The Maldives
The Maldives is a lovely break from cold Norway in February. One night on the plane from London to the capital Malé, and you can spot the beautiful islands in the mourning sun. Palm islands with white sand against turquoise ocean, surrounded by coral reef and deep blue sea. The airport is a concrete line in the Indian Ocean, that amazingly enough can receive large jumbo jets. It is only a small boat ride from the capital Malé, and an hour ride from the island Meeru, our destination for this trip.
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Meeru
In the Maldives everything is about sand, and everyone is barefoot. Even the floor in the reception, the restaurant and the bar is made of sand, everywhere but our room, that stands on poles in the sea. The whole island is white coral sand and tall palm trees and is a scuba diving paradise. Just above the beach among the palm trees lies the main restaurant Farivalhu, the store, the scuba centre, a lovely pool area, two tennis courts and even a 100m driving range for golfing.
Extremely environmentally aware
To protect the islands they are very environmentally concerned in the Maldives. If the environment is ruined they won’t attract the tourists, which are the primary income of the Maldives. That is why the government has a detailed plan for everything. I.e. it is not allowed to build higher than the tallest palm tree on every island. To produce their own freshwater they desalt the seawater, and three generators provide electricity for the whole hotel construction. They also ask their guests to keep their water usage low and to take their plastic waste with them when they leave.
Hottest destination
The Maldives is one of the hottest destinations in the world, and it is the Europeans that dominate the guest lists with the British, the Swiss and the Germans on top, and with a noticeable increase in Scandinavians. 
Useful information
Great chose to fly with Sri Lankan from London directly to Malé and via Colombo at Sri Lanka on the way back. Manta Travel is an expert on the Maldives and through them you can get the trip to Meeru from 13.995 NOK. You will need a passport that is valid six months after your return. The visa is received at arrival. No vaccines are imposed. Visa and other well known credit cards are accepted at the hotels. The local currency is called rufiya, but its better to bring some dollars in cash.
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