Exploring the Maldives: A Comprehensive Travel Guide

Are you planning a dream vacation to the Maldives and wondering what to pack? Make a note of these Maldives travel advisories before your vacation. The water is filled with diverse marine life, & snorkelers may experience close encounters with sharks, rays, and whales, as well as a dazzling array of fish. To top it all off, some of the world’s most luxurious resorts with beach bungalows & luxurious water villas lie atop these atolls.

There are various misunderstandings about the Maldives that many visitors have, and I want to clarify them. You may be asking why there is a need for more information. That’s because the Maldives is still relatively young to tourism; villa resorts first opened their doors to guests in the 1970s, and traditional guesthouses just became authorized ten years ago! Because tourism hasn’t yet caught up to the level of other prominent island destinations like the Dominican Republic or Bali, it is an ideal time to visit right now.

So, without further ado, here’s everything you’ll need to know before visiting the Maldives, including travel tips, what to do, and what to avoid. Let’s have a look!

Table of Contents

A list of 20 things to know before traveling to the Maldives:

1. Plan Your Vacation considering the Weather

Due to the ideal temperature and endless gentle sunshine, November to April is the best season for Maldives vacations. Everything from lodging to activities will be horrendously overpriced.

Traveling during cooler months, i.e., between peak and off-season, will be one of the top Maldives travel ideas for a cheap Maldives trip plan since the weather will still be beautiful and 20% reduced capacity in resorts will provide you fantastic savings and superb services.

The Maldives trip planning tips provided below will assist you in determining the ideal season to visit the Maldives. Rain is prevalent during the off-season, although it does not last all day.

2. The Maldives is not an economical destination

First, I want to emphasize that the Maldives is not a cheap vacation location. That doesn’t mean you can’t travel to the Maldives on a budget, but living the life you’ve probably shown on Instagram and in multiple advertising will cost some money.

You should budget for an oceanfront villa, an all-inclusive package with a spa & daily diving trips for you and your beloved. I estimate at least $1000 daily and more for brand-name resorts like The Four Seasons and Park Hyatt.

The Maldives has some reasonably priced resorts. We spent a few days at Cinnamon Ellaidhoo, which bills itself as an economical luxury beach resort. Budget accommodations are available near Male at places like the Sheraton Fullmoon Bay. A board package in seaside accommodation costs around $300 per night.

3. Dress conservatively when visiting the nearby local islands

Remember that you are in a Muslim country, and visitors of all nationalities are supposed to be humble. While scrolling through your Instagram feed and seeing amazing photographs of ladies in bikinis and short skirts, remember that they are most likely on the resort islands.

Avoid exposing your elbows, knees, and shoulders on the nearby islands. Wearing a full-length dress with sleeves is your best bet. Some bikini beaches on nearby islands are designated for visitors. Couples should also avoid public displays of love.

4. Do not carry any alcohol with you

The Maldives is a majority Muslim country, and alcohol is only permitted in private resorts. Do not purchase alcohol before arriving in Male, and do not bring wine bottles or champagne. If you try to import alcohol into the Maldives, you may be punished by customs.

If you want to spend a significant amount on alcohol, you might consider purchasing an all-inclusive package.

5. Choose Low-Cost Accommodation and Transportation

Depending on the typical cost of a Maldives holiday, you may choose between less costly hotels on local islands and the luxury and solitude of 5-star resorts on private islands. Choosing companies that provide airport transfers, excursions, and ferry service is a wise option, according to Maldives travel advice from past visitors.

Examine the restaurants, kid-friendliness, bar, pool, reef condition around the island, &, of course, the scenery. Those visiting with children should avoid overwater villas since it is dangerous for them to play or climb on jetties. However, living among reef fishes, rays, and corals might be enticing.

6. Rooms at Sunset vs Rooms at Sunrise

When selecting a room type, consider whether you want sunrise or sunset views and adjust accordingly. I only mention this as most people are late risers, and if you are in a dawn room, you may lose sunlight on your back terrace by lunchtime.

We chose a sunset room because our sunbeds were in the sun from around midday, which worked better with our itinerary. If, on the other hand, you like morning with a cup of coffee, do you know what you should choose?

7. Check whether drones are permitted or not

Do you intend to carry a drone to the Maldives? The Maldives are breathtaking, especially from the air, so anyone owning a drone will desire to get it up in the air. However, several resorts have a no-drone policy to safeguard their visitors’ privacy, and they take it very seriously.

In Maldivian resorts, there are numerous overwater suites with large open windows. Many people prefer to vacation in the Maldives for privacy and isolation, so they don’t want a drone flying above their bedroom while they’re taking a bath or sitting in the restroom.

8. Pack your stuff wisely

While deciding how to pack for a trip to the Maldives, avoid taking meat, alcohol, or tobacco items (without a health warning) alongside any religious publications. When it comes to one of the most critical pieces of equipment, bring a water-resistant or underwater camera with a polarizer to capture all of the action on land and underwater.

All Maldives travel recommendations will encourage you to bring your snorkeling, surfing, or diving equipment to save money on renting. Carry only the essential tropical attire, swimwear (for luxury resorts), Sunscreen, surf wax, toiletries, personal care items, and a medical emergency pack.

9. To save money, participate in water sports at Male/Hulhumale or other nearby islands

Water sports such as scuba diving and snorkeling on a native island would cost less than half of what you would spend on a resort island.

You can’t blame luxurious resorts for their high prices. You have immediate access to all activities when you arrive at the property. So, the high pricing for aquatic activities is very understandable.

You must stay in Hulhumale first after arriving in the Maldives if you want to split your time between Hulhumale and a resort island. While there, participate in water activities before departing for the resort island.

10. Not all resorts welcome children

Adults-only resorts include Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, Kudadoo Maldives, and Hurawalhi Island Resort. Other resorts may accept children, but the overwater villas do not for safety concerns. Check with your facility before making a reservation.

11. However, there are several possibilities for children

Yes, the Maldives are well renowned for their honeymoon destinations. However, several resorts are built explicitly for parents to kick back and unwind. A kid’s club with games like treasure hunts & pasta-making, as well as babysitting services, allows you to fit in some spa time.

When it concerns safety, most resorts have precautions such as rails and child-safety locks on the decks of overwater villas. Beach cottages bordering small island lagoons are ideal for families with young children.

12. Purchase a Sim Card at the Airport

Grab a local sim when you arrive in the Maldives if you need to stay connected. The WiFi at many resorts could be more reliable, but what can you expect on an island in the middle of the ocean?

However, the 4G signal will be available everywhere! Most resorts & local islands have cellphone towers so that you can get a good signal anywhere. Ooredoo and Dhiraagu, the Maldives’ two cell operators, are located to the right after exiting the luggage carousel. They’ll be able to provide you with a sim card in less than five minutes. Data prices are affordable. You’ll have to spend around $30 for 17GB of data over two weeks.

13. Keep cash on hand

Although the Maldivian Rufiyaa is the native currency, USD is commonly accepted practically everywhere. Aside from the regional islands, most stores have prices in US dollars.

Credit cards are generally accepted, particularly at resorts, but cash is still vital since odd ends must be purchased. Furthermore, it isn’t easy to find an ATM near Maldivian islands; thus, cash is required.

14. Carry Sunscreen with you!

Because this is a tropical environment, tourists must pack Sunscreen to protect their skin from sun damage. However, avoid purchasing Sunscreen in the Maldives because it is prohibitively costly on the island. Along with that, make an effort to use reef-safe Sunscreen, as the ingredients in other sunscreens harm the exquisite and protected coral and marine life.

15. In their own time zone, several resorts are open

Unlike India, the Maldives (MVT) is 30 minutes behind IDT. To provide their visitors extra daylight hours, some resorts, nevertheless, operate in their own time zone. They, therefore, extend MVT by an hour or 1.5 hours. Verify with your hotel to ensure you leave on time for your flight.

16. Even at all-inclusive resorts, some water activities may be extra

Non-motorized activities such as kayaking, paddle boating, windsurfing, and canoeing are often included in all-inclusive resort plans. If you spend three to four nights, they may include snorkeling, dolphin watching, and a night of stargazing in your package.

However, in other resorts, such as the Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, you will be fine with providing your room number at any point because everything is included in your package.

17. You do not need a visa to visit the Maldives

You do not require a pre-arrival visa to visit the Maldives and walk about. On the other hand, visitors visiting the Maldives will be awarded a thirty-day visa at the airports on the day of their arrival.

As a result, you do not need to worry about organizing a visa or its validity, but your passports should be valid for at least six months. This validity is required to obtain a valid return flight from the Maldives.

18. Should you leave a tip?

Tipping is not a common practice in the Maldives; hence it is not mandatory to tip in this nation. Whether staying in a hotel or dining at a restaurant, you will notice that tipping for service is not as customary in the Maldives as in many other nations.

Having said that, if you still believe that the service given was noteworthy and that you should applaud it, you may leave a tip, but you are not required to. So, offering a tip is entirely up to you and no one else.

19. Avoid often switching places.

When arranging a trip to the Maldives, choose a single hotel or resort and spend your holiday there rather than bouncing from island to island.

Moving from one location to another in the Maldives is somewhat chaotic and is not a smooth transition. Aside from Male, traveling from one island to another requires hiring a speedboat or an aircraft.

20. Be sure to check out Bioluminescent Beach!

Exploring the Baa Atoll should be one of the top 20 travel tips. It will be a lifetime experience to observe the planktons produce luminous toxins at night beneath the sky, producing a glittering look on the ocean bed.

This is among the most unusual activities in the Maldives. Several resorts provide bioluminescent trips, but you must first confirm their legitimacy.

Conclusion

Here’s a practical Maldives travel guide to help you have good experiences with less worry when visiting the lovely Maldives. Before you go, have a look at these Maldives island travel recommendations. How to organize a vacation to the Maldives and a few fascinating travel suggestions are presented above to help you comprehend things.

View more information about the Maldives:

20 Must-Know Tips & Advice For Traveling In The Maldives In 2024

A list of 20 things to know before traveling to the Maldives:

1. Plan Your Vacation considering the Weather

2. The Maldives is not an economical destination