Adaaran Prestige Vaddo - Maldives

A Perfect Vacation

Where are the Maldives and how to reach them? Maldives is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean. With crystal clear turquoise water, it is a bucket-list destination for many travelers. The closest major city is Colombo, Srilanka. However, we planned a 4-day trip to Maldives during one of our trips to India. You can find reasonable packages at websites like makemytrip.com, and yatra.com. We took a short 2.5 hr flight ride from Bengaluru to Malé Velana International Airport, the only international airport located at Malé, the capital city of Maldives. After reaching the international airport and clearing immigration, the smaller islands can be reached via seaplane or speed boat. 

Take Nothing but Pictures, Leave Nothing but Footprints, Kill Nothing but Time

What to Book? For a first-time traveler, the best and easiest option is to book a resort with an all-inclusive package. This generally includes flight tickets, pick up and drop off from the resort, resort stay, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and beverages. Paying for drinks/food onsite can get very expensive compared to an all-inclusive package. We booked our vacation package from India as it was way cheaper and accessible compared to other locations. There are similar packages available from many Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. 

For most travelers, this is once in a lifetime experience. For an all-inclusive off-season trip, expect to pay upwards of 5000 USD. Most of the resorts quote everything in USD.

Sunrise Villas

What to look for? Look for a package that includes transfers from and to the airport. Most resorts offer complimentary pickup and drop-off to and from the airport. If you want to spend time away from people, opt for an island resort. For a good snorkeling/diving experience, check if the resort has a house reef.

A Stormy Afternoon!

When to Visit? The best time to visit is definitely during the winter months. However, we took a risk and visited the islands from June - July. Our stay was at a small island resort Adaaran Prestige Vadoo. Even though June - July was monsoon season, there were clear days when we could cover most of the activities we wanted to do.

Clouded - Still A Perfect Beach

Adaaran Vadoo - This is a nice little island resort in south Male Atoll approximately 30 mins boat ride away from Malé airport. The resort has 3 types of villas available - Sunrise water villas - facing the beach, Sunset water villas, and Honeymoon villas. All the villas have a dip pool, private jacuzzi, and direct access to the Ocean. With an all-inclusive package, breakfast, lunch, and dinner were covered at the Farivalhu restaurant. This includes an unlimited beverage of your choice at the bar as well. You can pick up snorkeling gear free of charge at the dive center. Each villa can easily accommodate a family of 4 and has life vests, a small fridge, a mini bar (alcoholic beverages are not included in All-inclusive), and ponchos- considering the weather. 

All-Inclusive Package

Maldives is a popular honeymoon destination. But don't let that stop you from visiting with family. I love that we waited to visit the Maldives until the kids were a little bit older. They thoroughly enjoyed the trip and it has become their all-time favorite destination. With crystal clear water, and white sand beaches who wouldn't love a holiday here. 

Sunset Villas

What to pack? Apart from all the regular stuff, there are a few essentials to pack. 

• Reef-safe sunscreen - ditch the regular sunscreen and opt for reef-safe sunscreen.
• Water shoes - The sand is essentially coarse coral. So bring water shoes to save your feet.
• Hat and swim coverup
• GoPro or similar camera with a waterproof cover
• Snorkeling gear (Generally the resort provides complimentary snorkeling gear)

Honeymoon Villas

What to do? You can do a whole lot of nothing and still enjoy the vacation.

• Snorkeling - Even if you are scared and do not know how to swim, strap on a life vest, put on the snorkeling mask, and take a dip. You will not regret it
• Diving - The resort has a house reef and you can enjoy diving trips with an experienced diver
• Malé Tour  - If this is your first visit to an Asian country, take a tour of Malé city. It might not be very interesting to people from Asian countries.
• Sunset - Take a sunset cruise or just watch it from the convenience of your own villa. The sunset over clear water is magnificent and should not be missed.
• Window seat in the airplane - It will be amazing if you include a seaplane ride. If not, pay for a window seat away from the wings. Especially during take-off, the views are amazing. 

What not to do/bring? Maldives is essentially an Islamic country. 

• Do not bring alcoholic beverages (Hence the all-inclusive package)
• Do not remove coral/ shells/ sand from the country.
• Do not step on / break live coral

Where 2 Next???

Visiting North West Coast of Michigan

Empire Bluff Trail Lookout

We are totally in love with Michigan. It is becoming a frequent beach vacation spot for our family. This time, we visited the northwest coast of Michigan. Famous for its national park Sleeping Bear Dunes. It is one of the four National Lakeshore areas managed and protected by the federal government. I am not at all surprised to see all four National Lakeshore areas in and around the great lakes. Thanks to NPS, visitors can enjoy these beautiful areas for years to come. I love the crystal clear water, fine sand, and beaches filled with interesting and colorful stones. It is a perfect vacation spot for young families. The town of Empire is the closest to this national park and Traverse City is the major city nearby. The best place to start the journey is at Philip A Hart visitor center. We picked our entry passes from here before starting the trip. Entry is 25$ per vehicle and can be picked up from either the visitor center or can be paid at entry (only in summer months). Cell service here is not very reliable. Having a physical map or an offline map would come in handy.

Empire Bluff Trail

Empire Bluff Trail: Empire Bluff Trail is only 1.5 miles south of the visitor center. This is probably the shortest and the easiest of all trails with spectacular views at the end. The major part of the trail is through a shaded path. Even though parts of the trail are hilly, it is not terribly difficult. If you are short on time or traveling with young kids and pets, this is a good trail to hike.

Stop 9 & 10: Lake Michigan & Sleeping Bear Overlook

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive: Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive was named after Pierce Stocking. A lumberman who spent his spare time in nature and wanted to share Michigan's beauty with the rest of the world. He conceived the idea of building roads to the top of the dunes. Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive entrance is 7 miles north of the Philip A Hart visitor center. The scenic drive loop is 7.4 miles long and it is a one-way road. There are several vista points touching the most beautiful places in the dunes. We found ourselves spending a good amount of time at Lake Michigan Lookout. The beautiful lake views were spectacular and we got our first taste of hiking the steep sand dunes at stops 9 and 10 in Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.

Stop 2: Glen Lake View from the Scenic Drive

Hiking Trails: There are several trails in and around the Sleeping Bear dunes area. The Dune Trail is the most strenuous trail in this National Park. If you think climbing one sand dune will get you to the lake, you are mistaken. To reach the beach one needs to climb a series of dunes and the full climb to the lake and back to the parking lot for the dune trail is almost 3.5 miles long. We visited the park in late spring where the temperatures were around 65-70ºF. The water was too cold for a swim but it was perfect for the dune climb. The Sleeping Bear Point trail is my favorite trail so far. I prefer looking at the beautiful lake and dipping my toes in the water to the strenuous dune climb. This trail has a perfect combination of dune climb and easy access to the lake. You can make a choice of doing either one or both. Pyramid Point Overlook is 20 miles north of the sleeping bear point. The trail is .5 miles long from the parking lot to the overlook. A good stop for beautiful views.

Dune Overlook

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore & Glen Lake: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has a perfect beach with crystal clear shallow water. Even though the water was freezing cold, we enjoyed spending time on the beach. Skipping rocks, collecting stones, playing in the sand, and running away from bugs 😝. Make sure to pack bug repellant along with sunscreen. The one thing I regret not doing is not spending more time at Glen lake. Rent a pontoon at the marina and spend a lazy afternoon on the lake with family. We will be coming back to this place again for sure. 

Traverse City and Torch Lake: Traverse City is best known for its beaches and cherries. Driving in and around Traverse City, you will find plenty of cherry farms. Mid-summer is the best time to visit cherry farms for cherry-picking. Another growing popularity is vineyards. Traverse City gives out a relaxed town vibe with plenty of lake-side parks to relax and play with easy access to water. For this visit, we skipped all indoor activities. But, we will be back in Traverse City to finish exploring. 40 minutes northeast of Traverse City is the beautiful Torch lake. This lake is one of the clearest lakes in the world. Its water changes from Deep blue to turquoise hence known as the mid-western Caribbean. The lakeshore is mostly occupied by private properties. However, there is a good number of public access points to the lake. the sand bar is famous for its crystal clear shallow waters.

Beautiful Sunset - Petoskey Harbor Breakwater

Petoskey: I visited Petoskey State Park solely to hunt for the Petoskey stone, the official stone of Michigan state. According to rocktumbler.com, 'Petoskey stone is a fossil of a colonial coral. These corals lived in a shallow sea that covered what is now the great lakes area during the Devonian time, about 350 million years ago. When the corals died, the calcium carbide exoskeleton of the coral colony has become Petoskey Stone'. The stone is over picked and is not found easily in the state park. There is no guaranty, but might be a slight chance of finding Petoskey stone in one of the beaches with stones like Solanus mission beach or Petoskey harbor breakwater. Despite the stones, Petoskey has beautiful parks and beaches.

Albufeira to Benagil and Everything In-between, Portugal

Portugal's south coast has one of the beautiful coastlines in the world. With beautiful cliff views and clear turquoise waters, it draws thousands of tourists every year. The entire south coast and a small part of the west coast belong to the Algarve region of Portugal. This region is a prime destination for beach vacations. As of April 2019, Portugal has 352 Blue Flag accredited beaches. Out of that, the Algarve region is home for 88 Blue Flag beaches. If you are wondering what a blue flag beach is, it is the highest accolade given to a beach. It indicates that the beach adheres to a high standard of quality, safety, and services.

Praia das Escalieras

There are two main options to see all the beautiful beaches. One is the cliff walk and the second option is from the sea. However, few beaches can only be accessed from the sea. I can list a hundred reasons why a cliff walk can be a disastrous option for parents with young kids. Even from the sea, there are several options. SUP, Kayak, small boats, and catamaran tours. The best option is the SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) or a Kayak. They give access to hidden beaches inside the cave. Which are otherwise inaccessible. We being us, choose an easy option. A Catamaran tour.

The Most Beautiful Beach - Praia do Pontal

There are different types of tours starting from Albufeira Marina. Ours was caves and coastline tour. We were welcomed by our tour guide with a glass of bubbly. The tour lasted for a couple of hours. The only disadvantage with a catamaran is that they cannot enter Benagil caves. We just get a peek inside and nothing more. But, traveling with young kids demands compromises. On the bright side, we had a wonderful trip with an open bar and blaring music. 

Yellow Submarine - Praia da Morena

The best way to see cliffs is from the water. With beautiful formations and hidden beaches, the views were amazing. 

Arco Natural - McDonald's Arch

Praia do Pontal

Praia de Albandeira

Benagil Cave

The World famous Benagil cave can be accessed only by water. A little beach inside is generally filled with tourists. 

Benagil Cave Entrance

Praia da Marinha

Viewing beaches from the water is not enough. They deserve a visit. However, visiting all the beaches is next to impossible. It is very important to prioritize a few. The best way to end the day is to visit the old town of Albufeira and spend an hour or two in its Blue Flag beaches. If I had a choice, Portugal would be the place I would go to and never come back.

Sagres to Lagos, Algarve, Portugal

I never considered Portugal as a holiday destination. Little did I know that if planned properly, Portugal can be a perfect holiday destination with the right temperature and practically zero crowds. We visited the Algarve region of Portugal during the last week of May. We couldn't have picked a better time than this. There were practically no crowds. At times, we felt that we were on a private beach. Water was warm enough to swim in the late afternoons and temperatures were around 25-30°C. This is how a perfect vacation should be.

Driving is the best and only way to see Portugal. We took a flight to Faro and rented a car online. We picked our rental car at Faro airport and had the independence to roam around as we please. Car rental prices are reasonable compared to other European countries like Ireland. Pre-pay for the tolls at the rental office beforehand. I presume all tolls are electronic as I did not find any toll booths on the highway. 

Cape Sagres Viewpoint

Sagres is a municipality in the South-Western tip of Portugal. Sagres Fortress or Fortaleza de Sagres is located at the southernmost tip of Sagres. Sagres played a prominent role in the 15th century during the golden era of Portugal's exploration. The fort is mainly a series of huge walls built to separate the mainland from Sagres head. Henry the Navigator launched his expedition from Sagres. Most of the fort was destroyed by 1755's earthquake and resultant tsunami. Visitors have the opportunity to explore the area on foot. Even though there is not much to see, this fort provides beautiful views of the ocean from the cliffs. 

Church of Our Lady of Grace

Inside the Church

On N125, 10 KM away from Sagres, we came across an un-named shop full of Portugal made ceramic wear. The collection inside the store is huge and the variety is incredible. This place is located right next to the N125 and hard to miss. I got a 'Rooster of Barcelona' and a Portugal ceramic tile from this shop.

A Splendid Find

Next stop - Farol da Ponta da Peidade, Lagos.

Ponta da Piedade

Cliffs & Crystal Clear Water

We drove down the dusty road, without any expectations. Parked our car in an empty parking spot and followed the crowd blindly. Then, we climbed down a series of narrow stairs. Little did we know that these are the stairs leading to a hidden paradise. The sea caves stood shining like golden mountains in the bright afternoon Sun. Boats were floating on a crystal clear turquoise water. One can spend hours appreciating the beauty of the land and the sea. Gazing at the ocean floor and guessing it's depth. My heart danced with joy like a child in a candy store.

Accessible Only by Small Boat

Small boat tours start at the foot of the cliff and take visitors through the sea caves and formations. These caves are accessible by a small boat or kayak or SUP board. Tour lasts for 20-30 minutes covering the surrounding areas. This was the best day of our vacation.