Maldives is incredibly popular among beach and beach resort enthusiasts. Of course, only wealthy citizens go there. The archipelago consists of a huge number of islands, most of which are uninhabited. Rest in local resorts captivates the primeval charm of nature and the simplicity of the islanders' life. However, tours to the islands can not be called cheap, since only to Male the cheapest ticket costs from 16,990 rubles. In addition, five-star and four-star hotels are predominantly operating on the islands, and you cannot call them cheap accommodation. Tourists often consider the option of an independent trip to the Maldives. But this raises many questions. In our article we will try to answer some of them. We hope that our information will be useful and help tourists to decide what they need to travel to the Maldives.
How to organize a vacation yourself
Travel agency services will greatly facilitate your trip, but also significantly increase its cost. For this reason, some travelers think about an independent trip to the Maldives. After all, the unique beauty of advertising booklets fully corresponds to reality, as evidenced by the numerous reviews of experienced holidaymakers.
To organize any trip, you need to know a lot about the country in which you intend to go. The main issue that needs to be addressed is the documents. Their design lies purely on your shoulders if you decide to organize a trip to the Maldives on your own. Where to begin? Firstly, it is necessary to prepare documents in advance.
As for tickets, you can use online offers to purchase them. Now there are many companies offering passengers to choose the most profitable option by price, date, airline.
If you are planning a budget trip to the Maldives in 2018, then at least 30-40 thousand rubles should be allocated only for the flight. This is exactly the cost of cheap round-trip tickets when departing from St. Petersburg or Moscow. You can fly to the Maldives from other cities: Krasnodar, Samara, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Rostov-on-Don. The cost of tickets also starts at about 30 thousand rubles.
What documents are needed
The main thing you need to travel to the Maldives is the documents. Many tourists wonder if they need a visa to travel to these islands. To visit the Maldives for tourism for up to thirty days, a visa is not required for Russians, which greatly simplifies the task.
The list of documents for a trip to the Maldives includes:
- Flights
- International passport.
- A ticket, if you have one.
- Insurance policy.
- A document from the bank for the export of foreign currency (if you export more than 10 thousand dollars per person).
- Credit card.
- Driving license (if you intend to rent a car).
When preparing for the trip, check the validity period of your passport. It must be valid for another three months from the moment you arrive on the islands. It is extremely imprudent to travel long distances with a document whose validity is about to expire, because unforeseen circumstances may occur during the trip, because of which you will not have time to return to your homeland on time. If you plan a cheap trip to the Maldives, experienced travelers recommend taking a moderate amount of money with you. This can be from about 3 to 6 thousand rubles, or 50-100 dollars a day.
Documents for children
Do not forget about the documents for a trip to the Maldives for children. If you are traveling with a minor child, but the second parent (mother or father) does not go on vacation, you must have a power of attorney from him (notarized).
In the case when the children go abroad as part of a group (without mom and dad), a power of attorney from both parents is required.
Border crossing rules
In order for your trip to the Maldives to take place from the very beginning, you must arrive at the airport in advance. It is better to do this in 2.5 - 3 hours.
To board your flight you must:
- Pass customs control by filling out a declaration. Forms can be obtained in front of the customs line.
An important point is the amount of money exported by you abroad:
- If you export up to 3 thousand dollars per person, then they should not be declared.
- If you take with you up to 10 thousand dollars for each family member, then the money is declared, and the passage is through the red corridor.
- When exporting more than 10 thousand dollars, bank documents are required for each.
Customs control takes place in the same wing where they are registered for the flight. After receiving the boarding pass, you must pass the border control. Next is landing on an airplane. Check-in ends forty minutes before the plane takes off.
Departure Rules from Maldives
When departing from the Maldives, you must:
- Arrive at the airport in advance.
- Pass customs control of baggage.
- Go to the front desk of your flight.
- After receiving the boarding pass, you must go through passport control and fill out the registration card for the departure.
- Go to the lounge of your flight.
Climate
A trip to the Maldives is the dream of any active tourist. The islands are able to win the heart of any traveler. Stunning nature and mild climate make this place unique. Weather conditions determine the time for a trip. The islands have a tropical climate. In general, the weather in the Maldives is unchanged throughout the year. For a beach holiday, there is no better place.
The average air temperature here is between +24 and +31 degrees Celsius during the day and night. It is almost impossible to feel the difference between temperatures in different seasons.
However, seasonality is present on the islands, as monsoons influence climatic conditions. Thanks to their efforts, tropical rainy summers are replaced by dry winters. There are no other seasons here. Therefore, we can say that the best time to travel to the Maldives is winter.
The tourist season on the islands begins in December and ends in April. At this time, the atolls and islands are crowded with tourists who flee from the severe frosts observed on other continents. If you are planning a trip to the Maldives at this time, you need to prepare in advance. The dry season is incredibly popular among holidaymakers. This is not due at all to the lack of rain, but to the calm of the sea and low humidity. The calm weather and mild temperatures allow you to fully enjoy a beach holiday and get a beautiful tan. Fans of the underwater world also seek to visit the islands during this period in order to enjoy the clear waters of the ocean.
Rain season
In mid-April, the rainy season begins, which lasts until the end of November. According to reviews, a trip to the Maldives at this time is much more profitable than in the high season. Significantly cheaper will be renting a house and flying. The rains themselves do not cause significant inconvenience, since they are very different from the usual cold autumn showers that are observed in our latitudes.
The rainy season on the islands is a time of universal flowering of tropical plants, a time of fresh sea breezes. Showers here are strong, but short-term, lasting more than an hour. After they finish, the bright sun reappears in the sky. The beaches dry out at an incredible rate. The only possible drawback may be high humidity, which not everyone tolerates well.
The most difficult month in terms of showers is July. At this time, the islands are really cloudy, and the rains are often accompanied by real hurricanes.
Perfect time
In general, we can say that the ideal period for a vacation on the islands is December - January, because at that time there is a calm sea, there are no winds, rains and high temperatures. However, it is worthwhile to prepare in advance for the fact that you will have to pay dearly for this pleasure. High season - a time of massive influx of tourists.
For fans of surfing, experts recommend choosing a transition period between monsoons, the time of the change of seasons. It is during such periods that the strongest winds and waves are observed. This weather is typical for April, mid-November and March.
A favorable time for a beach holiday during the tropical summer is from September to November. Showers are rare, and they pour at night.
The most profitable financially for the rest is the period from February to March. Prices are even lower in July and August, but the weather is very unfavorable. The most optimal cost is the period from May to June.
Security
The islands are quite safe to travel if you follow certain rules (we will talk about them later). However, at the beginning of 2018, it was recommended to abandon trips to the Maldives. Such a statement was made by the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka. This is due to political unrest in the region. There was no open threat, but there were certain prerequisites, since a state of emergency was even introduced. Of course, this event did not affect the tourist regions. The main movement was observed in the capital - the city of Male.
How much will the trip cost
Holidays in the Maldives can be very different. It all depends on which accommodation option you prefer. Local atolls offer five-star and four-star hotels with a high level of service.
A trip to the Maldives for two “all inclusive” will cost at least 140 thousand (for 7-8 nights) if you stay in a four-star hotel. Luxurious bungalows on a sandy beach attract any tourist. But for many, these are just dreams. The cost of one night in a luxury apartment can reach 25 thousand rubles. Not everyone can afford such a vacation. Therefore, the Maldives is called a resort for moneybags.
Most tourists prefer independent trips, which help to significantly save money. In the Maldives, you can find not only luxury housing, but also more budget options. Experienced tourists have long enjoyed all the advantages of the Internet, booking apartments on their own using the sites "Agoda" and "Booking". These resources allow you to find the most budget options, so they are popular all over the world.
Tourists recommend using the hotel search engines, analyze all the offers available, be sure to read real reviews. The cost of living in the same hotel on different sites may vary by 10-30%. One of the best resources is considered RoomGuru and Hotellook. Which one to use is up to you.
Guesthouses
Do not think that the Maldives is only fashionable hotels and atolls. It's not like that at all. On the islands there is not only expensive and average accommodation, but also cheap guesthouses. If you are planning a budget trip to the Maldives for two, you can try to find housing for 3000 rubles per day.
Hulumale, which is still under construction, is a 20-minute drive from the airport in Male. In general, it is more like a sleeping area. Here you can find the cheapest guesthouses. The room rate in them starts from 3 thousand rubles a day. For the money, you get new apartments of modest size with good furniture, cleaning products and fresh linens. The price includes breakfast.
Hulumale is a district that was built to unload Male, as the capital was literally crowded with residents and tourists. But budget guesthouses can be found in other regions of the islands.
To Maldives from Sri Lanka
Experienced tourists have long tried budget trips to the Maldives from Sri Lanka. The islands are located just 50 minutes away. Holidays in the Maldives are quite costly, as transfers between atolls are included in the total amount.
However, the cost of a flight from Sri Lanka to the islands is not so high. In one trip you can see two countries at once. Rest can be started in Sri Lanka and get acquainted with its rich heritage, and then continue in the Maldives. Tickets can be purchased in advance using online resources. However, it is worth remembering that in Sri Lanka you need to apply for a visa. This must be done at home.
Diving
The main entertainment on the islands is diving. Many tourists seek to get to the Maldives to enjoy the underwater beauties. The cost of diving excursions in different companies can vary greatly. On average, you need to focus on 4 thousand rubles. Local instructors also offer swimming with whale sharks. They are absolutely not dangerous for people, because they feed only on plankton. Despite this fact, this attraction is not for the faint of heart, since it is located near large sharks quite scary.
In addition, local guides offer ocean fishing, dolphin watching, a submarine tour and a seaplane ride. On the islands it is interesting to even just wander in shallow water surrounded by small fish. At Lavianim Atoll, a night walk through the luminous water, in which there are a myriad of fireflies, will allow you to experience unique sensations. There are a lot of dolphins on Baa, which are watched by entire excursion groups.
Customs regulations Maldives
Going to the country, it is necessary to study the intricacies of customs clearance so that there are no problems. Upon arrival in the country you have to go through careful control. Inspection is subject not only to luggage, but also hand luggage. According to the legislation of the country, the import of drugs, any alcohol, explosive substances, firearms and cold steel, pornographic materials, military paraphernalia, pork, animals, etc. is prohibited in the Maldives.
There are also restrictions on the export of goods from the country. It is not allowed to export:
- Black corals and products from them.
- Sharp items are not allowed in carry-on baggage. They are recommended to be put in luggage.
As souvenirs, you can take home sea shells, booklets, T-shirts with symbols, handicrafts of local craftsmen (wicker baskets, dishes, reed carpets), silver jewelry, coconut oil.
Recommendations for tourists
Going to the Maldives, you need to know a lot about them in order to understand how to behave properly on vacation. Muslim country. This means that Europeans should dress in accordance with local traditions. For walks in Male or the islands should wear long trousers, skirts, shirts with sleeves. Men are not recommended to make contact with Maldivian women.
The law categorically prohibits the export and collection of live or dead corals.
Do not drink alcohol in public places. Moreover, it is impossible to purchase it. Only a few hotels offer strong drinks to their guests.
It is forbidden to swim and sunbathe topless in the country. Bikini swimwear are not welcome, it is better to use capes and tunics for the beach.
Before you travel to the islands, it is recommended that you be vaccinated against hepatitis A.
At local resorts, you can only drink bottled water, since local water is usually desalinated. It is cleaned, but due to high temperatures it spoils very quickly.
On vacation, you should take all the necessary medicines with you, since it is difficult to find pharmacy stalls in the resorts.
Experienced tourists recommend stocking up on sunscreens. Bathing is also better in clothes, because the skin reacts very quickly to active sunlight.
Reviews
Maldives is an exotic island country, delighting with beautiful white beaches and incredibly clear ocean water. Every lover of beach holidays and vivid impressions dreams of visiting local resorts. About the trip to the Maldives, tourists reviews are about the same. Almost all people admire the beautiful nature, beaches, clear water of the ocean. Among the minuses, most travelers call high prices for everything, including hotel accommodation, food, transportation, alcohol. In addition, some lovers of outdoor activities in the Maldives seemed bored and monotonous.