A tropical island paradise anyone? We know your hearts are screaming MALDIVES! And undoubtedly by now, you’re well introduced to the signature overwater villas mounted over the Indian ocean adorned with sparkling turquoise waters, sunkissed beaches, crawling waves, and lush greenery that make this archipelago heaven. Thanks to Pinterest & Instagram! :’) Here’s a list of a few things you must know before you visit the Maldives.
Season Check
Due to the tropical climate with the usual temperature hovering around 28-30 degrees celsius, the peak season of the Maldives is December to March. The islands receive rainfall during the rainy months from April to October when hotel prices decrease to a considerable extent. But if you tend to have an amazing surfing experience with epic swells of the year, then you must consider scheduling your visit from June to August.
Be in the ocean if its hot,
Just be there!
ESSENTIALS to pack
We knew it was going to be a dreamy vacation the second we saw this picture-postcard as our airplane bobbed towards it. And so it was. The Maldives is either hot & humid or rainy, thus, it’s easy to pack light especially the shorts. Things you definitely include in your checklist are as follows:
- Airy-breezy clothes
- At least two sets of swimwear
- Sunscreen & moisturizers
- Sunglasses & hat/cap
- Scarf
- Munchies (that I always need to nibble with my coffee)
- Camera to feed your photography mania
- GoPro or any other vlogging camera if you want to shoot on the go & underwater experiences
- Pendrive or a spare SD card to transfer your media files
#Tip: Pack flowy, floral, and even solid color dresses to get some fantastic shots. Don’t forget to take cute coordinated twinning garments if you’re traveling with your partner (thank us later!). Spice up the mood if you’re with your family by wearing the same color themed silhouettes to make your Maldives lookbook hauntingly funky!
Customized Celebrations
Most of the resorts can arrange for a photoshoot at the request of their guests. If you’re up for anything like that, we strongly recommend checking with the hotel authorities before booking your stay to avoid any confusion. If you want to celebrate personal events like birthday, anniversary, honeymoon or babymoon and you need any special arrangements like private beachside dinners, special decoration in the room, a setup to watch movies under the sky, etc. then do confirm with the hotel team members virtually before finalizing the accommodation to avoid any disappointing experience later on.
Islam Is the official Religion
Wearing a bikini, naked sunbathing, eating pork, drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited in the local islands. Public display of affection is a big no-no. To respect the native culture, women must avoid too much skin revealing clothes while visiting a local island. These restrictions are not valid in the private resort islands though. No public ferry operates on Friday (except in Male, Hukhumale & Villingili) and everything remains closed in the local islands between 11.30 am in the morning to 1.30 pm because of the prayer.
Transportation Is Supremely Expensive
Seaplanes and speed boats from Male International Airport to your resort may cost around 800 to 1000 USD and 500 USD per person respectively. It’s best to book an accommodation that is inclusive of these fares otherwise it will burn another hole in your pocket and you don’t want that pain, of course! Besides, local ferries run quite infrequently and it becomes a hurdle if you’re willing to visit a local island during your stay.
Local Currency
It is the Maldivian Rufiyaa. US dollars are accepted every time and everywhere. You can pay with your cards in hotels and restaurants. It’s always recommended to carry some cash in US dollars for those who intend to visit local islands because there is no ATM in certain islands. All the services including the resorts, eateries, and water sports charge a 23% tax. It’s perfectly possible to spend an entire holiday in the Maldives without even touching any cash of any sort.
Internet Access
To update your friends and followers about your vacation and for uploading all the deets of ‘what-&-where’s on Instagram, you need a quality internet connection. You’ll not be able to contain your excitement if it always in a buffering mode, right? All resorts, guesthouses, and hotels in the Maldives offer free Wifi for their guests. However, you won’t have total coverage by the resort Wifi and in local islands, you won’t be able to use the wifi outside your stay itself. You can purchase a local sim with preloaded data from the airport on arrival to avoid any disruption. Timely social media posts – checked!
So, these were some of the important matters we think you must keep in mind before embarking on the most beautiful journey of your life to the Maldives. Jolly pool parties, buffet breakfasts, dinner by the beach and a lot of nerve-wracking water sports are there to keep you entertained all-day during your holiday. And these little anecdotes will definitely help you to tackle little possible barriers that may come on the way. Otherwise, ecstasy is in the air in the Maldives, literally!
Also, Click here to get “The Ultimate Maldives Guide” – All about Leisure & Adventure
