Maldives
August, 2019
Maldives has always been touted as the ideal honeymoon destination but I could not wait for that to happen! I always pictured Maldives as an ultimate luxury heaven which was breathtaking yet expensive, and gladly I was wrong! This article is all you need to know before planning a trip to Maldives.
Planning this trip right is quite critical because it is likely that for the entire vacation you would be staying on a single island, as the only mode of transport between the islands are the not-so-readily available ferries. Depending upon your budget, there are two ways to visit Maldives – private resorts or local islands. Before getting into a detailed discussion of which one to choose, it would be helpful to understand the geography of the country.
Each ring-shaped formation that you see in the map of Maldives is called an atoll. Maldives consists of over a 1000 coral islands which are grouped in 26 atolls. Though each island is only about 1-2 sq. km in area, the north to south spread of the country is huge. This makes atolls quite distinct from each other. You should decide which atoll to visit depending upon your interests. While diving is the key attraction, some atolls can also be ideal for surfing or spotting phytoplankton.
Resorts vs Local Islands
Up until less than a decade ago, the only way to visit Maldives was to visit a private resort. Lately, many guest houses have sprung up on local islands making it possible for budget travellers to have a taste of this heaven.
The Resorts
Let me just say, the resorts are dreamy! Be it the water villas which open into the ocean or the sea-facing bungalows with private jacuzzi, Maldivian resorts are the epitome of luxury if you pick the right one.
Other than the obvious fact that they are pricy, there are couple of important things that you should know:
1. The only possible way to reach a resort is via a private ferry or a sea plane. A two-way ferry ride to the resort from the airport will cost you $150 per person and above. Charges for ferries and sea planes vary from resort to resort so do checkout the additional tariff before making any booking. Generally the farther you go from Male, the more expensive the transport gets.
2. You will be limited to one resort during your entire stay. That means all meals and activities will be arranged by the resort. This can be very expensive (I paid $10 for a bottle of water) so book a full-board plan when you book a resort. This will include most of your meals and possibly some activities.
Local Islands
For me, travelling is a lot more than accommodations. It is about being a part of a different lifestyle, and learning, observing and living a life very different from mine. Staying at a local island lets you experience the true Maldivian culture. Moreover, you also end up supporting the local economy. Do you know that most of the resorts are not owned by the locals? Needless to say, it is also easy on your pocket.
Having said this, choosing a local island can be very tricky. Limited information is available about every island and there is much to consider before finalizing one.
Here are some things you should keep in mind before deciding where to stay:
0. If you plan to visit local islands, bookmark these 2 links – Public ferry routes and A guide to local islands.
1. If you plan to hop on multiple islands, be it living on multiple local islands or dividing your stay between a resort and a local island, make sure that they are in the same or adjoining atolls.
2. Maldives is a fairly conservative Muslim country and you are expected to be well clad on the local islands. Most local islands have a designated bikini beach where this rule does not apply. You can also wear swimwear on excursions, sandbanks, uninhabited islands, etc.
3. Local islands can be touristy (Maafushi) or deserted, so read the guide linked above before you book. If you are interested in diving or other activities make sure they are available on the island you plan to stay. You can reach out to owners of guesthouses for any queries.
4. Male is the capital of Maldives and Hulhumale is a man-made island adjoining the capital city which also has the major airport of the country. While both these islands are decent for couple of hours of site-seeing, DO NOT STAY HERE. In fact, Male is a very densely populated town. Make sure you stay far enough from Male for true island feels.
5. Public ferries have a fixed schedule. They mostly depart in the morning or by noon. There are no ferries available on Friday. Make sure you book your flights keeping this in mind. Most people spend a day/night in Male or Hulhumale depending upon the flight timings.
6. Also, even if you stay at a local island, you can experience the resort life on a day trip. Most local islands offer packages to nearby resorts. They typically range between $100-200. This allows you access to all the resort amenities and to and fro transport from the local island. I highly recommend this day trip as Maldives has some of the finest resorts in the world.
7. Alcohol is banned on local islands. Some local islands have what is called a floating bar. Resorts generally do serve alcohol.
8. Most local islands have basic grocery stores, pharmacies and a few restaurants. Do not expect anything fancy.
Other things to keep in mind
I hope by now you would have a fair idea of what you want to choose between resorts or local islands. Listing down a few other tips which come handy:
Currency – Even though Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) is the national currency, USD is accepted almost everywhere. MVR is a non-convertible currency, i.e it cannot be purchased beforehand. You would need MVR to make smaller payments, such as grocery stores on local islands. You can get some USD converted to MVR at the airport or at any local business. Do check the exchange rate before travelling and expect a fee of max 3% for small conversions.
Visa – Maldives has a free 30-day visa on arrival. You should carry the following documents with you – a passport valid for next 6 months, proof of reservation, enough funds for travel (approximately $100 + $50 per day)
SIM card – You can pick up a SIM card at the airport. I bought a Dhirragu SIM card and must say that the connectivity was really good (Even in the ocean!)
ATMs – Carry cash with you when traveling to a local island as majority of local islands do not have ATMs. Male has a few ATMs but they mostly dispense MVR. Check with your resort before traveling for additional charges on using cards.
Restrictions – Other than the dress code mentioned above, you need to make sure that you do not carry pork items, alcohol, idols of worship, pornography or narcotics into the country. If you are carrying alcohol from a duty-free store, you can declare it at the airport and the authorities will hold these items for you to collect when you depart from the country.
Activities – No matter where you stay, there are tons of activities that you can enjoy in Maldives. Some resorts and guest houses provide complimentary kayaks and snorkelling equipment :).
Suncare – The sun can be harsh even if you visit off the summer season. Carry a sunscreen which does not damage the corals. Also, carry some aloe vera gel and plan your excursions to avoid going out in peak noon hours. I ended up wasting an entire day because of severe sunburns!
Best time to visit – Peak season is from November to April. Monsoons begin from May and last until October.
My itinerary and budget
I stayed at a local island called Mahibadhoo. Since this trip was planned in the off season, I checked many islands for weather forecast as continuous rains are the worst thing that can happen to you on a Maldivian holiday. Honestly, after dealing with the unreliable weather forecast and limit guest house options for days, I finalized this island only because of the good reviews Noovilu Suites had. All activities were arranged by our host. Everything about this place was great and the hospitality was out of this world. I was a little disappointed with the scuba diving experience though.
Coming to the budget, prices for all the activities are mentioned in the image attached. Other than the stay, activities will be a major expense.
For an all meals included 4-night stay at Noovilu Suites, I paid around $450 (for 2 persons). If you are travelling from India, taking a flight from Kochi airport can be a budget-friendly option.
For to and fro transport from Male, you can either opt for a public ferry( ~ $2 but slow) or a public speed boat( ~ $25 one way)
Responsible travel
The corals are dying. This was not my first dive and the difference in how the corals look is plain sad.
Small efforts can make a big difference. Do not litter, avoid plastic and please use reef-safe sunscreen.
Happy exploring 🙂 !!
Thnks dharani😉
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Thanks 🙂
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