ok...this might sound strange to some folks.....but I'm trying to decide whether to take a trip to the caribean (3-4 days) or just go to Maldives for around 3 days when we go to India in December. Could someone compate Maldives to some Caribean island (virgin islands as an example) ? AM I comparing apples with oranges? Hopefully not. I love beaches but really like it more when the backdrop is green hills or mountains.
Thanks !!

forgot to add....I live in the US and go to India every 2-3 years to visit family.

If you'll be in India, why in the world would you even be considering the Caribbean? The Maldives are right there. However, since the Maldives are only 1-foot above sea level I doubt you'll see any hills or mountains.

Once you return to the States, you can pick up a Caribbean Islands long week-end vacation anytime - just check your local paper.

WEll this is a strange question, but I have to agree with Sandi..You will be close to the Maldives, so why not go there and then visit the Caribbean another time...I have been to the Caribbean several times,(and the islands i visited were lovely) but if I had the chance to go to the Maldives, I would not pass it up...

Since you live in the U.S you can easily go to the Caribbean anytime.

Go to the Maldives if you have the chance! I've been twice and can't wait to return again.It's sooo beautiful.

December (closer to Xmas and early Jan) can be a bit more expensive. But if money is'nt an issue then enjoy Maldives around Xmas or New Years.

Thanks everyone for the advice .... It really helps !!!

I have been to the Maldives twice and to Puerto Rico, St Croix and St John in the Caribbean. As far as the actual beaches, the beaches in the Maldives and St John reminded me of each other: soft white sand, turquoise water which changes color based on the weather, good snorkeling right off the beach, lots of fish. St Croix beaches are close as well. As someone noted above, the Maldives are very flat, basically sea level, so there are no vistas, cliffs or mountains-plunging-into the-sea like you get in many Caribbean islands. The attitude of locals seems to be about the same in both: laid back, everyone is on holiday. Good food in both. The Maldives has lots of deserted islands where you can hire and boat go for a day of snorkeling, etc.; there is less of this in the Caribbean.

As many have noted, if you will be in India already, then the Maldives make sense. Note that getting to the Maldives from India can be kind of a pain, as I don't know if there are any non-stop flights and using connections it can take something like 10 hours to get there. Also, I would not go to or from the US via the Maldives, as it is a long flight with many connections. I would go to the Maldives for a few days in the middle of your Indian trip.

December is the highest rainfall month in the northern part of the Maldives and a somewhat rainy month in the southern parts (see other thread on this), so you might want to bear this in mind. A place like Goa might be a better choice weather-wise in December. Phuket would be great in December too, and it would take almost the same amount of time to get there as to the Maldives (comparing connecting flights to the Maldives, not non-stop flights).

thanks a bunch! This helps out a lot.

I have the option of one beach/island vacation this year in addition to a 8 -10 days trip to europe in either spring or fall. I was trying to decide whether the beach/island vacation should be by iteself or take a few days when we go to India.

For the flights, Air Seychelles has a non stop flight from Bombay to Male.

Gives me a lot to think about. Thanks for all the info.

I did have Goa somewhere in the corner of my mind as well Might just do that. Will be more economical for sure

Lifetravel, I've been to probably 70% of the islands in the caribbean, but unfortunately never the maldives. (although I want to go!!) I will say that that in knowing the caribbean, every island seems to have a much different cultural feel. Even some within the same country (St Kitts/Nevis, Antigua/Barbuda) Some were settled by spanish, some by french, some by dutch, some by many. And being that close to each other, makes it great. Its easy to jump from one to the other. From what I understand, the Maldives may be different when taking into consideration the cultures and history. However, they may win on pure unspoiled beauty.