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Staying indoors during a holiday seems crazy at first. Even more so when you are in the Maldives, a paradise that promises unmatched visual beauty everywhere you look.
Unfortunately, we live in unpredictable times. As a result, there are often several reasons that tourists spend a considerable amount of time confined within their accommodations.
However, if that were to happen in the Maldives, consider yourself to be very lucky!
Of all the tropical destinations and hotels around the world, it is improbable that you’ll find as diverse options in your room as the ones offered at resorts in the Maldives.
But before we talk more about the fun things to do inside your Maldivian villa, let’s study the reasons why you might get stuck there in the first place.
Reasons why you might get stuck in a Maldivian villa
Sun – The Maldives is a popular tourist destination because it promises unlimited sunny days during the year. However, depending on your location in the archipelago, you could be pretty close to the equator. Consequently, the sun is often too harsh, especially during the afternoon. Thus, most travelers in the Maldives prefer to stay indoors during this time. They either stay in their rooms or indulge in activities in shaded areas of the resort.
Quarantined – Maldives keeps updating its rules and regulations for travel to and from the country during Covid. However, several resorts require an RT-PCR test upon arrival on the island. It takes roughly 24 hours for the results to come. During this time, the staff might ask you to quarantine in your room.
Jetlag – One of the most enchanting characteristics of the Maldives is its location in the middle of nowhere. While this gives the island nation exclusivity, it also makes traveling to the Maldives tiring. Add to that speedboat or seaplane flights to your resort, and eventually, jetlag will kick in. And that’s when you’ll want to spend some time in the luxurious confines of your room.
Weather – We did mention that the Maldives offers plenty of sunny days. However, it is an archipelago with two monsoon seasons. So, while rare, you can expect rainy days when you have no option but to stay indoors.
Tired – A holiday in the Maldives can be as thrilling or calming as you want it to be. Ideally, you should alternate with one day reserved for excursions and the next for enjoying the resort or your room.
Luxury – Lastly, it is a well-known fact that the Maldives is a luxury destination. And one of the best places to see and indulge in all its extravagance is your private villa.
The best type of villa to get stuck indoors
Maldivian resorts typically offer a variety of different accommodation options. However, most rooms fall into two broad categories, overwater villas and beachside villas.
If you are inside for a while, the room type can give you certain advantages. For example, a beachside villa has open spaces, indoors and outdoors, with direct access to the beach. On the other hand, an overwater bungalow gets you as close to the water as possible.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter which villa you are staying in. Both come with certain rewards. Moreover, in-room amenities are similar and include air conditioners, WiFi, coffee/tea makers, en-suite baths, pillow menu, deck for sunbathing, and the most exquisite furnishings.
All these together allow for an unwinding time. No matter how many hours at a stretch you lounge for in the room.
Now that we have the reasons and rooms sorted out, it is finally time to figure out the 12 fun things you can do in a Maldivian villa.
Be lazy
The Maldives is all about taking it easy and leaving your worries behind. Since you are far from the hectic rush of everyday life, with no meetings or office to go to, be lazy.
Maldivian villas come with soft, comfortable bedding that allows you to snuggle and stay cozy for hours. Make the most of it. Open the blinds, get back in bed, and let the serenity of the surroundings whisk you away to a beautiful dream world that is, in this case, very much a reality.
Enjoy a floating breakfast
Depending on the size of your Maldivian villa, it will either have a plunge pool, a lap pool, or, in some cases, a pretty large swimming pool. Either way, if you cannot or do not want to leave the accommodation in the morning, order a floating breakfast.
A step above eating in bed, there is something inherently holiday-like and unique about a floating breakfast. Let’s face it, who doesn’t enjoy a tray full of delicious snacks, fruits, juice, coffee, and bread that you can relish while chilling in your private pool?
Of course, a floating breakfast in the Maldives also makes for an excellent Instagram post.
Read a book
The most enchanting aspect of a resort holiday in the Maldives is that no one will disturb you there. Therefore, it creates the perfect setting for a few hours of uninterrupted reading.
Now, it is entirely your choice what you want to read while lying in bed or lounging on the deckchairs in your villa’s private patio. For some, nothing beats a fun beach read that is light, romantic, and doesn’t require much thinking. Others might use this time to read books on the Maldives, its people, marine life, and history. Or you can keep it simple and read a magazine or two.
If you did not get a book, resorts typically have an in-house library with a range of novels in different genres. Else, pick up something from one of the bookshops in Malé before catching your ferry or speedboat to the resort.
Take a long bath or shower
Due to Maldives’ hot and humid climate, spending time in the water is second nature. Thus, taking a bath is more restful and refreshing in the Maldives than anywhere else.
Furthermore, resorts make the entire process of self-cleaning all the more fun by designing spacious bathrooms that often come with bathtubs and showers.
So, one of the fun things to do in a Maldivian villa is for you to take a leisurely bath. You’ll find that most bathtubs, especially in overwater bungalows, are next to windows overlooking the open waters. Otherwise, relish the tropical nature of an outdoor rain shower, the perfect way to freshen up early in the morning.
Be inspired
Blue waters all around, greenery everywhere you look, and devoid of any air pollution, the Maldives is quite simply paradisaical. Moreover, unlike other islands or tourist destinations, you are privy to this exclusive gorgeousness without having to leave your resort villa.
So, let the alluring beauty of your surroundings inspire you. After all, one of the things to do in a Maldives villa is, be creative.
Use your time indoors to draw, paint, write a poem or a story, design clothes, or whatever your heart desires. The options, bound only by your imagination, are limitless.
Play on the beach or snorkel
The Maldives is such a unique destination because most resort accommodations give you uninterrupted access to the beach or the water. Consequently, one of the things to do in a Maldivian villa is walk on the beach or snorkel.
If staying in a water bungalow, you can take the ladder down to the ocean and start snorkeling in an instant. In contrast, you have a private garden or the beach in your footstep when staying at a beachside villa.
Although outside, you are still technically within the area of your private housing. For families in beachside accommodations, this allows kids to play on the sand while parents can relax indoors and keep a watch on them.
However, if asked to stay in your room for COVID reasons, it is best to avoid going out till you get a negative report.
Have a movie marathon
Your Maldivian villa, in all probability, will have a flat-screen TV. What many guests don’t know is that if your room does not have a DVD player, you can often ask the staff for one. And then ask to see their DVD collection.
The aim of any Maldivian holiday is to be out and about. Nevertheless, resorts do keep in-room entertainment options. Thus, a movie marathon, while munching on snacks ordered through room service, is always an enjoyable possibility.
A movie marathon especially works well in keeping children, who might get impatient when confined to the villa, occupied. Furthermore, some resorts also have videogame consoles they can set up in your room.
Book a massage
Yes! Resorts in the Maldives offer some of the most fantastic spa experiences in the entire world. Moreover, their health centers are state-of-the-art, featuring technologically advanced equipment and treatments such as hydrotherapy, snow rooms, and Himalayan salt chambers.
If stuck in a Maldivian villa, luckily, you can still enjoy some of the spa treatments offered by resorts. All that’s required is to connect with the spa center, and they’ll provide you with details of in-room treatments.
Once you select a treatment, the staff will come over and set it all up. Among the best things to do in a Maldivian villa is a full-body massage on your private deck, a floral bath, and rejuvenating facials.
Watch the sunset (or sunrise)
Villas in the Maldives fall under two distinct groups – sunset or sunrise. This refers to their villa’s direction on the island. As a result, you can either witness a breathtaking sunset or a soothing sunrise from your bungalow.
To be clear, both the first and last light of the day in the Maldives is equally stunning and totally unmissable. However, sunrise villas are more suitable if you are an early riser, which can be problematic if you plan to be lazy during your holiday.
Nevertheless, watching the sunset or rising is one of the best things to do in a Maldivian villa. And if you book your rooms in advance, you can divide your stay between a sunrise and sunset bungalow to relish the best of both phenomena.
Plan your excursions
So, you’re stuck in your room. Maybe you’re tired and not really in the mood to do much. Well, why not use this time to plan the rest of your trip.
You can undoubtedly use Love the Maldives to book your vacation and get tips and ideas for a perfect Maldives vacation. But there is always something new and exciting happening on individual resorts that is instant and known only locally.
Thus, use this time to plan out your days. Check the weather and see which excursions you can enjoy on upcoming sunny days. Set aside the indoor attractions such as a cooking course in Maldivian food for rainy days.
Also, don’t hesitate to call and ask the concierge if there are any live music events, festivals, or dance parties scheduled at the resort’s bars and clubs anytime soon. By using your free time inside the villa to organize, you won’t miss out on any of the fun activities on the island.
Savor a romantic meal
Quite honestly, there is no shortage of places to have a romantic dinner in a Maldivian resort. The beach, underwater restaurants, treetop bars, or the island’s lush foliage are spectacular backdrops for a memorable meal.
Still, a casual, specially curated dinner in your own private space is one of the best things to do in a Maldivian villa. This meal is, however, a far cry from ordering room service.
To create that perfect setting, speak with your thakuru (private concierge), who can then organize the entire evening. While still in your private bungalow, they will set up a table for an amorous candlelit dinner, most probably in the open. The menu can be to your liking, provided you give the chef ample time to prepare it.
A romantic meal is truly an idyllic way to surprise your better half, especially if celebrating a memorable occasion.
Be intimate
This one is for all the honeymooning couples and love birds vacationing in the Maldives.
You are in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Your accommodation places you softly in the lap of luxury. There is incredible beauty everywhere you look. And you get to share this special moment with a loved one.
With the mood set and no one to disturb you, cherish every minute you get to spend with each other. Be intimate! After all, during a holiday in the Maldives, even time spent inside your private villa is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will remember forever.