10 Important Tips Every First-Timer In Maldives Should Know

The Maldives is one of the smallest countries in the whole wide world situated far away in the Indian Ocean. The scenic beauty of hundreds of islands in the small country has made it the top exotic beach destination for people around the globe. However, with so many islands to choose from and the confusion that surrounds the land transit, food scene, and what actually to do on a small island makes trip planning for the first-timer in the Maldives a pretty challenging task.

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Coming from my personal experience of planning a trip to the Maldives, I remember sitting in front of the laptop screen clueless about what exactly to do when you’re confined on a small isolated island in the middle of the ocean? The question that made me go nuts was how on earth am I going to decide which island I will be staying on? Like how even people choose the island they will be visiting? What are the pros and cons or any element that is important to be considered while selecting an island for the trip?!

So, in order to help every first-timer in the Maldives, I have listed down everything I learned from my trip planning experience which every first-timer in the Maldives should definitely know about! Be ready to be surprised, I am sure there are going to be many bits of information which you will know for the first time!

But Is The Maldives Worth The Hype?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, allow me to educate you a little about this small island country and how life functions there.

As we all know, the Maldives is an island country located in the south of the Indian Ocean. According to Wikipedia, there are a total of 1,190 islands in the Maldives, which are divided into 26 atolls. The size of the Maldivian islands ranges from 1km to 5km on average. It is really astonishing to see how people are actually living within such a small and confined place.

The resort islands in the Maldives make up 106 islands, which vary from being boutique resorts to extremely luxurious ones. There are still many unexplored and inhabited islands in the Maldives, which are often covered by the excursion companies for a day trip from the resort islands. The islands which are habited by the people of Maldives are called the ‘Local Islands’. The local islands are the only place in the country where you can get up and close with the Maldivian culture.

Every first-timer in the Maldives should know that the Maldives is an expensive country due to the very limited availability of resources. Apart from fish and coconut, there is no local product in the country and everything has to be imported. Moreover, the transportation cost of the material to far-flung islands is a huge expense bear by the resort owners; therefore, the increased price of everything is quite justified.

Now that you’re equipped with some of the basic knowledge about the Maldives, let’s dive into the 10 important tips every first-timer in the Maldives should definitely know!

Related: The Best Maafushi Island Tours in the Maldives

Visa For Maldives

In order to enter the Maldives, a pre-arrival visa is not required. The Maldives has a visa-on-arrival policy for all nationalities. However, the pre-requisite to obtaining a visa-on-arrival includes a passport with six months validity, a confirmed return ticket ensuring that you will not stay back in the country, and a confirmed hotel reservation. The airline you will be traveling with will hand over you a Maldives immigration form, which is just a basic form to be filled with your passport details, inbound and outbound dates, and a declaration that you’re not bringing in alcohol in the country (yes that is a big deal).

The immigration process at the Velana International Airport in the Maldives is pretty simple. At least for me, it was. The immigration process can take a little longer than usual as the immigration officers will ask for a copy of a confirmed return ticket and hotel reservation. You can show the confirmed bookings on your phone but just to ease the immigration pain; it is always recommended to carry a printout of the bookings. The immigration officer would also ask the total amount in USD being carried by you. Nothing to worry about here though, it is just a routine immigration question. There is no minimum or the maximum amount that can be carried to the Maldives, however, it is recommended to carry enough amount to bear all the expenses during the duration of the trip.  

All About Transportation In The Maldives

As the Maldives is 99% water and only 1% of the land, every first-timer in the Maldives would think that only sea travel exists in the country. However, that is just half of the reality.  The transportation from the Velana International Airport to the respective resort islands is either done by a speed road or a seaplane. The speed boat is used to transit the guests to the islands which are in close proximity to the airport island. A speed boat is used for every resort island within a forty to forty minutes distance from the airport.

For the far and remotely located islands, a seaplane is used to transfer the guests from the airport to the resort. The seaplane is a whole different experience in itself; however, it comes at a huge price. An important tip here is to book a resort within close proximity to the airport if the seaplane ride cost is beyond your trip budget. The seaplane transfers from the Velana airport are operated by Trans Maldivian Airways.

 The cost of the speedboat and seaplane pickup and drop-off to the airport is most of the time included in the total accommodation cost of the resort. However, always confirm this with the resort prior to making the accommodation booking. Just outside the arrival terminal of the Velana International Airport, there are booths of around fifty to sixty resort islands and a resort representative will be available to welcome and escort you to your respective transportation.

Is Male Worth The Visit?

Male is the capital island/city of the Maldives. Most of the first-timers in the Maldives don’t know that the Velana International Airport of the Maldives is not situated in Male; it is on a whole different ‘airport island’ altogether. Therefore, this implies that you will not be getting a chance to explore the capital island of the Maldives.

It is a bitter reality that there is nothing much to see and do in Male. For this reason, many of the first-timers in the Maldives and the second time visitors too tends to exclude Male from their Maldives itinerary. Just in case if you don’t know, Male is the second most congested and one of the most populous cities on the planet. Due to the very less availability of land, people are confined to make a living within the small portion of land.

The streets and alleys of Male are crazy small, nearly large enough for two scooters to pass at a time! It was a huge shock and a surprise at the same time seeing how people were even functioning on the road without hitting each other or pedestrians! However, in the congested small alleys of Male, you will find everything to spend a nice day or two. From local to fancy restaurants and small shops to big stores, Male is a whole different experience to live and enjoy, which makes it highly worthy for a visit for a couple of days at the maximum.

Where To Stay In The Maldives?

From local islands to luxurious five-star resorts, booking accommodation can get quite tricky. It all melts down to your budget and preferences that will help you in finalizing your home for the vacation in the Maldives. There are several elements to take into consideration before making that final call.

Not sure which island to stay at in Maldives? Check Out My Detailed Guide On How To Book The Best Resort In The Maldives

Alternatively, you can also check the latest hotel prices and availability in the Maldives here

Booking.com

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Budgeting Maldives Without Breaking The Bank

How extremely exotic it is, the Maldives is equally expensive at the same time. But that should not stop you to live the ultimate beach life dream in the Maldives. It might not look possible but the Maldives can be done within a budget if planned appropriately.

$40 To $80 Per Day

If you are someone with a very small budget then pass the resort islands and book a stay at the guesthouses or boutique hotels on the local islands. The local islands are also equally beautiful just like the resort island so you won’t be missing out on the natural serenity of the Maldives. A major plus for staying at the local island is that you will be mostly having it for yourself with little to no tourists around. However, the only downside would be there won’t be much to do after the sunset so if you’re planning to stay for more than a week, then it might get a little boring.

$100 To $150 Per Day

A good resort can be booked under this budget. To save some more moolah, look out of the resort near the airport so you can save some money on the resort transportation if it is not included in the package. Also, opt for a half board package as will cost less than the all-inclusive package (breakfast, lunch, dinner included).

I stayed at the Paradise Island Resort with a half board package (breakfast only). Read my Complete Review of The Paradise Island Resort Here

What To See And Do You In The Maldives?

Well, here is the million-dollar question! Many first-timers in the Maldives think it to be a boring holiday destination with only beach soaking, however, there is a lot more than that to do in the Maldives. No points for guessing that the Maldives is a water activity haven! You can enjoy any water activity you imagine in the Maldives.

Apart from that, there are local island excursion trips, fishing trips, and even cultural performances to enjoy on some islands. If you’re staying at a resort then you need not worry about your entertainment. The resorts have plenty of activities to keep the guests entertained all the time such as shark feeding, manta rays watching, belly dance shows, and many other similar activities.

Also Read: Best Water Activities Every Non-Swimmer Can Enjoy In The Maldives

Preserving The Marine Ecology In The Maldives

The picturesque white sand beaches of the Maldives have a dark side, which lies beneath the surface of the turquoise waters of the Maldives. As the Maldives is a 99% water country, therefore, the climate changes have affected the marine life of the Maldives to a great extent. Also, increased tourism in the country has also been one of the reasons that have made negative impacts on marine ecology in the Maldives.

While visiting the exotic beach holiday destination, as a responsible traveler, it is important to make efforts in order to preserve the natural beauty of the Maldives as well as the marine ecology. Over-tourism and the thirst of island owners to build a resort on every single small piece of land in the country has been a major contributor to the exploitation of marine life.

During my visit to the Maldives, I noticed a bed of dead corals near the overwater villas on the island. This is possibly due to the increasing sea levels or from the construction of the overwater villas that damaged the corals. Most of the resort islands have a Marine Protection Charity Drive setup in the resort. I highly encourage anyone visiting the Maldives to support the Marine Protection Charity Drive and help the Maldives to preserve and sustain its marine ecology.

How To Dress-Up In The Maldives?

Dressing up is one of the essential elements that is often being overlooked by the first-timers in the Maldives. As the Maldives is a Muslim country, therefore the religious norms related to dressing up in the country should be respected. While staying on a resort island it is acceptable and allowed to wear swimsuits and bikinis while on the beach. However, for the local islands, the dressing code is different.

Some of the local islands have written notice regarding dressing up modestly with respect towards the local people of the Maldives. Swimsuits and bikinis are a definite no in this case. Shorts and tank tops can be still acceptable; however, it is good to wear full-length pants in order to refrain from offending any locals.

Public display of affection is also a serious matter which the first-timers in the Maldives should be definitely aware of. The rules are the same for PDA too just like dressing on a resort and a local island. However, even while staying on the resort island it is recommended to keep PDA to the minimum or at least just within the limits of the pubs on the island. For a local island, better not to even think about it!

What To Eat In The Maldives?

Food is a serious issue in the Maldives. As there is no land for plantation and cultivation in the Maldives, therefore, the local Maldivian food is mostly comprised of fish and coconut. For obvious reasons, these are the only two food items that are available in the Maldives; everything else has to be imported from Sri Lanka or India. Alcohol is served without any issues at the resort islands but you may or may not be able to get it on the local islands. Also, bringing alcohol in the Maldives is not permitted.

The local delicacies in the Maldives can be only found easily in Male or the local islands. As the resort islands are made in order to cater to the tourists therefore continental cuisine is the most popular food choice available on the resort islands. Moreover, the food on the resort islands is more on the expensive side as a lot of expense goes behind getting the food to the islands. I stayed at the Paradise Island Resort during my trip which luckily has six restaurants so there were plenty of options to choose from.

Due to the great influence of life from India and Sri Lanka, the local Maldivian food is quite similar to Indian food only with fish and coconut involved in every dish. Fish and coconut curry with Indian bread is one of the most popular local dishes in the Maldives. The deserts in the Maldives are also made up of fish. If given a chance to try the Maldivian food then don’t forget to eat the Bakoba, which is fish cake. Yes, a FISH cake!

Say No To Instagram

I understand that the Maldives is perhaps the most picturesque holiday destination in the whole wide world and it offers countless instagramable spots for photos lovers. I have seen people going nuts over capturing that perfect Instagram picture whilst ignoring the serenity and the peaceful vibe of the Maldives.

In order to enjoy the true essence of the Maldives, it is important to give a break to Instagram and focus on relaxing and rejuvenate within the calming vibe and peace which the Maldives has to offer. I took a handful of pictures for the gram during my seven days visit to the Maldives and trust me I’m doing absolutely fine without Instagramming everything I saw and did in the Maldives! Grabbing a coconut and soaking in the sun is not that hard, trust me.

Essential Tidbits

Best Time To Visit The Maldives

The Maldives is a tropical country and it remains wet for most part of the year. The best time to visit the Maldives is from November to March, which constitutes the summer months in the tropical country. May to October is the monsoon season, so if you don’t fancy rain then don’t plan a trip to the Maldives during this time.

Maldives Explorer Packing List

The weather in the Maldives is ninety-nine percent of the time hot, humid and sunny. Pack all the light color clothes so the sunlight cannot get that harsh on your skin. Swimming attire and floral gowns with hats are a definite must! If you’re planning to do any adventurous water activities then getting a GoPro on the trip to the Maldives is essential. GoPro can also be rented from the resort water activity center but it is always good to carry your own. 

Currency In The Maldives

The local currency of Maldives is the Maldivian Rufiyaa however US dollars are widely used and accepted everywhere in the Maldives. It is advisable to get a little local currency along with dollars. The currency exchange at the Velana International Airport accepts very few international currencies, therefore; get your money exchanged from the country of arrival.

How To Go To The Maldives

Most of the flights to the Maldives are linked through the Middle East, India, or Sri Lanka. If traveling from Far East Asia, the best option is to fly from Air Asia which has a direct flight from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. If flying through the Middle East, Fly Dubai is the budget airline option to fly from. The other options include connections from Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.

For more information on the Maldives, check out the official Visit Maldives website.

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