Joanna James
As one of the region's premier beach holiday hubs, Maldives welcomes honeymooners and visitors from around the globe. Here are 7 tips to keep in mind when planning your Maldivian getaway.
One mistake all first time visitors make when planning a Maldivian holiday is allocating too many days in the archipelago. A beach holiday can get monotonous and boring quite quickly so avoid overstaying your welcome in paradise by cutting short your trip by a few days. Having said that, make sure your Maldives holiday is not too short either. Anything more than two weeks is too much while anything less than a week is too few days to explore the country.
Unlike Sri Lanka and other beach hubs in the region, travelling from the Male International Airport to one's desired resort can be less than straight forward. Seaplanes and boat transfers are the main ways in which tourists can reach their hotel of choice but these transfer services are not available throughout the day and night.
With most of its best resort hubs occupying the remote outer atolls, many visitors only touchdown in or take off from Male for a hot second before departing for their resort base or back to their home countries. This is a big mistake as Male is the cultural heart of the country and home to some of its most iconic landmarks. The Grand Friday Mosque, Republic Square and the National Museum all deserve a proper tour.
This is simply a fact of life for all vacationers heading to the Maldives so might as well get used to the idea. Don't skimp on the accommodation when in the Maldives as it is where one will be spending the majority of the holiday. Embrace the pool villa or beach bungalow Maldives has to offer regardless of whether it's at Faarufushi Maldives or any other property and live it up for once.
As an Islamic country, alcohol consumption is restricted to the resort islands in the Maldives. This means that bars, night clubs and other venues which typically serve alcohol in most other destinations are only accessible within the resorts themselves. Drinking in public is prohibited by law and thus bar hopping and similar night time activities are not accessible in the country.
Public displays of affection are also frowned upon by the local culture due to its deep-rooted Islamic faith so avoid kissing and hugging in public. Hand holding and other less intense forms of affection are permissible while hugs and kisses should be confined to one's own private chambers or the resort isles.
Contrary to popular belief, there's more to a Maldivian holiday than working on one's tan. Sign up for a sunset cruise or a sailing trip to truly experience the beauty of the country and enjoy a spot of scuba diving or snorkelling too.
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