The Ultimate Maldives Travel Guide
The Maldives is one of the first places people think of when they think of long-haul beach holidays and it's easy to see why. With its remote and relaxing islands with white sand beaches and tropical palms swaying, staying in villas that sit on top of gorgeous turquoise waters, it is truly paradise. But there are also a lot of questions that come with going there such as the best time of year to visit, how to get there and how long to stay for. In this article, we’re going to give you a comprehensive guide to Maldives holidays so that you can spend less time worrying and more time looking forward to your holiday.
When is the best time to visit the Maldives?
The Maldives tropical climate means it is warm all year round with temperatures averaging at least late 20s Celsius throughout the coldest months (October to January). Between December and April is the best time to visit as it is the driest period with low amounts of rainfall. The monsoon season can run from late April into mid-November but it is at its worst between June and August. At this time the weather is also the warmest and is very humid. Showers are possible at any time of year however they tend to be far less frequent in the winter months.
How to get to the Maldives?
Maldives has four international airports, however, most flights go into Male, the nation’s capital city. You can fly directly to the Maldives from the UK from London Heathrow with either British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. The regularity varies seasonally from three times a week to daily.
Many people choose to twin the Maldives with another destination, usually a city on the outbound or return leg. Popular options are Dubai and Abu Dhabi. When you enquire with CT4N Travel we’ll find the best flights to work around you and whatever you are looking for from your Maldives holiday.
How long to go to the Maldives for?
People often wonder how long to go to the Maldives for, and the answer is, it depends. If you are someone who enjoys relaxing in the sun and doing very little or swimming and exploring the shallows and reefs around the island, then you can spend a longer time there. Alternatively, if you are someone who likes to be active and do and explore on your holiday then 4 or 5 days is probably enough.
Here at CT4N Travel, we usually recommend going for no longer than a week. This is because it gives you ample time to relax, enjoy the resort and do many of the activities that the island has to offer. You can then fly home or to another destination. Alternatively, you can do two or three centres within the Maldives itself, staying at different resorts in different locations, so that you can see what they have to offer.
Where is best to stay in the Maldives?
Location
The Maldives is made up of a chain of 26 natural atolls, which appear as islands with no centre. They are in fact lots of small islands on the edge of coral reefs. Male, the capital and home to the main international airport is fairly central within this chain and sits in the south of the Male Atoll. It is from there you will likely have to transfer to your hotel/resort. Therefore, when picking where to stay it is important to take into account how far you are willing to travel after you land in Male. Those hotels and resorts in the same or nearby atolls can be reached by speedboat, otherwise, you will be transferring to your resort by seaplane or catching an internal flight and then a speedboat or seaplane from there. If you don’t want to travel too far other atolls nearby are Ari, Felidhoo, Malaku or Nilandhoo so you can look at resorts in these.
Hotel
There are hundreds of hotels and resorts in the Maldives so picking can be difficult. The Maldives is a luxury destination with the majority of hotels and resorts being either 4 or 5*. Our brand Wintasun, which is your one-stop shop for all things winter sun holidays including the Maldives, picks three properties out of all those we sell as our Chosen Ones. For the Maldives, these are Conrad Rangali, Kuredu Island Resort & Spa and Crossroads Maldives. Click on each's name to visit their page on our Wintasun website.
Conrad Rangali is a 5-star resort in the South Ari Atoll just a 30-minute seaplane from Male. With both a family and adults-only island there’s plenty for everyone, the highlight here is the world's first undersea restaurant.
Conrad Rangil - Credit Yashrib Ahmed
Kuredu Island Resort & Spa is a 4-star resort in the Lhaviyani Atoll which is 145km north of Male and can be reached by a 35-minute seaplane. Kuredu features everything you could want from a Maldives resort, a choice of beach or overwater villas, 4 buffet restaurants, 3 a la carte restaurants, watersports and not to be outdone by the Conrad Rangali, an opportunity to visit the 5.8 Undersea Restaurant at the nearby Hurawalhi Maldives.
Kuredu Island Resort & Spa
Crossroads Maldives is the perfect resort for those who want plenty of choice for everything. Home to Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and the SAii Lagoon Curio Collection by Hilton, there is also an exclusive retail experience at ’The Avenue’ and 14 restaurants to choose from. All of this and more is just a 20-minute speedboat from Male.
Crossroads Maldives
As we mentioned above, if you’re looking for a longer stay, want a change of scenery or make the most of your budget, you can do a multi-centre holiday within the Maldives spending 4 or 5 days in two or more resorts. This can enable you to get a feel of different resorts or get a 5* experience at a lower budget with 3 or 4 nights in a 5* resort and then the remainder at a 4*.
Board Basis
Most resorts in the Maldives offer an all-inclusive option that is generally the most popular and is a great choice for Maldives holidays. As there are often no other facilities than those of the resort on the island, all-inclusive is the best value for money as you know what you are getting and do not have to pay for much more when you get there.
Things to Do in the Maldives?
Unsurprisingly, the best things to do in the Maldives revolve around the water. It is the perfect place for those who like watersports or who want to explore marine life. Snorkelling and scuba diving are very popular here with resorts making use of the beautiful coral reefs on which they are built to explore the marine environment. Snorkel at will or get your PADI license and dive deeper to explore everything this amazing paradise has to offer. Stay above water with paddle boarding or go out into deeper waters on jet skis. Boat tours are also very popular here with dolphin-watching trips and sunset cruises amongst the best.
We hope that we have opened your eyes to what Maldives has to offer and answered any questions you may have had. To find out more about holidays to Maldives, visit our page or call us on 01157843388. If you’re wanting to book, call us, email enquiries@ct4ntravel.co.uk or fill in our contact form with what you’re looking for and we’ll be more than happy to help you out. Don't forget to follow us on social media to find out the next Destination of the Week and find out about our other destinations here at Wintasun. If you've been to Maldives, where was your favourite place? What was the best thing you did, or do you think we missed anything? Let us know in the comments or on social media, just click the buttons below which take you to our social pages.