What to Expect When Visiting the Maldives for the First Time

So, you’re thinking about planning a holiday to the Maldives after seeing stunning imagery of beautiful turquoise lagoons and white sand islands on social media.

But what about all those essential Maldives travel tips that no one tells you about before you go? Like, how to get to your island resort? What’s included in your Maldives ‘All-Inclusive’ package? And how much is your holiday really going to set you back?

These are just some of the questions I had trouble answering before our first trip to the Maldives, so I thought I would write a post to clear up any confusion for other would-be visitors.

Well known for its white-sand beaches, blue lagoons and overwater bungalows, the Maldives is a group of islands located in the Indian Ocean, south-west of Sri Lanka and India. Consisting of 26 atolls with over 1000 islands, the Maldives is the epitome of barefoot luxury and one of the most bucket list worthy places to visit in the world!

The Maldives is one of the most popular places for couples to holiday. But there are islands that offer family-friendly accommodation and activities as well.

here are 11 essential Maldives travel tips that all first timers need to know before visiting!

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Should You Book Maldives All-Inclusive Resort Package?

There are a few different options for booking your trip to the Maldives. The first option is DIY, booking everything on your own through the hotel website or a hotel booking aggregate like Booking.com. By booking this way, you generally won’t receive any extras, such as lunches/dinners and you will probably need to arrange your own transfer to the resort via boat, domestic flight or seaplane. This is where the costs can really add up. But sometimes it’s nice to have more flexibility.

The second option is to book the full Maldives all-inclusive resort package through a travel agent, with flights, resort transfers, and accommodation. This is not a bad option as travel agents can offer great deals up to 20-25% cheaper than the hotel itself and usually throw in some sweet bonuses, like pay 4 stay 5, or additional activities or spa treatments.

The third option is to book the Maldives all-inclusive resort package (without flights), through an online agent or Maldives booking site. These packages generally include half board or full board, resort transfers and a range of other bonuses, such as massages, snorkeling tours, and free wifi.

We booked opted to book our Maldives all-inclusive resort through Luxury Escapes and then booked our flights separately. We simply monitored flight prices using price alerts through Skyscanner and booked when a great deal popped up on Singapore Airlines flights to Malé International Airport. This was, in my opinion, the best way to do it, but if you book at the right time, then a travel agent can probably get you a pretty good deal on flights also.

Our Top All-Inclusive Resort Picks:

These resorts are our pick of the ultimate Maldives luxury experience and are the perfect option for couples or honeymooners. These resorts all offer premium all-inclusive packages:

• Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
• Heritance Aarah
• LUX* South Ari Atoll
• Kudadoo Maldives Private Island
• Adaaran Prestige Vadoo
• Amilla Fushi Resort Villas & Residences

It Pays to Check What Maldives ‘All-Inclusive’ Resorts Really Include

Probably one of the most important Maldives travel tips you’re going to need to know – What do the Maldives All-Inclusive Resorts really mean? It’s easy to be fooled into thinking that you’ll arrive in the Maldives and not have to spend a cent more.

Wrong!

While many Maldives resorts offer ‘All-Inclusive’ packages, it pays to check exactly what is really included in the ‘All-Inclusive’ price.

Food & Beverages

We booked a full board package, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus unlimited beverages. Many packages, however, will only include breakfast and/or dinner and limited alcoholic beverages. The in-room minibar is also not always included.

In saying this, we felt that the offerings for breakfast and dinner were so vast that we really didn’t feel like eating lunch most days.

If you’re one of those people who likes to have a drink or 10 while you’re on vacation (no judgment here), it also pays to ensure your package includes alcohol. Otherwise, you could be up for a pretty hefty bill at checkout.

Many hotels have a few restaurants that you can choose to dine in. However, sometimes the ‘all-inclusive’ package might only offer to dine at the main buffet restaurant and you might have to pay extra if you want to experience the other restaurants on the island. If your resort offers more than one restaurant, check if your package includes one or two dinners at the other restaurants. Once again, it pays to do your research before booking.

Activities & Excursions

Some packages also include excursions to nearby islands, snorkeling, or sunset cruises. But some packages do not. It pays to get a price list of the available activities before you arrive so you can plan your budget accordingly.

Non-motorized watersports are generally included in the package price, but motorized activities are not. We paid around $500 USD for a 2-hour private jet ski tour with a guide. Although pricey, this experience was well worth the investment! As we got to see dolphins and visit a deserted island and natural sandbar island.

Resort Transfers

Transfers are also a big one to check for. To get to your resort, you will need to catch either a boat, domestic flight or seaplane, or a combination of two. Be sure to check that your Maldives all-inclusive package includes transfers, so you don’t have to arrange this yourself. Otherwise, it might cost you a small fortune (around $150-400 USD per person for a domestic flight or seaplane transfer).

Book Any Extras Before Arriving

As I mentioned, one of the travel tips I can’t emphasize enough is to check what is really included in your Maldives all-inclusive resort package. If it includes dining at other restaurants on the island, then there’s no point in having this extra bonus if you can’t get a booking at one of the other restaurants!

We tried to book a restaurant when we checked in to our resort, only to find that the majority of dining spots were already taken. We ended up having to accept whatever dining slot was available, rather than getting to make a choice which night we wanted to dine there.

Likewise, if your Maldives all-inclusive package includes a free massage or sunset boat cruise, chances are that most guests’ will also have the same package. Seats on the boat and massage spots will get booked out quickly.

I would recommend getting in touch with the resort before you arrive to pre-book any extras such as alternative restaurants, spa treatments, boat or snorkeling cruises and any other activities that are included in your package or you’re really keen to experience!

The Maldives is Not Budget Friendly

You probably already knew this… But in case you were thinking of trying to find a cheap trip to the Maldives, think again. You might have landed on this page looking for specific Maldives travel tips on how to find a cheap Maldives holiday package. But unfortunately, you’re not going to find that here (or anywhere). If you’re on a budget, perhaps you should try nearby India or Sri Lanka instead. I’m not kidding. The Maldives is the epitome of luxury holidays and the prices reflect exactly that.

Most overwater bungalows in the Maldives start around $1000 per night++. However, it is possible to find some resorts that offer cheaper accommodation, but they are not going to be the most beautiful ones that you see splashed all over Instagram. I could mention a few but hey, this is a luxury travel blog, so if you’re looking for recommendations on budget accommodation, you’re probably in the wrong place!

However, if you’re after a more ‘affordable luxury’ option, there are three ways you can easily save a little money on your Maldives holiday package:

1. Opt for a Beach Villa instead of an Overwater Bungalow – okay so, most people who visit the Maldives want an overwater villa, but the beach villas a usually much more spacious and not a bad option at all. The best part – they can cost up to 50% less (or more) than an overwater bungalow.
2. Choose a package that has a half-board option – as I said earlier, you probably won’t need any lunch after feasting at the breakfast and dinner buffets. Also, bring your own bottle of champagne to enjoy a glass on the balcony at sunset – the champagne at the resort is rather pricey.
3. Pick a resort that’s located close to Malé International Airport – Because speed boat transfers are much cheaper than seaplane transfers!

Our Top Affordable Luxury Resort Picks:

These resorts are our pick of an affordable luxury Maldives experience and are the perfect option for couples or honeymooners on a luxury-sized budget. These resorts all offer all-inclusive packages, but also offer half-board options if you’re looking to save a little money:

• Paradise Island Resort & Spa
• Furaveri Island Resort & Spa
• Kandima Maldives
• Sun Island Resort & Spa
• Reethi Faru

Is It Worth Booking an Overwater Bungalow?

Absolutely! In spite of my last recommendation, I personally would travel elsewhere if I couldn’t afford an overwater bungalow in the Maldives. I’m sure the beach villas are beautiful, but we constantly had stingrays and scores of fish cruising by our bungalow daily and we could snorkel with them right off our back deck. Some people I met even said they saw reef sharks off their balcony. This is an experience that is definitely worth the splurge at least once in your lifetime.

It Takes a While to Get to Your Resort

The main international airport is located on its own island near the city of Malè, but most of the resorts are located on separate islands. Unless you stay on the island of Malè (trust me, you don’t want to), you will need to catch either a domestic flight, seaplane or boat, depending on how far away from your resort is from the main island.

Malé International Airport is not a modern airport by any standard. Once you process through immigration, you’ll need to collect your luggage and check-in with your resort transfer desk, which can take a while because they have to wait for other guests who might be accompanying you on your transfer. You might get the impression that this process is very unorganized (because it is), but somehow it all seems to work, and you will eventually board a bus to take you to your transfer service.

Pro Tip: If you plan on exchanging or withdrawing money, picking up snacks or a sim card, the airport may be the last and cheapest opportunity to do so..

Many of the best resorts are 30-70 minutes boat or seaplane ride away from Malé and sometimes you might need to catch a boat from the seaplane dock to the other side of the atoll to get to your accommodation. There is a lot of waiting around while your luggage gets loaded into the plane or boat.

Also, keep in mind that seaplanes only operate during the daytime, so if you land in Malé close to sunset, you may have to spend a night there and transfer to your resort the next morning.

It might take a while to get there, but once you eventually make it to your final destination, it’s just paradise… so enjoy!

It’s Not Very Easy (or Cheap) To Go Island Hopping

My husband and I had these grand plans of hopping into a boat and cruising around the nearby islands, finding deserted sand bars and perhaps an offshore break to go surfing. Once we arrived and made some inquiries, we learned just how much of a challenge this was going to be.

Firstly, there is a large expanse of open ocean between islands and atolls, so getting from one place to another takes time. The resorts are generally built on their own island, which isolates you from the rest of the country.

Secondly, hiring your own boat through the resort is expensive. We were quoted around $1000 USD for a private surfing trip. In the end, we opted for a two-hour jet ski tour with a guide to a nearby island and sand bar for about $500 USD.

Only recently has island hopping become a thing in the Maldives. There are some tour operators, such as G Adventures that offer this experience. It is generally a budget-style experience, staying in local guesthouses or tourist-class accommodation, and you probably won’t get to experience the luxurious side of the Maldives. Alternatively, if you’re into diving, there are many operators offering liveaboard dive trips, ranging from budget to luxury-style, that visit several spots around the Maldives islands. If you’re looking for the best of both worlds, perhaps you could combine a few nights luxury resort stays with an island-hopping or liveaboard tour.

You Will Only Need One Pair of Shoes

Flip flops! (or thongs, if you’re an Aussie, like me!)

If you’re anything like me, you’ll pack 4 pairs of sandals, one pair of wedges and a pair of sneakers.

But honestly, other than wearing my sneakers on the plane to get to and from the island, I – and just about everyone else staying there – lived in our flips flops the entire time! I wore my wedges to dinner and a maxi dress on the first night and felt very dressed up after I saw many other people wearing shorts, singlets and flip flops.

Now, you’re probably thinking that this is not one of those Maldives travel tips that you ‘really’ need to be prepared for… but most seaplane and boat companies actually place weight limits on your baggage (for safety reasons). So take it from me, ditch the excess wardrobe items and just wear your flip flops!

How Long Should You Stay For?

Most Maldives all-inclusive packages generally offer 5, 7 or 10 nights. We stayed for 5 nights and it honestly went so quickly. I would have liked to stay for at least 7 nights. But if you’re on a bit of a budget and can’t afford the 7-night package, then 5 nights is definitely still worth it.

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Don’t Forget to Bring…

Sun Hat – One of the best Maldives travel tips I can offer… because I was silly and completely forgot to pick up my sun hat as I walked out the door on my way to the airport. When I realized, I thought surely the island would have a gift shop that sells hats. And yes, they did. For $450 USD each… WTF?! There was no way I was going to spend that much money on a hat, so it was lucky that I remembered to bring…

Reef-safe Sunscreen – While the sun in the Maldives is nowhere near as strong as Australia, you can still get burnt. And you’ll be spending most of your time at the beach or around the pool! Sunscreen is also hard to buy/pricey at the resorts.

Thongs (the flip-flop kind you wear on your feet) – As I mentioned earlier, this is literally the only shoes I wore throughout the week.

Earplugs – If you’re catching a seaplane to the island the noise of the engine is really loud. Also, some villas have paper-thin walls and golf buggy’s zooming past the villa can disturb your night-time (or day-time) slumber.

Travel Sickness Medication – If you experience a bit of travel sickness in light bumpy airplanes or boats, definitely pack some of these bad boys.

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Where to Stay in The Maldives

Finolhu Resort – This is where we stayed on our most recent trip to the Maldives and we loved it! Finolhu is located just 30-minutes seaplane flight from Malé, Finolhu has plenty of activities to keep you entertained and a 1.8km long sand bar for early morning or sunset strolls.

Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa – Located in the North Male Atoll, the Four Seasons island has its own coral island with snorkeling and diving activities.

Kandolhu Maldives – This adults-only resort has just 30 villas, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for something with a little more privacy for the ultimate romantic getaway or honeymoon.

Six Senses Laamu – The ultimate in luxury, this resort has it all – from yoga to luxury surfing, diving with manta rays and private sandbar excursions. With over-the-top buffets and a homemade ice-cream bar. Top it all off with an upgrade to one of their dreamy pool villas.

Reethi Faru – A multi-award-winning Bio Luxury Resort located on North Malé Atoll. Featuring six restaurants, a coconut grove enclosed spa, round-the-clock á la carte dining, and Sunset Bar right on the beach.

Constance Moofushi Maldives – Located on Maldives’ South Ari Atoll, Constance Moofushi is a stunning bare-foot luxury resort with over-water spa and yoga pavilion.

Find the best deal on Maldives holiday packages via Luxury Escapes | Booking.com | Agoda | Expedia. Pro Tip: Look for a resort that is “All-Inclusive” but be sure to check what’s included.

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A Few Extra Maldives Travel Tips…

Currency – Most resorts charge in USD and accept credit cards.

Tipping – Tipping in the Maldives is generally not expected, but if you received good service and would like to leave a tip, I’m sure the poorly paid staff would be very appreciative.

Getting Around the Resort – Some resorts offer bicycles, others have golf buggy shuttles, and some are so small that you can easily walk everywhere.

Best Time to Visit – The dry season runs from December to May and offers the best weather but its also the busiest and most expensive time to visit.

Visas – Apply for a Maldives Visa (or check if you need one) using iVisa.com.

Language – With tourism being the main industry in the Maldives, most people speak fluent English.

Power – The Maldives uses two different power outlets – Type D and G. I recommend purchasing a universal travel adaptor.

Shop our Maldives Travel Essentials:

Feeling inspired? Here are our top 10 Bucket List destinations!

Can you recommend any other great Maldives travel tips for first-time visitors? Let our readers know about them in the comments below.

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