2025 Hmattaing Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in December)

We chose the Maldives for our honeymoon. It was our first time going to the Maldives, and after a long time of researching islands, we finally chose Raffles. The main reasons were: - Top-notch snorkeling island - Small island with few people, only 38 rooms in total, rooms spaced apart, 100% privacy 💯 - Large rooms: 200 sqm for beach villas, 230 sqm for water villas, with 3-meter-wide beds - Water villas have pools and net beds - High cost performance, includes dolphin cruise and a series of honeymoon perks - We liked the Raffles brand, though this changed after rebranding When we learned about the rebranding, we were actually sad and considered switching resorts, but the hardware at Raffles was just too excellent, and the service team remained the same, so we decided to stay. The experience was amazing!! The hardware was exactly as we expected, no difference. We could feel the entire service team working hard to provide us with comprehensive care. The food was also very good; each meal lasted 2 hours and we were always very full. We got addicted to snorkeling and went into the water 5 times in total. We were prepared to just relax, but the actual itinerary was very rich, and they gave us many extras: dolphin cruise, 45-minute massage, guided snorkeling, floating breakfast, afternoon tea, as well as champagne and bubble bath. Let me emphasize the service: from room allocation to our departure from Malé, one big takeaway is that you have to talk a lot to get an extraordinary experience. - We emailed in advance requesting a beach villa with a large beach and a water villa far from the jetty with good privacy. The beach villa we got was almost on the widest beach on the sunrise side, and the water villa was the outermost one. The adjacent two-bedroom villa was blocked during our stay, so we had absolute privacy (though it was a bit far…) - We were probably the most talkative guests on the island, so our butler could hear our needs from various staff, for example: 🐢 On our first guided snorkeling, we didn’t see any turtles. At dinner, when the butler manager came around chatting with each table, we mentioned that we hadn’t seen any turtles. He told us to just tell the butler “I want to see turtles!” Later, when the butler picked us up, he said he had heard about our wish to see turtles and took us snorkeling the next day. He was amazing, seemed to know exactly where each turtle was active. We saw three or four turtles in a row! What shocked me most was that the turtles stayed right under us and didn’t hurry away, showing how well the hotel protects the ecosystem. The turtles there are not afraid of people at all. 🎁 On the last day, while wandering on the island, we met a staff member whom we didn’t even know. We chatted and said we were leaving and that we had some time at Malé airport in the evening and wanted to go to the city to buy souvenirs. He immediately said to leave it to them! So when we arrived in Malé that evening, hotel staff took care of our luggage and arranged a guide to take us shopping for souvenirs, accompanying us to each store, and finally sent us back to the airport! I can say this trip gave us the best service experience ever. This is what making money is for, it’s so hard to quit. We just got back and are already thinking about going again.

We decided to go on a Maldives vacation at the last minute, and the moment we saw the beach, sea, and coconut trees of Mathiveri with our own eyes, we couldn't help but exclaim how beautiful it was! As long as it didn't rain, we would go out for a stroll and occasionally run into the island owner. The beauty of Mathiveri is genuine but not luxurious, and there's no need to share it with thousands of tourists—it's a sparkling treasure island~ Although the weather on the local island was unpredictable with frequent heavy rain during these days, under the guidance of Xiao Xiao from TRAVELLOGIC HB, we had an experience at sea that far exceeded our expectations. Every time the sky cleared, Xiao Xiao immediately arranged a chartered boat trip for us (we tried all the activities in the package), spending four relaxed and fulfilling days~ Especially worth mentioning: on our first sea fishing trip, due to bad weather, we changed spots three or four times and only caught two fish haha. Xiao Xiao was worried we wouldn't be satisfied, so he arranged another trip later, and we returned fully loaded! Really happy!!! Xiao Xiao's wife was also online the whole time helping us solve problems—a super enthusiastic, friendly, and reliable couple. Finally, a loud shout: come to Mathiveri and find Xiao Xiao, safe, secure, and more fun! Highly recommended~!

It's been a week since I returned from the Maldives, and I finally have time to write down my travel tips! 🫥 Weather: 70%☀️30%☁️ (It rained for a few minutes once and I even saw a rainbow 🌈) Don't worry if the weather forecast says it's cloudy; that's actually better! Walking is more comfortable on cloudy days, as continuous sunshine is incredibly hot! 🩵Island Arrival: I recommend staying in Kuala Lumpur the night before. For the same price, you can stay in a better place in Kuala Lumpur than near the Maldives airport, and there are more good restaurants. Fly from Kuala Lumpur in the morning, arriving in the Maldives in the morning due to the time difference, so you can check into the island in the afternoon. Upon arrival at the Maldives airport, hotel staff will immediately take you to the seaplane lounge (p5). Enjoy the amazing ocean view, eat, drink, and take photos there. When it's time, someone will take you to the plane. 🩵Check-in: Your butler will give you a tour of the island, introducing the services and pricing. Tipping is optional, as we didn't see the butler after checking in, but gave a token tip. We exchanged $50 for a tip, mostly for the housekeeping, who come twice a day, morning and evening – I felt they worked harder. We didn't tip at the restaurants because the bill already included a 10% service charge. 🩵Food: For the floating breakfast, remember to choose a time after you've finished putting on makeup, otherwise the ice will have melted and the fruit will have oxidized, making for less photogenic photos. There are about four or five restaurants on the island, and there are many posts about the Radisson's food, providing comprehensive information. My suggestion is to only try the free buffet once; the à la carte restaurants are more worthwhile, as the hotel's discount coupons aren't actually that expensive. Every evening from 5 pm to 6 pm, drinks and alcohol are half-price at each bar; I recommend going every day to experience the sunset 🍺 – it's truly blissful. 🩵Photography Tips: These photos are from the most beautiful photo spots I found while exploring the island. Seaplane seats are mostly by the window, so you can get great photos. Remember to sit outside by the sea for breakfast – the view is amazing, you can feed the fish, and you might even see baby sharks. For portrait photography: 1️⃣ The best spot is by the pool in your room (p14). This angle is perfect for using the window as a mirror, making it easy to pose. 2️⃣ The best outdoor spots are the buffet restaurant and the restaurant entrance (p1, p2). These backgrounds are guaranteed to be photogenic. 3️⃣ A bathtub view of the sea is also a must-have. They sell bubble bath balls in the shop, or you can just use shower gel (p17). 4️⃣ The hammock (p18) – ask the housekeeping to bring you an extra blanket to put on it; lying down there will definitely result in great photos. In summary: I chose this island mainly because the rooms are very large and beautiful. It's rare to find rooms over 200 square meters at this price point, and the sea view is fantastic and unobstructed. Many people complain about the service, but I didn't care. I just called the front desk if I had any requests. On the way back, we ran into a couple at the airport who had chosen other islands. Their islands were more expensive than ours, but their experience was terrible. So, considering the Radisson Blu is a six-star island, I think it's pretty good.

Maldives paradise with blue skies and clear seas🏝️, here you’ll find not only stunning island scenery but also captivating cultural stories and delicious food experiences～ 🌊 Trip Highlights 1⃣️ Unique Maldives overwater villa experience, watch the sea right from your bed 2⃣️ Snorkeling trips with chances to encounter sea turtles and colorful fish 3⃣️ Taste authentic Maldivian cuisine 🏨 Accommodation Recommendation Choosing an overwater villa is such a smart choice! We stayed at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, each room has a private pool and unbeatable sea views, the best spot to watch the sunset🌅 🍽️ Food Recommendations 1⃣️ The Thai cuisine at the seaside buffet restaurant Baan Huraa left a lasting impression 2⃣️ The fire show and fresh seafood at Sea.Fire.Salt restaurant are simply perfect 3⃣️ The underwater restaurant experience is truly unforgettable 📖 Cultural Stories Chatting with local fishermen, we learned that the traditional fishing method "Bodu Beru" actually relies on moonlight! Walking on the beach at night, we even saw fishermen fishing by lantern light, so romantic✨ 💡 Practical Tips 1⃣️ Remember to bring SPF 50+ sunscreen, the sun is really strong 2⃣️ It’s recommended to bring an underwater camera to capture stunning snorkeling photos 3⃣️ Tips are given in US dollars, so it’s best to exchange plenty of small bills 4⃣️ 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM is when the sun is strongest, it’s best to rest in your room during this time Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas Resort on Kihavah Island, Maldives

When it comes to Maldives true all-inclusive, Lily Island must be named! The best value among six-star islands, all food, drinks, and entertainment included Even cigars are free 🆓 Super family-friendly for those with kids Two children under 12 eat and stay for free! If you're heading to the Maldives, just go for it with your eyes closed～ ✨Package Includes✨ 🏠 2 nights in a beach villa + 2 nights in an overwater villa ✈️ Domestic flights round-trip (seaplane upgrade available) 🍽️ Three meals daily + unlimited drinks 🍹 Mini bar + afternoon tea all included 🎣 Choose 3 out of 4 sea activities (snorkeling / sea fishing / sunset cruise / fishing village tour) 👶 Kids club + in-room surprises 💝 Honeymoon perks: flower bed / fruit basket / candlelight dinner 🌟Island Highlights🌟 • Snorkeling rated A, often encounter sea turtles • Overwater villa with massage pool + jacuzzi • Lush vegetation, excellent ecology • 24-hour attentive service • Truly all-inclusive with no hidden charges