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Maldives Luxury Overwater
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Maldives

WELCOME TO OUR MALDIVES TRAVEL GUIDE

Southwest of India, you will find the endless teal blue waters that make up the 26 Atolls of the Maldives. The Maldives offers incredible luxury and exclusivity that is unlike any other destination in the world. It is no surprise that the Maldives is known for being one of the world’s best honeymoon destinations, with its expansive, private bungalows perched above the waters edge or dotting the white sand. Hotel development has expanded significantly in recent years, providing luxury experiences for all price ranges.

Things to See and Do in the Maldives

Snorkel with the Whale Sharks outside your hotel
Scuba dive the protected reefs
Enjoy a spa treatment in an overwater bungalow
Take a seaplane from Malé to your hotel
Surf the waves at some of the world’s best hotels, like Niyama's Vogi Wave
Try the traditional Maldivian cuisine

“Perfect blue waters”

“Never ending sunsets”

What to know

We recommend a minimum of 4 nights in the Maldives, overall. Depending on where you fly from, the journey is long and there is typically an additional fee to get to your hotel from Malé. Therefore, 4+ nights is recommended to make the trek worth it.

Our personal recommendation is to either:

  • Spend 4 nights at one hotel
  • Spend 9-10 nights and stay at 2 different hotels

The majority of luxury hotels are on their own secluded island in a larger Atoll. The closest hotels to Malé are accessible by speedboats (transfers costing $70+) and the transfers are organized through the hotel. Hotels outside the vicinity of Malé will require a plane transfer (typically through sea plane arranged by the hotel). When selecting hotels, be sure to account for transfer costs in your budget as well as the airline the hotel uses.

 

There are two airlines that operate sea planes in the Maldives: Maldivian Air and Trans Maldivian. If you are hoping to stay at more than 1 hotel, review the properties these airlines fly to and align to that airline to avoid needing to transfer back to Malé before going to your next hotel. This can save you time and money, so check with your hotels in advance. Also note, a few luxury hotels operate their own seaplane and do not operate through Maldivian Air or Trans Maldivian, such as Cheval Blanc.

It’s important to remember that once you are at your hotel, there is nowhere to go. All your meals will be served at the property as there is no “town” to go to. When considering your resort, be sure to take into account the higher cost of food due to import taxes in the Maldives. Many hotels offer packages that typically offer breakfast or breakfast and dinner. These can typically be a great deal.

 

Note about alcohol:

Alcohol is available at the resorts, but alcohol is not allowed in the capital city of Malé. There is no duty free at the airport and you are not allowed to bring liquor into the country. You will need to purchase alcohol at your island resort.

Since the majority of hotels are on their own private island, most of them have a great gift shop where you can purchase clothing, accessories, items you have forgotten and other trinkets. There is no other shopping available and duty free upon departure from Malé international is limited.

 

Some hotels focus more on Maldivian culture than others, but in some hotel shops, you can find traditional lacquer goods, weaved goods and other crafts.

The Maldives is governed by a conservative Islamic government, and therefore, Alcohol is illegal to bring into the country via checked luggage. Since resorts are on their own islands throughout the Maldives, guests remain unaffected by conservative laws. However, it is important to note that if you spend any time in Malé or populated islands, dress conservatively in town and at your resort, do not sunbathe topless. We found Maldivians to be incredibly generous, kind and service-minded throughout our experience in the Maldives.

2024 Maldives Travel Guide from luxury hotel experts Voyager Guru

Travel Guide | Maldives

Explore the Maldives in 2024 with ease! Download our essential 35-page Travel Guide for everything you need to know before you book. Your Maldivian adventure starts here!

Travel Guide - Maldives

Typical costs

The Maldives is unlike anywhere else in the world for a number of reasons. It’s important to consider all the costs that go into your trip to avoid trouble along the way.

Of course, there are the international flights and standard hotel charges- but it doesn’t end there. As you look up room rates and hotels online, we encourage you to look into the cost of the transfers, before committing to a particular property. It’s common to see rates from $100-250 USD for boat transfers per person and anywhere from $450-600 USD for flight transfers per person.

Once on property, it is unlikely that you will be traveling anywhere for any meals. Most properties offer all-day dining at a number of restaurants, so we encourage you to look at restaurant and bar prices to ensure they align with your budget. Many properties offer meal plans that may be a good option for your vacation. The common packages are:

Breakfast: This rate only includes breakfast for two

Half-Board: Includes breakfast & dinner as well as soft drinks (and 90% of the time, water)

Full-Board: Includes breakfast, lunch & dinner as well as soft drinks (and 90% of the time, water)

All-inclusive: Includes all meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages.

If you are considering meal plans, be sure to look at the terms & conditions to ensure you have access to the restaurants onsite that you are looking for. It is common to be allowed into only 1 or 2 restaurants, even thought they may have 4 or 5. We recommend finding hotels that allow you to try a variety of restaurants, particularly if you are staying for more than a few days.

Suggested daily budget – What you won’t expect from the Maldives is that you can find accommodations ranging across any budget. There are beautiful little guest houses for around $100 USD, all the way up to $1,000+ USD. Pro Tip: look for all-inclusive packages for a hassle free vacation.

When to Travel
Maldives Seasons

While there is no bad time to go to the Maldives, the best time to visit is between November and April. High season falls between December and March, resulting in higher prices but optimal weather. Monsoon season runs from May to October, peaking around June. The northern atolls have highest rainfall May-Nov; the southern atolls from Nov-Mar.

Travel Tips

1
Understand your transfer options There are two main seaplane companies in The Maldives. If you are changing hotels during your trip, be sure to understand which airline is handling the transfer. Unless you are transferring to a hotel that uses the same airline, you will need to transfer through Malé.
2
Beware of your departure flights If your flight leaves early in the morning, you will need to confirm that you can get to the airport in the morning. Most hotels will be unable to accommodate early international flights, unless you are transferred via boat.
3
Consider a meal plan Many hotels in the Maldives offer half board, full board or all-inclusive options for guests since there is nowhere else to go. Depending on the property, it's worth looking into these options to see if any are right for you.
4
Try Scuba diving! The Maldives has some of the best diving in the world. There is so much sea life, along with Whale Sharks, Manta Rays and other beautiful creatures. Diving not for you? Snorkel gear is usually free at the resorts.

Luxury Hotel Reviews

Check out some of our favorite Maldives resorts and what we like and don’t like about each of them. 

How to plan your trip

Planning a trip to the Maldives can be incredibly overwhelming. With hundreds of hotels and resorts spread across hundreds of islands, where do you even start? Our first recommendation is to set a budget for yourself. Consider what you’re willing to pay per night for your trip (and be sure to include a transfer cost of $250-800 per person). This will automatically give you a great sense of the options available to you.

Next, if you plan to stay at multiple resorts, we recommend properties that use the same seaplane company or are within boating distance to minimize transfer times.

Be sure to reach out to us via email if you need help starting to plan your Maldives trip! We have amazing partnerships with brands in the Maldives and around the world that provide additional perks and benefits for booking.

Gallery of the Maldives

Niyama Maldives View
Heritance Aarah Maldives
Residence Falhumaafushi
arrival at milaidhoo maldives
underwater restaurant niyama maldives
beach pool villa niyama maldives
arrival at niyama maldives
dining at lux south ari
Heritance Aarah Walkway
overwater villas at heritance aarah
arrival at milaidhoo maldives

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Pristine beaches with dreamy overwater huts make the perfect destination for honeymooners or those just looking for that quintessential luxury vacation — but the Maldives can be complicated both logistically and culturally. Here's what you need to know.

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