Susan Anderson

My husband and I first journeyed to the Maldives 12 years ago and like so many others we found ourselves drawn back over and over again - I have heard it referred to "Maldivitus". We are currently planning our seventh 3-week trip with a three-resort split, 7 days each. We have visited 13 resorts thus far with the majority being 5-star and 5-star plus. One island, one resort is what makes the Maldives so unique! Here, I have specifically outlined the best things to do and places to eat & drink at Anantara Kihavah and Milaidhoo, two wonderful resorts in the Maldives.

The whole resort sparkled, especially at night. The room was exquisitely decorated and upscale with a B & O sound system, huge glass walls, everything programmed on an iPad including lights, curtains, TV and sound system.... it was easy to use.

We were in one of the overwater ocean rooms at the end of W Maldives with mostly expansive unobstructed views. We were entertained by planes landing landing in the distance a couple times a day. We were in room 223 with panoramic unobstructed views. It made for great photo ops!

My husband and I made our eighth trip to the mesmerizing Maldives to visit three islands over three weeks, and Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa was our first stop and our 17th resort. This island is called the “living island” as it is very eco-friendly and uses solar power, evident on top of all the water villas. Nabil, the manager, also explained to us at breakfast how impassioned the owners are to keep the island natural, and we loved being on an island that is not only completely remote but also had no sand bags, dredging, walls, or any other erosion control whatsoever. We learned that after a storm, the sands shift around more here, but they let nature take its course.

My husband and I spent our eighth trip to the Maldives visiting three resorts over three weeks. Dusit was our second resort on this split stay and the 18th overall we have stayed at. Dusit is truly a wonder, and the reef is the island's strong point along with the gorgeous lush green interior. We loved just hanging out on the deck in the afternoon after our swim and lounging in our large round cushioned chair; it also felt very private.

My husband and I visited the mesmerizing Maldives for the 8th time recently and did a three-resort split stay over three weeks. Hurawahli was our 3rd resort on this trip and our 19th resort overall. It is a dreamy, upscale little island that caters to couples, and is adults only. Its turquoise lagoon is stunning and filled with colorful tropical fish, turtles, and rays.

We loved Madeira, it is magical, driving around the gorgeous island there are so many hidden gems to discover!

There are many spaces throughout the hotel to cozy up and read or just visit with others. It is a hotel that you could happily spend days at and never leave, but sightseeing calls!

Madeira is enchanting, an "otherworldly" island filled with lush interiors, stunning sea views, mountainous terrain, lava pools, Fanal trees, endless hiking opportunities along with wine tasting and cloud forests.

We loved Muscat, especially our hotel stay at the InterContinental Muscat. It was a great location, next to the stunning opera house and right on a gorgeous beach. The interior is luxurious, while the breakfasts and dinners were wonderful.

Oman was exotic, stunning, friendly and gorgeous. The country was so fun to explore and Muscat was amazing with the souks, white sandy beaches and warm water and stark white architecture with sparkling marble floors everywhere. The opera house was especially dreamy.

My husband and I spent 3 days at this lovely boutique hotel in a quiet part of Siem Reap and we loved every minute.  

Just a beautiful hotel out in the middle of nowhere really, a small fishing village. The drive in both directions is stunning one of the prettiest in our 30-day adventure around Iceland.

What a find! My husband and I really enjoyed our stay here. Lombok Lodge sets the standard high so it is ideal as a "save the best for last" booking at the end of your holiday.

This is a very special hotel. It is tucked into the lush emerald green jungle and gives you the feeling of utter relaxation and pampering. We greatly enjoyed our 4-night stay.

We were in Sunset Beach Villa # 314 at the Ayada for five nights, which was perfect. A large villa with wonderful open views of the sandy beach and the water lapping at the shoreline, we had a large plunge pool, outdoor shower area, comfortable bed and large deck area. It was the perfect combination of open expansive water views and shaded privacy from the pool area. I think the sunset beach rooms are much nicer than the sunrise beach rooms on the opposite side, which have a more narrow stretch of beach and are almost all in the trees.

We loved the overwater villa we stayed in! It was Room 313 and it was an excellent choice, as all we could see was the endless turquoise water and sky. The villa is stunning, everything about it from the interior design to the outdoor deck area that had the wow factor times three. The private infinity pool, comfortable seating area and lounge chairs were hard to pull yourself away from. We could have stayed there all day but we ended up snorkeling for 4-5 hours a day as it was fabulous. The sunsets from our room were exquisite. Over water Villas 311-315 were the best in our opinion.

New, modern upscale rooms at Hotel Brosundet. Very nice spaces with exposed wood in the rooms and throughout the hotel which gave it a rustic, almost "chic mountain elegance" feel thats bright and airy.

Mirhri is lovely. It’s a pretty little island and it's postcard perfect. The staff is really friendly and helpful. We never put our shoes on. It is a very unpretentious with a relaxed vibe and white powdery sand you can walk around the island in 10 minutes or less. All the floors in the reception and buffet area are covered in soft sand. The seating is right on the beach close to the water.

The stunning room 16 is the best of the bunch at the Banyan Tree Maldives. Room 16 is in the corner — the furthest out and actually right up to the waters edge. We spent a lot of time sitting in our little open air perch over the water listening to the lapping waves and taking in the unobstructed views. Exquisite sunsets were panoramic and there was welcoming shade throughout much of the day in the covered deck area that has two lounge chairs.

The staff, especially Hassan in Guest Relations and Waheed in housecleaning were exceptional. Highly professional, they have obviously had "5-star" training and it shows. They could not have been any nicer, providing us with complimentary champagne, lovely flower art on the bed and countless small kindnesses including an upgrade to the fabulous water villas with a pool for the last three nights of our stay.

This was our fourth trip to the Maldives and seventh resort. I researched extensively before deciding on that next island and we always do a split stay; we chose Kandalhu and Vakkaru for this anniversary trip. We were not disappointed!

My husband and I visited Amilla for eight nights for our anniversary and enjoyed every minute. We really fell in love with the island, which is not hard to do! It is a lovely, lush green island.

My husband and I spent 8 nights at the Six Senses Laamu resort in the Maldives and fell in love with it! Especially being it had been on my short list for some time. We split our three weeks into three resorts: Amilla Fushi, Six Senses Laamu (the focus for this trip report) and Como Cocoa. This was our seventh trip to the Maldives, and our 16th resort visit.

My husband and I spent five glorious days at Cocoa and had a wonderful time! This was our seventh trip to the Maldives, marking it as our 16th resort visit and counting!

Our holiday was split into three resorts. They include: Amilla Fushi, Six Senses Laamu and COMO Cocoa Island (the focus of this trip report!).

We spent three nights at the Glacier Hotel and enjoyed our stay. We were in a smartly decorated, room on the sixth floor facing the mountains. The view of Mount Fish Tail in the morning was stunning! It could be called understated elegance and has a Mediterranean feel to the design.

We walked up little Adams peak in the morning at 98 Acres Hotel, which we enjoyed. The room is a little rustic, but this only adds to its charm. I recommend this hotel for views that are very soothing to the eyes!!

My husband and I spent two nights in this lovely Ryokan Sanga. The rooms are large with a little sitting area that overlooks the river area and from where you can open the windows and go to sleep listening to water sounds.

The Hilton Mauritius is a really special property and a true gem.

My husband and I were gone for five weeks to celebrate our 32nd anniversary— first in Japan and then two weeks in Bora Bora, the Tuomotus and the Marquesas. We loved Nuka Hiva and wish we had spent four nights here and only two in Hiva Oa. There was more to do in Nuka Hiva and Taiohe town is much bigger and more interesting than Atuona town as it is spread out all along the curve of the bay. It is a great walking town.

My husband and I really enjoyed the Faroe Islands. We ended up spending six nights at the Hilton Garden Inn in the capital of Torshavn and exploring from there, which worked out great! We spent one night in Klaksvik to see Kelsoy Island where the James Bond Movie "No Time To Die" was filmed. There is a gorgeous hike to the Kallur lighthouse on Kelsoy Island that we took and the views are spectacular, there is even a James Bond Tombstone at the top that was erected after the filming. Stunning scenery everywhere you look! We rented a car and were able to see all the sights. It is a small country and easy to get around.

The Terra Nostra Garden Hotel is modern, with well kept, lovely rooms, comfortable beds and nice views. We were on the third floor and it was very relaxing with the door opened to hear the wind in the trees and see all the green outside.

Located in a very unique setting, JW Marriott in Khao Lak Thailand is spread out so you never get a crowded feeling. There is a separate area geared families (blocks 3, 4 and 5) so honeymooners, singles, families with young children — everyone —can have a wonderful time.

Rooms in the new, upscale Ursulino Valletta Malta in the capital city of Malta are modern, loft style and nicely decorated.

The historic luxury hotel and its Michelin star restaurant goes back to the magical Orient Express days as it was built in 1925 near the stately train station, and it has a story to tell.

We came to Pongwe after spending two days in Stonetown. Loved the expansive beach area with hammocks strewn about to relax in.

The Riad Laaroussa Hotel and Spa is a work of art and as I understand it a labor of love. The couple who own it and live on the premises with their adorable young children are very friendly and interesting to chat with.

My two daughters and I did a independent self-drive through Namibia and loved every moment! We drove to Dolomite Camp through Etosha, wildlife viewing on the way in. So fun to stop at the waterholes you never know what you will find!

We spent five wonderful days relaxing after our month long trip to Tibet and Nepal.

My husband and I spent three wonderful nights at this cozy and welcoming Inn.

The Inn is nestled in the gorgeous, verdant green Welsh countryside.

Seward is a rare gem, a hard working scenic fishing town tucked in between the majestic Chugach Mountain Range and the massive Harding Icefield, an endless expanse of white and blue glacial ice. Our family commercial salmon fishes out of Prince William Sound and we own a cliffside home that overlooks Resurrection Bay. My husband was born and raised in Seward and it is where we met in 1978. It is a classic, easy to navigate, unspoiled Alaskan town that offers much in the way of outdoor adventure! Enjoy breathtaking scenery, kayaking, hiking, abundant wildlife viewing, incredible seafood, and even a glacier you can walk to, as well as world-class fishing and hunting right outside your door. Learn about the Alaska native culture at the historic museum and discover Alaska's marine ecosystems at the impressive Sealife center. Seward also marks the beginning of the famous Iditarod Trail and in fact you can meet some of the champion dogs and little pups, as well as take a sled dog tour. Immerse yourself in the Alaskan wilderness and the serene beauty of this gorgeous little coastal town.

Breckenridge is one of the coolest ski towns in the US and has the added benefit of over 300 days of sun a year! Our family has stayed at many other ski resorts on family vacations but Breckenridge stands out as the most "picture perfect" with loads to do both summer and winter. We have lived in Breckenridge since 1996 and raised our children here, where they took up ski racing and had success. We spend winters in Breckenridge and summers in Seward, Alaska. Breck is a nonpretentious, fun and relaxed town nestled in the scenic Rocky Mountains 10 Mile Range. It is known for its world-class skiing and outdoor lifestyle. It has fabulous restaurants, shopping, hiking, biking, skiing and many other activities, including a Main Street filled with activities and yearlong special events.