The Maldives is associated by the man in the street with a luxurious beach holiday. Picturesque atolls and warm crystal water attract the most sophisticated connoisseurs of comfort. Along the shores of the Indian Ocean stretches miles of secluded beaches. In addition, there is active entertainment, entertaining excursions, gastronomic delights and much more.
Road to maldives
Holidays in the Maldives, without prejudice to the budget can only afford those whose earnings are estimated above average. Relax here in economy mode does not work and it becomes clear at the stage of buying tickets.
The airport, where international flights arrive, is located on Halule Island. Regular flights from Moscow fly twice a week. A single ticket costs $ 275. It will take 8 hours and 45 minutes.
If a flight with a transfer is suitable, then you can choose Turkish Airlines, which will deliver passengers via Istanbul for $ 240. Qatari Airlines will charge $ 385 for the flight, and $ 525 for Emirates.
When flying away from the Maldives, every passenger over 2 years old is obliged to leave here $ 25 as an airport tax. The money will already be included in the ticket price or they will be asked at the reception.
Only connecting flights fly from St. Petersburg. Price, depending on the carrier, varies from 260 to 605 dollars. If you wish, you can search for tickets for discounts and sales of airlines.
From Hualule in Malé get a ferry. The ticket costs 15 MVR. If the choice fell on a classic boat, then you will have to pay 20 MVR.
Inland transport
Between the islands you can move by sea and by air. High-speed boats and “Doni” boats ride along the water, the flight can be made on a seaplane or aero-taxi. The flight from island to island will cost about 2400-3000 MVR.
Boats attract lovers of the exotic. This type of transport can accommodate up to 20 people, each of whom pay for travel from 620 to 860 MVR, depending on the destination.
You can take a taxi only in the capital due to the quality of the roads. The average trip will cost 25 MVR and 5 MVR separately for luggage. There are buses in Male. The cost of the longest trip is 4.7 MVR. In other places you can only move on foot or by bike.
Local climate
In the Maldives, it is always warm and humid. During the day, the temperature is 30 degrees plus, and at night it is 26. The water temperature fluctuates around 26 degrees of heat on average. Seasonal weather changes are almost imperceptible here. Only from May to October it rains more often and more windy weather is observed.
Holidays in the Maldives in 2018: housing prices
The main part of local hotels refers to four and five stars. Most of all there are bungalow type buildings. Three-star rooms are extremely rare. Undemanding divers love them, they only come to spend the night there.
Houses on stilts, located directly above the water - this is a great way to experience all the exotic places. Also in the Maldives, you can live right on the yacht. Accommodation here costs about the same as a room in a good hotel. At the same time it is possible to move from the atoll to the atoll.
In the Maldives, there are almost all known world hotel chains. A night in a three star hotel costs from 630 MVR for a double room. Here you can count on breakfast. If the choice fell on the "five", then you should get ready to lay out from 2000 MVR per day. This money includes renting the entire bungalow. On the atoll of Raa in Maamigili you can find hotels without stars. Living in them is from 390 MVR per day. For a number in three stars, 700 MVR are asked here, and in five - 4400 MVR. To live on the South Male Atoll in three rubles worth 470 MVR. There is only one five-star hotel, living in which costs 14,000 MVR per night.
Tips are usually not included in the bill, so the waiters can leave about 10% of the amount of the check, and the maids about 80 MVR per week of work. The porter can be given 15 MVR, and the taxi drivers are not allowed to tea.
Holidays in the Maldives in 2018 "all inclusive"
The system "all inclusive" most often offer tours for two for 7 nights or 4 nights. Usually, these are tours in four and five star hotels. It makes no sense to go to the “treshki” for this program, since the prices hardly differ from the offers of higher classes.
The cost of such a voucher in 2018 for two of five stars from Russia starts from 160,000 rubles. Hotel Paradise Island Resort & Spa at Kaafu Atoll will open its doors to tourists for 7 days for 193,000 rubles.
The peak of the season falls on the New Year. At this time, the cost of the permit increases significantly. After December 20, the cost of a voucher for two on an “all inclusive” system can reach 208,000 rubles, and a holiday tour from 29-30 even from 300,000 rubles. The beginning of January can be noted in the Maldives for 185,000 rubles, and by the middle of the price again fall to 160,000 rubles.
If 3-4 days in the Maldives is enough, then for travel
ku for two will have to pay 111,000 rubles. According to reviews of tourists, for this money you can spend a great vacation at the Royal Island Resort & Spa on the Baa Atoll. In 2018, a voucher for two here will cost 115,000 rubles.
If you do not buy a tour in advance, you can overpay for a trip 2 times. It is recommended to choose and book a hotel 2-3 months before the departure date.
Magnificent beaches of the Maldives
Beach lovers are attracted by the fine white sand and blue ocean waters. Local beaches look like pictures of advertising posters. The coastal strip is wide and spacious, there are few people. Equipped beaches of the highest category: everywhere there are sun beds, umbrellas, showers and other amenities. Most beaches belong to hotels. At the same time, the territory of three-star hotels is no worse than that of five-star hotels.
The most famous Maldivian beaches:
- Will be fine;
- Banyan Three;
- San;
- Nika;
- Hadhaha beaches;
- Kunfunadu;
- Veligandu.
Sunbathing topless and drinking alcohol is prohibited here. But night bathing can bring considerable pleasure due to the small luminous plankton and luminescent algae along the edge of the sea.
Entertainment in the Maldives
Among the most popular entertainment resorts are diving and surfing. For divers, water at 27 degrees even at a depth of 40 meters is just paradise. Visibility is maintained at 30 meters. In addition, professional diving centers abound in the Maldives.
Divers will be interested to explore several popular wrecks; the steamer “The Seagull”, which sank back in the 19th century and was split in two; cargo ship Victoria; the underwater world of the Emboudu reserve and much more.
The first surfers in the Maldives appeared in the 80s. They were attracted by the privacy of local beaches, high stable waves. O’Neill Deep Blue Open is a regular international surfing tournament held on Lohifushi Island.
Another attraction of local tourists is shopping. From here they bring colorful boxes of flowers, litters of specially natural fiber, fishing boats in miniature, coconut oil, unusual shells, wood and coconut crafts. Demand are local outfits with embroidery, coconut sausage. This is where you can buy high-quality equipment for diving.
Sights for the most part are located under water. On land, you can go on a tour of Male for $ 35; for the same money it is recommended to visit a number of other islets. The program includes fishing. Interesting is the tour "Photo-flight" - a flight over the islands on a seaplane. It costs about 150 dollars and takes 20 minutes. You can also go on a cruise on a yacht for $ 80 or dive in a submarine for 50.
The cultural program is not rich: the National Museum, the Sultan park, the Islamic Center and the Presidential Palace. The Old Friday Mosque and the tomb of Mohammed Takurufan are located nearby. Those interested can visit the ruins of a Buddhist temple of the 90s BC and a mausoleum with a sacred tomb.
Food in the Maldives
Maldives cuisine combines the features of India and Sri Lanka cooking. Fish, rice, hot sauces, kari, a sea of spices, fruits (local only bananas and coconuts) prevail here. Vegetables and greens are almost never used.
Everywhere scattered so-called tee-shops. These small eateries offer a budget menu of local culinary delights. On the islands, the choice of restaurants and cafes is small. Most of them are located in Male.
Breakfast in Male is from 30 to 50 MVR, lunch - 80-160 MVR. Dinner can be supplemented with alcohol and it will cost 300-800 MVR for one. Alcoholic beverages will have to search, as local traditions do not welcome such habits. In restaurants at hotels prices are higher. In addition, the price includes 10% of state taxes.
