Real Life Honeymoons: Monica & Alex's Maldivian Adventures

We caught up with Monica (@themonicaway) & her husband Alex to find out about their fantastic honeymoon to the Maldives, let's dive in…

Where abouts did you honeymoon?
"We honeymooned at Cocoon Maldives - a beautiful and stylish 5-star resort nestled in the glistening waters of the Indian Ocean. We always book our getaways with Imagine Holidays; they are brilliant and understand luxury inside and out!"

Where did you stay in the resort?
"We stayed in two different rooms during the 10-day trip, both offering a different experience in the Maldives - we stayed in the beachfront houses for the first half of our stay, and then we sojourned in the overwater villa for the second. There's nothing quite like walking from your bed straight into a crystal blue sea from your bedroom door!"

What did you get up to on your trip?
"We did so many amazing things - it was truly the trip of a lifetime! Our highlight was snorkelling and seeing a huge stingray in the wild! We also swam with wild sharks, which was so different and magical. For some downtime, Cocoon has an incredible outdoor & indoor spa, and I thoroughly enjoyed a rejuvenating massage with a cup of ginger tea. During the day, our personal concierge Baach would book us fun experiences too, such as sushi making and Maldivian cooking classes. In the evenings there was live music and dancing. What I loved most was the incredible blue Indian Ocean and spending quality time together after all of the hard work that had gone into the wedding."

Did you visit anywhere special?
"We stayed on the island for the full 10 days with regular boat excursions for snorkelling and dolphin watching, it was truly the ultimate relaxation we needed - a chance to read a book, enjoy live music, good food and even better company! We met some other couples who were also honeymooning, and we have stayed in touch with them! Shout-out to Jamie, Maiara, Kat and Phil."

What did you eat?
"The Maldives is known for its stunning fresh seafood - we ate lots of fresh sushi and we loved indulging in the tuna tartare. We even had lobster on my birthday - a special treat! Each day they make fresh pastas, delicious freshly-squeezed juices and serve them with plates of fresh fruits, too. The food is exceptional, and each day there was a different theme to enjoy. The culinary options were certainly one of the highlights of our trip."

Why did you choose this location for your honeymoon?
"It was somewhere we had both never visited before, and it had been on my bucket list. We wanted somewhere we could truly indulge, relax and enjoy each other's company. The Maldives was the best trip of our lives, just such a positive, calming and joy-filled experience. The staff at Cocoon couldn't have made us feel more special, from the minute we arrived by seaplane we were greeted with warm rose towels and champagne, before being taken to our villa. It was heaven!"

A few special moments of the trip?
"There were so many! Spending my 28th birthday there made the honeymoon extremely unforgettable, but our favourite thing was the snorkelling - I had never seen so many species of fish, not to mention seeing living coral was just magic. Their team really do go the extra mile when it comes to personalised touches. On my birthday, Baach (our dedicated concierge) arranged an incredible seafront dinner for us. Each day on the beds, our housekeeping would make lovely notes from bamboo, of which, on my birthday, they wrote 'Happy B-day' in bamboo and flowers! The design and interiors were unmatched. My personal favourite element was their outdoor shower which meant you could wash with views of the Maldivian trees above you, a simple yet unique experience which I really loved. As a gift from my bridesmaids, they secretly booked us a 'Dolphin Cruise' whereby we went out by boat at sunset to spot dolphins. We were in the middle of the Indian Ocean, dolphin spotting with champagne - it didn't feel real! Overall, my memories from this trip always make me smile, and I hope one day to return, perhaps on our five-year anniversary or 10th - it really is pure magic. These are memories I will cherish for life."

If you want to find out more about Monica & Alex's timeless wedding at Gosfield Hall, check it out by clicking here!

Or, if you want more Maldives content, check out our team member Emily's review of Sun Siyam Olhuveli in the underwater kingdom of the Maldives by clicking here.