The Maldives travel guide 2022

Where are the Maldives – general info

Finally, after dreaming for a long time about its crystalline sea and the expanses of white sand adorned with swaying palm trees, we travelled to the Maldives for a relaxing holiday. We’d say partly relaxing, as we visited 6 islands and did several boat tours. These marvellous islands extend into the Indian Ocean, spread over 90,000 square kilometres, not far from the coast of India, and seen from the sky, they appear like a huge puzzle of sandbanks and crystal clear lagoons.

The country comprises 26 atolls and about 1200 islands, and less than a third are inhabited. The Maldives are also a paradise for diving and snorkelling enthusiasts thanks to the beautiful coral reefs that teem with colourful tropical fish and boast the presence of sharks, whale sharks, dolphins, huge manta rays, rays, and turtles.

Best time to go to the Maldives
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The Maldives are a year-round destination with temperatures ranging from 23°  and 31°C. The best time to explore the Maldives is from December to April (especially February and March), when the days are mostly sunny. This period corresponds to the high season when the prices of flights, hotels and excursions are higher. In March, we spent 17 days in the Maldives, finding short thunderstorms only for 3 days. If you decide to spend your Maldivian vacation in these months, we advise you to book in advance to have more choice among budget accommodations. During the monsoon period, which runs from May to October, you will find fewer crowds and lower prices as the rains are heavier and more frequent.

How to get to the Maldives
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The only way to get to the Maldives is by taking an international flight. We flew with Emirates, having a stopover in Dubai. 

• The Malè  International Airport 

Velana International Airport is located on the island of HulHumalè and is the country’s main hub. It is a tiny airport, still in the process of expansion, and despite the large influx of tourists, it is served by a few daily international flights. The border control at the airport was, however, quick and smooth. As soon as you leave the arrivals hall, apart from the hellish heat, you will find a Help Desk, the information desks of the 3 local airlines that connect Malè with the farthermost atolls, some famous resorts offices and several counters to ask for information. All the resorts have their representatives waiting for you outside the arrivals hall. At the same time, accommodations such as hotels and guest houses will direct you to one of the many counters where there is a general representative. You will also find a currency exchange, two ATMs, a couple of small shops, an Ooredoo provider and some fast food, including McDonald’s. While waiting for your transfer, you can sit in the dedicated area under the powerful fans to “cool off” from the heat.

How to reach your accommodation in Malè or Hulhumalè
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You may have to spend a night in Malè or Hulhumalè before getting on your journey to the final destination. To reach your accommodation in Hulhumalè, you will find taxis just outside the arrivals (cost about 30 MVR) or the shuttle bus of the MTCC Company (every 30 minutes). To reach Malè, on the other hand, in addition to the taxi (cost 75 MVR) and the MTCC shuttle bus, you will also have the local ferry (cost 10 MVR), which is located along the pier in front of the arrivals hall. The ferry will drop you off near the Sea House cafe restaurant. Here, take a taxi (about 25 MVR) or walk to your accommodation. We slept at the Tourist Inn Hotel, located not far from ferry/speed boat jetties. We recommend it because it is in an excellent position to visit the chaotic capital of the Maldives and its staff is extremely kind. Malè has no beaches, so if you prefer to chill by the sea, opt for Hulhumalè.

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How to reach the islands from Malè or Hulhumalè?

The Maldives are an endless series of islands, some of them very far from Malè, and they can give you the idea of being difficult to reach. Don’t worry! Getting to the islands is much easier than you think. Depending on the distance, the options available are the speed boat or a domestic flight. The local ferry runs from Malè to the closest islands and within the atolls, but it’s time-consuming and subject to cancellation.

If you opt for a relaxing all-inclusive holiday in a resort, as soon as you leave the arrivals hall, you will find the desks of the several resorts with their staff ready to assist you. Likewise, if you have a seaplane transfer, your resort representative will meet and help you. You can also go to the seaplane check-in counters located in front of the arrivals hall.

On the other hand, if you book a guest house/hotel on a local island, you will receive all the information to reach your destination. You will be directed to one of the many counters to be assisted by a general representative. The staff of the guest houses are always very friendly and helpful, so contact them and ask for information about boat reservations and schedules.

The speed boats depart from the jetty in front of the arrivals/departures terminal and stop for a few minutes at the Malè jetty (or vice versa). In our case, a representative of the guest house joined us at the airport to reach the island of Guraidhoo by speed boat, while to get to Rasdhoo, the guesthouse staff directed us to an airport counter where a general representative led us to the speed boat. We got all the necessary information by contacting the accommodation booked through booking.com. If you need to take a domestic flight, follow the signs for the transfer desk or as soon as you leave the arrivals, walk to your left to reach the departure hall for check-in. You can also consult the helpful website Atolltransfer.com to find information on the means of transport.

How much is a trip to the Maldives?

Contrary to what one might think, you can take a low-cost holiday in this tropical paradise without lavishing your savings. The local islands are plenty of small guest houses offering a double room from USD 40 per night, including breakfast. The average cost per person for dinner in a restaurant is around 10 USD. The cost for the speed boat ride depends on the island you need to reach. The price usually ranges from 25 to 45 USD to get to the closest islands. The local islands also offer the chance to join fantastic boat tours to enjoy coral reefs and shocking sandbanks surrounded by a crystal-clear sea. The prices start from USD 30 per person to USD 100 and more. If your choice falls on a resort, then the costs for a double room will rise significantly, and it means you have no budget problems. The most significant expense is always the flight. Prices usually range between 800 USD and 1100 USD. 

• Read our post: Maldive on a Budget.

What’s the currency in the Maldives?
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Althoug the Maldives has its currency called the rufiyaa (MVR), payments are often requested in US dollars (USD). We realized that the change in Rufiyaa-USD was not advantageous when we paid in local currency. Anyway, the conversion could vary from hotels, restaurants or shop to shop. So, bring both currencies and pay with the one giving you the best rate. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, but a small fee is applied for each transaction. ATMs for withdrawing local currency are on many islands. Always ask for information at your accommodation on payments and ATMs because, for example, on the island of Gulhi, we did not find ATMs, and our guesthouse did not accept credit cards.

What island/atoll to choose?
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There are an endless number of islands to stay in, so it depends on the days you have and your budget. For example, the closest atolls to Male are South Malè Atoll, North Male Atoll and North Ari Atoll. These three atolls are easily reachable by speedboat. For the farthermost atolls, you have to take a domestic flight. Another well-known atoll is Baa Atoll. It includes a 1200 square kilometre UNESCO Biosphere Reserve teeming with tropical fish, manta rays and whale sharks. Admission to the Reserve is strictly limited. Dharavandhoo Island is close to the Reserve, and it can be reached by taking a domestic flight from Malè (30 min. flight). Another atoll made up of stunning islands is Vaavu Atoll, about 45 minutes by speedboat from South Malè Atoll.

The closest resorts usually have a private speed boat, while the farther ones can be reached by taking a seaplane. Contact your accommodation to get all the transfer details. 

• Read our post: What island to choose in the Maldives and where to sleep.

Where to sleep in the Maldives
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Everyone’s dream is to spend a relaxing holiday on a private island with a long white sand beach and sleep in a bungalow overlooking the crystal clear water. It was our dream as well, but the cost is relatively high. The local islands offer small guest houses at excellent prices, starting at around 40 USD for a double room with breakfast. On the more touristic islands, there are also some hotels. The choice between guesthouses and resorts depends on the budget. Our choice fell on the guest houses.

We slept at Moodhumaa Inn on the island of Guraidhoo; at White Shell Island Hotel on Maafushi island; at Gurus Maldives on Gulhi island; at Rasdhoo Stay on Rasdhoo island and at Tourist Inn in Malè. 

On the other hand, if you opt for a resort, the choice is very wide. Some resorts can be reached by boat transfer, others by seaplane flight. Prices usually start from 150/200 USD per night up to over 3000 USD. Some of the cheapest resorts are Amaya Resort & Spa, Medhufushi Island Resort,  Filitheyo Island Resort, Royal Island Premium Resort (Baa atoll), Reethi Faru Resort, Filhalholi Island Resort, Reethi Beach Resort, Biyadhoo Island Resort, Kuredhu Island & Spa Resort, Meeru Island Resort and Spa, Robinson Maldives, Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Sandies Bathala. The prices of these resorts range from 150 USD per night to 550 USD per night.

Booking.com

What to do in the Maldives
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In addition to spending a relaxing holiday surrounded by a stunning sea, the Maldives offer a series of activities that will keep your days busy. The boat excursions will take you to discover the sandbanks and coral reefs teeming with fish; you will swim with dolphins, whale sharks, nurse sharks, turtles, giant manta rays and stingrays. Do not forget the scuba diving to discover wrecks and coral reefs in depth. On the beach, you can rent a canoe, go on a jet ski excursion, try wakeboarding, kite surfing or the thrill of parasailing anchored to a motorboat.

Keep in mind that not all atolls arrange these excursions. Aside from snorkelling which you can do anywhere, even from the beach, other activities such as swimming with sharks can only be done in a few specific places. The best atoll to practice all the activities we have listed is undoubtedly that of South Malè. Rasdhoo Island (North Ari Atoll) offers many exciting opportunities for diving enthusiasts.

Sim card and wifi
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The telephone coverage is excellent, even in the middle of the sea. Buy a local sim at the airport to stay connected and have a local number in case of need. The Ooredoo provider shop is located just off the arrivals hall on the right-hand side. It offers 3 different tourist packages: USD 30 (with 17GB), USD 50 and USD 100. Wifi is everywhere, both in the accommodation and in the restaurants.

What to pack
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The weather is hot and humid. Pack a light suitcase with summer clothes, swimsuits and flip-flops. Also, bring a pair of sneakers, a lightweight sweatshirt and a k-way for rainy days. The sun is very strong, so you need good protective sunscreen. We also recommend an anti-UV shirt for snorkelling to protect you from the sun and stay longer in the water. Remember a good supply of medicines because it is not easy to find them locally.

The Maldivian cuisine
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Traditional Maldivian cuisine, also known as Dhivehi cuisine, is mainly based on 3 main elements: rice, fish and coconut. Tastes and flavours come especially from Kerala and Sri Lanka, being very spicy and hot. Many dishes are flavoured with chillies, onions, basil leaves and lime juice. Our favourite dish is the tasty tuna steak, served with fries and rice. We also loved Mas Riha, a dish made with coconut milk, fresh chillies, cinnamon, spices, and diced tuna chunks served with rice or Maldivian chapati. The fish is cooked on the grill, fried, boiled, baked, smoked and dried. We tasted dried and smoked tuna at the Malè market, and it was a must-try. The fish BBQ was super good as well. The restaurants also serve noodles, some appetizers and desserts. Being an Islamic country, you will rarely find alcohol (only beers) or pork. The only island where we found alcohol was Maafushi, the island most contaminated by tourism. The average cost for dinner is around 10/12 USD. We bought bread, yoghurt, and fruit in the local minimarkets for lunch. 

Travellers’ health and safety
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The Maldives are a safe destination for tourists, especially the tiny local islands. Do not leave valuables objects unattended when you go swimming or snorkelling. Be more careful in Malè as it is a chaotic city and more prone to petty crime (although at a very low level). The taxi drivers in Malè always tend to increase the ride’s fare. The taxi ride within Malè costs 25/30 MVR, while the ride from Malè to the airport costs 75 MVR. Respect Muslim traditions by adhering to dress codes, especially in Malè. Do not walk around the local islands without wearing a shirt. Remember that the use of swimsuits/bikinis is only allowed on specific tourist beaches called bikini beaches.

At the time of our trip, the Covid situation was under control. To see the number of infections and the entry requirements, you can consult the website of the Ministry of Tourism. If you need to do the PCR test, ask your accommodation to arrange it.

Important

Remember that security conditions (health and safety) change every day worldwide; always do your research through the official websites before leaving and contact the embassy of your country in the Maldives.

Travel insurance

Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance that protects you against injuries (the medical expenses abroad are very high), illness and theft. We never go on a trip without it. We suggest Worldnomad.com, an insurance company with qualified customer service, competitive prices and in-depth coverage. They also offer specific insurance for scuba divers.