TRAVELTOMTOM
~ THE MALDIVES ~
INDULGE MALDIVES RECENTLY SPOKE WITH PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL BLOGGER + INSTAGRAM SENSATION TOM GROND (DUTCH), AKA TRAVELTOMTOM (133K) AT THE WORLD TRAVEL WRITERS CONFERENCE MALDIVES, HELD LATE 2017. TRAVELTOMTOM HAS SPENT THE LAST 6 YEARS TRAVELLING THE GLOBE AND HAS VISITED 87 COUNTRIES! WE’RE SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT MALDIVES RATES AS ONE OF HIS FAVOURITES… LET’S FIND OUT ALL ABOUT HIS RECENT STAY IN MALDIVES AND WHY HE’S SET TO RETURN VERY SOON!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with Indulge Maldives Tom! We absolutely loved following your recent trip to Maldives and we’d love to know why you were here and what you got up to!
You were recently arrived in Maldives on your birthday of all days Tom! What a way to celebrate your special day!
Yes! It was a great arrival because as soon as I landed I was taken apart in a vip arrival lounge and was handed over a flower neckless. The crew of Maldives TV started singing for me and handed me a cake. My trip to Maldives could not start any better! Although I have to say I did not look at my best after 2 flights and a journey of 15 hours.
What were you here in Maldives for?
I was in Maldives for a toal of 16 days and no I did not get bored for a single day! I was among the lucky ones to be invited to the World Travel Writers’ Conference that was held at Bandos Resort. During the conference we discussed destination marketing for a country like Maldives and how story telling could contribute to a successful promotion of a luxury travel destination.
Which resorts did you have the pleasure of staying at whilst you were in Maldives?
In total I stayed at 6 different resorts during my 16 days in Maldives – Kurumba, Kuramathi, Adaraan Prestige Vadoo, Adraan Hudhuranfushi, Lux South Ari Atoll and Naladhu Private Island.
Being a solo traveller, tell us how you managed to get such amazing photographs here on your Maldives vacation?
I get that question a lot and I can understand it. At lot of people think there is secretly someone traveling with me to these amazing resorts, and yes I will admit it this time. I actually always travel with someone who takes most of my shots…her name: tripod!
Did you learn anything surprising about Maldives whilst you were here for the conference?
Oh yeah Maldives has some funny facts like most Maldivians can’t swim and I was also happy to hear you are not allowed by law to fish with nets. Great to see is that the airport is undergoing big renovations and that the bridge connecting Malé and the airport is getting closer to completion. Also the fact that Maldives is investing in opening more international airports to take away the pressure off Male a little was good news. I really like Maldives as a country, not just because of the amazing resorts and so I am interested in hearing the developments and future plans. Another funny fact is that I am most probably the only tourist in the world who likes Male!
You’re returning to Maldives again soon, what is it about the Maldives that allures you to keep coming back to ‘The Sunny Side of Life?’
Yes that is true and honestly I can’t wait to be back again. I am now in Bangladesh on an amazing adventure, but I can already see me running around on one of the beautiful islands creating great content. As I just said it is not only the beautiful resorts and beaches, but also the people here and the lifestyle that I love. Islandlife is my life I always say and there is no better beach destination than the Maldives. This time I am also staying on a local island for 4 nights as I would like to inform my readers also about the budget travel opportunities in Maldives.
Tom, what was the best experience you had whilst you were here in Maldives?
That is an easy to answer question as my time in Lux South Ari Atoll was the best resort experience I have ever had in more than 100 luxury hotels and resorts. Every day before 6.00am I would set my alarm to not miss a minute of my day on the island. No I am not a morning person at all, but getting up here watching the sunrise from my overwater bungalow, jumping on my bike and cycling over the island to get my favorite Lux coffee from the most friendly barista in Maldives was so much worth it having a short night. During the day I was running around creating content at all times whether it was on a jet ski, a snorkeling trip looking for whale sharks, a lunch at the beach or fishing with the staff. Lux South Ari Atoll made me fall in love with Maldives forever.
What’s TravelTomTom’s best tip for someone travelling to the Maldives for the first time?
The sun sets every day around 6pm already so make the most of the day. Try to forget your worries and live in the moment because before you know it your time in paradise is over. If you are interested in local life try to at least take a trip to a local island and experienced how these people live their lives on these tiny islands. If you have the chance try to stay here overnight!
And one last one, had you been to Maldives before this trip Tom?
Yes it was my second time in Maldives. In 2016 I stayed 2 nights in Malé, 4 nights in Rasdhoo and 3 nights in Shangri La Maldives Villingili.
Tom Grond shows his love for adventure and luxury travel on his blog TRAVELTOMTOM. Tom has been travelling the world since 2012 and has visited almost 90 countries! Follow along on his adventures and be inspired to see more of this amazing world!
INDULGE MAGAZINE MALDIVES WOULD LIKE TO THANK TOM FROM TRAVELTOMTOM FOR CHATTING WITH INDULGE MALDIVES.
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