There are very few places in the world that I will return again and again, and the Maldives are one of them. It is really a destination of the desire list that lives throughout the hype! The Maldives are composed of 1,192 islands, located southwest of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, or that only 188 are inhabited. It is a pristine island nation impressive beaches, turquoise blue water and welcoming premises. And it is not just for Honeymooners, it is the perfect destination for families, friends and couples too. There is something for everyone, whether they want to relax in the sun or explore the incredible underwater world. I have gathered Maldivas’ best travel guide with everything I need to know.
How to experience the Maldives
There are three different ways of experiencing the Maldives, and they are all very different from each other.
1) Stay in an island resort. This is the most luxurious, exhaustive and popular way to experience the Maldives. If you are looking for that typical experience of Maldivian Island, this is the way to do it!
2) Stay in a Liveboard boat. If you are a great diving diver, then it is, with much, the most profitable way to experience the underwater world while navigating among the best diving sites throughout the country.
3) Stay in a guest house on a local island. This is the best way to explore the Maldives with a budget and offers a more backpacking experience. There are some great articles that cover low -cost Maldivia trips, such as this.
How do you travel through the Maldives?
The islands in the Maldives extend over 90,000 square kilometers, so traveling between them is not as fast or simple as they can think. When you land in the capital of man, you will have to use one of these key transport options:
> A hydroavion. The most iconic and picturesque form of transport in the Maldives and the one that comes to try to experience if it can. Hydrophion transfers usually last about 30-60 minutes. One thing to keep in mind is that luggage restrictions can be strict in the hydroAvions, so be sure to review them.
> A boat. If you stay in a resort relatively close to man, it is possible that you can obtain a fast boat transfer, which is much cheaper than a hydroavion.
> A domestic flight. If you stay at the north or south end of the Maldives, you may have to take a national flight to another local island and then take a boat to your resort or hotel.
> A ferry. If you stay on a local island, you can take a ferry.
The best thing you can do is talk to whoever is handling your reservation, and you can give guidance on what form of transport you need to take and help you reserve it if necessary.
How to choose a Maldivian resort
At the time of writing, there are 168 island resorts that operate in the Maldives, which is more than a bit floating! Each of these resorts is on its own private island (unless otherwise indicated) and has its own points and characteristics of sales. Moving between the island’s resorts can be quite expensive and challenging, so it is easier to be in a place, which means choosing the right for you is even more important.
When considering what island to stay, I would choose asking some key questions
1) What is your budget? This price varies greatly among the resorts.
2) How far are you willing to travel from man? Do you have the budget and the time to catch a hydravion or domestic flight?
3) Who do you travel with? Are there children who need to be entertaining? Is it a romantic honeymoon or a fun girl trip? Each complex has a different environment.
4) Do you have a certain type of accommodation in which you want to stay? That is, a villa on water, or a beach village with a pool?
5) What facilities do you want on the island? Like Water Sports, a gym, a diving center, an underwater restaurant or a spa.
6) Do you care about marine life? If you plan to spend time in the water, consider looking for a resort with a good reef of the house to dive or dive, or a primary location in an abundant atoll.
In terms of my own personal experience, I have been lucky enough to visit a variety of resorts from Maldivian Island and each one is special in their own way.
> The residence. One of the best house reefs I’ve seen and perfectly located for upper diving.
> Anantara Kihavah. The most luxurious hotel in which I have stayed. Incredible food, unique service and top -level villas. It would be perfect for a honeymoon.
> The St regis. Another top -level super luxurious hotel with phenomenal service, an excellent option for special occasions.
> The Westin. A small island with an focus on well -being, perfect for you are looking for that “shipwrecked” experience.
> Niyama. A more relaxed complex spread over two interconnected islands, completed with an underwater restaurant.
> Soneva Fushi. An iconic Maldive complex. Unreal food, famous slides in the ocean, an impeccable service and a great approach to sustainability.
> Advance+. A relaxed complex located in the Baa Atolón, with an incredible reef of the house, a large diving center and a variety of rooms, which means that they are suitable for couples, families and friends.
Some other popular tourist centers include: Six Sensses Laamu for luxury focused on sustainability, Joali for incredible design and lux* for more relaxed vibrations.
Higher Council: I recommend booking half a table and eat two bigger meals a day if you want to save money, or go to a complete/all inclusive table. Buying food while getting out of the menu can get a ridiculous expense because hotels have to import all ingredients.
How to choose a Liveboard Maldiviano
The Liveboard in which you choose to stay will make a big difference in your trip. And there are so many variables for consultant. I could write a complete blog post only this topic, but for now, here there are some key things to take into account:
- The boat itself. Check out the boat facilities, cabins, interiors and diving cover. It is also worth reading reviews.
- The route that is taking the boat. There are different routes that give different experiences. The ships that go to the north will allow you to escape the crowds. The ships that explore the central atolls are usually more friendly for beginners. These routes will give a sample of Maldivian’s well -known marine life. The ships that go to the southern end are for more advanced divers, which generally focus on shark diving, channel diving and navigation of strong currents.
- The difficulty of diving. Certain Liveaboard routes will only allow guests with more than 150 dives, while in others you just need 20. Be sure to choose an adequate route for your experience level.
- Availability. The lenses can be reserved for more than 2 years in advance on popular routes and ships. Therefore, be sure to look at ahead when planning a diving trip.
Personally, I have had excellent experiences in each Emperor and Master of Liveboard in which I have immersed myself, but I recommend navigating all ships and comparing them on Liveaborard.com.
What activities are there to do?
A common mistake about the Maldives is that there is nothing to do. I am one who has itching on the feet and needs an activity at least when I am on vacation, and the Maldives more who attend that! Try it:
- Snorkel and diving.
- Boat trips, such as a Dolphins cruise of the sunset, visit a local island, an uninhabited island or a sand bank.
- Take a kitchen class.
- Go to the spa, gym or test a yoga class. Some hotels even have tennis courts!
- Try aquatic sports such as paddle, kayak or ride water motorcycles.
And, of course, you can relax on the beach with a good book!
Things you need to know about the Maldives
Before planning a trip to the Maldives, there are some things that you should know:
- The Maldives are a conservative Muslim country, so when it is in public places such as the airport or a local island, then it is respectful and undercover. You can use whatever you want on the islands of the Resort.
- In general, the best season for stable climate and good underwater visibility is between mid -December and mid -March. However, that means higher prices.
- There may be mosquitoes on the islands. There are not too many typically, but they are still there! So be sure to take your repellent.
- Resorts and ships can meet almost any dietary requirement, but try to inform them in advance to prepare for their arrival.
- A common question that I receive is how long to stay in the Maldives. Personally, I would recommend an absolute minimum of a week for a boat or resort stay. But 10 days is the ideal amount of time!
- Only at the dry season, you can get strong tropical rains. So, don’t wait for clear blue skies all day every day.
- Take in cash to you to get tips, since there are no ATMs on the Resorts Islands: USD is fine.
- Bring light and casual clothes, most resorts are quite relaxed. Usually, I won shoes for use all the time I am in the Maldives, wait perhaps coaches if I go to the gym or sandals if I am disguising a night.
How much does a trip to the Maldives cost?
Well, that varies massively! It depends totally on staying in a resort, on a local island or in a boat, but here there are some approximate estimates.
International flights: £ 600-800 in economics.
Internal transfers: Between £ 200-600 round trip in a dependent hydroavion in travel time. National flights can be around £ 150 by way or return of £ 300. boat transfers can be around £ 120-150.
Hotel Resort: This depends greatly on the resort you choose and the child you want to reserve. As an example, in a five-star luxury complex, a beach village can be £ 300-700 per night and a villa on the water can be 1500-2000 of £ per night. In a four-star complex, a beach village can be £ 200-300 per night and a villa on water can be £ 700 per night.
Liveaboard: Prices vary greatly, from £ 1500 for a week in the central atolls to £ 3500 for two weeks in the deep southern atoles.
Local Island: If you stay in a guest house on a local island, you can pay anything from £ 40-80 per night.
Then you must add any additional activity that you want to do if you stay on an island, so it is certainly not cheap!
If you want to get more information about diving, see my guide for beginners to dive here.
Safe trips,
Zanna x
