10 things I wish I knew before going to the Maldives

The Maldives is the definition of what dreams are made of, like that perfect picture-inspired vacation or that fantasy of quitting your job to live on an exotic island for the rest of your life. As you know, it is one of the places that live up to your beauty expectations: it is beautiful! We can say that the Maldives really meets all those expectations. It looks exactly like the stock images floating on your computer screen: bright sunshine, transparent blue lagoons, reefs teeming with fish, shallow waters with sharks, reef stingrays, white-sand beaches stretching thousands of miles of turquoise water and blue skies. Are you wondering where are the Maldives? Well, An island nation of Southern Asia, the Maldives is an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean. While the Maldives' image is familiar, there are likely some surprising things you don't know about this unusual South Asian nation. That's especially true because travel to Maldives is a significant investment. We recommend taking into account when is the best time to travel to Maldives and is it safe to travel to the Maldives. Whether or not you have an upcoming trip (or in the planning stage), you'll need to know before going to the Maldives. 

When is the best time to travel to Maldives?

The best time to travel to Maldives is from November to April. While temperatures in the Maldives are usually stable year-round (it's the tropics, after all), if you're investing in a trip, you'd better make sure you get a good portion of the sun. The Maldives is prone to the southwest monsoon, responsible for the rainy season, and roughly coincides with May to October. November to January can be a bit windy, but you will have dry and sunny weather. Even if you choose to visit during the rainy season, you will likely see more sun than clouds. However, climate change is altering weather patterns around the world, and islands can experience the same changes.

Is it safe to travel to the Maldives?

The Maldives is incredibly safe. If crime and terrorism concern you when planning your vacation, you can breathe a big sigh of relief by travelling to the Maldives. The rates of petty and violent crime and any significant case of terrorism are low or non-existent. In fact, the main dangers you are likely to face are natural: strong currents along the beaches, which have led to drowning (after all, the Indian Ocean is one of the fiercest on the planet). Of course, take standard precautions with your personal items, using your hotel safe. Thus, it is safe to travel to the Maldives. 10 things need to know before going to the Maldives:

1. You get to see great marine life

The Maldives represent the best marine species in the world. South Ari Atoll is known for having a year-round population of whale sharks, making it one of the best places to travel in the Maldives. There is also a great chance that you will see some active pods of dolphins. In North Male Atoll, there is a high concentration of stingrays. And for a real thrill, Rasdhoo Atoll is one of the only places where you can dive with hammerhead sharks.

2. Travel to the Maldives is expensive

It's perhaps not surprising that a remote island of thousands of miles of micro islands that features luxurious flush with private overwater bungalows is expensive. However, there are some budget-friendly secrets for travellers trying to save money. The good news, it is cheaper for Europeans, those from South and Southeast Asia, and residents of the Middle East. Since they can combine lower airfares with cheap hotels in the main inhabited islands and larger cities, such as Male, which means less budget, however, local customs and laws must be followed. If you're considering a luxury resort getaway on a private island, look for average nightly rates in the low season. Many of these resorts are all-inclusive, so drinks and food will be included. However, you may have to pay more for alcoholic beverages and any other activity, such as a spa treatment. If you're not staying at an all-inclusive resort, expect to pay a considerable premium on all the food and beverages you consume. In conclusion, the Maldives is a place for special occasions like honeymoon or anniversary trips. But with those ocean views and the fantastic level of service found at many resorts, it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

3. Alcohol and bathing suits are illegal in public places

This is the thing you need to know before going to the Maldives. Since the Maldives is a Muslim country, there are essential and strictly enforced rules that you are likely to be unaware of. For example, there is no alcohol available in cities and towns; most orthodox Muslims are not even allowed to touch anything that contains alcohol. Homosexuality is also very frowned upon and illegal in the country. Women are prohibited from wearing bathing suits or clothing with too much cleavage (that is, nothing that reveals elbows, shoulders, or knees) in towns and cities. With this in mind, dress appropriately when you travel to the Maldives. If you only plan to stay in hotels in Male or other inhabited islands, you should expect to comply with these laws at all times. If you are on a tourist island, the story is very different.

4. The Maldives comprises more than 1,000 islands

The Maldives comprises around 1,190 islands dotted in the Indian Ocean. Some of the Maldives islands are so small that you will have to zoom in on the Google map before you even notice they are there. Others are just a strip of sand that sticks out of the water. That means that apart from the most populated island of Male, many islands have no more than one resort or hotel.

5. Not all islands are inhabited

As we said before, the Maldives has over 1190 islands and a total of 26 different atolls (collections of islands), but only about 200 are inhabited by people, such as Male Island, as well as agricultural towns and fishing villages. Additionally, the Maldives' uninhabited islands are used for agriculture or industry or as resorts, which travellers can visit during the day for private and romantic meals.

6. Some islands in the Maldives are artificial

Most of the islands were made up of volcanoes, but some are actually man-made. For example, Hulhumale, the island near the Velana International Airport, is a "reclaimed" or "artificial" island created in 2004 by dumping loads of sand and concrete to create a foundation. Today, it looks like a real city with paved roads, shops, houses, and a coastline.

7. The Maldives has bioluminescent beaches

One of the best treats who travel to the Maldives is stumbling across a stretch of bioluminescent sea. There are only a handful of places in the entire world where bioluminescent phytoplankton illuminates the water year-round. However, at various places, you can see the oceans shine more reliably. It includes Dusit Thani Maldives on Baa Atoll. During certain times of the year, the beach of this complex comes to life with the light that emits a starry sky in the dark waves.

8. Local customs should be considered

Travellers are unlikely to encounter violations of their freedoms while on an island vacation. However, you should know that the Maldives is a Muslim country. During this month of Ramadan, most of the local staff you will meet at the airport and the resorts do not eat or drink during the day, and many shops and services, even on the tourist islands, will be closed at certain times of prayer.

9. The resort islands of the Maldives play by their own rules

While travellers are likely to have to comply with cultural restrictions in place in cities and towns on the Maldives' most populated islands, those staying at the resorts will not have the same standards. In fact, all the above rules do not apply to tourist islands. Tourists staying on the resort islands are free to drink alcohol, eat pork, and wear bikinis, tank tops, dresses, and shorts. But remember, if you go on a day trip to a local island, you are expected to follow local customs, particularly when it comes to women's clothing and the like.

10. Mainly, each resort has its own private island

This may come as a surprise, but almost all the Maldives' resorts are on their own island. Basically, this means that any fantasy you've ever had about moving to a desert island in the middle of nowhere can come true if you travel to the Maldives. There are no shopping malls, cinemas, food, drinks, and entertainment options outside of the resorts, so be sure to do your research. From the above, if you want to disconnect surrounded by luxury and want nothing more than sun, sand, and sea, the Maldives is for you.

Additional Information

The villas are the thatched roof cabins that sit on stilts and magically float on the islands' blue water. They have an eye-catching visual image and are precisely what many travellers crave when they start planning their trip to the Maldives. However, they are not for everyone. While overwater bungalows offer a unique and private view of the ocean for a long walk to their other facilities.

Final Words

Follow this guide when you plan to travel to the Maldives, and things need to know before going to the Maldives. Your trip will be completely relaxed and just beautiful.