Maldives Packages FAQs
Q. Where exactly is the Maldives?
A. The Maldives is an archipelagic country with nearly 1200 islands formed out of natural atolls. It lies on the Indian Ocean to the south-west of Kerala’s capital, Trivandrum and on the east-west side of Sri Lanka. SriLankan airlines, for instance, operates flights from Colombo that get you to Male in an hour straight. India and Sri Lanka are the Maldives’ closest neighbours.
Q. What is the visa procedure for a holiday in the Maldives?
A. The Maldives provides visa on-arrival to its visitors provided you hold a passport that has validity of six months and more and can produce your hotel booking voucher or invoice stating the precise dates of check-in and out, as well as your return flight ticket details. This can be done by queuing up at the immigrating counter of the Male International Airport.
Q. What is an accepted currency in the Maldives?
A. While the Maldivian Rufiyaa is the national currency with 1 Maldivian Rufiyaa being equal to 4.47 Indian Rupees, the USD remains the more accepted currency for tourists. Your resorts prefer you pay up for any additional services in USD. Even when pursuing water activities or boat cruises, you need to make your deposit in USD. On a trip to the Maldives, ensure you have enough USD loaded up in your multi-currency card aside from carrying a small wad of cash.
Q. Can I visit the Maldives in the summer months?
A. The Maldives receives two kinds of monsoon, wet monsoon and dry monsoon. In the summer months which is the wet monsoon season that lasts between May and November isn’t quite ideal for a trip because the rain showers are intense and the humidity levels are also quite high. The average temperature lingers at 29 degree Celsius in these months. It is also not the best season for scuba diving or snorkelling because the water temperatures are lower and there are no seasonal oceanic currents as well leading to reduced visibility for marine life spotting. But this may well be a good time to get some off-season rates at hotels.
Q. Are there frequent flights in and out of the Maldives?
A. Yes, the Maldives have emerged into a well-travelled destination across the world with regular flights in and out of the Male International Airport. Some popular airlines with flights to the Maldives include Sri Lankan Airlines, SpiceJet, GoAir, IndiGo, Air India, Air France, Emirates, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Etihad, AirAsia, Qatar Airways, China Southern, Hong Kong Airlines among others.
Q. What sort of electric outlet is used in the Maldives?
A. In most places, you can get around with the standard UK 3-pin flat plugs. The electrical current is between 220 and 240 volts and your resort can provide you with adaptors to charge your phone or laptop batteries. But it is always good to notify them ahead of your travel.
Q. How good is the Wi-Fi connectivity in the Maldives?
A. All 5-star resorts provide complimentary Wi-Fi in your villa/cottage and even in a few of the public spaces. The network is usually strong enough for you to browse the net, use your social media pages, upload photos or make a Skype call. At guesthouses and more economic accommodation options, you are charged for the same. You also have the option of buying a data pack locally to not bloat up your internet bills.
Q. Can I carry my alcohol with me to the Maldives?
A. Not at all, in fact it is illegal to bring alcohol into the Maldives. Your resort of stay would have a special permit from its government for serving premium international liquor brands. And you can enjoy your favourite poison without any hassle.
Q. Can I get a seaplane anytime I want to check into my resort in the Maldives?
A. That won’t be possible because seaplanes are functional only in the daylight hours usually between 06:00 am and 04:00 pm. In case your international flights arrives post 04:00 pm, then you would have to spend the night at a nearby hotel in Male and take the earliest flight out to your atoll.
Q. What is the water temperature in the Maldives?
A. Owing to the Maldives tropical climate, the water temperatures stay warm through the year, hovering between 28 and 30 degree Celsius. This is an ideal temperature to go for a swim, and simply perfect if you intend to go diving or snorkelling.