"Yes, the water really is this blue" a Maldives Travel Page by LisaMJ

Well, we finally made it. After months of research and hassling members who had visited the Maldives for exact details, we managed to choose THE best destination and hotel for our needs.

The Maldives really is the dream destination it appears to be in the brochures. All those promotional pictures I thought must be doctored weren't - the sand really is that white, the water really is that clear and blue, and the sunsets really are all the hues of red and orange you could imagine.

A visit is a must. You can die happy if you have seen the beauty that is the Maldives.

What made our holiday? Yes, our room was fantastic, the island beautfiul, the food exquisite. BUT, thanks to the staff of the Taj Exotica Resorts & Spa, we came away feeling so special, so well treated, and so pleased to have experienced such wonderful, genuine people.

Before we left, we had really wanted a beach villa. This is what we've always stayed in, but when one wasn't available, our travel agent strongly urged us to try a water villa, because there are few places in the world where you get to stay in one.

I'm really glad we did, and here I am sitting on our lower deck after watching the sunset.

The doors onto the deck of our lagoon villa were floor to ceiling and opened right up. It was lovely to lie on the sala bed reading with the breeze coming in.

This picture shows the view from our bed, and the gorgeous shades of blue beyond.