The Maldives and Zanzibar come up again and again in honeymoon requests, and for good reason. Both offer turquoise water, white sand and a real sense of being far from everything. But they tell two different stories, and the choice depends less on budget than on what a couple wants from those days.
In the Maldives, the hotel is the destination. Each resort usually occupies its own island, reached by seaplane or speedboat from the airport at Malé. The days are shared between the lagoon, the reef and the villa, often built over the water. It is the choice for couples who want complete calm and have no wish to move around.
The dry season in the Maldives runs roughly from November to April, with calm seas and good visibility for snorkelling. The rest of the year brings more showers and wind, but gentler rates. Either way, the choice of meal plan matters a great deal, since almost every meal is taken on the island.
Zanzibar offers a more varied journey. Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blends Swahili, Arab, Indian and European influences in its lanes and carved doorways. The beaches of the north and east then provide the rest, and a visit to the spice plantations helps explain the island’s history.
Zanzibar’s climate is kindest from June to October and from December to February. The long rains, usually between March and May, make some excursions less pleasant. On the east coast the tides are large: at low tide the sea withdraws a long way, which surprises anyone expecting to swim at any hour.
Zanzibar also combines easily with a safari on the Tanzanian mainland, for a trip in two parts: a few days in the savannah, then rest by the ocean. The Maldives suit a single uninterrupted stay, perhaps preceded by a stopover in a large city. They are two different ways of spending a fortnight.
Formalities differ between the two and can change: the entry regime, the documents requested on arrival, the recommended vaccinations. We send you the up-to-date list when you book, to be confirmed with the consulates and health authorities. For a honeymoon, it is also worth carrying a copy of the marriage certificate, as some hotels offer small touches for newly-weds on sight of it.
If you are still undecided, one question often settles it: do you want this trip to be a rest or a discovery? Our advisers can also prepare both quotes side by side, for the same dates, so that the comparison is fair.
Visa, health and entry rules change without notice: check them with the consulate or the official portal before you travel.
