The Maldives is described as Lay Z Spa’s most luxurious hot tub. On paper, it certainly seems to stand up to this claim. It features seats, both a HydroJet and AirJet systems and a foot massaging function. It is also the receiver of the Gold Standard award of the UK Pool and Spa Awards.
But, what can you really expect from the Maldives? In this guide, we’ll dissect the Maldives from looking at its key features to answering important questions on how easy it is to maintain to how long it takes to heat up.
Maldives Product Information:
Prices & information last updated on 2021-10-02
Maldives Overview – The Inflatable Hot Tub With Seats!
The Maldives is unique in that it is one of the few inflatable hot tubs to arrive furnished with seats. Mirroring the layout of seating found in many rigid hot tubs these provide extra comfort in addition to the cushioned floor already found on all Lay Z Spa tubs.
Removable backrests are also included to provide customizable comfort experience. These are inflatable and can be securely clipped to each seat to prevent them from floating to the surface. Each backrest can be moved or removed as required. This gives you the option of having a little extra support when you need it or a little extra space when you don’t.
Great For Get Togethers And Parties
When it comes to size the Maldives is one of the largest in the Lay Z Spa range. It measures in at an impressive 201cm wide by 80cm high. It is only superseded by the Monaco which, despite featuring slightly smaller outer dimensions, has a larger inner usable space thanks to its much thinner walls.
But the smaller inner usable space was a necessary compromise. The Maldives needs its thicker walls to allow for the HydroJet and AquaGlow systems to be incorporated into its structure. These features are missing on the Monaco which favoured thinner walls as a trade-off for a reduction in features.
But this does not mean the Maldives is small. It is still roomy enough to hold 5-7 people making it the perfect tub for parties or for stretching out in alone.
The Best Of Both Worlds
One of the main attractions of the hot tub is the soothing, bubbling water. And, when it comes to Lay Z Spa tubs, the main way this is achieved is by their patented AirJet system.
Common to all but the Palm Springs HydroJet, the AirJet system consists of an inner pocket that encircles the base of the hot tub. Air is forced into this pocket where it escapes through 140 small holes to create a torrent of bubbles.
But, the Maldives has one more trick up its sleeve and that is the HydroJet system. Found only on Lay Z Spa premium models this feature is consists of nozzles mounted into the sides of the tub. Each nozzle emits a powerful mixture of air and water to churn the water. This closely mimics the systems found in regular tubs for a truly authentic hot tub experience.
The only downside to each system are the limited runtimes. The AirJet and Hydrojet systems will only run for 30 minutes and an hour respectively before automatically switching off. This is common to all Lay Z Spa tubs and an even runtime of a full one hour each would have been preferable. Although we cannot be too harsh in this regard because some hard plastic hot tubs also have the same drawback.
Foot Massaging System
In a unique move the Maldives sports a foot massaging system. This is powered by the same technology that drives the AirJet system and consists of additional massage seams between the seats. Bubbles of air a driven from the seams to provide a soft, caressing sensation to help aching or tired feet.
LED Lighting System
LED lighting can transform the look and feel of any hot tub. They create a cozy ambiance when it’s dark and provide some soft light that allows you to see without being too harsh.
Whatsmore LED lights aren’t supplied with inflatable hot tubs as standard. So, it was great to see a set of 2 Aqua Glow lighting units included with the Maldives.
Specific to Lay Z Spa, Aqua Glow units function much like any LED lighting unit. A single button located on the front of the unit is pressed to cycle through 7 static colour schemes including Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, white and violet. Or, you can choose to have the colours gently cycle on loop.
Each Aqua Glow unit is removable and can be placed on any one of the Maldive’s 8 HydroJet nozzles, allowing you to position them wherever is most suitable. The HydroJet nozzles also power each unit in a similar fashion to a dynamo. This means the AquaGlow units need no external power source or batteries and removes the need to worry about swapping out or charging flat batteries as you do with many of the floating light units available for hot tubs.
Clear Soft Water Treatment
Often incorrectly pitched as a filtration system the Clear Soft water treatment is much more sophisticated. It uses an electromagnetic coil to alter the property of minerals found in hard water to prevent limescale from forming.
The upshot of this is that it will help prolong the life of the main pump and prevents the problems associated with hard water. The most notable of which is skin irritation in some people and watermarks on the sides of the hot tub caused by the mineral deposits in the water.
Durability
When it comes to switching out the robustness of hard plastic with flexible PVC some considerations need to be made to ensure durability. To ensure the Maldives can survive the rigors of daily family use Bestway have incorporated two different technologies to meet this end.
The first is i-beam vertical ibeam construction. Within the walls of the Maldives are sheets of PVC that tether the inner and the outer walls together. This provides surprising strength and keeps the sides of the tub rigid and upright when full of water or when people are climbing in or out.
The second is TriTech material. Composed of a later of polyester mesh sandwiched between two layers of laminated PVC This material makes up the outer skin of the Maldives. It is designed to make it both puncture and wear-resistant.
Combined these two construction methods make Lay Z Spa hot tubs one of the most robust available today.
Maldives FAQ
1 Is The Maldives difficult to setup?
No, all Lay Z Spa hot tubs are easy to setup. No additional tools are required and you can have your hot tub inflated in as little as 10-20 minutes.
There is also no need to manually inflate the Maldives. The pump housing doubles as a handy inflation device and you can use it inflate the main hot tub, seats, and cushions.
2 What Can I Use To Clean The Maldives HydroJet Pro?
Bestway recommends using a diluted washing up liquid for cleaning. Although for stubborn stains you can buy a spot stain remover designed for hot tubs from their website.
3 What Maintenance Do I Need To Do?
As with all hot tubs the water should be treated with chemicals to maintain the pH and to keep bacteria levels low. This might sound complicated however ready-made kits are available and most require little more than adding a set amount of chemicals to the water periodically.
The filters also need cleaning after each use. These are simple to remove and are basically unscrewed from the wall of the hot tub. Cleaning requires little more than rinsing with water. You should also ensure the colour of the filters has not changed. If they do change colour it could mean it has deteriorated and is no longer cleaning the water as it should. Dirty filters can also cause E02 errors to appear on the pump so they are worth inspecting.
4 Where Should I Setup The Maldives?
The main consideration that dictates where you should setup your hot tub is the weight. When filled with water even inflatable hot tubs can weigh in excess of 1000Kg. This means regular decking might not be a suitable location but grass and patios are typically fine.
You should also ensure the surface you chose is flat and reasonably level. The last check you should make is to ensure the area is clear of anything that could puncture the lining – such as stones or thorns.
5 How long does it take to heat up for the first time?
This depends on the ambient temperature and your hot tub will heat faster on warmer, summer days. For example, in 25°C heat the water will heat to 40°C in only 8.5 hours. Whereas if the temperature was a low as 10°C it would take, a much longer, 18.5 hours.
6 Can I Buy replacement parts?
Yes, you can. Replacement cushions, lid and even the liner can all be bought from Bestway’s website. They also provide UK based telephone support. Which is a refreshing to see when, increasingly more companies, are inclined to cut services to increase profits in favour of providing after-sales support, or other basic care, for their customers.
Pros And Cons
Lay Z Spa Maldives HydroJet Pro: A Premium Model, But Is It Worth The Money?
The Maldives is as close as an inflatable hot tub is likely to get to its hard plastic counterparts. But this isn’t without its one major drawback: price. The Maldives also features a lot of key components found in many of Bestway’s mid-range hot tubs such as simple setup, Tritech construction, AirJet systems and delightfully warm 40°C water temperature.
But, what really sets it apart are the additional premium features you won’t find as a complete set in any other Lay Z Spa hot tub such as the AquaGlow units, HydroJet system and inflatable seats and backrests.
If you like the idea of the Maldives, but feel it is a little too expensive, we recommend taking a look at the Palm Springs HydroJet Pro. Feature-wise it is closely on par with the Maldives but several hundred pounds cheaper (at the time of writing). But, if you’re taken with the Maldives extensive features and impressive size you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better inflatable hot tub for a better price.
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Prices & information last updated on 2021-10-02
