The Maldives: a vacation at the most pampering resort Israelis have

The Yariv family dreamed in turquoise of a holiday vacation in the Maldives, and landed on the paradise cliché that came true: blue sea, white sand, lots of water activities and accommodation in wooden cabins in the middle of the ocean.

Although not everything was as clear as the sea, they marked "V" for perfect escapism

Rival light

13/10/2022

Thursday, October 13, 2022, 07:32 Updated: 08:48

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Club Med Cani in the Maldives (Photo: Or Yariv)

So we all went on our dream vacation in Turquoise during the Tishrei holidays.

The destination: the Maldives.

It is customary to divide the Maldives according to weather conditions: the dry season and the wet season.

We took a bet and arrived at the end of the wet season.

It should be noted that even in this season, with the exception of light monsoons, the temperature is high.

The flights were carefully chosen and the Emirates company provided the goods: beautiful and modern planes, a fast and convenient connection in Dubai and another small upgrade of the location to the premium class that the children received, because the television screens in the seats in front of them did not work.

We landed in Male, the capital of the Maldives and one of the 200 inhabited islands in the republic.

Our destination: Club Med "Kani", for which we paid with the best of our money almost 3,000 dollars per person, including flights, for a week in the premium cabins on the water.

From there, in an Indian/Maldivian rhythm, a representative of the club tries to collect as many tourists as possible to the island.

Waiting for a boat to pick us up to sail to the resort.

All in all a fairly quick procedure.

We already received all the plans in advance from the club's app and what can be done there, order, eat, dance and more, and the children made plans according to the schedule of the week we were there.

Not everything is sunny in the Indian Ocean region.

The Maldives (photo: surfer photos, Or Yariv)

Already in the first minutes we took pictures that take out the eyes.

Club Med "Kani" (photo: surfers' photos, Or Yariv)

We took a bet and arrived at the end of the wet season, in which there are also light monsoons (photo: surfers' photos, Or Yariv)

take out the eyes of friends

Club Med occupied two islands about half an hour's cruise from the airport, and the convenience of arriving by speedboat was efficient.

As soon as we docked, we arrived at an Instagram postcard picture as you will see in any advertisement accompanied by some beautiful harpsichords.

After arrival, we toured the resort with the GO in charge of our side, who gave a quick briefing of what can be done everywhere on the island, including opening hours and additional treats in the premium area for which we paid in advance.

And of course, how is it possible without a welcome from the Chef de Village with a big smile and the muttering of a few words in basic Hebrew.

We booked two cabins on the water, which certainly delivered the goods: a bathtub overlooking turquoise water,

white sands and a balcony with pampering sunbeds, including going down the stairs to bathe in the blue-green water.

Already in the first minutes of the sun, we of course took photos that make every acquaintance/friend/colleague on social networks laugh.

And the number of likes increased at the same time.

But not everything is sunny in the Indian Ocean region.

Strong winds, surprising monsoon rains and stable weather of 30 degrees with a constant humidity of sweat, told us that we were in a tropical area.

In addition, high clouds pretty much spoiled our first two days at the resort, but we understood that we had to take advantage of every day and enjoyed what we had.

The attractions of the water sports are varied and multiple - from cool surfers, through diving and snorkeling with or without oxygen balloons to sailing in kayaks and catamaran.

The club's GO's looked like they were taken out of a "Benton" commercial - in all colors and types and from all countries.

On the first night, we were woken up by an alarm at four o'clock in the morning - and instilled in us a post-traumatic feeling of another round in Gaza.

After several repeated beeps that did not stop, we collected the children from the cabin next door and in the end we ended up with four people in a double bed.

The alarms came from uncalibrated fire detectors, according to the local GO.

The water sports attractions are diverse and multiple.

Catamaran (photo: surfers' photos, Or Yariv)

Many surfers come to the islands especially for the experience of surfing in the glowing waters (photo: photos of surfers, Or Yariv)

The cabins on the water certainly delivered the goods.

A bathtub that overlooks the turquoise water (photo: surfers photos, Or Yariv)

Everything is included, right down to the water sports

The cabins on the water are beautifully designed and the strong winds can be heard clearly through the cracks, and still it does not spoil the experience of sleeping on the water.

Unfortunately, the snorkeling experience that the club offers feels like a local bluff, or a marketing attempt for a paid tour.

We were sent by boat to the other side of the island and thrown into the deep water with no reef in the area.

After 20 minutes of circling ourselves with a snorkel and zero visibility, we climbed tired and exhausted back to the boat, on our way to another meal.

Of course the food is endless in its quantities, befitting any Club Med in the world.

We didn't fall for the dishes, but the variety is extremely rich - from Indian, Asian to Western vegetarian and vegan food.

The local wine was amazingly excellent.

Of course, at Club Med everything is included and free, and it's hard to find yourself hungry or thirsty between the three restaurants and two bars on both sides of the beach.

But the "all inclusive" ends when you reach the prestigious spa complex and the islands' sports attractions.

Here you have to put your hand deep in your pocket.

A family of four needs a few hundred dollars for each attraction: jet-ski ($250 per person), diving (about $350 for two dives in four hours), a boat that takes you snorkeling ($180) and surfing (rent a surfboard for a day $40) ) - become an expensive business.

Even when we booked a snorkeling tour to the nearest resort near a local tuna factory, where you can see the many desired marine creatures, the boat's engine stopped working halfway and we found ourselves swaying with the waves between heaven and earth, waiting for the rescue that took about an hour to arrive.

The cabins on the water are beautifully designed and the strong winds can be heard clearly from the crevices (Photo: Surfers Photos, Or Yariv)

We didn't fall for the food, but the variety is extremely rich (photo: Golish photos, Or Yariv)

The evening parties give an opportunity to taste the impressive selection of cocktails (photo: surfer photos, Or Yariv)

An Islamic country in which Israelis feel comfortable

The evening parties give another opportunity to taste the impressive selection of cocktails that the menu offers, and the local performances provide a light comic relief and pass the time until the children, and also the adults, are dragged into the "Crazy Science" dance ritual, of course when they play "Jessica" by Ethnics.

As for Wi-Fi, and it is, as mentioned, very important for eye-popping on Instagram, there is a premium wireless network that works reasonably well in the resort of the villas on the water and delivers the goods by sending WhatsApp and uploading tempting photos.

The corona is treated as if it did not exist and there is no reference or restrictions on the subject, with the exception of a health declaration for the Republic that must be filled out, which they were also not asked to show upon entering the country.

The feeling as an Israeli in the club is comfortable and safe, even though it is an Islamic country whose inhabitants are 100 percent Muslim, and those who wish to become citizens there have to convert.

Since it is an island, surfing here requires prior experience, due to the weather conditions, strong winds and high waves, and many surfers come especially for the experience of surfing in the glowing waters.

For lovers of the diving genre, then in the Maldives it is a simply amazing experience: sharks, sea turtles, giant manta rays (manta rays) and thousands of other creatures living around the reefs in the ocean.

The guides add a sense of security and the locals help with all the operation of the diving equipment.

For the freaks in the matter, many ships docked next to us and included diving and surfing safaris for a week at the various sites on the islands.

The sunsets from the club are stunning (and so is the girl) (Photo: surfers photos, Or Yariv)

Every morning the natives go around to clean the white beaches of seaweed (Photo: Surfers Photos, Or Yariv)

What would you take to a desert island?

(not the kids)

Every morning on the shores of the island, dozens of natives walk around, working in the village and cleaning the white beaches from the seaweed, in order not to harm the dream of the western tourist who wants to see a postcard of white beaches and blue water in the morning.

90 percent of the islands' economy is made up of tourism - something that requires a lot of labor in order to preserve the world's natural treasure.

Walking on the beach brings to mind the question "What would you take to a deserted island in the middle of the ocean?"

(probably not the children...), but on the other hand the freedom and independence the children experience in the village is amazing.

In the children's and boys' club there is a neat and organized program of endless activities, with instructors who invest in the children even beyond the activity hours.

And that's all we wanted from our holiday: perfect escapism together with the kids.

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• Maldives

• Club Med

• Holiday