Wondering what you need to know before travelling to the Maldives? Have burning questions about what to expect on your Maldives holiday? This is your one-stop comprehensive guide for Maldives travel information.
1.WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT MALDIVES?
The weather is most favourable during the dry season from November through to April. Peak tourist season falls inside this period, from Dec – Feb. Prices are most expensive & availability is in high demand during this time. The wet season runs from May through to October & travellers can certainly expect sunny spells within this period. Prices are less expensive during these months, with many travel deals on offer. The surf season is the same as the wet season (April – October) & diving can be year round, island depending.
2. WHICH AIRPORT DO I FLY TO IN MALDIVES?
Velana International Airport (Malé).
The airport is located on Hulhule Island, which is actually attached to Hulhumale Island (the transit island). Hulhumale Island is accessible via taxi& bus and is ideal for travellers arriving late at night. The capital cityof Malé is also close by – just a 5 minute ferry ride / 10 minute taxi ridefrom the airport.
3. DO I NEED A VISA FOR MALDIVES?
Maldives Immigration issues a 30 Day Tourist Visa On Arrival to all nationalities, subject totourists being able to produce a passenger arrival card (given in plane or upon arrival inside airport), a confirmed reservation for each night of theirintended stay and documentation for a departing flight. Tourists may be requested to produce these items to an Immigration Officer upon entry into Maldives, soplease be prepared – save a copy to your smart phone or have these printed beforehand.
At Indulge Maldives Holidays, we provide you with an Immigration voucher that you can produce, containing all of your travel details. All passengers arriving in Maldives must havea machine-readable passport in order to be allowed entry. Your passport must also have at least 6 months validity from your departure date from Maldives to be granted the Tourist Visaon Arrival.
4. DO I NEED TO HAVE MALDIVES ACCOMMODATION PRE-BOOKED?
Yes. All tourists must have a valid hotel reservation for the duration of their stay as this is a condition of entry to be granted the 30 Day Tourist Visa on Arrival.
5. WILL SOMEONE GREET ME AT THE AIRPORT ON ARRIVAL?
Yes. Once you arrivein Maldives, you must first clear Immigration. From the moment you step throughthe automatic sliding doors of the arrival hall, the resort or hotel staff ofwhere you are staying will greet you with their property signboard. If staying at a resort, you can alternatively proceed to the respective resort counterinside the airport. The resort / hotel representatives will assist you with your speedboat, sea plane or domestic flight transfer. Upon your departure from Maldives, the property will again assist you with your return to the airport toensure a smooth departure process from Maldives.
6. CAN I ARRANGE ISLAND TRANSFERS FROM THE AIRPORT IN MALDIVES?
No. It is not possible to arrive in Maldives & book yourself atransfer from the airport. There are no public ferry, speedboat, sea plane or domestic flight services available from inside the airport. All transfers must be pre-booked through your tour operator, guesthouse, hotel or resort. Speedboat transfers to islands may only run once daily & need to be timed with flights. Our team has knowledge of all island transfers & can assist you with this. For more details on types of transfers & how to arrange, please read our ‘How to book a Maldives Island Transfer’ guide here.
All transfers are dependent on weather conditions and are subject to change, pending poor weather. Transfers are often combined with other flights so there may be a short wait upon arrival / and on departure. Your island representative will advise you of this when meeting you at the airport.
7. WILL SOMEONE GREET ME WHEN I ARRIVE AT AN ISLAND?
Upon arriving at your intended holiday island, a representative from the guest services team of your hotel, resort or guesthouse will meet you on the jetty. Transport to the hotel will beprovided. You will be assisted with your check in process and escorted to your room shortly after arrival.
8. ARE ANY ITEMS PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING MALDIVES?
Yes. As the Maldives is 100% Muslim country, no alcohol, pork, pornography, religious artifacts,idols of worship, narcotics and psychotropic substances, explosives or weapons are allowed to enter Maldives. When departing Maldives, no sand, turtle shells, seashells or marine products can be taken out of the country by tourists.
9. WHERE CAN I PURCHASE ALCOHOL IN MALDIVES?
Maldives is a 100% Islamic nation, meaning the sale & consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited. Alcohol cannot be brought into Maldives & it is not sold induty free. Resorts & liveaboards/safari boats are the only exception where guests can freely enjoy alcoholic beverages during their vacation. If staying on a local island, there is no alcohol sold due to the strict Islamic laws. Travellers can however visit a designated floating bar boat located off selected islands (Maafushi, Thulusdhoo), & purchase alcoholic drinks for consumption onboard. Budget approximately US$10 per drink on safari boats.
10. WHAT IS THE MAIN CURRENCY USED IN MALDIVES?
The main currencies used in Maldives are US Dollars (USD) & Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR).The official exchange rate is USD$1 = 15.42 MVR.
LOCAL ISLAND VACATIONS: We highly recommend using MVR / USD cash on local islands. Travellers should withdraw or exchange MVR cash on arrival at the airport. It is only possible to withdraw MVR currency from ATMs. Please note currency conversion rates & international bank fees will apply. Travellers cannot withdraw USD cash from ATMs. Not every local island will have ATM services available, so it is best to withdraw MVR cash at the airport onarrival. If paying in USD cash, it is common for change to be given in MVR. The standard conversion rate of USD & MVR is USD$1 = 15.42MVR will be applied. The use of Credit / Debit Cards is very limited on local islands.
RESORT VACATIONS: We highly recommend using USD / Credit / Debit cards at resort islands. There is no cash withdrawal services on resort islands. MVR currency will not be accepted on resort islands.
MVR can only be exchanged back into your original currency upon your departure from Maldives, only if you have the original receipt issued to you on your initial exchange, at the airport Bank of Maldives exchange counter.
11. DO I NEED TO TIP IN MALDIVES?
Tipping is not compulsory in Maldives, however if you are happy withthe service you have received by the local people who take care of you during your Maldives vacation, a tip is would be appropriate & very much appreciated by the local people as wages are considerably low in Maldives. The amount to tip is completely up to you and your budget, however as a generalized guide, a tip of USD$10 (150MVR) – $20 (300MVR) would be appropriate. Also note,you will not be haggled in Maldives as this is against cultural customs and traditions.
12. ARE THERE TOURIST TAXES IN MALDIVES?
All service industry purchases such as accommodation, restaurants, cafés & excursions will attract a 10% service charge & 12% Government Tax. For accommodation a mandatory government Green Tax of USD$3 per person per night is charged by local island properties & USD$6 per person per day by resorts. Our Indulge Maldives Holiday packages are inclusive of all taxes, however if eating out or purchasing additional excursions, please note that the above may apply. The airport departure tax of US$25.00 is included when you purchase your airline ticket.
13. DO MALDIVIANS SPEAK ENGLISH?
Yes – almost all Maldivians speak fluent English. Dhivehi is the national language and it uses its own alphabetic system, reading from right to left.
14. DO I REQUIRE ANY VACCINATIONS BEFORE TRAVELLING TO MALDIVES?
It is always advisable to discuss with your doctor before travelling to Maldives for current up to date information. We recommend ensuring your Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B and Diphtheria vaccinations are up to date. Whilst there is no Malaria in the Maldives, Dengue Fever is often present. Wearing mosquito repellent is recommended, especially around sunset. We advise to bring medication to treat common conditions such as travellers diarrhoea & vomiting.
15. DO ANY DRESS CODES APPLY IN MALDIVES?
If staying at a resort island – you can wander around in your bikini all day if you please.
When staying on local islands, it is however important to dress a little modestly when moving through the local village area & passing by the houses where local people and children live. This aims to prevent offending Maldivian locals. Local island tourism is still quite new in Maldives, and local people are adjusting to having tourists on their islands. Wearing longer skirts, dresses, shorts, thick-strapped singlet tops & t-shirts is considered appropriate when walking through the village areas. Never walk through a village island wearing only a bikini, as this is strictly against local laws.
Walking around the beach & tourist areas of an island, it’s generally acceptable to wear shorts & singlets, having arms / legs exposed. Tourists must only wear bikinis at the designated bikini beaches of an island. Always check first if it is a bikini beach before swimming. Your guesthouse or hotel can advise you on this. It is necessary to wear a sarong, light beach dress, t-shirt & shorts etc when moving to & from a bikini beach. Bikinis are also fine to wear on sandbanks, snorkeling trips, & at resorts – always ask your guesthouse /hotels if you aren’t sure if your clothing is appropriate.
If visiting the capital city Malé, we recommend to dress modestly – knee length shorts & t-shirts as a minimum.
16. CAN I DRINK THE WATER IN MALDIVES?
No, not unless you like drinking salt water!
Each hotel will provide bottled drinking water for guests. It’s also easy to purchase extra water bottles from local shops, for around 30c for 1L. If you bring a refillable drink bottle, this will help to cut down on plastic as re-fill stations are available. Brushing your teeth with the water is fine.
17. DO MALDIVES HOTELS HAVE WIFI / WILL I NEED A SIM CARD?
WiFi is supplied by some hotels & guesthouses. The Maldives has a fast and reliable internet connection. If you wish to connect to internet when you are out & about each day, it may be advisable to purchase a SIM card. This is easy to do at the airport from Ooredoo & Dhiraagu, the two main phone/internet coverage providers in Maldives. USD$20 will provide around 3-5GB of data.
18. WHAT TYPE OF ELECTRICAL ADAPTOR WILL I REQUIRE FOR MALDIVES?
The three-pin (British style) socket is mostly used in Maldives. Some guesthouses provide international powerpoints and will have adaptors available for hire, however weadvise on bringing your own.
19. WHAT SIZE SUITCASE SHOULD I BRING TO MALDIVES?
You will probably have a 30kg luggage limit with your airline ticket, however this isn’t to say that you will need to bring 30kgs of luggage to Maldives! Remember you will be travelling via speedboat and you may need to carry your luggage on and off boats. You may also need to wheel / lift your suitcase through sandy roads at times.
20. DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
YES – this is a must when travelling internationally & should be arranged at least 1 week in advance of your trip commencement. Travel insurance can cover the cost of medical treatment, travel misadventure & baggage mishaps. Always read your policy in depth before purchasing. Travel Insurance is compulsory in joining our retreats.
21. WHAT TO BRING TO MALDIVES
Maldives is a tropical destination so daytime temperatures are usually around 28-30 degrees.
We recommend bringing:
- Lightweight,comfortable & cool clothing
- Atleast one or two modest outfits to wear through island villages / to Malé City e.g. long skirt / pants / long dress / t shirt / long sleeve top
- Day time casual clothing for the islands – shorts, t-shirts, skirts, singlets etc
- Smart casual clothing for any special dinner nights / resort day trips
- Shoes– thongs/flip flops or sandals. No need for enclosed shoes unless you want to workout. Possible booties for surfing.
- Bikinis, swimmers, rash vests, board shorts
- Sunglasses & hats
- Dive certification & log book if you wish to dive
- Electricalchargers, cables & batteries
- Electrical equipment: ipad / phone / laptop / camera / go-pro
- 50+Sunscreen
- Mosquitorepellent
- Gastrostop
- Panadol
- Motionsick tablets / wristbands
- Prescriptionmedication along with actual prescription
- Aftersun gel
- Moisturiser
- Beachbag
- Beach Towel – often be supplied by hotels
- Headphones
- Hand Sanitiser
- Toiletries
- Ear plugs & eye mask
- Travel Money Card
- USB– for photos
BOOK YOUR MALDIVES TRIP WITH US…
We love providing affordable & personalised service for our guests. We take care of everything from the planning right through to your departure from Maldives. We offer you:
- The very best rates – cheaper than your will find anywhere online
- We match your holiday wish list to the perfect island & property – saving you time & money.
- Free Maldives phone / email consultation
- A complimentary Maldives holiday itinerary
- Free FAQ Guide to Travelling the Maldives for the First Time
- Free 18 page Maldive on A Budget e-book
- Arrange all excursions & island transfers in accordance with your flights
- We are also Surf Travel Specialists
- Professional Photography Services (drone, underwater, lifestyle)
- We are available on What’s App throughout your entire stay in Maldives should you require assistance during your stay
CONTACT OUR FRIENDLY TEAM TODAY
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