Holiday Guide to Maldives

The Maldives islands are one of the most popular romantic holiday destination among travellers in the Middle East. Known throughout the world for their undisputed beauty, the Maldives islands with its white sand beaches, turquoise blue waters and swaying palms make for a fairytale holiday.

Maldives is full of luxurious resorts made on idyllic islands. Far away from from the hustle-and-bustle of city living, you feel as if you have been transported to paradise, surrounded by colourful coral reefs, well-appointed restaurants, soothing spas and far, far from the madding crowds.

The Maldives has a total of 1,192 coral islands. As though floating on aqua blue ocean waters, these islands make for the perfect getaway for leisure seekers away and those wanting to get away from it all.

What To Do, Where To Go

The Maldives offers a plethora of world-famous attractions, which attract honeymooners and leisure travellers from all across the world. The popular HP Reef and Banana Reef are known to be excellent diving locations, Mulee’age Palace and National Museum introduce you to the glorious history of the islands. Don’t forget to visit the magnificent Grand Friday Mosque and Islamic Centre. head over to Majeedhee Magu and STO Trade Centre for some amazing shopping experience.

Maldives also offers a wide range of fun-filled and adventure activities for every kind of tourist. While the adventure seekers can engage in snorkeling and catamaran sailing on Bandos Island, the romatic couples can opt for a soothing massage and a candlelit dinner on the idyllic Villingili Resort Island. The bustling Male Local Market offers a unique shopping experience. And if none of the above appeals to you, then head over to the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant for a memorable meal.

Best Time To Visit Maldives

The best time to visit the Maldives is between November and April, outside of the monsoon season. We recommend staying during March and April (excluding the Easter holidays when pricing is more expensive) when you will enjoy hot, dry weather and quieter resorts. High season is considered to be January, November and December. The cheapest month to visit the Maldives is March.

Where to Stay in Maldives

Maldives offers a full spectrum of accommodation options – from cheap hotels, motels and guesthouses on the main island to luxurious and supery luxurious water villas on private islands. Here are some luxury resorts in Maldives that are worth consideration for travellers from the Middle East:

Amilla Maldives
Baros
Soneva Jani
Huvafen Fushi
JOALI Maldives
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
Milaidhoo
Lily Beach Resort & Spa
W Maldives

Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives
Hurawalhi Island Resort
Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
Baros Maldives
Six Senses Laamu
Pullman Maldives All-Inclusive Resort
Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa

How To Get There

The Maldives is served by Malé International Airport, which is less commonly referred to as Velena International Airport (MLE). This airport is located on the manmade Hulhule Island in the North Male Atoll. It takes approximately 7 hours to get from Dubai to Maldives, including transfers.

Visa Requirements

Tourist visa is granted for all nationalities on arrival to Maldives. As such, a foreigner travelling to Maldives as a tourist does not require pre-approval for the visa. However, the person must satisfy the basic entry requirements to get immigration clearance upon arrival.

Getting Around

Mostly speedboats are used to transport visitors to their chosen resorts from Velana International Airport or Malé. Hiring a speedboat to take you to your resort typically costs $100 to $400. However, in most cases the speedboat transfers are built into into the price of the vacation package. You can also request private transfers which cost anywhere between $75 to $1200, depending on how far your resort is.