Muddy Stilettos


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1.-Aerial-2.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-98369" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1.-Aerial-2.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1.-Aerial-2-600x400.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1.-Aerial-2-1000x666.jpeg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The Maldives has a reputation for all-out-luxury and once-in-a-life-time holidays (hello honeymooners), but if you choose carefully you can find quietly more accessible holidays amongst this chain of 26 atolls southwest of Sri Lanka and India. <a href="http://sunsiyam.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Sun Siyam Resorts</strong></a> operates five hotels across The Maldives, with  <a href="https://www.sunsiyam.com/sun-siyam-olhuveli/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sun Siyam Olhuveli</a> a fabulous option for families. Here&#8217;s why we think you&#8217;re going to love it. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-sea-flights-necessary">NO SEA FLIGHTS NECESSARY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-maldives-sunset-1000x750.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-98408" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-maldives-sunset-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-maldives-sunset-600x450.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-maldives-sunset.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The sunset from my private patch of beach</figcaption></figure>



<p>Though it&#8217;s undeniably an &#8216;oooh!&#8217; moment for couples to look down at the irridescant atolls from the sky, for parents with younger children the sea plane will come after the 10 hour flight, at a time when your kids are on peak whine, and you&#8217;re hallucinating about your first martini of the night. From the airport to Olhuveli, it&#8217;s a slick 45 minute boat ride and plenty enough time to settle in a bar and watch the sunset. Shaken and not stirred, thanks waiter!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-diving-is-incredible">THE DIVING IS INCREDIBLE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="844" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli-Shipwreck-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98371" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli-Shipwreck-.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli-Shipwreck--600x338.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli-Shipwreck--1000x563.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re passionate about diving, you&#8217;re in the right place. Sun Siyam Olhuveli is surrounded by more than 50 dive sites including Banana Reef, where mantas congregate to eat the plankton, and Kandooma Thila, one of the best places for spotting sharks and large green turtles.&nbsp;There&#8217;s also a SSI-certified dive centre here if you want to learn to dive on Olhuveli&#8217;s house reef before going out further to the underwater caves and sunken ships. </p>



<p>I was rusty on my diving (I would have needed a refresher which I didn&#8217;t have time for) so I just snorkelled around the reef but I&#8217;d recommend that in a flash in its own right &#8211; there&#8217;s plenty of vibrant coral, and brightly-coloured fish everywhere in the clear waters for which The Maldives is so rightly famous. It&#8217;s a lovely introduction to the underwater world if you&#8217;re taking your kids and even better when it&#8217;s free &#8211; just grab a snorkel from the dive centre. </p>



<p>We went out with an instructor which I&#8217;d recommend &#8211; you can go it alone as it&#8217;s so close to the beach but it gave me extra confidence to have him there, taking me to the best spots and pointing out highlights I&#8217;d otherwise have missed &#8211; turtles close enough to touch (we didn&#8217;t), and a manta ray on its smooth, flat journey. And for those who prefer to peer from a safe distance, there&#8217;s actually Manta Point at the end of the dive centre jetty where manta rays frequently come to feed on plankton.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-activities-galore">ACTIVITIES GALORE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_0318-1000x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98410" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_0318-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_0318-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_0318.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Anyone with kids knows that keeping them entertained is half the battle to recharging your own batteries on holiday. One of the mental barriers to booking The Maldives for many is the perception that there&#8217;s not much to do but Olhuveli has clearly taken this up as a challenge! </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/11.-Sunrise-Bar-1000x666.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-98401" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/11.-Sunrise-Bar-1000x666.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/11.-Sunrise-Bar-600x400.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/11.-Sunrise-Bar.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Aside from the two infinity pools and dedicated children&#8217;s pool,  there are three lagoons in the multi-island resort with easy access to windsurfing, wakeboarding, fly-boarding kayaking, canoeing, jetskiing (tried it, loved it), donut-boating (loved it so much I went back for seconds)  and sailing. Further afield, the hotel puts on a fishing excursions where you can meet the local fisherman, or head into the capital Malé for a dose of Maldivian culture. Around the resort there&#8217;s also tennis, badminton courts and beach volleyball on offer. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_2527-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98370" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_2527-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_2527-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_2527.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-all-inclusive-and-a-better-deal-for-kids">ALL INCLUSIVE &#8211; AND A BETTER DEAL FOR KIDS </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="750" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-food--750x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98411" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-food--750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-food--450x600.jpg 450w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-food--1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-food-.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My dinner at Olhuveli</figcaption></figure>



<p>Money&#8217;s not going so far these days, and the appeal of all-inclusive holidays has never been higher with more of us now wanting the assurance that there are no nasty extra financial surprises on check out. This is definitely a big tick for Ohluveli which also includes a sunset dolphin cruise and snorkel safari in the all-inclusive price, along with the mini bar and snacks. Even better, children up to the age of 15 can stay and eat for free  &#8211; for <em>free</em>! &#8211; on the same board basis as their parents. Usually in The Maldives this is capped at 12 years, so it means parents with hungry teens get good value too. Also just to say at this point that the food is really excellent here with a mix of crowdpleasers for kids with plenty of authentic Maldivian and Sri Lankan dishes to keep things interesting.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-there-s-a-free-kids-club-for-under-12s">THERE&#8217;S A FREE KIDS CLUB FOR UNDER 12s</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_KidsClub_0100-1000x667.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-98375" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_KidsClub_0100-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_KidsClub_0100-600x400.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_KidsClub_0100.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Praise be! The hotel offers Maakanaa Kids&#8217; Club which runs from 9.30-12pm, and then again from 2-10pm. It offers a everything from mini yoga and kite flying, to arts and crafts and island tours. In terms of all-inclusive savings, kids under 15 stay and eat for free too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-villas-are-stunning">THE VILLAS ARE STUNNING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/6.-Grand-Water-Villa.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98379" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/6.-Grand-Water-Villa.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/6.-Grand-Water-Villa-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/6.-Grand-Water-Villa-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_0152-Edit-Edit.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98545" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_0152-Edit-Edit.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_Drone_0152-Edit-Edit-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Sun Siyam Olhuveli has a 4-star rating but honestly I think that&#8217;s drastically undercooking the accommodation, which is <em>gorgeous. </em>The water villas overlooking the ocean, many with their own private pools, snake along the boardwalk and are fabulous, though I&#8217;d say are much more suited to couples or those with older children. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_BeachSuitePool_0139-Edit.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98546" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_BeachSuitePool_0139-Edit.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_BeachSuitePool_0139-Edit-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_BeachSuitePool_0084.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98547" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_BeachSuitePool_0084.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Olhuveli_BeachSuitePool_0084-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>My personal preference, though, was actually for the beach suite. The grand beach suite for four where I was staying was elegant and vast (I mean, will a floor plan of 80m2 do you?), with a king size bed, sitting area with two day beds, an indoor/outdoor bathroom complete with its own sofa area, a covered veranda, pool and past that two reclining chairs and a private view of the beach. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3.-Grand-Beach-Suite-with-Pool-1-1000x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98386" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3.-Grand-Beach-Suite-with-Pool-1-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3.-Grand-Beach-Suite-with-Pool-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3.-Grand-Beach-Suite-with-Pool-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/zz-Olhuveli_BeachSuitePool_0071-Edit-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-98543" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/zz-Olhuveli_BeachSuitePool_0071-Edit-3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/zz-Olhuveli_BeachSuitePool_0071-Edit-3-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>You can see it for yourself below &#8211; this was my &#8216;desk&#8217; view while doing a bit of work! </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="750" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-Maldives-my-bedroom-with-computer-750x1000.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-98402" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-Maldives-my-bedroom-with-computer-750x1000.jpeg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-Maldives-my-bedroom-with-computer-450x600.jpeg 450w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-Maldives-my-bedroom-with-computer-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-Maldives-my-bedroom-with-computer.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>



<p>It was absolutely fabulous padding about in there from one room to another, and with so many zoned areas even with four people you&#8217;ll have your own space. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-there-s-a-fabulous-spa"> THERE&#8217;S A FABULOUS SPA</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24-Ocean-Spa.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-98376" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24-Ocean-Spa.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24-Ocean-Spa-600x400.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24-Ocean-Spa-1000x666.jpeg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Nothing to do with children &#8211; come on, let&#8217;s get our priorities straight here, people. It&#8217;s good parenting to unfrazzle (I read that somewhere) and the calm, airy Spa is the place to do it. There are multiple treatment rooms, two of them doubles if you can bear to have a massage listening to your other half quietly snoring. Lie on your front and look down on the glass floor and watch the fish swim beneath you while you&#8217;re having your Ayurvedic treatments. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-two-beds-in-spa-1000x750.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-98406" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-two-beds-in-spa-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-two-beds-in-spa-600x450.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-two-beds-in-spa.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Away from this spa, there&#8217;s a second Ocean Spa on the Dream Island area with a hydrotherapy pool, hot tub, sauna and a gym, should you feel the urge to exercise more than your Champagne arm.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-damage">THE DAMAGE</h2>



<p>Well it&#8217;s not a week in Butlin&#8217;s but you won&#8217;t have to sell a kidney either &#8211; it&#8217;s actually surprisingly affordable. Prices start from £440 per night for up to two adults and two children under 15 sharing staying a deluxe beach villa on all-inclusive &#8211; so that&#8217;s around £3,000 for a week <em>in the Maldives</em>. </p>



<p>High season is November to the end April as the Indian Ocean attracts Brits looking for winter sun, with New Year, Feb half-term and Easter the busiest times of the year. The low season is therefore from May to end September but of course the world&#8217;s weather is now officially crazy, so, er, who knows?! During my stay in May it was largely sunny and warm and I had the tan to prove it. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="750" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-Maldives-Hero--750x1000.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-98407" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-Maldives-Hero--750x1000.jpeg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-Maldives-Hero--450x600.jpeg 450w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-Maldives-Hero--1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sun-Siyam-Olhuveli-Maldives-Hero-.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sunshine and leopard print in May, just the way Muddy likes it</figcaption></figure>



<p>So if you&#8217;re happy to chance the weather, Sun Siyam Olhuveli&#8217;s all inclusive deal makes it a compelling comparison to Europe. </p>



<p><em>Book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sunsiyam.com/">sunsiyam.com</a></em></p>



<p>Words: Editor-in-Chief Hero Brown</p>


Affordable Maldives! The family-friendly hotel we’re loving

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