A small list of things you might have planned differently, to help you avoid some bumps on your dream trip.
Last year I went on a two-stage trip to the Maldives. In the first 8 days I was at work, testing different hotels, on an itinerary that had previously been assembled for a group of reporters – what we call print trip. Then, I extended the trip for another 10 days alone, following a script that I organized myself. It is this second phase that I will talk about here. It was my first trip to the countryside, and although I did a lot of research, today I see that I would have done some things slightly differently, even if they were absolutely dream days. If you are planning a trip there, maybe you can learn from the mistakes I made:
Divide the itinerary between two distant islands
It seems strange to travel the world to stay in only one place, but the prevailing tourism pattern in the Maldives is the same: the resort is the destination. In my case, since my goal was diving, I tried to stay in two different regions. But in the end the scenery was equally beautiful in both places, and the transition from one to the other was tiring and expensive because it involved:
– Transfer by speedboat to a nearby island
– Van to the airport of this island
– Flight by plane (with long wait for boarding) back to Malé, the capital
– Transfer from Malé airport to the seaplane terminal
– Looonga waits at the seaplane terminal
– Seaplane flight
That is, one day lost and about $ 1000 of transportation per person. If you choose to stay in two different hotels, choose at least one near Male, accessible with a speedboat transfer, which is much cheaper (and faster) than connecting flights in the Maldives.
Swap seaplane for plane
Everything would have been easier if I had swapped the first leg of the previous perrengue with a seaplane flight from my hotel door. It turns out that getting there was possible in two ways: seaplane or plane + speedboat. The second option was cheaper (about US $ 200 less per person) and ended up seducing me. But it was the cheap that turned out to be expensive. This is because Male National Airport is in chaos and the planes never leave on time. So, if you had chosen the seaplane, you would not have needed a speedboat + van transfer to another island or to change terminals in Male. That is, if you want to save money, don’t change seaplane for plane, much less if there is a connection involved.
Close an all inclusive package
Fearing the price of drinks in the Maldives, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic (think water or coffee for $ 5), I ended up opting for a package deal. all included so you don’t have to do math on vacation and avoid surprises when checking out. But that makes a season in the Maldives too expensive. To give you an idea, sometimes the fare with three meals and drinks doubles the value of half board without drinks. And the truth is that, despite being good with a glass and fork, I would have spent a lot less if I had opted for half board without drinks. Aside from that, the alcoholic beverages included in the all included often leaves something to be desired.
Go in the rainy season
The rainy season in the Maldives is from May to October. From November to April, good weather is practically guaranteed. I made the trip in the first half of October and I had two days of bad weather, with continuous rain. In addition, we also had some days of very strong wind, which left the sea rough. On an 18 day trip, it wasn’t a problem. But for those who are going to spend a week, it can be disappointing. The point is: the rates are much lower in the rainy season, which ends up being an incentive to take the risk. But next time I would bet on the dry season.
Staying alone in bungalow on stilts
I bet you are shocked by this statement. But the fact is that bungalows that stand on the sand are also great and can represent good economy. Aside from that, I really would have liked to sleep more on land on days when the wind and rain were strong. With so much water moving, I felt a bit like I was on a boat in the middle of the storm. Next time, I’d split my stay between beach and stilts to have both experiences.
Look for accommodation in the Maldives
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
