Maldives holidays

The Maldives has scrupulous beach standards. Sand is never anything less than gleaming and the sea is always a semi-precious stone shade of blue. Most of the resorts in the Maldives are set on private islands, so halos of sand come as part of the territory. You might glimpse the odd sandbag on some beaches, which have been put in place to stop beach erosion.

It’s hearsay rather than cold hard fact that says Kanuhura Beach in the Lhaviyani Atoll is the longest and widest beach in the Maldives. But it’s validated by Lonely Planet. There’s a good 1,400-metre strip of unbroken white sand here, which sidles up to a blue lagoon.

Only 200 of the Maldives’ islands are inhabited, so you don’t have to go far to find a deserted beach. Most resorts organise boat trips out to these private Edens. Take a picnic and snorkelling equipment with you and you can stay for the day.

Souvenirs from the Maldives Local Market on the northern waterfront in Male are cheap at twice the price. Producers from all over the atolls come here to sell homemade goods like pickles, sweets and breadfruit chips. Alternatively, if you’re in the South Ari Atoll, catch a boat over to Dhangeti Island, where there are a few stalls selling batik and sarongs.

Almost every resort in the Maldives has a spa, and some of them sell the products they use in their treatments. Depending on which resort you’re in, you’ll be able to lay your hands on the Comfort Zone range, Tropical Spa, Elemis and Clarins.

It’s not just the sea that sparkles in the Maldives. Some of the hotels have jewellery shops onsite, where the likes of garnet, pearl, ruby and gold pieces ring through the till at up to £10,000. The Vilamendhoo Island Resort and Spa sells Sinfani jewellery and the Embudu Village’s jewellery shop sells Sri Lankan gems.

Evenings don’t get much more relaxed than in the Maldives. Most hotels can arrange private dining experiences for their guests. In the Komandoo hotel, for example, you can dine at a private table on the beach. Watch the sunset with Champagne, then tuck into the menu that has been specially prepared for you by the hotel’s executive chef.

The Maldives doesn’t have a reputation as a party paradise, but that doesn’t mean nightlife doesn’t exist out here. All the hotels in the country provide their own entertainment. The Vilamendhoo Island Resort, for example, puts on weekly discos that feature live bands and DJ sets.

Hedhikka is Maldivian finger food. The word is used to sum up a range of dishes, which are all served in tapas-sized portions. One of the most common hedhikka is gulha, which are savoury fish balls covered in a rice or flour paste. This dish is usually eaten with a cup of tea.

Mas huni is a traditional Maldivian breakfast dish – and it’s about as far away from Weetabix as you can get. It’s made by combining tuna, raw coconut, chilli, lime and onions. The good news is, it’s low in fat and calories, so it won’t affect your bikini body.

This clear fish soup is the stalwart of the Maldivian menu, having been cooked in the country for centuries. It’s made by boiling the catch of the day and adding lemon, chilli and onion to the water. It’s usually served with rice or chapattis.

This is the Maldivian alternative to an After Eight mint. It’s served after dinner and it’s made by slicing oval areca nuts into slithers. The slices are then seasoned with cloves and lime, and the whole concoction is served inside an areca leaf.

Only tourists are allowed to drink in the Maldives – the rest of the country is officially tee-total. Raa is the closest thing locals have to alcohol. This sweet drink occurs naturally in palm trunks, at the point where coconuts grow and, if it’s left to ferment, it can become slightly alcoholic.