There are many who, before traveling to a place outside their national scope, decide to look for some useful advice to prepare their trip, especially when we talk about countries as unique as many of South Asia . Traveling to the Maldives has become one of the key destinations for sun and beach lovers in recent years.
For this reason, we want to offer you here in My Trip a complete list of useful tips that will help you both to prepare your trip and to move around the country without setbacks and enjoying your stay to the fullest.
The best way to travel to the Maldives is by booking a flight in advance
The demand for flights to the Maldives, at least as far as Spain is concerned , has increased significantly for several years. Therefore, it will be very easy for us to find flights at a good price. The best offers are around a price of between 400 and 600 euros per person.
Even so, we recommend choosing flights that have a maximum of one stopover, so that the trip to the Maldives does not become too heavy. In fact, if possible, we recommend choosing seats with a window to be able to enjoy the views when we fly over its magnificent atolls.
We will not need a visa to travel to the Maldives
Regardless of our nationality, we can apply for a visa as soon as we arrive in the country and completely free of charge. This has a maximum duration of 30 days. But we must remember that, regardless of the visa, we will need to have a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months, as well as other requirements. Among them are: having a return ticket and demonstrating that you have solvency during your stay.
We will have to change our money directly in Maldives
Getting to exchange euros for Maldivian rufiyaa or MVR in Spain can be complicated. For this reason, we recommend taking the money in cash, whether it is euros or dollars, to exchange it directly at the airport upon arrival; although it may not be the safest option. If you want to travel more calmly, try to pay for things with a card and keep an eye on commissions.
The best time to travel to Maldives is between November and April
During these months we will be able to avoid the high temperatures and excess humidity that surrounds the country during the rainy season. However, we must be aware that these months are high season; especially the month of December. In addition, we should also avoid traveling to the country during Ramadan , since its population is mostly Muslim . We recommend, if we want to save extra money, to go between January and February.
Spend at least a week in the Maldives
The minimum to enjoy a trip like this is to stay in the country for at least a week. In case of staying less or this estimated time, we recommend focusing on the islands of Maafushi and Gulhi. However, if we want to know the rest of the islands in greater detail, we recommend spending at least two weeks.
The best option to move around the Maldives is to use the local ferry
Although it is the slowest means of transport to travel, its price more than compensates for its use, especially if we are going to be on the island for several days. Another good option is the Speed boat or fast boats that have fixed itineraries and schedules.
The difference in price between the ferry and the Speed boat is more than 10 euros. Of course, they are only used to travel to nearby islands. In case you want to go to a more remote island we can take an internal flight for about 150 euros.
For those who do not have financial problems there is also the option of renting a private boat or using a seaplane to travel between islands. The price is between 200 and 400 euros.
Maldives is a dream for lovers of water sports
To save extra money, if we are going to practice water sports, we recommend bringing our own snorkel equipment, surfboard or any other necessary equipment to enjoy its coral reefs full of marine life or the spectacular waves that are created in the atolls. , both north and south of Male.
Respect the Muslim culture of the Maldives
Although the Maldives has become a tourist destination, not all beaches and services are designed for standardized use. What do we mean by this? That depending on the area we will not be able to bathe in a bikini or drink alcohol.
We won’t find any problems if we go to more touristy islands like Maafushi or stay within the different tourist complexes where we can swim without a shirt and order a cocktail to enjoy a night out near the sea . In favor, we will be able to try unique dishes of its local cuisine that are a gastronomic experience for the most exotic palates.