You're not dreaming - it really is this good. The Maldives is the world epicentre of tropical luxury. Raise a cocktail-filled glass in your lavish over-water villa to this extraordinary patch of paradise: picture-perfect coral atolls strewn across the cobalt-blue Indian Ocean. Stretch out on blissful beaches in the fringed shade of coconut palms - go on, you deserve it. This bestselling guide is your passport to the holiday of a lifetime. CHOOSE WISELY - our author gives you the facts before you book your stay; the Choosing a Resort chapter and detailed listings compare all the resorts SUBMERGE - our Snorkelling, Diving & Surfing chapter gives you the when, where and how on getting the best out of all the offshore pursuits KNOW THE BACKGROUND - dedicated History and Culture chapters give you the picture behind the postcards JUMP THE FENCE - we give you the options on escaping your resort and meeting the locals