Planning Maldives 101 !

        Imagine an island with white sandy beaches surrounded by blue ocean water, away from the civilization, day to day routines ,pending works and deadlines. A place where you can have exotic fruits, cuisines and drinks while enjoying a leisurely time with your loved ones. Maldives is the collection of thousands of such coral islands , which have been mostly converted into resorts to provide a truly exceptional experience to its lakhs of visitors every year. (sneak peak below)

Pic: Maldives Island View

        Maldives is a place definitely worth it's hype but not worth the price many resorts tend to charge. If you are planning to visit Maldives it might be better if you know below details in-prior, to make the most of your dough (money). 

1. Do I need a Visa to go to Maldives?

        No , Maldives has Visa on Arrival for almost Everyone.

2. When is the best time to Visit Maldives ?

        May to October is the rainy season ,which can be avoided if you absolutely hate rain. The prices are a bit cheaper during this timeframe and you might end up getting good deals.

    November and April is the Busiest time of the year with good weather .The costs may be higher during this time. 

    I think the best time to visit is when you can get the best package deal and it is not just during May to October. Keep a look-out for prices all round the year. Select a timeframe which suits best for you with decent cost and book the resort cost. Maldives has a sunny weather all year round(side note: Don't forget a good sunscreen) except few dry and rainy days . If you can see good weather predictions just go ahead and book.

    I went to Maldives during June .It wasn't raining so much except a few drizzle at times. There was good sunny climate for the whole days I was in Maldives even if the weather predictions said rainy . As it was in June I got a relatively good deal.

3. How many days do I need in Maldives?

        On an average I think 3-4 days is enough to enjoy all the activities and have a relaxing time in a Maldivian resort island. After 4 days the resort food might not seem as great as you found it on the first day. Staying 2 days in Water Villa and 2 days in Beach Villa might be a good mix of experiences. As I love the ocean and to take a dip when I want ,I choose Water Villa for all the 3 days of my stay.

4. How to Book the flights and resort ?

        90% of the cost of the trip to Maldives is for the resort (might increase based on the price of the resort) and the rest 10% or even less is the cost of the flight.

    I found the best resort price first based on its availability and once I was confirmed the stay, I went ahead and booked the flight tickets .The flight tickets usually are not much fluctuating if you book even few weeks before the travel. 

5. How to choose the resort?

     

        Choosing a Resort comes down to personal preferences and budget. All the island resorts provide a great experience ,but these remote islands are difficult to maintain and the owners need to make profits so everything seems to be over priced .(400Rs for a single water bottle)

    I made my choice of the resort considering the below parameters. 

• Distance to Male Airport 

        Most of the resorts tell you not to worry about reaching the island as the pick-up service is provided by the resort. What they don't tell you is how costly it can be (if not included in the all inclusive package).The closer resort islands to Male Airport charge 130$ per passenger(10K Rs/person) for round trip speedboat transfer. If your island resort is far from the airport you are likely to be charged $270 to $450 per person roundtrip (20K-35K Rs/person). I choose a nearer island which reduced my cost.       

• All Inclusive Deals

        Remember the 400Rs water bottle ? Now try to calculate how much might an actual meal cost. These costs tend to vary for each meal types, restaurants and other factors. I was able to get a good All inclusive Deal which included all the 3 meals of the day with snacks and Drinks (400Rs water bottle problem solved) .Make sure to select an all inclusive offer to save major part of the trip's cost, as the islands are remote you have very less options to choose to save cost. 

    Other things included in the All inclusive deals (varies with resorts): Pick up and drop, Snorkeling gear ,Non-motorized Water activities . 

• Compare prices with different websites and agents

        Ask till it hurts .Keep checking with different agents and websites to compare prices as some websites offer new deals which sometimes can bring the overall cost considerably down. 

• Good Reviews 

        Make sure you read some recent reviews. There are always few bad reviews but make sure the reviewer has something genuine to complain about.

    One can also choose to travel with a small budget to Maldives(stay in Male City) ,but this post only explains enjoying Maldives through the resort stays. I think to experience the coral islands ,the freedom, aquatic life and much more the resorts offer better flexibility as you are spending the whole day in the island .Hope this post now puts you in a better situation to plan for Maldives. Below are some pictures from my trip in June 2022 .

Pic: Paradise Island Resort

Pic: Fruit-full Dine

Pic: Always follow the sign board

Have fun at Maldives!