Everything about holidays in the Maldives: how to get there, where to live and what to see. How to get in the Maldives from the airport to the islands Holidays in the Maldives how to get

I personally always reassure myself with the thought that very soon I will be lying on the white sand, swimming in the Indian Ocean and not thinking about all the tickets / suitcases / registrations / and so on.

The only way to get to the Maldives is by air; international flights land at the airport of the capital Male. I used to think that there were probably ferries connecting the islands with India or Africa, but during the first trip they explained to me that this was impossible: the islands are a huge coral atoll, which makes navigation very difficult. And if small boats and boats maneuver between sandbanks and massive reefs without any problems, then large ships cannot do it.

The flight time varies from 9 hours on a direct flight from Moscow to almost a day in a plane with not the most convenient transfer. Anyway, here are some tips that personally help me to make my trip more comfortable:

• if you sleep normally on planes, try to choose a night flight: this way time will fly by faster, and upon arrival in the Maldives you will have a whole day ahead;
• be sure to wear comfortable clothes: believe me, in a couple of hours you will be dreaming of comfortable pants or not so hot shoes;
• bring something to pass the time with you, such as a laptop or a favorite book (by the way, many long-distance airplanes are equipped with special multimedia screens with which you can watch a movie, read the news, etc.) ;
• if you are flying with a child, think in advance how to entertain him in flight, without interfering with the rest of other passengers;
• during the flight, do simple gymnastic exercises several times, stretch your legs, arms, back, neck, or better get up and walk at least to the toilet;
• bring a first aid kit with a basic set of medicines.

Direct flights to Maldives

Unfortunately, there are not many opportunities to fly to the Maldives without transfers: there are direct flights from Russian cities only from Moscow. Usually planes leave a couple of times a week, but in the high season their number increases to four or even five. The main carrier is Aeroflot. With a successful combination of circumstances, the price of a one-way ticket will be within 15,000-20,000 rubles, however, as in any other trip, it all depends on how much in advance you buy it. You can check the availability of tickets and their prices, as well as choose suitable dates.

You will have to spend about 9 hours on the way - and this does not include the time you will have to spend on the way to the airport and passing the registration! Be sure to re-read the tips written above, and also think about what you personally may need during this time. And often remind yourself of what heavenly rest awaits you. :)

Connecting flights to Maldives

If you do not live in Moscow, then in any case you will have to fly with a transfer. It can be done both in the capital itself and in other cities. Most often, docking takes place on the Arabian Peninsula, for example, in Qatar or. You will spend at least 12 hours on the way and pay at least 25,000-30,000 rubles for a one-way flight - however, everything very much depends on your city and the season for which the trip is planned. More detailed information on prices and timetables can be obtained by entering preliminary travel dates.

In my opinion, the most comfortable and convenient options are offered by Emirates and Qatar Airways, which make connections at airports and Doha. For example, you can fly there and back for a week in July using Emirates Airlines for about 46,000 rubles. A definite plus of this company is a high level of comfort. Even in economy class, the distances between the seats do not create inconvenience, friendly and helpful staff work on board, delicious food and an unlimited number of drinks are offered during the flight, and special monitors are built into the back of the seat in front, on which you can watch a movie, play online. games, read the news. In general, there is everything to pass the time.

There are also options offering to fly to the Maldives with three transfers, for example, from Moscow, such flights are offered by Etihad Airways. I cannot say that they are much cheaper (round-trip tickets in July will keep within 40,000 rubles), but the flight will definitely take much longer. At best, you will spend 18 hours on the road, at worst, two days. Personally, I would not like to waste time on a long-awaited vacation or vacation sitting on the plane.

Charter flights to Maldives

Charter flights are a real salvation for hundreds of tourists who decided to travel during the high season and did not bother buying tickets in advance. Such flights are not on the schedule of airports, but are organized during periods of high demand (that is, during vacations and national holidays, as well as good weather conditions at the selected resort).

If you are taking a package through a travel agency, a charter flight may be one of the options that will be offered to you. If you did not ask for help, then you will have to monitor the appearance of such flights yourself, for example, on specialized sites. Their undoubted advantage is the absence of transfers, as well as, as a rule, a relatively low price (20-30% lower than the price of regular flights).

Landing at Ibrahim Nasir Airport

Whichever flight option you choose, your flight will land at Male International Airport, which bears the name of the former President of the Republic of Maldives. Like most buildings on the island, it seems rather flimsy and low, which, however, does not prevent it from receiving a huge flow of tourists every day.

On the plane, you will be given migration cards, which it is better to fill out on the way, so as not to waste time on this later. You will give one part at passport control, and the other you will have to keep before departure (I usually put it in the cover of a foreigner, so as not to lose it for sure). If you have any questions, please contact the flight attendants, they will definitely help and explain everything.

Together with a stamp at passport control, you will be given a visa - a bright sticker, very different from the usual "Schengen" with gloomy photographs. There is no entrance fee in the Maldives, but at the exit you will have to pay about 10 USD (however, if you are relaxing at the hotel, they may include this amount in the return transfer cost).

Please note that at the entrance to the Maldives, quite strict control is carried out and in addition to the classic things that are prohibited on airplanes, you cannot take here either:

After you have gone through the procedures described above and received your luggage, you have to get to your immediate destination (unless, of course, you decided to stay in Male, which I personally do not really recommend doing). We will talk about possible transfers from the airport below.

Male airport transfers

If you have not decided to spend your vacation in the capital of the Maldives (which I personally do not advise you to do - the infrastructure for recreation here is much worse developed than on the resort islands), then after passing through customs procedures and claiming luggage, you will have another mini-trip.

If you are staying at a hotel, everything will be quite simple: at the exit from the arrivals area, his employee will be waiting for you, usually with a sign on which your name is indicated. He will also accompany you and help you get to the place of rest. Most hotels include the price of the transfer in the total cost of the holiday, but it is better to clarify this issue in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises.

For those tourists who stay in guest houses or for some reason did not bother organizing a transfer in advance, the fun begins: choosing a means of transportation. Below I will detail how you can get to the neighboring islands and atolls.

Seaplane: fast and expensive

The price of such a transfer will be several hundred dollars per person, making it the most expensive option available. On the other hand, you pay for speed: believe me, there is nothing faster than seaplanes in the Maldives. The seaplane transfer service is provided by two main companies - TransMaldivian and Maldivian Air Taxi.

The salon is a small copy of a full-fledged aircraft. The walls are so thin that the roar of the turbines will follow you until you land. So be sure to take the earplugs that are issued at the entrance to the plane, and also prepare for the fact that the oversized carry-on baggage along with luggage will be placed at the end of the cabin. However, they will do it quite carefully, but it is better to get the necessary things in advance.

Another plus of seaplanes is the stunning views from the small windows. It was they who at one time gave me the first impression of the Maldives, scattered throughout the ocean - a feeling of warmth, light, tropical brightness. I peered at the rounds of snow-white sand and tried to guess which of the islands our plane would land on. However, in the end, he landed next to a wooden platform in the ocean, on which we were landed together with our things. And then the plane flew away ... And only when a boat appeared, clearly in a hurry to us from a nearby island, I could breathe a sigh of relief. The hotel clerk hastily explained that for security reasons they could not dock until the plane took off, but that didn't make it any easier for me.

When choosing a seaplane as a transfer, it is important to keep track of the time: their flights are made exclusively within daylight hours. Make sure you get between 6:00 am and 4:30 pm.

Boat: atmospheric and fresh

The second most popular and expensive way to get to the desired place in the Maldives is by boat (here it is also called "speedboat"). The price will also be several hundred dollars, but already from the company. Tourists usually stack up to 300-500 USD one way, but the most popular routes can cost less than 50 USD. It all depends on where exactly you are heading, the range is quite wide. By the way, I do not advise taking a boat to travel to distant atolls: you will spend a lot of time on the way.

The main problem with boats is seasickness. I personally saw people who went ashore green and said that they used to endure water travel quite calmly. Often the captain of a ship just wants to deliver yours as quickly as possible, so he rushes over the waves with all his might. Just in case, I advise you to take your motion sickness medication with you: it is better to waste it than to regret that it was not there at the most important moment.

Boats run to the nearby islands around the clock, but if you have a long journey, you will have to, as in the case of a seaplane, keep an eye on the daylight hours: in the Maldives it lasts from 6:00 to 16:30. It is better to check in advance how long your transfer will take and whether it will be available in the evening and at night (if your main flight lands after sunset).

Local airlines: unusual and uncomfortable

In my life, there was such an experience of moving between the island resort and the capital's airport, as local airlines. He was chosen due to the fact that it was necessary to get to the airport after sunset. I must say right away that personally, in my case, the experience turned out to be negative, but so much the better for you - you will immediately know all the pitfalls. :)

Firstly, the airport of local airlines has yet to be reached. As a rule, the transfer is carried out by the hotel on its own boats, but loading luggage and people is time consuming. Secondly, in terms of general organization, local airports are not very similar to those we are used to. Together with other passengers, I sat in a small cafe, where workers would come and go and take either passports, then suitcases, or hand luggage ... Thirdly, it is very difficult to clearly plan a trip. Local airlines seem to obey some kind of schedule, but in practice they often deviate from it. As a result, you get extra nerves. And finally, fourthly, the planes are terribly uncomfortable here! Even small seaplanes look more reliable.

Ferry: measured and calm

A good way for those who want to get around on the water, but are not ready to overpay for a speed boat - ferry. A clear plus is the low price: it depends on the distance, but is unlikely to exceed 10 USD. The main disadvantage is unpredictability. The ferry can be canceled, for example, due to bad weather conditions, and disruptions in the schedule do not occur at all for no apparent reason.

Ferries need to be treated like Maldives public transport: cheap, slow, not always predictable. They run between the islands, so you can use the ferries not only as an airport transfer, but also, for example, for excursions. But if you love comfort and speed, then this method is clearly not for you.

Doni: authentic and slow

In the local language, "doni" is a small traditional boat on which the indigenous people of the Maldives move between the islands. It pleases with a low price, for example, a fifteen-minute trip to a neighboring island costs about 1 USD (the maximum price that I have seen is 4 USD). True, the doni's speed hardly exceeds 10 km / h, so I do not advise choosing this transport for long-distance travel.

Perfect for those who want to take a short excursion or get from the airport to one of the nearby islands: you can feel the local flavor and enjoy a boat trip.

In this article, Travel The World experts will tell you how to get to the Maldives from different parts of the world with direct flights and with connecting flights.

👁 Before you start ... where to book a hotel? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 we pay for a high percentage of hotels!). I have been using Rumguru for a long time
skyscanner
👁 And finally, the main thing. How to go on a trip without bothering? The answer is in the search form below! Purchase. This is such a thing that includes flight, accommodation, food and a bunch of other goodies for good money 💰💰 Form - below !.

In this publication, Travel The World experts will tell you how to get to the Maldives on your own from different parts of the world with direct flights and with transfers.

The Maldives are scraps of land in the Indian Ocean that stretch for 750 km. A significant proportion of the island's population is engaged in serving tourists. It is believed that the Maldives is slowly but surely sinking under the water, but this is most likely an invention of the Maldivians themselves, launched in order to attract more tourists to these paradise places. It takes a long time to get to the Maldives, but it's worth it, believe me.

Direct flights to Maldives from Moscow

A visit to paradise booths - this is how a trip to the Maldives can be characterized, so it is not surprising that listeners salivate at the mention of these islands. Due to the fact that the sea is coral around the Maldives, passenger liners never go there. It follows that the only way to get to the Maldives is to fly by air.

The islands have a single airport located in the Hulule Atoll near the capital, Male. Direct flights from Russia there are provided by Aeroflot and Transaero. One way trip will take you ten or more hours. Departures usually take place on Wednesday and Saturday from Sheremetyevo. During the increased demand for tours, departures take place every day from major cities of Russia, the so-called. charters. The average round-trip ticket price is 500 USD.

We fly to the Maldives with a transfer

There are flight options with refueling and transfers. It is more convenient for Ukrainians and Kazakhs to use the services of the Emirates and Qatar airlines (Emirates Airlines and Qatar Air) with stops in these countries. Departures originate from Kiev and Astana.

Other options are Singapore Airlines (via Singapore), Malaysia Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur), Srilankan Airlines (via Sri Lanka). Flights to the Maldives are operated from the airport in the Indian city of Trivandrum. The cost of tickets for foreign airlines varies from 500 to 1000 USD, the most expensive tickets are from a Singapore company.

From the Far East, you can get there through the airports of Seoul, Tianjin and Bangkok. There are no direct flights from Belarus, so Belarusians fly through Moscow.

When departing from Male, all foreigners must pay an exit fee. This amount is about 10-15 USD, which is not always included in the ticket price. It is useful to ask about this in advance. When stopping in intermediate countries, in some cases you have to spend the night in a foreign land, so you may need a visa.

The islands with the most picturesque beaches on earth and clear water like a diamond are the best exotic vacation spot. The very high cost of tours to the Maldives is due to the duration of the flights.

👁 Do we book the hotel as always on the booking? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 we pay for a high percentage of hotels!). I have been using Rumguru for a long time, it is really more profitable than 💰💰 Booking.
👁 And for tickets - to air sales, as an option. It has been known about him for a long time 🐷. But there is a better search engine - skyscanner - there are more flights, prices are lower! 🔥🔥.
👁 And finally, the main thing. How to go on a trip without bothering? Purchase. This is such a thing that includes flights, accommodation, meals and a bunch of other goodies for good money 💰💰.

An overview of some routes how to get from Moscow to the Maldives. The flight from Moscow to the Maldives can be classified as distant. However, getting from Moscow to the Maldives is easier than, for example, to the Caribbean, or to Asia.

Direct flight Moscow-Male

Currently, only Aeroflot operates direct flights from Moscow to the Maldives. Travel time is 8.5 hours.

You can also fly with a transfer:

in Dubai - Emirates

in Abu Dhabi - Etihad

in Qatar - Qatar Airways

in Istanbul - Turkish Airlines

How long to fly from Moscow to Maldives

The above routes are the fastest (after the direct flight) and the least expensive. The flight from Moscow to Dubai takes 5 hours, and then Dubai-Male takes another 4 hours.

You can also fly with a docking in European cities, for example:

In Frankfkrt - Condor

In Paris - Air France

In Amsterdam - KLM

There are many flights from Europe to the Maldives, but it will take longer to fly this way. The Paris-Male flight takes about 10 hours.

Male airport

Having overcome the path from Moscow to Male, the road does not end there. All international flights arrive at Male Airport, which is located on a separate island.

Each hotel independently organizes a transfer for its guests. The transfer is paid separately at the hotel (or on the booking website), and is a mandatory payment.

At the exit from the airport, guests are greeted with signs by hotel representatives, help with luggage, and escorted to the transfer.

Maldives transfer

Transfers from Male airport to the islands are of the following types:

• , boat or yacht
• Seaplane
• Regular plane to the local airport + boat

The type of transfer depends primarily on the distance of the island. If the hotel is located a short distance from Male (up to half an hour's drive), then the transfer is organized by boat. If the hotel is further away, then you need to fly by seaplane. To get to the farthest southern atolls, tourists take domestic flights to another airport, and from there a boat transfer to the hotel is organized.

If you plan your vacation in advance and want to spend it in comfortable conditions, enjoying paradise views and basking in the rays of the warm sun, you should pay attention to the Maldives.

You can go to this cozy corner of the vast land by purchasing a ticket from a travel agency or planning a trip yourself. When planning a trip on your own, you can choose exactly what you need for yourself and not be tied to the hotel schedule. One of the most important questions will be how to get to the Maldives from Moscow on your own? The non-stop flight lasts approximately 9 hours. When you arrive at Male Airport, you need to get to the island by boat or helicopter. Travel time from 10 minutes by seaplane to 2 hours by boat.

This piece of earthly paradise is located 700 km off the coast of India. Located in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. In total, 26 atolls comprise over 1,190 coral islands.

The highest point of the island is located on the southern Atoll of Addu and is 2.4 m. This state is awarded the title of the lowest located in relation to sea level. The total land area is 298 km 2, a larger percentage of the island is considered unsuitable for everyday life and tourism. The capital city is Male. Historically, the city is the only one in the entire state. The path from Moscow to the Maldives is 6570 km.

the capital of Malviv is the city of Male

The only option to quickly get to Male is by air. What flights are there and how long to fly, we will consider further in more detail.

Any airline operating flights will answer the question - about 9 hours. Times may vary due to weather conditions.

Today, there is only one direct flight from the capital of the Russian Federation, Moscow (Sheremetyevo airport). The flight is carried out to the airport in the capital of Male by Aeroflot. The air harbor in Male is small and has two terminals that accept all flights (both domestic and international). While waiting for their flight, any tourist will appreciate the comfort of the small airport, the developed infrastructure and the hospitality of the employees.

Choosing a direct flight to the Maldives, you will spend about 8 hours and 40 minutes on the road. Departures are carried out on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Arriving at the airport of departure, you can safely move around to land at Terminal D. The ticket price ranges from $ 500. The ticket can be purchased both at the airport ticket offices and through online ticket purchase and booking applications.

The advantages of a direct flight include:

• lack of transplants;
• relatively short time spent on the road;
• the ability to combine flight with rest.

The disadvantages include:

• limited number of departures per week;
• lack of choice of airline;
• significant ticket price.

How long to fly with a stopover?

Some of the disadvantages of a direct flight can be turned into advantages of a connecting flight. So, if you are faced with the problem of lack of tickets for a direct flight, you should not reschedule your trip and planned vacation. Plan a connecting road.

There are many connecting flight options, and some of them will have free seats. Everything will depend on how many transfers there will be and how long the connections will take. This route will take approximately 12 hours. There is a large selection of cities where the transfer takes place. These are cities such as:

• Doha;
• Istanbul;
• Singapore;
• Dusseldorf;
• Dubai;
• Abu Dhabi;
• Beirut;
• London.

Flight Moscow - Male with transfers

The result is a rather long list of cities. The waiting time for the second flight and for the flight in general may increase significantly. For example, a flight with transfers in the cities of Dusseldorf and Abu Dhabi will take up to 23 hours, 9 hours of which will be spent on transfers. The flight through London will take up to 22 hours, of which 14 hours will be spent on the flight.

The most convenient are the options for transfers in Dubai or Doha. Such a flight will take up to 12 hours with the waiting time for the flight connection only 1-2 hours.

Connection in Dubai

Travel time Moscow - Male with a transfer in Dubai will take 12.5 hours. You will have to spend 11 hours on the plane, and wait for the flight at the airport for only 1.5 hours.

You can fly to Dubai from three Moscow airports. These flights are served by companies:

• Aeroflot,
• Kenya Air,
• Qantas Airways,
• Transaero.

The flight will take from 4 hours 50 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes. The wait for the next flight will last up to 4 hours. Emirates will take you directly to the Maldives from the capital of the UAE.

Connection in Doha

Travel time Moscow - Male with a change in Doha will be 11 hours. Flights to Doha are operated from Domodedovo Airport by Qantas Airways. This flight will take you 5 hours and 20 minutes.

Let's note the advantages with a transfer:

1. Possibility to choose a convenient flight time.
2. A large selection of air carriers.
3. Cheap air ticket.
4. The opportunity to visit another country while waiting for the next flight.

How to fly to the Maldives, you should choose based on financial possibilities and availability of free time.

Which airlines fly to Maldives

How much to fly from other cities

The Maldives paradise is best visited during the winter and spring period. This time is considered a season for rest without rain. You can't go wrong when planning your trip to any island in the archipelago in early winter, choosing the month of December. At this time, the wind coming from the north-east creates the most comfortable climatic conditions. Another lucrative option is to visit the islands between seasons, when ticket prices are considered the lowest.

Airfare

Statistics show that the highest prices are in January and December, and the most profitable flight is in September.

Maldives airports map

Good day) Somehow, on an ordinary gray day, tired of the bustle of the city, busy work schedules and endless phone calls, we got sick with thoughts of a calm, relaxing vacation, where there are a minimum of tourists and a lot of vegetation, many delightful landscapes and the clear ocean water. This is definitely the Maldives.

Photos in this review have not undergone any photo correction. Filmed mostly, just on the phone.

It took a very long time to prepare the information before the trip, I would like to share it with you in this review. How to get there on your own with basic knowledge of the language, how not to get lost in the capital and get to the desired island. About all the intricacies of Maldivian life, their religion and temperament. We will also talk about all possible costs in this review.

Weather in the Maldives.

When does the Maldives go?

The country is located on the equator, here the weather is not too changeable and comfortable all year round. We didn't need warm clothes. And even if there is a tropical shower outside the window, the temperature is very comfortable for staying in a swimsuit.
There is a rainy season in the Maldives, which falls in the Russian summer period from May to September. You should not be afraid of rains, as they are short-lived and puddles dry out very quickly.
The most favorable weather in the Maldives is February and March. There is no precipitation during this period. The weather is always wonderful. We rested in February, March. I recommend this period because these months are a real paradise. Great diving without a storm, no rain.
Maldives is a winter kind of beach holiday

The only direct flight from Moscow to Male is provided by Aeroflot. All other airlines fly with very long connections, mainly via Dubai. There are flights from the regions, but all with connections. Aeroflot was the most ideal and comfortable option. Tickets were booked 2 months in advance, the cost of tickets for two round trip is 70t. The guys who flew with us booked tickets half a year in advance, at a cost they got 55t. So there is a profitable early booking. The plane of this company flies there every day at 22-10 departure from Moscow at 9 in the morning, we were in Male (hour difference with Moscow time + 2 hours). Departure from Male is at 11-15 am. The flight time is slightly less than 9 hours. The plane on the flights is the same, so our return flight was delayed due to the fact that the plane could not take off from Moscow due to weather conditions. But that was only a plus, staying in this country for another 6 hours😊

The flight went very comfortably from Sheremetyevo airport, the plane is new. Comfortable armchairs, equipped with a personal monitor on which you can watch movies, give out disposable headphones, slippers, blankets.

We were fed 2 times, during the breaks we were given ice cream, drinks, wine. In general, we practically could not sleep, we were entertained.

The landing is very extreme. One gets the feeling that you are landing on the water, only at the last moment the landing strip appears.

Passport control:

You do not need to pay for a visa and entry into the country at the airport. For Russians, a visa is not required. The country is quite hospitable and interested in the flow of tourists. The passport is stamped with a stay in the Maldives for up to 30 days. Early legislation obliged us to pay $ 25 for leaving, we were already ready for this, but they did not take anything from us. MV got free entry and exit.

To successfully cross the border, you need:

International passport with current validity.

Confirmation of hotel reservation (this was demanded, if for some reason there is no printout, name the hotel and the length of stay, it also rolls orally, checked personally)

Return tickets (may be required), print information in English, in Russian Maldivians are not at all thorny.

Immigration card. They will be issued on the plane. Must be completed. If something is not clear, the flight attendants will kindly help.

The Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. It consists of 1190 small coral islands and a land area of \u200b\u200bonly 298 km. Of these, only 200 islands are inhabited.

They have an artificial island airport, where we made an extreme landing and immediately left it by boat for $ 1 and in 5 minutes were on the island of Male, which is the capital of the Maldives.

The island is the capital. It is a very overpopulated island with narrow streets, millions of motorcycles and people. With a famous fruit market, which is interesting to walk. And the terrible fish market, on the cat with a terrible smell of fish and the number of flies, drives you into a panic and you want to leave this place as soon as possible. I was especially impressed by local merchants who urinate right in the unreal beauty of the ocean. Is there really no toilet in this market or just a pity for the money. Although prices for tourists and prices for local residents are quite different, this applies everywhere. Up to travel tickets. Also, tourists are charged an environmental tax, which you have to pay per night at the hotel, and the hotel, or this guest house itself transfers it to the state account.

Male was left with a good impression. The island is like an Asian overpopulated town, where there are pesky guides, sellers of goods and services.

I want to note that I walked there without a hijab. Dress shirt and jeans. You shouldn't stand out too much, since the country is Muslim, you need to respect their religion and look dignified. Local women wear black hijabs.

The Maldives is famous for its many swanky and simpler island resorts

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that there is a separate garbage island in the Maldives, garbage from all the islands is taken there and burned at certain intervals. This island is remote from inhabited, therefore inconvenience or smoke

The Maldives got into the Guinness Book of Records as the country with the flattest relief, there are no hills and rivers, all the islands are no more than two meters above sea level. Due to global warming and rising sea levels, many scientists predict a gradual sinking of the islands under water. According to forecasts, in 40 years, the Maldives may be under water. So hurry up to see this beauty!

The islands are located almost at the equator, so the weather there is the same 25-30 degrees, the temperature does not drop below 25 degrees all year round.

"No news, no shoes - Maldives" - the slogan is true. Shoes there are an unnecessary excess, and there is no news at all. No newspapers, no television.

No alcohol law:

The Maldives is a Muslim country.On local islands (these are islands where, in addition to tourists, locals live), drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited, for locals it is a criminal offense. When entering the country, alcoholic beverages are confiscated from tourists, placed in a cell and when leaving the country are given back. To be honest, this was not a problem for us, we did not take alcohol with us and did not come up with clever ways of export, but judging by the communication with Russo Tourist, many succeed.

Island-resorts are another matter, they are one island-one hotel. Local residents do not live on such islands, staff from India or Sri Lanka work there, because it is impossible to sell alcohol to the Maldivians themselves. If you buy an all-inclusive package tour, there will be no problems with alcohol. If half board or board, then a bottle of wine on the resort islands costs, on average, $ 100. Alcohol restrictions affect the price, it is clear in which direction)))

How to dress in the Maldives:

I have already superficially covered this issue in the capital. How to dress on other islands?

If you decide to relax on the resort island bypassing the capital and you will be provided with a transfer from the airport. You don't have to bother about this at all. You can walk at the resorts in any form, people from Sri Lanka and India mainly work here and they take it calmly. These prohibitions do not apply to tourist and uninhabited islands.

In the city of Male - the neckline, shoulders, thighs and other potentially "depraved" places should be closed. No one will detain you and shame you, but the views will be ambiguous.

On the local islands-villages (Maafushi, Toddu) it is permissible to walk in dresses and shorts, they are already used to tourists and do not pay attention. With the neckline, I still did not dare to flaunt it.

There are specially fenced bikini beaches where you can swim in swimsuits, guesthouse owners take care of these beaches, there are sun loungers.

Maldivian women swim in full outfit, this is a hijab, a dress and even gloves ... ah, plus a couple of kids with them. Locals swim on the beaches away from European libertines))))

How to choose an island for a budget vacation:

Previously, on the islands where local residents live (i.e., local islands), it was forbidden to receive tourists. Today there are several islands where you can live cheaply. These are islands such as

Hulhumale ( Hulhumale),

Male (Male),

Maafushi

Thoddoo

Guraydo (Guraidhoo),

Rashdu ( Rasdhoo),

Ukulhas ( Ukulhas),

Dhigurah

But! Not every island has a bikini beach and, of course, you decide whether to go to such islands.

The islands stretch for several hundred kilometers, I would not recommend visiting atolls that are too remote, because a transfer in the Maldives is very expensive, and a seaplane flight is from $ 500 -1500 an hour, so such atolls can cost you dearly. For transfers and prices, check with the tour operator immediately, or when booking a hotel, we booked guest houses on Booking.

Transport connection:

Usually the owners of the guesthouses come to meet the guests at the airport. But in our case, something went wrong. They forgot to meet us))) Although I sent tickets when booking, but this was the only negative memory of the guest house, they were very sorry about it)))

Thanks to this, we have perfectly learned the ferry service in the Maldives.