FAQs about Maldives Tour Packages
Q. How is Maldives as a destination for solo travellers?
A. Before going through Maldives packages figure out your prerogative, whether you would be
travelling solo, as a couple or with your family. Interestingly, there are several packages
meant exclusively for the solo traveller, for plenty of people around the world love travelling
solo to The Maldives. An island most popular with backpackers is Maafushi, about 27
kilometre from the capital Male, on the South Male Atoll. The reason for the island’s popularity
with backpackers and solo travellers is its vast array of opportunities and considerably low
prices of accommodation. This biggish island with its population of around 3000 people is
replete with little attractions and places of sightsee and, not to mention, snow-white beaches
skirting an azure sea, diving sites and places to go angling in. There is a glut of plush
guesthouses, holiday homes and hotels on the beach and amid scenic wilderness too, which
are more budget-friendly than those you would find at more remoter beaches with a solitary
resort. Backpackers love Maafushi’s Bikini Beach, the narrow strip of sand which has several
seafood restaurants along with a few hotels and a dive centre.
Q. What is the best season to travel to Maldives?
A. Maldives tour packages can be booked round the year, but you need to be aware of the
archipelago’s seasons and which most ideal for a visit. The only season in Maldives is the
monsoon. But there are distinctly different monsoon it experiences; the dry and wet monsoon.
The wet monsoon is typically the summer months, from May up to November, when you
might find frequent rain showers and humidity through the day. The average day temperature
reaches a maximum 29 degree Celsius in these months. The frequent rains lowers the water
temperature making it imperfect for scuba diving or snorkelling, and with no seasonal oceanic
currents you wouldn’t have any visibility for spotting marine life. But it is a good time for
budget travellers since the hotel rates are significantly slashed owing to lower footfalls. The
dry monsoon spell from December to April is when tourists arrive by the busloads to the
Maldives. The humidity is under control in these months and the rains have nearly petered
out, limited only to a light mizzle in the afternoons and night. The temperature at this time
lingers between 27 and 29 degree Celsius. But since Maldives does not receive cyclones or
high winds at any point, you can have a pleasant time in this tropical paradise.
Q. Are there direct flights from India to Maldives?
A. Before settling for one of the Maldives holiday packages you need to first book your flights
and look for direct connectivity from your city to Male, the capital of the Maldives. Maldives’
closest neighbours are India and Sri Lanka, lying to the south-west of Trivandrum in Kerala
and to the east-west of Sri Lanka. There are direct flights from Colombo in Sri Lanka to Male
and now there are non-stop flights to the Maldives from all major Indian metros such as
Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kochi. The domestic carriers that connect Indian cities to
the Maldives include SpiceJet, IndiGo, AirAsia, national carrier Air India, Vistara and GoFirst,
and the international airlines serving the route comprise Sri Lankan Airlines, Lufthansa, British
Airways, Air France, China Southern, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Hong
Kong Airlines to name a few. There are flights from Delhi to Male too, but it comes with a
stopover in either Kochi, Bangalore or Mumbai.
Q. Where exactly is the Maldives?
A.
The Maldives is an archipelagic country with nearly 1200 islands formed
out of natural atolls. It lies on the Indian Ocean to the south-west of
Kerala’s capital, Trivandrum and on the east-west side of Sri Lanka. SriLankan airlines,
for instance, operates flights from Colombo that get you to Male in an
hour straight. India and Sri Lanka are the Maldives’ closest neighbours.
Q. What is the visa procedure for a holiday in the Maldives?
A.
The Maldives provides visa on-arrival to its visitors provided you hold a
passport that has validity of six months and more and can produce your
hotel booking voucher or invoice stating the precise dates of check-in
and out, as well as your return flight ticket details. This can be done
by queuing up at the immigrating counter of the Male International
Airport.
Q. What is an accepted currency in the Maldives?
A.
While the Maldivian Rufiyaa is the national currency with 1 Maldivian
Rufiyaa being equal to 4.47 Indian Rupees, the USD remains the more
accepted currency for tourists. Your resorts prefer you pay up for any
additional services in USD. Even when pursuing water activities or boat
cruises, you need to make your deposit in USD. On a trip to the
Maldives, ensure you have enough USD loaded up in your multi-currency
card aside from carrying a small wad of cash.
Q. Can I visit the Maldives in the summer months?
A.
The Maldives receives two kinds of monsoon, wet monsoon and dry monsoon.
In the summer months which is the wet monsoon season that lasts between
May and November isn’t quite ideal for a trip because the rain showers
are intense and the humidity levels are also quite high. The average
temperature lingers at 29 degree Celsius in these months. It is also not
the best season for scuba diving or snorkelling because the water
temperatures are lower and there are no seasonal oceanic currents as
well leading to reduced visibility for marine life spotting. But this
may well be a good time to get some off-season rates at hotels.
Q. Are there frequent flights in and out of the Maldives?
A.
Yes, the Maldives have emerged into a well-travelled destination across
the world with regular flights in and out of the Male International
Airport. Some popular airlines with flights to the Maldives include Sri
Lankan Airlines, SpiceJet, GoAir, IndiGo, Air India, Air France,
Emirates, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Etihad, AirAsia,
Qatar Airways, China Southern, Hong Kong Airlines among others.
Q. What sort of electric outlet is used in the Maldives?
A.
In most places, you can get around with the standard UK 3-pin flat
plugs. The electrical current is between 220 and 240 volts and your
resort can provide you with adaptors to charge your phone or laptop
batteries. But it is always good to notify them ahead of your travel.
Q. How good is the Wi-Fi connectivity in the Maldives?
A.
All 5-star resorts provide complimentary Wi-Fi in your villa/cottage and
even in a few of the public spaces. The network is usually strong
enough for you to browse the net, use your social media pages, upload
photos or make a Skype call. At guesthouses and more economic
accommodation options, you are charged for the same. You also have the
option of buying a data pack locally to not bloat up your internet
bills.
Q. Can I carry my alcohol with me to the Maldives?
A.
Not at all, in fact it is illegal to bring alcohol into the Maldives.
Your resort of stay would have a special permit from its government for
serving premium international liquor brands. And you can enjoy your
favourite poison without any hassle.
Q. Can I get a seaplane anytime I want to check into my resort in the Maldives?
A.
That won’t be possible because seaplanes are functional only in the
daylight hours usually between 06:00 am and 04:00 pm. In case your
international flights arrives post 04:00 pm, then you would have to
spend the night at a nearby hotel in Male and take the earliest flight
out to your atoll.
Q. What is the water temperature in the Maldives?
A.
Owing to the Maldives tropical climate, the water temperatures stay warm
through the year, hovering between 28 and 30 degree Celsius. This is an
ideal temperature to go for a swim, and simply perfect if you intend to
go diving or snorkelling.
