The Maldives is made up of over 1200 islands, and only about 200 are inhabited. Visiting the Maldives is an unforgettable island experience that feels like you’re in a remote private oasis. The Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean just south of India and Sri Lanka. This paradise is home to the whitest sandy beaches, clear warm waters, gorgeous palm trees, and fantastic wildlife.
Traveling and visiting Maldives islands is truly a one-of-a-kind experience with resorts built on entire islands. The Maldives is a popular honeymoon destination, and understandably, the islands set the scene for the ultimate romantic experience.
Although the islands experience warmth and sun year-round, the best time to visit the Maldives is November to April. This article is here to guide you through some of the best places to see, stay, and foods to eat on your trip to the Maldives.
Interesting Facts
- The language spoken in the Maldives primarily is Dhivehi, but many people know English as this is a primary resort country. The word “atoll” is the only English word derived from Dhivehi, the Maldivian language. The original word is atholhu, which translates to “a ring-like formation of coral islands surrounding a lagoon.” There’s no better way to explore the Maldives than by “live-aboard” scuba dive safari around the lagoon. Check in with your tour guide for the best dive sites in the country which are spread out, miles apart in different atolls.
- In the Maldives, to power your devices, the power plugs and sockets are of type D and G and the standard voltage is 230 V. The standard frequency is 50 Hz.
- The Maldivian flag is made up of a large red rectangle with a smaller green triangle inside it. The red is conveyed to represent the boldness of Maldivian national heroes while the green symbolizes peace and prosperity. A white crescent is centered in the green rectangle to symbolize the Maldives’ heritage to the Islamic faith. You can learn more Maldives facts here.
- Some of the most important things to know when traveling to another country when planning to travel are the language, the currency, and the safety. The Maldives is considered a safe country for tourists to visit with an extremely low crime rate.
Places to Stay
The Maldives is abundant in extravagant private villas to stay in while you visit the lush waters of the Indian Ocean. Often thought of as one of the most expensive vacation destinations, the Maldives has some affordable vacation rentals fit for any budget. You can find beaches pretty much at arm’s length in any direction on any of the islands. It’s not a bad thing to find a budget-friendly place to stay.
Take this Beach Front Property. A private property all to yourself for only *$50 a night. The beach is located just steps away, and the price is just right for anyone to be able to visit. Or, if you want to splurge a little, get this Sunset Ocean Pool Villa for *$2,200 a night and enjoy a luxurious vacation in style.
Vacation rentals are not the only option on this island nation filled with resorts. You can immerse yourself in the ultimate experience by booking a stay at one of the many Maldives island resorts where the rooms sit atop the waters. Even better, book a room at the Conrad Maldive Rangali Island, where you can stay at the world’s first underwater resort. A room here averages about *$900 a night.
*All prices when booking vacation rentals vary on the season and the day of the week. The prices listed here are the average cost per night.
Getting Around the Maldives
Travel across the Maldives is unique in that it is either affordable or extremely expensive or fast or slow. There is no in-between. You can travel between the islands by seaplanes or airplanes to one of the 12 regional airstrips. Most of the transportation is by boat. If you stay at a resort, you will likely have access to speed boats, but if not, you may have to take the cheaper ferry options, which tend to be a little slower.
In the cities of Male and Addu City, there are bus services. The only places available where you can travel by road are the cities of Male, Fuvahmulah, and Hulhumale, and between a few islands in Laamu and Addu Atoll, where causeways are connecting them.
Popular Destinations
The Maldives is a gorgeous place to visit whether you want to relax beachside or dive near the coral reefs. There’s plenty of adventure to be had. In Male, the capital of the Maldives, enjoy the National Museum to learn about the history, travel to the Tsunami Museum, or stroll at the Rasrani Bageecha, known as the Sultan Park. The Conrad Maldive Rangali Island Ocean Excursions offer snorkeling, yaht, fishing trip or private charters!
Visit Vaadhoo Island and enjoy the fascinating glowing waters for an awe-inspiring sight. Microscopic planktons emit bright blue light in the water to make a magical effect making it the perfect place to visit after the sun goes down.
Take a trip underwater on the Maldives Whale Submarine. View the rich underwater life for an unforgettable adventure. You’ll see turtles, the common Lionfish, and shark rays. You’ll find many of these more affordable options on hotel sites like hotels.com.
Eats and Treats
The Maldives has no shortage of unique places to eat excellent fresh seafood. There are exquisite eateries above ground and the iconic restaurant underwater. The Ithaa Undersea Restaurant is a part of the Conrad resort and features contemporary European dishes. They serve a six-course meal while you revel in the amazing sea life that passes overhead. Truly a restaurant of a lifetime that you can’t miss.
Enjoy classic Maldivian and international dishes at the Jazz Café, where you can always catch a live music show featuring local musicians. The menu varies each day, so you can come back each day to try something new!
Visit Palato Frosty’s for your coffee and a treat. You can choose from gorgeous cakes, but they serve an incredible selection of dessert Belgian waffles coated in chocolate you won’t be able to resist.
Nightlife
In the true tradition of the Maldives, it wouldn’t be a nightlife experience without an underwater bar. Subsix sits underwater with a gorgeous clam inspired them. You’ll truly feel like you are under the sea while you enjoy a few amazing cocktails.
The party and food at the Kurumba restaurant menu is always a unique experience with their different themes every night. They have DJ night, live bands, and color-themed nights to enjoy a fun dance night.
The Maldives is a fantastic vacation sure to create wonderful memories. Whether you love a relaxing beach vacation, visiting ancient mosques, or enjoying underwater activities, the Maldives has something for everyone!
Travel Restrictions
As we know, it can be hard these days to stay on top of travel restrictions to each country. The travel status of vacation countries can change daily, weekly, monthly. That’s why it’s best you learn before you go and get the information you need to consider when planning travel. Learn about country-specific entry requirements such as:
- quarantine requirements,
- the border status and
- COVID-19 testing requirements
Many countries are reopening their borders for international travel. Find out which countries are open to vaccinated travelers. Kayak offers a way to Check Travel Restrictions to Vacation Rentals in The Maldives Here.
No time to waste… Lets get the ball rolling and get your Maldives vacation destination booked!
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