I have planned vacations for my family all around the world — from Antarctica to Zanzibar, but I have to admit, planning a trip to the Maldives, an archipelago that lies southeast of the Indian subcontinent in the Indian Ocean, was particularly challenging. Partly because of the geography and partly because of the overwhelming number of resort choices, you really need to do your research before embarking on this adventure.
To get you started, here are 10 things to know about vacationing in the Maldives:
1: It’s a really long way to go.
If you’re flying from North America, prepare for what could be the longest trip of your life. From the west coast of the United States, it’s a minimum of 30 hours of travel one-way when accounting for flight and layover time. For that reason alone, I would not recommend this destination for families with young children. You need to be a seasoned traveler, capable of entertaining yourself for hours on end. My children are actually young adults, but the journey really pushed their limits.
KidTripster Tip: Rather than flying to the Maldives all in one push, I strongly recommend that you break up the long flights. For example, you could route the trip through Doha, Dubai or Istanbul and stop for a 3-day stay. Better yet, plan a multiple-city itinerary with a layover in one city on the way there and another on the way back. We did not do this on our trip and wished that we had.
International flights arrive in Malé, the country’s capital, but you’ll likely need to take an additional regional flight to your resort’s atoll (island group) and then either a seaplane or speedboat to the actual resort.
2: Choosing where to stay can be challenging.
The Maldives consists of 1,192 islands, but people inhabit only 200 of the islands. The islands are arranged into 26 atolls (island groups). In all, there are around 170 full-service resorts to choose from, so how in the world do you pick?
Ask yourself these questions when making resort reservations:
First, ask yourself: how important is it to your family to stay in one of those over-the-water-bungalows that flood your Instagram feed? If it’s a priority, get ready to pay a small fortune, especially since most of those bungalows accommodate just two people. The resorts that have larger family-friendly bungalows do not charge family-friendly prices; you could literally pay $1000 or $2000 (or more) per night. If you’ve been saving your hotel points, now’s the time to cash them in!
The next question is: what do you want to do in the Maldives? Our family had three priorities: 1) learn to scuba dive at a resort with on-site instruction, 2) swim with whale sharks, and 3) snorkel with manta rays. So, we looked for resorts that offered these activities.
We also checked when the whale sharks frequent certain atolls to see if the time aligned with our trip. I’d recommend contacting the resort directly to ask this very important question. You’ll also want to ask about manta rays — both reef rays and the more impressive Giant Oceanic Manta Rays. Despite your best planning, it’s possible that you may not see whale sharks or giant rays on your excursions, so prepare yourself and your children for that reality. Even so, I guarantee you will see something amazing in these pristine waters.
By using those filters and online reviews, you’ll start to whittle down your choices. We stayed at Fiyavalhu Resort on the island Mandhoo in the South Ari Atoll. For a full review of the resort, click here.
3: It’s a big splurge.
I’m stating the obvious here, but a Maldivian vacation is a once-in-a-lifetime splurge. From the United States, flights are expensive. Lodging is pricey. Excursions add up. And then there are extra transfers, taxes and fees. Be prepared.
KidTripster Tip: Credit cards are widely accepted. We never needed local currency.
[ Related: Yes, it’s expensive, but consider our 7 Reasons to Visit the Maldives ]
4: This is a resort vacation.
A vacation to the Maldives is all about resort life. You’ll likely have no opportunity to mix with locals. That’s because — with rare exceptions — nearly all the full-service resorts are isolated on their own islands.
We stayed at one of only two (that we know of) resorts located on a local island — in this case, Mandhoo, population 400 — but there was very little mixing. The general manager of Fiyavalhu Resort told me that the locals live a very simple life and are extremely private; they don’t want their island to be overrun by tourists. So, the resort agrees to give 30-minute guided tours only twice a week.
5: The Maldives is a conservative country.
Because the Maldives is a predominately Muslim country, the culture is very conservative. Visitors should respect local customs and dress conservatively, though Western swimwear is acceptable at resorts.
At our resort, the menu was halal-certified, a guarantee that the food was unadulterated and prepared in accordance with Islamic law. Some foods are forbidden, like pork.
By local laws, homosexuality is illegal in the Maldives. However, resort islands are generally welcoming to all visitors. All travelers should avoid public displays of affection.
6: Public alcohol consumption is prohibited in the Maldives, but…
While public alcohol consumption is illegal, the rule does not apply to resorts located on their own islands, which is the vast majority of them. Because Fiyavalhu Resort shares its island with locals, it does not serve alcohol on the premises. That being said, if you really wanted a drink, the resort would ferry you to a boat just off the dock, where alcohol could be served. During our stay, we never saw anyone go to the boat.
KidTripster Tip: Do not bring alcohol in or out of the country, even in checked baggage. It will be confiscated.
7: You can travel to the Maldives without having a pre-arrival visa.
Admittedly, the visa process is a little confusing. Online, you’ll read that you can apply for a free 30-day visa when you arrive at the airport, assuming that you have a passport with at least one month of validity. However, once in the airport on your way to the Maldives, no one actually uses the word, visa.
Instead, you’ll be instructed to complete a Travel Declaration Form online via IMUGA. Be sure to complete the form within 96 hours of your flight time — both going to the Maldives and departing from the Maldives. However, you may have to wait until you have your boarding pass in hand, as you’ll need something called a PNR number listed on the pass. Upon completion, you’ll receive a QR code, though we were never asked for the code, presumably because our scanned passports synced with the electronic declaration forms.
8: English is widely spoken, but American tourists are few and far between.
The local language in the Maldives is Dhivehi, but we had absolutely no problem communicating in English.
According to the Maldives Ministry of Tourism, most visitors (by nationality) visit from Russia, India, China, United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. American visitors rank seventh on that list with only a 4% share of visits. Because our resort practiced halal, it welcomed a lot of Muslim visitors for the European Union in addition to Russia. It made for a very international experience.
9: Don’t go unless you love water.
If your family is simply looking for an all-inclusive resort in a tropical location with good a beach and an infinity pool, let’s be honest — you don’t need to crisscross the globe. The reason to come to the Maldives is for what’s under the water. If your family is lukewarm about snorkeling and marine exploration, I’d recommend that you go somewhere closer to home.
10: The Maldives doesn’t feel crowded, no matter when you go.
December to April are the driest months with little rain and lower humidity. Monsoon season begins between April and May and extends through October or November; the least visited months are May, June and September. Even though we visited in December, traditionally the peak month, it didn’t feel crowded. In fact, we often felt like we had this island paradise all to ourselves.
Because the Maldives straddles the equator, the water temperature hardly varies throughout the year. The sea temperature ranges from 77 to 90° F. In other words, it’s wonderfully perfect.
