Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn moreThey call it ‘Maldivitis’. An incurable addiction linked to the Indian Ocean… and one hit is all it takes.‘Our resort was incredibly basic with average food and just two grades of accommodation: with or without air-conditioning,’ recalls Jane Hamilton of her and husband Hugo’s first Maldives holiday in 1998. ‘But we were hooked.’Now twice-yearly visitors, the Hamiltons’ next trip will be their 29th. Meanwhile, Mike and Janice Cook – who’ve visited 42 resorts since 2000, including 60 stays at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu – are fast approaching their 73rd.Still, faced with 180 resorts across 19 atolls, it’s little wonder first-timers feel baffled by the choice. So, if you’re planning that ‘once in a lifetime’ Maldives holiday, here’s our multi-visit experts’ guide to getting it right.Just don’t expect the visit to be your last…Finding the right Maldives resort for youThe ‘baby of the bunch’, 16-time visitor Paula Connor, co-runs the 14,300-strong Facebook group Maldives Holidaymakers, so she knows how confused newbies can get.‘People get horribly stressed about finding the perfect resort, but truthfully, 90 per cent will tick most people’s boxes, so don’t overthink it. Unless you want something very specific – an adults-only resort, say, or underwater restaurant – it pays to stay flexible.‘Start with your budget. Some resorts are astronomically expensive; knowing your limit immediately narrows the field. Next, decide your “non-negotiables.” They could be a kids’ club, spa and private pool.’ JW Marriott’s resort on Shaviyani Atoll is ideal for families with its kids club and activities Amilla Fushi on Baa Atoll is better for older and multi-generational families Amilla Fushi has 59 villas, including treehouses, as well as enormous four-to-eight bedroom residencesFor young families, for example, a resort like the JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa on Shaviyani Atoll is ideal. The kids’ club here has a 43ft pirate ship to clamber on, a splash zone and more than 100 activities a week – treasure hunts, octopus tag, beach Olympics.Babysitting, which usually costs a small fortune at any five-star hotel, is complimentary here and kids under the age of 12 can eat for free with a guardian. Duplex villas have two bedrooms, upstairs TV dens and swimming pools – perfect for families (marriott.com).For older and multi-generational families, check into Amilla Fushi on Baa Atoll. Kate Winslet and Kate Moss are among the famous names who have stayed at this chic resort in the Baa Atoll – but this is a resort for everyone, no matter your abilities and needs.Thanks to Amilla’s Inclucare certification, wheelchair users, the deaf and blind community and children on the spectrum can have as much fun as everyone else. There are 59 villas, including treehouses, as well as enormous four-to eight-bedroom residences, featuring white-on-white Saint-Tropez-style interiors and private swimming pools.Ten bars and restaurants cover all the bases, including Japanese, Italian, Greek and Indian. Check out the size of the house reef and Amilla’s very own blue hole (marine sinkhole) as your seaplane sweeps into the Baa Atoll on the 35-minute flight from Male (amillafushimaldives.net). For those visiting as a couple, an adult-only resort is best – and you’re certainly not short of options. One of the best available is the Anantara Veli, on the South Male Atoll. Maldives expert Paula Connor says ‘People get horribly stressed about finding THE perfect resort, but truthfully, 90 per cent will tick most people’s boxes’ Seaplanes might be the priciest resort transfer option, adding around £500 per person, but the experts agree they are worth itWithin an easy 30-minute speedboat ride of the airport, this recently refurbished resort has been redesigned with grown-ups in mind. Whether on the beach or over water, the villas are big enough to cartwheel through, with super-sized beds, lofty vaulted ceilings and outdoor terraces, some with private pools (anantara.com). A house reef is also essential for Andy Reed, whose 25 visits with wife Karen include 20 to Lily Beach Resort & Spa (lilybeachmaldives.com): ‘Even if you don’t think you’ll like snorkelling, you probably will, so that freedom to go whenever you want is invaluable. Without a reef, you’re reliant on boat trips, stuck to set times, and surrounded by other people.‘My other must-have is a premium all-inclusive package. At Lily, everyone’s on the same deal, so there’s no thinking “I can’t afford that.” You can have whatever you want, whenever.’For budget-conscious travellers, Jane Hamilton recommends prioritising time over extras: ‘We aren’t after ultra-luxury, we just want as long as possible for our money. Being less picky lets us do 18 to 20 nights for around £10,000. If that means a simple resort or buffet meals, we don’t mind.’The Residence at Dhigurah is a great choice for any one on a budget. While the remote resort isn’t going to win any design awards, but what it lacks in style it more than makes up for with an unbeatable location in the pristine Gaafu Alifu Atoll.The island is huge (by Maldives standards) at two kilometres long, which means every simply styled villa gets its own private patch of cottony-white beach (and a private swimming pool. Expect rooms from approximately £370 for two people, which includes breakfast (cenizaro.com). A house reef is also essential for Andy Reed, whose 25 visits with wife Karen include 20 to Lily Beach Resort & Spa The Residence at Dhigurah is a great choice for any one on a budget, with rooms for two at around £370 a nightOr, at an even lower price point, try the Equator Village Maldives on Addu Atoll at the far south of the Maldives archipelago on the site of a former RAF base, which closed in 1976. There is even the officer’s old billiard table by the bar.This is a sleepy resort-hotel, on the island of Gan, with simple whitewashed rooms and a large, lagoon-style pool surrounded by palm trees. There is good nearby diving, including the remnants of British Loyalty, a sunken shipwreck from the Second World War. A week’s stay starts from around £1,342pp B&B with flights (tui.co.uk).Seaplane or boat transfer?Resort transfers will involve a boat, seaplane or domestic flight. While boat rides are often complimentary, particularly for resorts near Male, flights rarely are. Seaplanes are the priciest option and can add around £500 per person to your trip, but our experts agree they’re worth it.‘If you have the choice, book the seaplane; seeing the islands from above is magical,’ says Janice Cook.Jane Hamilton takes a more practical view: ‘I’m a lousy sailor, and we’ve had some horrendous boat transfers, so we always choose a seaplane.’For nervous flyers, Andy Reed offers reassurance: ‘Remember, they’re designed to land on water! Yes, they’re small and noisy, but they’re amazing. Sit at the front, and you can watch the barefoot pilots through the open cabin door.’ ‘A multi-centre stay can make your holiday feel longer,’ says 22-time visitor Jan Adkin. ‘But you could face additional seaplane costs, and your second resort may not live up to your first’ For some a house reef is absolutely essential – even if you don’t think you’ll enjoy snorkelling, you probably will and it provides a lot of freedomStill, for that old-school castaway feel, Paula Connor recommends going the extra mile: ‘Ayada, our favourite resort, involves an hour-long domestic flight and 20-minute speedboat, but it’s worth it. Unlike resorts close to Male, there’s no light pollution, and the only sound is lapping waves.’Water villa or beach villa?Water villas typically command premium prices, but not always.‘On small resorts like Cora Cora or Outrigger, where water villas outnumber beach villas, they’re the entry-level rooms,’ explains Paula Connor. ‘They offer more privacy, sea views and fewer mosquitoes, but you’ll miss out on the island’s wildlife and could face a long walk to your room.’‘It’s definitely worth shopping around,’ adds Jane Hamilton. ‘We can afford one at Coco Giri, but not at Komandoo.’But be careful what you wish for, counsels Mike Cook: ‘People often want the end water villa, so they’ve no immediate neighbours. But the jetty gets baking hot, so you can’t go ‘no shoes’, and if it rains and there’s no buggy service, you’ll get soaked.’ While most people, as Mike Cook explains, want to opt for the end water villa to avoid immediate neighbours, he points out that this isn’t always the best choice. The jetty gets baking hot, so you can’t go ‘no shoes’Still can’t decide? Booking online often locks you into one room category, but a specialist agent or a direct resort booking can let you switch mid-stay.‘The best of both worlds, it also helps cut costs,’ advises Andy Reed. ‘But do the one you think you’ll prefer last – you don’t want to regret moving. The same applies if you’re switching islands.’One resort or two?‘A multi-centre stay can make your holiday feel longer,’ says 22-time visitor Jan Adkin, ‘but you could face additional seaplane costs, and your second resort may not live up to your first.‘We went from Veligandu, which had recently been refurbished, to Ozen Life. Veligandu was perfect, but our villa at Ozen felt tired by comparison.’For Mike Cook, there’s a practical downside: ‘If your second hotel is in a different atoll, you’ll lose a full day, as you’ll have to transfer via Male. Even resorts in the same atoll usually prefer to ‘hand over’ there: we stayed at Reethi Rah and Coco Bodu Hithi, both in North Male Atoll, and still had to go via Male. So, negotiate directly with resorts and try to arrange a private boat transfer.’All-inclusive or pay as you go?With almost everything imported, food and drink prices can be eye-watering. For most of the group, all-inclusive is the obvious choice – not least because it avoids unwelcome shocks.‘We’ve had trips where not going all-inclusive would have saved money,’ admits Paula Connor. ‘But when we haven’t had it, that last-night bill always takes the shine off our holiday.’ As for when to travel, peak season (December to April) traditionally offers the best weather. But climate change means nothing is guaranteed‘At one resort, had we been paying separately, our bill would have topped $7,000 (£5,200),” adds Jan Adkin.For the Cooks, it’s resort dependent. ‘At high-end resorts with high prices, all-inclusive can make sense,’ Mike Cook advises. ‘But if you’re not big foodies or drinkers, or you’re diving and snorkelling all day so can’t overindulge, even B&B can work out cheaper.”Ditto drinks packages, adds Janice Cook.‘We love cocktails, but even where they were $40 (£30), our actual bar bill would have cost less, so do the sums before you go.’If you do choose all-inclusive, read the small print’‘Some resorts, like Emerald Maldives, include everything, including good champagne. Others limit the drinks list or how often you can use the speciality restaurants,’ warns Mike Cook. ‘Get exactly what’s included in writing before booking.’For an all-inclusive that promises good value for money, try the Adaaran Select Meedhupparu hotel in Raa Atoll in the Maldives, which features smartly decorated ‘water villas’ above the waves.Spa treatments on offer include massages, facials and wraps using Elemis products plus Chinese reflexology. Sunset boat trips to spot dolphins can be arranged, as well as visits to a ‘desert island’ and fishing excursions. Packages are from about £1,669pp all-inclusive, with flights (trailfinders.com).For a blow-out experience, one outstanding pick for an all-inclusive resort is the Kudadoo. Set in the Lhaviyani Atoll, a 30-minute flight from the capital, almost everything you can possibly imagine is built into the rate. At Kudadoo in the Lhaviyani Atoll, most amenities, trips and meals are built into the price Kudadoo’s villas are Japanese style, with wood panelling, sliding doors and leafy zen bathroomsThe amazing amenities include private fitness classes, around-the-clock spa treatments, picnics on private islands, dolphin spotting trips, jet skis, floating breakfasts, gourmet meals, six different champagnes and mini-bars packed with all your favourite tipples – just let the butler know your preferences.The house reef is a blinder brimming with turtles and colourful reef fish. Villas lean Japanese-style, with wood panelling, sliding doors and leafy zen bathrooms. Rooms from £2,550 a night (kudadoo.com).When to goWhile peak season (December to April) traditionally offers the best weather, climate change means nothing is guaranteed.‘We arrived last March, and it was raining harder than the Pennines,’ laughs Mike Cook.All six regularly visit in low season but advise avoiding May.‘Anything else is a good gamble. Plus, you’ll save thousands,’ says Paula Connor. ‘We’ve visited every month from June to November, and usually get an 80/20 split, with just the odd day blowing a hoolie. The key is to stay longer. Losing four days of a week’s holiday hurts, but over a fortnight, you’ll likely have more good days than bad.’Book with a specialistThe ‘addicts’ all recommend contacting a specialist tour operator.‘The people we use at Angelfish Travel regularly inspect every resort they sell, so they know them inside out and can match you with one that’s right for you,’ explains Mike Cook. ‘With big, generalist companies, agents may have never visited. And while booking directly with resorts can make financial sense – particularly if you’ve booked Avios flights – we’ve found Angelfish’s packages are usually better overall value.’Other recommendations include Purely Maldives, Maldives by Olivia, and Paula Connor and Andy Reed’s go-to: Amit at Simply Maldives.‘A specialist agent gives you reassurance. Amit’s on WhatsApp whenever we need him,’ adds Paula Connor. ‘Last time, we were delayed by four hours, and he rearranged our transfers to ensure we weren’t scuppered.’How to cut flight costsAll but Jane Hamilton prefer direct flights with either Virgin or British Airways. Paula Connor uses Avios to book BA reward flights but stresses the need to be organised.‘Our Barclays account and British Airways Amex Premium Card both earn Avios. We put as much as possible on the Amex (which we pay off monthly), so it all adds up,’ she explains. ‘Spending more than £15,000 a year on Amex gets you a companion voucher, which lets you book two reward seats for the Avios price of one. But you can’t wait around – BA’s reward seats are released online 355 days in advance, and Club World seats go in seconds. It’s a faff, but worth doing.’Jan Adkin takes a more flexible approach. ‘BA rarely has reward flights when we need them, but you can always use Avios as part-payment for normal flights, which works for us,’ she says.Notwithstanding the current Middle East crisis, Jane added: ‘We actually like the break when we fly with the Middle East airlines as it gives a chance to move and stretch your legs – vital if you’re in economy! Plus flights are cheaper…‘And finally, some packing tips‘Bring plenty of sunscreen and mosquito repellent – the resorts charge extortionate prices,’ advises Jan Adkin. ‘But don’t bring loads of shoes.’‘We’re usually barefoot the entire time,’ explains Paula Connor. ‘And forget hair-straighteners. It’s so humid they’re pointless.’