone. To each his own.

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Joseph April 27, 2022 - 4:58 pm

I understand people’s fascination with the Maldives. It’s an aspirational destination that is out of reach for most people, so traveling there feels special and unique.

Like you though, I’ll probably never go there, and no for a lack of points/miles. There’s just so many other places I’d rather go first. Once I’ve visited Greenland, Patagonia, Antarctica, Niue, and Lore Howe Island, then maybe I’ll add it to the list, but there are so many other fantastic beach and diving destinations that unless a great deal comes along, I’ll probably stick to everywhere else on my list first.

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Adam Haleem April 29, 2022 - 11:05 am

Ofcourse you want do different if you go to the other side of the world.. you will end up doing eat sleep and poop.. so why travel.

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Christian April 27, 2022 - 5:16 pm

LOL, well said. I don’t like Santorini so that makes me a pariah in the miles and points circles. I hope you do Cambodia. My wife and I did a few weeks there in 2018 and we’ve wanted to return ever since but… Covid. She’s going back on a girls trip in January.

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Carl WV April 27, 2022 - 5:57 pm

I’m not saying you should go to the Maldives, but I did want want to address the SCUBA aspect in general. Most places offer “resort dives” that you do not have to be certified for. There is a fairly short introductory session and then off you go (under supervision). And IMHO you can’t even compare SCUBA and snorkeling. One is bobbing around on the waves and maybe diving down for a short period (snorkeling). SCUBA gets you down and away from most of the motion and when done right will give you feeling of weightlessness (neutral buoyancy), It is totally relaxing once you get past the initial fear / uncertainty, While you are getting used to the new experience it will likely also be an adrenaline rush,

You have great diving in the FL Keys (and at shallow depths) , so again I’m not saying go to the Maldives. I love SCUBA – not so much snorkeling.

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Carl WV April 27, 2022 - 6:35 pm

@Joseph – I think you pegged it with “out of reach for most people” I wonder if anybody would go there if they weren’t allowed to tell other people that they went there,

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SharonKurheg April 27, 2022 - 6:37 pm

LOLOLOL!

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DCAWABN April 28, 2022 - 2:17 pm

This is 100% the reason, in my estimation. It’s expensive and not particularly easy to get to, and once you’re there you’re captive. There are so many more interesting, affordable, and easily reached places where I can sit around and do nothing (which is essentially what there is to be done in the Maldives), or much more interesting places where you can both relax (aforementioned “do nothing”) AND explore. But the cost/time factor is bragging rights to a lot of people who, I can only assume, have very little else interesting going on.

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Bo Christian Nielsen April 29, 2022 - 10:43 pm

Really liked the piece and concur in most of your points. I have traveled to more than 120 countries, but first time in the Maldives December 2021. It is sufficiently expensive that it has not attracted hordes of tourists that just destroys the environment or the general experience (like Mexico Caribe, phi phi in Thailand or Lombok all only shadows of what they used to be some decades ago). I found the sea life reasonable interesting and very accessible (+). It is the main draw of the islands, you are basically staying on top of a reef. You have to go to the southern Pacific to find similar appearent remoteness.

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island miler April 27, 2022 - 9:27 pm

LOL! I love your take! Personally, I’d like to go one day, even though I call Hawaii home. But I totally get why you wouldn’t want to. That said, next time you guys area on Oahu, give me a heads up and we’ll see if we can meet up!

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SharonKurheg April 27, 2022 - 10:15 pm

Definitely!

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JohnB April 28, 2022 - 3:39 pm

I understand your reasoning. I really don’t have a strong desire for the Maldives, but the one about it disappearing is important to me. Although Antarctica is first on my list, of disappearing places!

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Boraxo April 29, 2022 - 12:50 am

The government prosecutes LGBTQ citizens. That’s reason enough for me

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SharonKurheg April 29, 2022 - 11:24 am

Hadn’t even thought of that. Add it to my list, as well. No WAY they’ll ever get my money now.

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Muffin April 29, 2022 - 9:52 am

Well I’m from Maldives (born and raised in Male’) and it’s so nice to see that you’ll be interested in exploring Male’ because it gets so much hate for being a busy overcrowded city (but it’s my home so I still have love for it). And bonus; it also has a museum.

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TravelingJaybirds April 29, 2022 - 12:03 pm

I think it’s weird for others to judge you on your travel tastes, it’s not like everyone enjoys the same things and THATS OKAY. My spouse and I get very similar responses when we say we didn’t like and never want to go back to Italy. We’ve tried very hard (so much money and points spent/wasted) to love it solely off the fact we enjoy Italian food but after multiple visits across everything you can possibly do spanning multiple months, we realize we just didn’t enjoy it. There’s no reason to force yourself to go somewhere like the Maldives just because everyone else thinks it’s great.

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Wu tang April 29, 2022 - 5:40 pm

After reading this, for me it seems like its a problem with your boring preferences.

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SharonKurheg April 29, 2022 - 7:36 pm

Everyone is different, right? It’s very possible that things you wouldn’t like, others may think are terrific. That’s why our blog is called “Your Mileage may vary.”

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Ali Riyaz April 30, 2022 - 8:20 pm

Lol just say, you can’t afford to go Maldives 😂😜 By reading the article I have understood one thing for sure. You are just boring. You just don’t like to do anything. Ha-ha 😂😂

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SharonKurheg April 30, 2022 - 9:00 pm

Girl, we can well afford the Maldives. If that and “You don’t like to do anything” is all you got out of that post, I suspect you didn’t read into it very well. Ha-ha

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William May 14, 2022 - 8:23 pm

The irony of that statement is that most people use miles and points to go anyways. I’m in agreement with you though. It’s a long ways to travel to just sit in a hotel room, swim, and stuff my face.

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Ahmed Mifrah May 6, 2022 - 8:16 am

Why does a maldivian need to be butt hurt here?

Im Maldivian too

Sharon, just like ali riyaz and anyone in the world is allowed have her own likes and dislikes.

If she dislikes beaches and sand and all that, Maldives definitely isnt the place for you.

Love the honesty on the post

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Rowan's Bottom May 3, 2022 - 1:22 pm

Wow, sounds like nothing would make you happy doesn’t it.
I think you have to go to experience it before you waste the effort being a naysayer.

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SharonKurheg May 3, 2022 - 4:41 pm

Well, little in the Maldives would make me happy, no. I did mention in the post some of the things that I do enjoy. As for needing to try it before saying I won’t like it…if someone is afraid of heights, chances are good they wouldn’t like standing at the top of the Empire State Building. If they don’t like chocolate, I suspect they wouldn’t like a fudge brownie. I don’t like beaches. I don’t like snorkeling. I put myself at risk of more pre-cancerous spots if I sit and sunbathe. I don’t think I need to experience the Maldives to know I wouldn’t like it very much.

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Teana Putri May 4, 2022 - 12:25 am

I’m from Singapore and Maldives is easy to access. I was planning a trip there last November but then changed it to Spain at the last minute. Maldives is indeed beautiful but definitely expensive and being not drone-friendly is a meh for me. I’d rather plan a trip to Fiji and enjoy both sea and land activities. They have overwater villa too hehe… Have you been to Fiji?

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SharonKurheg May 4, 2022 - 12:28 am

Not yet. But hopefully someday! 🙂

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Some Citizen May 15, 2022 - 3:08 am

I’ll put it bluntly, Maldives is not for everyone and that’s coming from a Maldivian. Most of the suggestions that you were given about what to do in the Maldives is just advertisements, if you want to come to the Maldives, then do it because you just want to scratch that list of things you want to do before you die, to get out of the cold and catch some heat or if you need a peace of mind from the daily commute. If you can enjoy these things at your own country then save yourself the trouble in travelling 16 hours by air and save me the trouble of listening to the complaints about the hotel not being up to your expectations, because lord almighty knows the level of my patience these days.

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Brad August 19, 2023 - 7:51 pm

My wife won’t go to Bora Bora or the Maldives. She thinks it’s to boring and would rather go to Cancun. I guess it’s not for everyone

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RonMD August 20, 2023 - 3:12 pm

It’s cool. I know how you feel because I’ll never visit Florida despite what everyone tells me. I spend a lot of time in Singapore, so the Maldives is a rather short journey but still takes all day….

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Jacob B. August 20, 2023 - 9:20 pm

There are two main reasons why I will never go to the Maldives:
#1 It has an extremist government that backs the persecution of those who do not share their religious beliefs. From Human Rights Watch: “Same-sex marriage is outlawed and punishable by up to a year in prison. Extremist groups in the Maldives use social media to harass and threaten those who promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.” Just do a simple google search of “maldives oppression” and you will see a long list of human rights and religious abuses and persecution. It’s really bad there.
#2 See reason #1.

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SharonKurheg August 20, 2023 - 9:24 pm

Wow, that sucks. I guess I have yet another reason to not want to go there…

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