island vacation

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Me and the wife, age 57 about, want to go and visit an Island. I saw on Master chef, they were in Zanzibar, and though why not go there. Is there someone who has been to the other 2, Mauritius and Seychelles , or is there perhaps another one. We do not plan to go to everyone. Morocco is also on my menu, I have heard they got tasty food there.
 
The islands resorts off the Moz are apparently also awesome. Relative had a wedding there but I couldn't make it :(
 
HavocXphere said:
The islands resorts off the Moz are apparently also awesome. Relative had a wedding there but I couldn't make it :(
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Inhaca island? I've been to Santa Maria, which is on the mainland closest to the island. It really is stunning there.

Friends who went on honeymoon to Mauritius weren't that impressed, but they had a good time. They complained that just outside the resorts its pretty much third world and people trying to sell you crap.

Maldives is supposedly the one to go to, but also a lot more expensive.

I enjoyed the Thailand islands a lot. Phutket, the largest and busiest of the lot, Phi Phi which is a lot smaller but also very popular, and then Railay which is pretty quiet. Or was when we popped in for the day:
https://www.google.co.za/search?q=r...9rYAhWrA8AKHeIJAb0Q_AUICigB&biw=1878&bih=1041
 
Zanzibar is very rural. You will spend most of the time at the resort or you can go on tours.

Mauritius is nice, very commercial. Was there in September last year and it has become extremely expensive. Best to do a fully inclusive at club med or similar unless you want to pay R400 for six pieces of sushi. Only great restaurant is Luigi's in Grand Baie, everywhere else is pretty bleak.

Thailand was good. If you go in Monsoon season you can get great deals at 5* resorts.
 
Been to the Thailand islands (Phuket, Railay Bay, Phi-Phi) as well as the Maldives.

Must say I enjoyed Thailand more and would love to go again. Thailand has hundreds of Islands, and the beaches are pristine with beautiful limestone cliffs and outcrops. It is cheap, food is great and snorkelling is awesome.

Maldives consist of an archipelago of over 1000 coral islands. Extremely beautiful and gives that idyllic private island feel. The individual islands are really really small, as in our specific island that was maybe two hectares. We walked around the circumference of the island in under 15 minutes.

The islands are also very flat, the highest point in the whole island group is 2.5m above sea level. So what you see is a beach in the middle of nowhere with tall palm trees and mangrove with white beaches. The islands typically consist of a resort, so there, as in our case, you will stay on an island inside a resort and that is all that is on the island. Your activities are limited to what the resort offers. If you want to do something else at another resort, you have to catch a speedboat and visit another island. So for Maldives, your experience depends a lot on the what the resort have to offer.

You must get a water bungalow to make it worth while (the ones that are erected on stilts above the ocean like at Bora Bora, almost all resorts have them) but lets say you take a 6 night R25k per person package like the one we took (all inclusive and flights included) it will cost you almost double that to upgrade to a water bungalow. We were lucky because they made an error with our booking and had to put us in a water bungalow for our first night instead of the beach bungalow that we booked. There is truly nothing like having your own private bungalow and deck above the ocean.

Alcohol and activities are also super expensive and quoted in USD.
 
Barbarian said:
Inhaca island? I've been to Santa Maria, which is on the mainland closest to the island. It really is stunning there.
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Don't recall tbh. Great white beaches though apparently

I was briefly in the north on the mainland near Pemba...dirtiest beach I've ever been on.
 
All inclusive jol in Mauritius. 4 hours flight, beautiful.
It is very very expensive if you have to pay for food and drinks a la carte, especially at hotels.

Belle Mare for the quiet tranquil side of the island
Grand baie for the vibey nightlife, restaurants
Flic en flac for a slight mix of both, close to tamarin/le morne and port louis and chamarel for your day trips.
 
Thailand.

Cheap, beautiful, basically another planet (in terms of food, people, culture, etc.).
 
Just booked for Phuket. There's a special running for R7,500 pps for 7 nights inclusive of flights, transfers, accommodation and breakfast. I think the special ends today but travel goes until 31 October 2018.
 
Just came back from Thailand. Sewage smell everywhere, sea was dirty at the touristy spots. Not going back. Did Phuket, Phi phi. Railey was the best though. Clean water and beach. But expensive
 
skinndeep said:
Just came back from Thailand. Sewage smell everywhere, sea was dirty at the touristy spots. Not going back. Did Phuket, Phi phi. Railey was the best though. Clean water and beach. But expensive
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You went at the wrong time and did it the wrong way. 3-4 week return flight in the off peak season, book the first few nights accom, then travel around as and when you see fit. Basically backpacking.

Scooters, beaches, cheap beers, amazing street food, mushrooms. Bliss :D
 
msquared said:
Just booked for Phuket. There's a special running for R7,500 pps for 7 nights inclusive of flights, transfers, accommodation and breakfast. I think the special ends today but travel goes until 31 October 2018.
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link?
 
rodga said:
link?
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www.travelgab.co.za

Call Ilse 082 308 6364

"Smashing deal!!!! 7 nights Sunset Beach Resort Phuket from only R7553 per person sharing. Includes return economy flights on Etihad, airport taxes, return transfers, accommodation and breakfast daily.

Book and pay by 16 January 2018.

Valid 17 April to 31 October 2018. Surcharges apply for all weekend travel. Subject to availability."
 
msquared said:
www.travelgab.co.za

Call Ilse 082 308 6364

"Smashing deal!!!! 7 nights Sunset Beach Resort Phuket from only R7553 per person sharing. Includes return economy flights on Etihad, airport taxes, return transfers, accommodation and breakfast daily.

Book and pay by 16 January 2018.

Valid 17 April to 31 October 2018. Surcharges apply for all weekend travel. Subject to availability."
Click to expand...

thanks, which dates you booked for?
 
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