The Maldives - Travel Tips and Advice

Planning a trip to the Maldives is a once in a lifetime experience for many people and you want it to be perfect, right?! I have therefore decided to put together this article to help you out with answers to frequently asked questions to help you to get the most out of your trip. I want to make sure your trip is everything you dreamed of and more. If you have any more questions or if you'd like to enquire about prices and availability please get in touch with me directly.

Introduction to The Maldives

The Maldives is an independent country made up of 1,192 coral islands within 26 Atolls. Islands on the outer ring of each atoll have a coral reef on one side of the island and a lagoon on the other side. The islands in the middle of the atoll tend to have a coral reef that covers the perimeter of the island. It has 31 protected areas of marine biodiversity and the designated UNESCO biosphere reserve in Baa Atoll famous for its manta rays.

The Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean. The atolls stretch more than 510 miles from north to south and 80 miles from east to west. The most northerly atoll is 370 miles southwest of the Indian mainland. The Maldives is best known for its beautiful beaches, turquoise seas and stunning hotels.

How to get to The Maldives?

Most international flights will fly into Malé International Airport which is located on Hulhulé Island in the North Malé Atoll. Direct flights are available from London to Malé and the flight time is around 10 hours. There are no direct flights available from Manchester or other regional airports. In-direct options are also available with airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.

Malé International Airport is the gateway airport to the Maldives. From there you will be transferred to your atolls by seaplane or speed boat.

When is the best time to visit The Maldives?

The Maldives’ position on the equator gives it an all-year-round warm temperature that sits consistently between 25-32C. You can visit The Maldives at any time but the best time to visit is between November and April, outside of the monsoon season. I recommend staying during March and April (excluding the Easter holidays when pricing is more expensive) when you will enjoy hot, dry weather and quieter resorts. The wet season – known as the “South West Monsoon” – runs from May to November, and this is considered the worst time to visit the Maldives.

Where to stay?

The Maldives offers over 140 Exclusive island hideaways with beach or over-water villas and award-winning spas are the perfect honeymoon escape, while a wide variety of water sports offer activities for the whole family to enjoy. Ultimately you need to choose a region and from there we will be able to narrow down a resort for you. The Atolls are separated into 4 different regions:

'Central Atolls' - Is one of the top 5 places in the world to watch dolphins and swim with whale sharks. Here you can also dine in the world's first, all-glass, undersea restaurant.

'Malé Atolls' - Accessed by speedboat and relatively short transfer times. A have for water-sports such as snorkelling and surfing.

'Northern Atolls' - Least developed region of The Maldives. Get up close and personal with whale sharks and manta rays and get to experience some truly unique dining experiences.

'Southern Atolls' - Explore relatively untouched dive sites, visit remote surf breaks or simply unwind on the pristine beaches of luxurious resorts.

What is the Local Currency in The Maldives?

The currency in the Maldives is the Rufiyaa - you can only get it in the Maldives, so don’t try to exchange sterling for rufiyaa in the UK before you fly. USA is also legal tender in The Maldives so I'd recommend exchanging some pounds into dollars before flying out.

Learn More

The find out more about visiting The Maldives and to begin planning your trip please feel free to get in touch.

My mobile number is 07817 736579