The Maldives are the epitome of island paradise and the dream destination of pretty much everyone you ask – seriously, ask anyone around you right now if they’d want to visit the Maldives. 🙂

These pristine, beautiful islands in the Indian Ocean are a haven of natural beauty and one of those places that definitely lives up to the hype, as we got to discover recently.

Prior to planning our flights, I hadn’t really done much research into the Maldives (it was just one of those places I knew I wanted to go to) and shortly after planning, I soon realised how it was a lot trickier than I initially anticipated. There’s a lot more choice than I realized, so many things you should pack (and so many things you shouldn’t), local laws I had no clue about, and a whole range of activities those pretty Pinterest photos never seem to highlight.

To that end, I’ve put together this guide to helping you plan your stay in the Maldives. Some stuff might seem more obvious than other but hopefully, each of these will help you make the most out of your time in one of the most beautiful places on earth!

7 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

1.) The Maldives is a Muslim country. This means no alcohol, so on your way over, skip the duty-free purchases. If you buy any, you will get it taken off you at the airport. The point is, you’re not allowed to bring alcohol with you.

2.) The capital city of Male is a proper city and probably one of the least photographed places here. This is where a lot of locals live and tourists never seem to visit. Even when you arrive at Male airport, you really don’t arrive on Male island itself; you actually arrive on Hulhulé Island.

3.) While the individual resort islands in the Maldives are pretty liberal, the Maldives as a country is quite conservative, so act accordingly when you’re in places like the airport. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to get into your bikini and speedos when you get to your own island resort.

4.) Each resort tends to be on its own island.

5.) Each resort typically has unique features and characters, so bear this in mind when planning. They are NOT all the same – despite what the water-villa and snorkelling photos might have you believe.

6.) Peak season in the Maldives is December till April, and the prices during this period will reflect this! There’s a good reason to visit in peak season, of course (the amazing weather being one of them), but Maldivian weather is pretty good all year round, so if you want to save some money, it’s worth considering visiting outside of peak season.

7.) A lot of the islands here have their own time (island time is a real thing here). It’s typically an hour behind local time in Male, leaving you with ‘more time’ to enjoy the sunset before dinner and generally feel like you’re somewhere entirely different (this illusion of more time adds to the enchanting experience of your Maldivian holiday).

WHAT TO PACK

Clothes:

Seriously, this is one place you definitely do NOT need to over pack for.

We’re talking light and breezy summer clothes. No one is here for your fashion, and the vibe everywhere is definitely too laid back to care. Pack a couple of smart clothes in case you feel like dressing up in the evenings, but you might find that you’re the only one who wants to.

If you do decide to go uber-stylish, do remain practical – almost everything except your room is outdoors, and heavy clothing will not work here.

Toiletries:

Pack the usual stuff. Do remember to take extra sunscreen though as there’s a lot of water-based activities here, so you’ll find that you need to top up a lot more here.

Cameras:

Don’t forget to pack your underwater camera (UK here || US here). Almost grab one of these floaters as well (UK here || US here) just in case you drop the camera.

Everything else:

Pack as usual. These islands are used to having guests and there are shops on them, so if you forget any essentials, chances are that you can get them here, so don’t worry. Also, don’t forget your medication (if you’re on any) though some islands have their own on-island doctors.

HOW TO GET THERE

Flights from whatever country you’re travelling from to the Maldives are fairly straightforward and no different than flying from say, London to Paris.

The getting to the islands is the bit you need to remember to sort out and plan ahead.

GOING BETWEEN ISLANDS

Planning a stay at more than one place in the Maldives is a great way to cram in many new experiences while you’re there (even the snorkelling will be different!). Each island is unique, and moving around helps you relive the excitement of discovering new corners of the Maldives. I can’t recommend it enough. (Plus, you get to be smug when others are leaving for home, and you’re just transferring to your next stunning Maldivian island).

To get to and from the islands, you tend to have one (or two) of three options depending on which island you’re in. You can either:

1.) Arrive by boat

2.) Travel by seaplane (the most expensive option and by far the most scenic option). Seaplane journeys are dependent on the weather, so bear that in mind when arranging your return.

3.) Travel to a local airport and then connect by boat.

You have to contact wherever you’re staying to have them organize your transfer in advance. Don’t leave this till the last minute.

If you’re moving between islands, let the islands know where you’ll be arriving from and leaving for. You won’t have much control over the time if you’re flying in between islands, as the flights are scheduled; however, the islands will coordinate and synchronize your departures and arrivals seamlessly. All you need to do is tell them the name of the place you’re going to and head back to enjoying your cocktails on the beach.

If possible, the general consensus is that you should try to experience a seaplane at least once. The journey is quite picturesque, and it’s a unique way to see the Maldives.

WHERE TO STAY

We searched far and wide for where to stay and came up trumps when it comes to amazing places to stay in the Maldives. Here are our recommendations on where to stay and why, in no particular order and absolutely backed by our personal experience:

1.) Dusit Thani Maldives

This Dusit Thani comes with its own personal butler and a range of luxurious places to stay in (ocean villas, beach villas… etc). You get your own butler and it has the largest infinity pool in the Maldives. You can either choose to be carted around in a golf buggy or cycle around. Oh, and this is the island where you get those bioluminescent plankton on the beach at night, so do look out for those when you visit.

2.) Angsana Ihuru

It’s all about intimacy at the Angsana Ihuru. It’s one of the smallest islands here, and from sunset cruises to candlelit dinners on the beach (plus a tiny deserted sandy island), the service is all intended to make you feel very special indeed. The coral reef here is one of the best on offer (you’ve got dolphins, turtles, sharks, clownfish – the works) and you’ll get to see animals that you wouldn’t easily see anywhere else.

3.) Kurumba Maldives

The Kurumba is the largest resort among them and part of this means that it comes with so much to do and see while you’re here. The range of accommodations here is quite extensive, which means that even though it’s a premium resort (it is 5-star, after all), it caters to a wider range of budgets. The sea life here is pretty good too, and as it’s located really close to Male, it’s the perfect place to start or end your Maldivian holiday.

WHAT TO EAT

In our experience, the food in the Maldives will be the least of your worries. Every place has a lot of variety on offer and if you have specific dietary requirements, inquire in advance, though you’ll be hard-pressed to find a place that can’t cater to you.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO

There’s so much you can get up to here, and although it’s best to check with your island resort to see what’s on offer, here are some reliable options you can count on regardless of where you’re located.

1.) Go snorkelling.

You can even jump right in from the beach in front of you and start to experience the beautiful and varied Maldivian wildlife.

2.) Have a romantic meal.

Private island dining, candlelit dinner by the beach, special villas – the choices are endless. Choose one and make it special.

3.) Go swimming with sharks.

Swimming with whale sharks is definitely one of those unique experiences you’ll be talking about for ages, but even if you arrive out of season, you can still go swimming with blacktip sharks, who are around pretty much all year round.

4.) Take a guided tour with a marine biologist.

Snorkelling on your own is great, but going with an expert is so much better. They spot things you might otherwise miss and can help you make the most of your experience here.

5.) Go on a sunset tour.

If you’re lucky, you’ll see some dolphins while you’re at it too. Even if you don’t, the sunset here is absolutely incredible and goes down quite well with a few glasses of champagne.

6.) Have a spa day.

You don’t even need to overthink this one. Just do it.

7.) Go swimming with manta rays.

Like whale sharks, manta rays are huge and very impressive to see in the wild. The Maldives is one of the perfect places to see them, though you do have to visit in season for this.