10 Things to Know Before Your Maldives Trip!

Maldives is a country that’s on every single person’s bucket list. Whether you’re trying to visit the famous glowing beaches or sit back and relax, Maldives is the perfect destination. This tropical paradise in South Asia is a dream come true for travellers. This destination is the go-to honeymoon spot, a haven for adventure travellers and families and a peaceful retreat for solo travellers. If you’re also looking to book your trip to the Maldives soon, here are 10 things to know before visiting the country.

01. Pre-Book Your Tickets

Maldives has been a popular destination for decades now, making it pricy to visit the country oftentimes. But if you’ve had this destination on your bucket list for a while now, there are ways to make it more budget-friendly. One of the major travel tips is to pre-book your flight in advance. You can explore some amazing fares to the Maldives through Batik Air, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. One of the best times to go to Maldives would be during the off-season, which falls between May and November.

02. Is a Visa Required for the Maldives?

A visa is one of the few things you would not have to worry about on a trip to the Maldives. Maldives is a country where an on-arrival tourist visa is issued to travellers from all corners of the world. Although there are certain measures you need to take to ensure the on-arrival tourist visa, you can book your flights without having to worry about this extra.

03. Flip-Flops 24/7

Just like any beachy tropical destination, make sure to pack flip-flops for your Maldives trip. This rule applies whether it’s rainy or sunny season. One of the biggest struggles people who forget to pack flip-flops is having to wear shoes in a beachy destination. Whether you’re going to Conrad, LUX* South Ari Atoll or the local island just 10 minutes away, packing a pair of flip-flops will be a game changer. If you forget, worry not as you can always buy a pair at a store for a fairly good price. If you’re booking your stay at a Maldives resort, you will most likely get a pair of flip-flops to wear during your trip for free.

04. Language

What language does Maldives speak? A lot of travellers might think that Maldives does not have its own language, but you could not be more wrong. Maldivians speak ‘Dhivehi’, but if you’re unfamiliar with the language you don’t have to worry. As the second language in the Maldives ins English, communication is fairly easy on the islands and resorts. One big traveller tip when visiting Maldives or any other country would be to learn the basics. How to greet people and how to say thank you!

05. Currency and Expenses

If you book your stay at a Maldives resort, you often do not have to worry so much about the currency and expenses. Oftentimes, as Maldives holidays are booked and pre-paid, you only need pocket money for emergencies. When you’re visiting the Maldives, one of the best things you can do is to bring US dollars as the currency form. As it is harder to tell whether every resort accepts pounds or euros, it’s better to not take that chance and bring US dollars. If you’re travelling to local islands, however, you would have to exchange the money for Maldivian Rufiya. You can easily do this at any money exchange, which can be located in the city area.

06. Best Way to Explore Maldives?

The best way to explore this dreamy destination is by foot and motorbike. As Maldivian islands are small and beachy, it is often times inconvenient to travel and explore by car. When you’re in the city area, you can also opt for public transportation. On most islands, you can also opt for renting bicycles. To travel between islands, you can explore speedboat transfers as well as domestic flights through Villa Air, Maldivian, Manta or seaplanes through TMA!

07. Local Customs & Dress Code

As the Maldives is a 100% Muslim country, there are some dress code rules to be wary of. If you’re visiting local islands, be mindful of covering up in local areas. Although more tourist-friendly islands have bikini beaches, this does not apply to all local islands. You can of course still wear sun dresses and shorts. Another important fact to know is that local islands do not serve alcoholic beverages. You can still enjoy amazing mocktails by the beach. These two rules, however, do not apply if you’re staying at Maldives resorts.

08. Protecting the Environment

One of the reasons why people love visiting the Maldives is because the islands look so untouched. As the island nation is vulnerable to climate change, sustainability is at the forefront when it comes to everything. So, when you’re visiting the Maldives be mindful of the environment. Some steps you can take include using reef-safe sunblock and making sure you do not leave trash at the beach.

09. What’s the Best Time to Visit Maldives?

Weather in the Maldives can be unpredictable. Although we all want sunny weather for beach days, it can get rainy at any time of the year. As the dry season is often between November and April, this time period is recommended for a Maldives trip. However, as it’s a tropical destination, you may still get lucky with good weather during the monsoon season as well!

10. Food Culture

Maldives might be a small nation, but there is an amazing food culture to explore. If your stay is booked at a resort or an island, one thing you must explore is the local food culture. Not only is it relatively healthy, but local food in the Maldives is hard to find anywhere else in the world. One thing to note is that if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, inform your resort beforehand so they can cater to your needs.

Soneva Secret – Addition of a New Resort by Soneva

The well-known Soneva brand added yet another beautiful destination to the Maldives with the grand opening of Soneva Secret. This new luxury cast-away experience can be explored in the beautiful Haa Dhaalu Atoll, marking the third resort opening for the Soneva brand in the Maldives. Prior to Soneva’s secret, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani also became quite popular among travellers. With this, Soneva Resorts became the true epitome of luxury travel in the Maldives.

Opening in 2024, Soneva Secret offers a personalised luxury getaway experience. Offering 14 villas in 06 categories, Soneva Secret brings the first floating villa to the Maldives. Accessible only by boat, this unique villa can be moved to any location preferred by the guests. In addition to this unique villa, guests can also explore the Overwater Hideaway Villa, Beach Hideaway, Crusoe Villa, and Two-Bedroom Beach Reserve, as well as the Two-Bedroom Crusoe Reserve.

Travellers can now explore Soneva Secret either by speed boat transfer from the airport or by domestic flight as well.

OZEN Privé Athiri Gili by Atmosphere Core

Another well-known brand, Atmosphere Core is also set to open three new resorts in 2024. OZEN MANSION KOLKATA opening in Q1 2024 in India, OZEN PRIVÉ ATHIRI GILI set for Q4 2024 in the Maldives and OZEN SECLUDED TANGALLE in Sri Lanka. Although only one of the locations is set to open in the Maldives, guests can explore any Atmosphere Core properties for a joyful stay.

OZEN PRIVÉ ATHIRI GILI is set to be located in South Male’ Atoll, bringing a sustainable stay for travellers visiting the Maldives. Located close to the airport, travellers can explore 38 different pool villas at OZEN PRIVÉ ATHIRI GILI. Additionally, the resort is also set to feature some amazing dining outlets with multi-cultural dining experiences as well. With this opening, travellers can explore three different properties under THE OZEN COLLECTION. This includes OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, and OZEN PRIVÉ ATHIRI GILI.

Grand Opening of SO/ Maldives

In 2021 Accor group announced the exciting plans to develop a third property in the beautiful CROSSROADS Maldives. Just a little over two years after the announcement, SO/ Maldives marked its grand opening, bringing travellers an avant-garde travel experience.

SO/ Maldives features 80 spectacular luxury villas, which includes beach front as well as over-water options. Each of the villas at SO/ Maldives has the beautiful view of the azure blue oceans of the Maldives and designer interiors. Located just 16-minutes away from the airport, this resort connecs travellers to a wealth of world-class attractions and facilities. In addition to SO/ Maldives, guests can explore two other resorts at CROSSROADS Maldives. This includes the amazing Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and SAii Lagoon Maldives. With this, SO/ Maldives will join Accor’s collection of five resorts in the Maldives. This include the midscale Mercure brand, premium Pullman and Mövenpick brands, and the luxury Raffles and Fairmont brands.

Some Additional New Resort Openings to Explore!

Although 2024 did not bring a lot of options for new resorts, there were quite a few resort opening to explore in 2023. As these resorts are still quite new, if you’re looking for a new experience, you may just find it here.

Jawakara Islands Maldives: This amazing new resort offers two resorts in one island. Mabin, the larger of Jawakara’s two islands, offers spacious beach villas and private palm suites. This family-friendly destination is perfect for travelers of all ages. Guests can also explore Dheru, a family-friendly paradise with 88 villas, including beachfront, poolside, and two-bedroom options. Experience pure magic.

Ifuru Island Maldives: This resort brough the first sky diving experience to the Maldives. Travellers at Ifuru Island Maldives can discover the magic of Raa Atoll with a thrill. In addition to 147 sunset beach villa suites, the resort also offers four bars and six exquisite dining establishments.

Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives: This exclusive 5-star resort ensures tranquility and comfort, all in a chic beach environment. The resort offers 100 villas. Travellers can explore the 63 Beach Villas, 30 Water Villas and 7 Beach Suites with plunge pools.

Joy Island: This brand new resort is by the well-known Cocoon Collection. Joy island offers travellers 151 rooms, 60 rooms located overwater, and 91 rooms on the beach surrounded by beautiful tropical vegetation. Additionally, travellers can also explore three restaurants and 1 bar at the island.