What 346 DialAFlight clients thought of The Maldives

I would like to thank Ben for sorting out a lovely holiday for us both - we had a fantastic time and we would recommend you to all our friends and family

The trip was excellent and all went to plan. Good communication from Des during the whole process. Will def use again.

Totally fantastic service, recommendations and flight times - will definitely be booking again.

Holiday destination was fantastic. Everything ran extremely well and DialAFlight did a amazing job for us. All bookings and changes we were kept informed of and all ran smoothly. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.

Always willing to assist and help with even the silliest of questions. Thank you for everything.

Stafford was brilliant, and kept us in the loop. He was really friendly and helpful, made our holiday process so easy and made sure we were happy with everything. Would definitely recommend DialAFlight.

Craig was brilliant from the initial enquiry to dealing with final requests and ensuring everything was OK a few days before departure.

Dylan is fantastic. Our operator changed the holiday twice due to Covid. Not only did he rebook but took the time to find best flight options and this was made 10x harder due to the final trip being in the Easter holidays. Always loved dealing with him but this time he really proved invaluable. Thanks so much!

Declan was brilliant. He was super patient and kind. He even called us just before the trip. We rebooked it 4 times due to lockdowns and illness and he wanted to make sure everything was in place and we were ok. Anyone else we spoke to was professional and helpful. There are not many companies you can say that about these days!

Sarah is absolutely fantastic. We will definitely be booking our next holiday with her

Excellent service as always and trip went according to plan. Maldives in particular was amazing

Stacey helped us book our holiday back in 2020. She was super helpful and then again when it all had to be changed due to Covid.

Les and Teddy, absolute stars!

Sean literally made our dream holiday come true. He’s amazing and we will hold the memory of this beautiful place in our hearts forever. Unforgettable holiday. We certainly found paradise in The Maldives.

Attention to detail, fast response and very polite and friendly staff - could not be any better.

Great service. Will definitely use you again.

Everything worked out perfectly.

Kylie was fantastic and a credit to your company

We had excellent advice from Marie and Tristan. They also made it stress free when we had to change our booking to new dates.

Dexter was excellent as always and made sure our first holiday with our baby went as smoothly as possible.

Superb support from Paul

Julie provided a first class holiday with no problems as usual.

Taylor helped us personally and professionally from start to finish. Happy to answer any questions however small. We felt comfortable that even if we needed support whilst we were away we had 24 hour help. We had the most amazing holiday of a lifetime! Thankyou. We have already recommended to friends

A superb efficient service as always and very reassuring when it came to making sure we had all the right paperwork for the trip

Fantastic communication throughout and excellent service - can’t fault it.

First class yet again from Neil and his team, excellent trip and excellent advice.

Kennedy is a star

Eric provided us with a first class service, always available and professional. Have no hesitation in recommending him and the company and will certainly use him again.

Holiday was perfect

I think it would be useful to provided specific information on what documents are required re: covid proofs by the airports, airlines and resorts visited on the holiday. A list and links to relevant sites would have been really helpful.

Pure relaxation

The barefoot paradise of the Maldives

Laura Hamilton finds herself living a life of luxury on a 160-ft wide island - and shoes are not needed

The Maldives gives me the most extraordinary sensation, it is so beautiful - I feel that when I look down I see Paradise, and when I look up I see Heaven.

It comprises more than 1,200 tiny islands - the majority of them are uninhabited but about ten per cent are used by the tourism industry.

For my latest trip, I stayed with my husband Alex at Mirihi, which boasts palm-fringed beaches and sand that is as soft as talcum powder. You won't need your shoes from the moment you step off the seaplane and on to the jetty after your 30-minute transfer from the capital Male.

At just 1,200ft long and 160ft wide, this privately-owned island is one of the lesser known to UK holidaymakers. It is like living on your own private island - classy yet understated and not at all stuffy.

A favourite spot for a caipirinha whilst watching the sunset at the Muraka Bar

It's the perfect place for anyone looking for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation, or those who want to try some of the best diving in the world. If you are a foodie, you won't be disappointed either.

The 160 members of staff look impeccable in their brightly-coloured uniforms and are a credit to Guenther Kofler, the resort's manager.

Guenther and his right-hand woman Jasmin are the perfect hosts for such an intimate place. Every inch of the resort is pristine and the staff so attentive that you feel every bit as relaxed as one of the petals of the flower Mirihi is named after.

The accommodation is Maldivian with a Swiss twist - luxurious bathrooms, designer furnishings, a sitting area with a sound system, and a Nespresso coffee machine with complimentary pods each day.

The lesser-known Mirihi Resort is like having your own private island

There are a total of 37 palm-thatched villas - six on the beach come with outdoor bathrooms, and 30 water villas that have steps straight into the lagoon. Staff outnumber guests by two to one.

As you relax on your sunbed watching the crystal-clear waters ripple against the shore, you can expect to meet Shahula and Sithura each day. They will offer you a cold towel and a slice of thirst-quenching watermelon.

The food is outstanding, from the a la carte menu in Muraka or the buffet in Dhonveli. You can help yourself to fresh lobster or oysters on seafood night, or head for the incredible display of sushi on Asian night. The food looks almost too good to eat.

Felix, the head chef, is one the most passionate people I have ever met, and he is proud to give guests a tour of Dhonveli restaurant each evening to show off his creations.

I did visit the island's gym three times but I'm sure I returned to the UK carrying a few extra pounds. I think I took comfort from Felix's words of wisdom. 'Laura, you are on holiday,' he told me. 'It's fine!'

A seemingly endless selection of rum

Although relaxation at Mirihi is key, should you wish to participate in any excursions or activities, the team are happy to book them on your behalf. We took a half-day trip to watch whale sharks, and we also got to swim with dolphins, manta rays and turtles. An unforgettable experience.

We enjoyed wine-tasting with Alexander, who is not officially the island's sommelier but might as well have been. There is the option of rum-tasting, too - Mirihi has the biggest collection in the Maldives, with 130 varieties - but I was happy to stick with the wine, otherwise I think I would have been out cold for the rest of our stay.

What you won't find on Mirihi is a swimming pool, but why would you need one when you have a clear-water lagoon less than 15ft from your bedroom?

The resort had the option of building a pool when the site was renovated in 2014, but opted against it as the thought of individuals fighting for sunbeds was not in their remit. Having visited islands with and without a pool, I think they made the right decision. We didn't miss having one.

However, one thing I can't live without when I'm on holiday is a spa, and the therapists at the Duniye Spa on the island are some of the best. Needless to say, I visited frequently.

Throughout the day at Mirihi, you can use the complimentary kayaks, try your hand at windsurfing or snorkel in the reef to spot the spectacularly coloured fish.

I was happy to kick back, relax and enjoy a caipirinha while watching the sunset in the bar at Muraka, and sit and read my book - I certainly made the most of the amazingly relaxing atmosphere before boarding my flight home to work and reality.

First published in the Mail on Sunday - October 2016

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