For most of us the Maldives is a once in a lifetime destination. But it’s not just a place for couples, it’s so much more than that. The Maldives is undeniable one of the most beautiful countries I’ve visited. I’m here to bring you some of my top travel tips to keep in mind when planning your trip there…
1. Know the seasons
May through to November is considered low season in the Maldives. If you’re travelling on a stricter budget you can expect during these months for prices to be noticeable cheaper and for resorts to be quieter. Whilst it is common to expect rain in the low season, it won’t rain all day and you can still expect to enjoy hot weather and sunshine.
Personally I love travelling in the off season if it means cheaper rates and less people – it’s a win win! We travelled at the end May into June and the weather was delightful.
2. The Maldives is a big place
The Maldives is bigger than you might think. It’s made up of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls. I learnt that an atoll is the name given to the ring shapes that all these tiny islands make up.
It is important when you’re planning your trip to the Maldives to know that each atoll, while all beautiful are actually all different and one could be a better option than anther depending on your reason for travel. For example, one of the best and where we stayed is the Baa atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve known for incredible diving opportunities or the North Male Atoll is also great for diving or Raa Atoll is considered to be one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world.
Make sure you know which atoll you’re staying and have your transfers pre-booked to make for a super easy travel day.
3. Transfers are costly
When planning your trip to the Maldives I’d personally recommended staying in just one or two resorts rather than island hopping. That being said, it all depends on the duration of your trip and your budget.
I looked into staying at two private resorts during our trip but soon realised moving from one place to another is costly and quite hectic – it’s a whole day taken up with travel.
You can choose to stay in Male but if you’ve made it all the way to the Maldives you may as well take that one speedboat or seaplane transfer to really experience the true luxury and privacy Maldives has to offer.
4. Go all-inclusive or half-board
Food and alcohol are expensive in the Maldives. But what can you expect when you’re on an island in the middle of the sea?
With this in mind it’s a good idea to consider all the packages available to you including all-inclusive and half-board options. Whilst it may look like it bumps up the price of your nightly rate and resort fees, the reality is given the amount of food, drink and often activities included you’ll be getting a much better deal.
Our package included all meals, we just had to pay for our drinks.
5. Remember to complete your Traveller Declaration
I hold my hands up and admit I completely forgot to do complete mine and had sudden panic the night before our flight to the Maldives. Whilst you are no longer required to take a PCR test to enter the country, the Maldives require all travellers to complete the online traveller deceleration form both 96 hours prior to arrival and again on departure.
You can complete your IMUGA Traveller Declaration here…
There you have it, five of my top tips to keep in mind when planning your trip to the Maldives. Make sure to follow the blog to hear when I reveal more travel tips. In the meantime why not check out my review of our resort in the Maldives.