How to Plan a Trip to the Maldives – Things you should consider when planning your holiday

The Maldives is a tropical paradise loved by travellers. Often described as a luxury destination, the Maldives offer the best value for your money. The archipelago is a composition of over 1000 tiny islets, and most of them are yet to be inhabited. Despite the threat of the rising sea levels, the Maldives continues to be one of the most visited destinations. If you are planning to visit the islands, you should start planning your trip at least a month in advance.

Things to know about the Maldives

Learning about the country you are planning to visit can help you avoid the mishaps that are bound to occur. The most important thing you need to understand is that this is a conservative country that emphasizes the importance of religion. Religion is an integral part of everyday life in the country, and almost every aspect of life adheres to the rules set forth by religion. As a tourist, you must be careful not to do anything that may contradict societal norms; for instance, a female should adopt a modest style of clothing when in the Maldives; also, both females and males are prohibited from wearing their swimsuits at public beaches. Alcohol consumption is another ban, but resorts are permitted to serve alcoholic beverages.

Choose the right time to visit

This rather depends on your requirement and personal preference. If you are budget conscious, you should choose the low reason as it offers low hotel rates. As opposed to the low season, the high season sees large crowds of tourists, and the hotel rates go up in response to the demand.

Book your resort in advance

To find the best deal and reasonable hotel rates, you should start your search a few months in advance. Maldives all-inclusive resorts are not a difficult find, and you have a plethora of options, including OBLU NATURE Helengeli.

Think about luxury accommodation

The Maldives is known for its luxury accommodation scene. While the capital and a few local islands offer budget accommodation, luxury accommodation providers make sure that their guests are given the optimal value for their money. Every luxury resort has its own island where guests are free to roam around, and most cultural rules don’t apply to resort islands. So, if you are going to spend money anyway, you might as well spend it on something that’s guaranteed to give you the best.

Be prepared to spend more on inland transportation than on your flight ticket

Getting around in the Maldives is tricky; if you are not careful, you might spend half your budget on transport. An airport transfer is the most efficient and the least time-consuming way of getting to your hotel, but it’s also the most expensive method of travel. Seaplane and speedboat are the most common methods of transport; most tourists choose to travel by speedboat because it’s relatively low-priced. Some resorts arrange transport for their guests and charge a separate amount for the service. So, when it comes to the Maldives, not only should you compare hotel rates but also consider transport costs.

Food is costly

Floating Breakfast in Maldives | Image via Unsplash

You haven’t much choice when it comes to food. Some resorts offer an extensive menu, but you are likely to get a very short list of food options containing mostly fish-based dishes. You’ll be offered three meals by the resort, but you might have to spend extra to get your choice of food.

Budget for activities

Unless you want to spend the whole of your vacation on the resort island, you should budget for tourist activities. Activities like snorkelling and diving levy an extra cost, so make sure you are financially able to enjoy your holiday as it’s meant to be enjoyed.