Some say that in
about fifty years Maldives
In this article
all the necessary tips concerning holidays in Maldives
How to book a trip?
1) With travel agency
It should be noted
that travel agencies usually offer quite expensive variants of spending
holidays in Maldives
2) Using online booking systems
These systems are
booking.com, agoda.com, expedia.com. One of the pluses of the systems is that
you may book or cancel a booking when you want. They also often provide their
clients with various discounts. You are free to make a comparison between
prices at guest houses and monitor all the reviews on the guest house you’re
aiming to stay at.
When booking a transfer (or trying to find
out information about its schedule), you’re still expected to write to your
guest house or to visit this website. And it also should be
mentioned that the prices offered by such systems are much higher than those
offered by travel agencies or when booking directly.
3) Booking directly
Direct
booking means that you book your trip using a web-site of the guest house you
choose to stay at. Guest houses usually offer a number of discounts; provide
you with the information about packages, excursions, etc.
They are interested
in attracting more tourists, that’s why don’t hesitate and write to them. And
the fact that you may not be fluent in English should not upset you –
electronic dictionaries are always at hand.
Where and how to get cheap flight tickets?
First of all you
should be prepared that as Maldives Maldives
Emirates; Aeroflot; Singapore Airlines; Bangkok Airlines; Japan Airlines; Turkish Airlines; Spicejet;
Etihad; Shrilankan Airlines; Oman Air; Qatar Airlines; Mihin Lanka; China
Southern; Malaysia Airlines; AirAsia; Cathay Pacific; Dragon Air; FlyDubai; S7
Airlines; Tiger Air Saudia.
How much money needed?
An example of a
self-organized trip budget (for two adult persons, flight tickets excluded):
Accommodation (with taxes and breakfast):
May—October,
$45-90.
December—March,
$60-120.
Transfer
(table) one way, per one
adult.
Meals
$20-30, lunch +
dinner (per one person) per day in a guest house.
$15-25, lunch +
dinner (per one person) per day at a local cafe/restaurant.
Activities
$0-1000 per two
persons.
Excursions:
- Diving: $40-110
per person per one dive
- Sun Set Fishing:
$35-55 per person
- Line Fishing:
$100-150 per person
- Snorkeling trip
(2hrs): $35-55 per person
- Romantic Dinner:
$90 for couple
- Manta Watching (Snorkeling):
$25-45 per person
- Whale Shark
watching (Snorkeling): $70-100 per person
- Traditional meal: $20
per person
- Dolphin Safari:
$40-60 per person
- Picnic island
trip: $20-40 per person
- Resort trip:
$80-250 per person
Other
expenses
$0-1000 (depending
on what you’re going to spend your money on).
Total: $800-1200 per two persons a week without excursions
(just quite and peaceful holidays without any activities).
With a few
excursions and some activities the trip may cost you $1800-2000.
But in case you
decide to get a package trip, where accommodation, transfer, meals, excursions
are included, it may cost you $900-1200.
When going to Maldives
The rufiyaa (MVR)
is the official currency of Maldives
The currency
exchange rate in souvenir shops is 1 USD=16,2-16,7 MVR.
You can pay in USD everywhere; they usually give
the change in MVR.
Best
time to go to Maldives
It is believed
that in Maldives the perfect
time for tourists to go there is November-April. During that period the sun
shines and the weather is usually fine. However El Nino influenced the climate, and as a result a
sunny weather can be more frequently experienced in May-June.
An ideal time to
travel to Maldives is
January-March. But during that period they establish quite high prices and do
not offer discounts.
The “low season”
is in May-October. At that time it rains oftener, but not in every atoll.
Moreover, the low season is characterized by the restlessness of the ocean;
even a ferry or a speedboat can be cancelled due to this fact.
When you buy flight
tickets, bear in mind that in Maldives
ferries and speedboats do not run on Friday, it is a day off. But still
domestic flights are available on Friday. Ferries run only between Male and
Hulhumale and Male and Villingili. Another way to travel to your island is a
private speedboat, where a ticket costs $200-1000.
choose your island first, then decide on a means of transfer,
book flight tickets, and book a guest house.
Local island: how to choose?
One
of the most popular questions that usually ask people travelling to Maldives is what tips to choose an ideal local
island are.
Brief information
on the islands:
- Mathiveri. Pluses: the beach is rather big; few tourists visit it; a picnic island is near the island itself; a decent home reef; transfer is every day; the island has a floating bar. Minuses: an expensive speedboat transfer; the ferry runs 6 hours; no tourist cafes.
- Thoddoo. Pluses: the beach is large; the island itself is rather big; tourist cafes; there are farms where fruit are grown; an affordable transfer. Minuses: it is a 500 meters’ distance to the nearest home reef; a lot of tourists; it’ll take you 15 minutes to get to the beach.
- Rasdhoo. Pluses: developed infrastructure; a lot of tourist cafes; a decent home reef; dive points; two picnic islands; an affordable transfer. Minuses: the beach is not very big; the number of guest houses is large.
- Ukulhas. Pluses: not many tourists so far (next year there will be more of them); the beach is long; an affordable transfer. Minuses: not many tourist cafes; prices in guest houses are high; in the low season the beach is not very clean; the home reef has not got a lot of interesting things.
- Dharavandhoo. Pluses: the island is large; the beach is rather long; a decent home reef; Hanifaru Bay (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) is situated nearby (a lot of manta rays and shark whales can be see there); a few picnic islands; tourist cafes; there are resorts open for visiting. Minuses: quite expensive but quick transfer.
- Magoodhoo. Pluses: only one guest house is located on the island; a sandbank; the island is rather clean; a decent home reef. Minuses: Male is located far from the island; the beach is small; just one tourist café.
- Thinadhoo. Pluses: not many locals on the island; three guest houses; the beach is nice; a picnic island; a decent home reef. Minuses: just one tourist café; a speedboat transfer is expensive.
- Dhigurah. Pluses: the beach is long; a 50 meters’ walk to the beach; the island itself is rather big; not many tourists; points where manta rays and whale sharks can be seen; a sandbank. Minuses: transfer is expensive and not very convenient; the island itself is not very clean; no tourist cafes; no decent home reef.
- Guraidhoo. Pluses: a picnic island is not far from the bikini beach; close to Male; resorts are located nearby; tourist cafes; points for surfing. Minuses: a lot of guest houses; only ferry transfer is available.
- Maafushi. Pluses: transfer is available a few times a day; resorts; quite a few tourist cafes; infrastructure is quite developed; a floating bar. Minuses: many guest houses and hotels; the beach is small; no home reef.
- Huraa. Pluses: a perfect variant for surfing amateurs; resorts; close to Male. Minuses: the beach is small; no home reef; no speedboats; few tourist cafes.
- Dhiffushi. Pluses: not that many guest houses; a resort is located nearby; a decent home reef. Minuses: the beach is not really large; no tourist cafes; no permanent speedboats.
- Hanimaadhoo. Pluses: not many guest houses; an airport; the beach is very long and large; a decent home reef; picnic islands are located nearby. Minuses: very far from Male.
- Felidhoo. Pluses: not many guest houses; the beach and the home reef are really nice; a picnic island. Minuses: transfer is expensive and not very convenient; the beach is small; no tourist cafes.
This list is certainly incomplete and deals only with the most popular islands.
How many local islands to visit?
The answer to this
question depends on the fact for how much time you are going to stay in
Maldives. If you are planning to travel for more than a week, it will be great
to visit at least two islands. Here you have island groups between that you can
travel by ferry. The travel time does not exceed one hour; such a trip will
cost you $2 per person.
Maafushi-Guraidhoo
Thinadhoo-Felidhoo
Himmaafushi-Huraa-Thulusdhoo-Dhiffushi
Dharavandhoo - Dhomfulhafi
Hanimaadhoo
- Kulhudhhuffushi- Vashafaru
Dhigura
- Dhangethi - Maamigili
Mahibadhoo
– Omadhoo – Hungnameedhoo
How to choose guest house in a right way?
Every
year new guest houses are being built and opened in Maldives. But it should be
noted that they differ literally in nothing, they’re practically the same,
that’s why choosing a guest house is a rather difficult task. While thinking
over, what guest house to stay at, you can consider the tips listed below:
- pay
attention to reviews on guest houses on every popular website (Agoda,
Tripadvisor, etc.);
- · there are
practically no reviews on the guest houses recently built, however such houses
usually have lower prices. Moreover in such cases we don’t know much about the
services quality;
- write to
the guest house you chose and ask them all the questions you’ve got. Doing so,
you can see how professional the guest house staff and managers are. If they’re
interested in their clients, they respond as soon as possible;
- do not be
afraid that you are not fluent in English. Electronic dictionaries are always
for you to be used. And do not forget that you can be provided with exact and
full information on your guest house only by the guest house representatives;
- when you
book five and more nights, you’re usually offered a discount on excursions. And
remember that prices on activities and be different at various guest houses;
if
you are a diving amateur, choose a guest house that owns a dive center. There
the prices will be lower for those staying at this guest house.
Activities on local islands
It should not be
forgotten that Maldives is a Muslim country, although the rules sometimes are
not very strictly followed there. But still when you visit beaches for the
locals, remember that wearing bikinis there is prohibited.
But on tourist
beaches it is allowed. The information on where you may wear bikinis, and where
you are not expected to do that, can be provided by a manager of your guest
house.
Do not spend much
time in the capital of Maldives (Male) and Hulhumale. There you won’t find
tourist beaches or interesting sights.
In Maldives the
following activities are offered:
- snorkeling (you swim using a mask, a tube, and flippers). A snorkeling trip usually takes two-three hours, and you also can visit three-four points. It costs $25-45 per person and is offered by every island.
- picnic island trip. During such a trip you also visit a neighboring uninhabited island (barbecue can be included). Rice, salads, and drinks are usually taken when having such a trip. Fish can be cooked there. The trip can take half or the whole day. Other tourists can also visit the islands when you are visiting it. The average trip price is $20-40 per person. When you are on an uninhabited island, you can wear bikinis there.
- manta trip (snorkeling with manta rays). For a perfect trip you need to observe the following rules. Firstly, do not touch a manta ray. They are fearful. It can touch you itself if it sees no threat. Secondly, do not make sharp moves and be calm. The trip usually takes 40 minutes. It costs $40-50 per person.
- snorkeling with whale sharks. Do not miss a chance to snorkel with these unique creatures. They are enormous (some can be twelve meters in length). And they are not dangerous to humans as they eat plankton. They usually can be seen on Dhigurah island and at Hanifaru Bay Biosphere Reserve (near Dharavandhoo island). But there is no guarantee that you can spot sharks during the trip. And while swimming with them, remember about the rules listed above, they are the same for manta rays and sharks.
- night/day/big game fishing. When you decide on going to day or night fishing, you’re taken to a reef and provided with a basic fishing tackle box (a lie and hooks). The trip costs $30-50 per person. The fish caught may be cooked at your guest house (usually for free). Big game fishing means that you’re provided with an advanced fishing tackle box. But the only thing you can do with the fish you catch is to take a photo with it. Than you’ll have to let it swim. Such a trip costs $150 and more per person.
- swimming with dolphins. It is usually offered in the morning or in the evening because dolphins are not far from atolls. Soft drinks are offered to you during the trip. The trip costs $45-75 per person.
- a romantic dinner on the beach/a picnic island/a sandbank. If you decide on a romantic dinner on a sandbank, it can or can’t be organized depending on the rise of the tide (the sandbank ca be flooded if the tides are high). Such a dinner costs $80-140 per two persons. The cost includes setting, the dinner itself and transfer (to the picnic island or the sandbank).
- resort visiting (in the daytime). Not every resort are eager to let tourists from other local islands visit them. The info on what resorts can be visited is provided by your guest house. Transfer, the entry fee, lunch and drinks (not always), and the opportunity to use the hotel's services are included in the cost of the trip. It costs $70-80 per person.
- visiting a floating bar. Alcohol is prohibited on the islands, but it is allowed afloat, so some locals turned their boats into floating bars. They can be spotted not near every local island (today – only near Maafushi and Mathiveri). Drinking alcohol is allowed only in such bars, you must not take alcohol to the islands.
- diving. A perfect opportunity to explore the wonderful underwater world. You do not have to get a PADI certificate to perform a dive there. Without the certificate you may dive up to 12 meters. You are usually instructed before diving, sigh documents, and do a test 1,5-2 meters depth dive, where an instructor shows you the basic things. You can stay deep underwater for 30-40 minutes. Visibility is 15-40 meters, depending on the season and the diving point. It costs $35-120.
- water sports. A water sports center can be found not on every island. Usually such a center offers hiring a kayak, a wakeboard, a jetski; trying parasailing, funtube, bananaride, windsurfing.
Types of transfer
There is the number
of ways to travel between the islands in Maldives. A ferry, a speedboat, a
private speedboat, a seaplane, and domestic airlines are available for
tourists. Now let’s have a look at pluses and minuses of each transfer means.
Public ferry
A public ferry is
a big boat with a roof (you are also allowed to go to the roof). Its average
speed is 20-25 kmh.
Pluses:
- cheap tickets ($1-15 one way per person);
- if islands are situated in one atoll, you
have a chance to go to the neighboring island in the morning and get back in
the evening.
Minuses:
- a ferry from Male to local islands and back
is usually available 3 times a week. To some islands - every day;
- the travel time is 1-10 hours;
- there is a
common situation that all tickets are sold. You’d better to buy tickets in
advance;
- there can be a
ferry cancellation due to bad weather conditions (it is also related to
speedboats).
So a ferry is a
perfect variant for those who want to have the cheapest transfer and enjoy a
trip.
Speedboats (run in accordance with the
schedule)
They are modern
boats with roofs, where 22, 30, 50 persons can sit. They usually have 22 seats.
Their speed is 60-70 kmh.
Pluses:
- a high speed;
- available every day, to some islands - 3
times a week or several times a day;
- comfortable
seats.
Minuses:
- a ticket price ($30-110 one way per person);
- can be canceled and postponed to the
following day;
- you can get
seasick.
Private speedboats (on request)
The same
speedboats, but run on request.
Pluses:
- available at any time of the day;
- perfect for large tourist groups.
Minuses:
- quite expensive;
- can be canceled
because of bad weather conditions.
Seaplanes
It is a small
plane where 10-15 people can sit. They make a landing only by resorts, that's
why you'll also have to hire a boat that takes you to your island. Your guest
house can help you with hiring a boat.
Pluses:
- rather quick;
- you can enjoy stunning views over atolls
from above.
Minuses:
- quite expensive;
- you re expected
to hire a boat to get to your island;
- fly only by day;
- can be canceled
if the weather is windy.
Domestic airlines
Nowadays there are
11 international and local airports in Maldives, some more are being
constructed. Turboprops always perform flights between them. They have seats
for 60-80 persons. Two airlines operate there: Maldivian.Aero и FlyMe.
Pluses:
- rather quick;
- don't depend on the weather conditions;
- fly often (3-5
times a day), also in the evening;
- if the weather
is fine, you can enjoy the stunning Maldivian views from above.
Minuses:
- very expensive tickets.
Taxes in Maldives
At the moment two
kinds of taxes exist in Maldives: TGST (12%) and Service Сharge (usually 11,3% in guest houses and 8% in
restaurants and cafes). In November 2016 it was planned to introduce a Green
Tax ($3 per person per day), but it was not stated so far whether it will be
introduced or not.
Note that all
online booking systems (Booking, Agoda) do not include any of these taxes in
the prices that are displayed on their websites. They usually add only TGST to
the excursions costs.
If you pay by your
credit card, 4% is charged. Before travelling to Maldives, make sure that you
contact your bank and ask whether there can be any problems while using your
card in Maldives. Remember that ATMs are not on every island. A service fee
when withdrawing money from ATM is 150 MVR (rufiya), and it does not depend on the
sum of money you are going to draw out.
Drinking alcohol in Maldives
As you remember,
Maldives is a Muslim country, so you are strictly prohibited to take alcohol to
the local islands and drink it there. The alcohol brought in the country is
confiscated and returned only when you’ll fly back home.
But still drinking alcohol is allowed on
resorts, safari boats, and in floating bars. A bar in Hulule Island Hotel in
Hulhumale airport area is also a place where alcohol can be drunk. But the
locals are strictly forbidden to drink it.
Mobile network in Maldives
Staying in touch
by phone in Maldives is actually extremely important. So if you have got time
till your transfer, buy a SIM card of a local mobile operator (Dhiragu or
Ooredoo). You can buy a SIM card of one of these mobile operators in the
airport. When you leave the Arrivals zone, you need to turn right.
If you’re short of
time, you’ll need at least SMS roaming activation. Provide your guest house
manager with your telephone number in case any emergency arises.
Some common
situations when you can’t do without a phone:
- a speedboat/ferry cancellation takes place due to bad weather conditions. The earliest transfer can be provided only next day in the morning. The manager of your guest house will be able to give you necessary information on what to do and where to stay till the morning;
- your speedboat breaks down, and your manager may provide you with another speedboat (if it is available);
- a departure point in Male was changed (rarely, but still);
- you’re late for your ferry. You can travel by speedboat only;
- all ferry tickets are sold. Sometimes the locals may help you to buy the tickets, but the price will be really high. Or you can travel by speedboat;
- you have some other problem;
- a domestic flight takes place earlier or later.
Or some other
problems.
In all guest houses there is Wi-Fi. Generally
speaking, you’ll be pleased with the internet if you plan only to use social
networks, Skype, etc. But probably you won’t be able to watch serials online.
What souvenirs to take home?
Every local island
has its own gift shops. There souvenirs are a bit more expensive that in Male,
because they are brought to the islands from the capital. Gift shops run by
local masters can be found on the islands.
Not every thing in
made exclusively in Maldives, many of them are imported from China. If you want
something of a really Maldivian origin, ask a shop assistant to show it.
In the market
coconut butter, sweet 'bondi' (made of coconut flakes) or 'coconut jam' (made
of coconut juice) can be found, tried, and bought.
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