25 QUICK FACTS ABOUT MALDIVES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MALDIVES
ABOUT THE MALDIVES
Maldives is a luxury holiday island destination comprising of more than 1190 islands in the Indian Ocean. Each year, more than 1 million tourists visit the resorts, islands and cruise boats on the island destination for pure relaxation. It is located in the Indian Ocean with a population over 400,000 people. The following Frequently Asked Questions Maldives was put together to help our travellers.
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN THE MALDIVES?
Maldives is a tropical country located across the equator with an average temperature of 30-degree Celsius. The weather in Maldives is mostly sunny and humid throughout the year, however tropical rain showers are expected from May to October.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE MALDIVES?
Maldives is an all year round travel destination with warm temperature and sunny days. Cloudy skies and rain showers might be expected from May to October, considered low season with the most attractive Maldives offers and promotions. You can enjoy the sunniest skies between December and April.
WHAT IS THE TIME DIFFERENCE OF THE MALDIVES?
The Maldives is 5 hours ahead of the GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).
BEFORE TRAVELLING TO THE MALDIVES
DO YOU ARRANGE FLIGHTS TO THE MALDIVES?
Definitely! In ADORE Maldives we offer you the best prices from 170 airlines catering now to the needs of travellers from all around the globe. We find you the most suitable flight connection with just a few clicks and provide you with an interactive travel plan and insurance that covers all the services booked with ADORE Maldives.
WHICH AIRPORT AM I FLYING TO?
You will be flying into Velana International Airport (MLE), the main Airport in the Maldives. Major carriers such as Emirates, Qatar, Turkish Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and many other European carriers fly into the Maldives frequently.
DO I NEED A VISA TO ENTER THE MALDIVES?
To enter the Maldives, tourists do not require a prior visa as a 30-day free tourist visa is granted upon arrival. You will only require your resort confirmation from ADORE Maldives and your return international flight tickets. To check COVID-19 related requirements, please check our page about Travelling to the Maldives during COVID.
WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE IMMIGRATION?
Entrance to the Maldives is a seamless process. You will only require a passport with at least 06 months validity, international flight tickets and the resort voucher from ADORE Maldives, confirming your Maldives Holidays are booked already. To check COVID-19 related requirements, please check our page about Travelling to the Maldives during COVID.
CAN I BRING ALCOHOL TO THE MALDIVES?
Bringing alcoholic items is prohibited in the Maldives and those are held with Maldives Customs Authority until your departure. A wide selection of international alcohol brands & spirits are available in tourist resorts, however, consumption of alcohol is forbidden in locals islands.
CAN I BRING CIGARETTES, TOBACCO & VAPE PRODUCTS TO THE MALDIVES?
Vape Products Ban: Effective November 15, 2024, the importation of all vape products and individual parts of vape devices will be illegal in the Maldives. Furthermore, starting December 15, 2024, the use, possession, production, sale, advertisement, and distribution of all vape products will be completely banned.
Tobacco Import Guidelines: As of November 9, 2024, travelers on a tourist visa are allowed to import limited quantities of tobacco products for personal use to the Maldives. Specifically, they may bring in:
Up to 200 cigarettes or
25 cigars or
250 grams of tobacco
WHICH CURRENCY SHOULD I BRING TO THE MALDIVES?
US Dollars are the principal currency in the Maldives resorts, even though other currencies such as Euro & Pound Sterling are also accepted. The local currency in Maldives is called Rufiyaa (MVR).
WHAT TYPE OF CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED IN THE MALDIVES?
To book your stay with ADORE Maldives, we do accept payments with Visa or Master Card. In the Maldives Resorts, Visa, Master Card and American Express are widely used and accepted, along with other major credit cards.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING WHEN VISITING THE MALDIVES?
Although everything for a hassle-free stay is readily available in the resorts, you may bring an extra bottle of your favourite suntan, hats, sunglasses and water socks (reef walkers) if you like.
TRANSFERS TO THE RESORTS & ISLANDS
DO YOU ARRANGE FLIGHTS TO THE MALDIVES?
ADORE Maldives Customer Service Executive will welcome you at the airport holding an iPad with ADORE Maldives logo on it and be there for you until your departure to the resort. The resort representatives will also be there to greet you on arrival and assist you with the transfer arrangements. Just after you exit the Arrival hall, please look for the sign board of ADORE Maldives or the resort you are staying in.
WHAT TIME IS MY SPEEDBOAT TRANSFER?
Speedboat transfers are mostly organised for the resorts within Male atoll. There are no set timings for speedboats departures since they are owned and operated by the resorts ADORE Maldives work with and based on the daily operations of the resort. Expect to be escorted to the speedboat waiting by our Customer Service Executive or the resort’s representative who will inform you about the waiting time (usually, no longer than 20 minutes). Alternatively, you can book a private speedboat transfer to the resort that will leave immediately upon your arrival.
WHAT TIME IS MY SEAPLANE TRANSFER?
Seaplanes are operated only during daylight hours in the Maldives. To ensure best connections, the seaplane transfers are arranged based on the timings of the international flights and shared only one day prior to the arrival or departure date. Seaplane transfers are arranged for arrivals no later than 15:30hrs (local time) and departures no earlier than 09:00hrs (local time).
HOW DO I GET FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE SEAPLANE?
On arrival you will be greeted & assisted by our Customer Service Executive and the respective resort representative. The seaplane counters are located outside the Arrival hall and the airport representative will assist you with the check-in procedure. Once the check-in formalities are completed you will be taken to the Seaplane terminal by a bus or a private vehicle of the resort. Most of the luxury resorts featured by ADORE Maldives has its own lounge in the seaplane terminal where you can relax and refresh before your seaplane transfer.
WHAT ARE THE TIMINGS OF MY DOMESTIC TRANSFER?
Domestic Wheel-planes are also booked based on the schedule of the international flights. The timings of the Domestic flights are shared only one day prior to arrival or departure. The domestic flights lands in domestic airport of different atolls, from there, the resort representative will receive you and escort you to the speedboat waiting to take you to the resort.
WHAT IS THE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE FOR SEAPLANE AND DOMESTIC TRANSFERS?
The standard baggage allowance is 20Kg checked-in luggage and 05Kg hand luggage. Baggage exceeding the standard allowance permissible might be charged at the check-in counter directly. Do not hesitate to ask our Customer Service Executive for assistance or if you need to store some luggage at the airport lockers facility.
ONCE IN THE MALDIVES
WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES CAN I DO IN THE MALDIVES?
This is one of the most Frequently Asked Questions about the Maldives. Maldives is synonym to pristine beaches, crystal-clear lagoons and abundant underwater marine life. If you are an avid snorkeler and would like to explore the marine life, Maldives resorts are the best. From underwater Spa’s to underwater Restaurant’s, surfing to island hoping, Maldives has something for everyone. Every resort has their own set of activities suitable for different age groups which can be booked directly with the resort on arrival.
IS ENGLISH WIDELY SPOKEN AND WHAT OTHER LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN?
English is widely spoken by everyone in the country and especially on tourist resorts, hotels, restaurants and on the public transport. Many tourist resorts have guides and personnel onboard from Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China and Russia etc. The local language of the Maldives is called ‘dhivehi’.
ARE THERE HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES?
Maldives has excellent medical and dental services, pharmacies, a large government hospital and many private clinics in the capital city, while all the resorts featured on ADORE Maldives have resident doctors or nurses and has basic medical facilities available.
DO THE RESORTS CATER FOR SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS?
Yes, dietary requirements are taken very seriously in the Maldives. Therefore, it is always advisable to notify in advance any alimentary intolerances so that those items can be avoided, and food orders can be customised according to your preference.
CAN YOU PLACE A BABY CRIB IN THE VILLA WITHOUT AN EXTRA CHARGE?
Yes, baby cribs are provided free of charge, based on the maximum villa capacity.
CAN I FLY A DRONE IN THE RESORT?
Each resort has their own drone policy. However, most of the resorts allow drones on designated areas of the island due to privacy concerns. The resort will assist you find the most picturesque areas on the island for the perfect video shoot. Some resorts however do not encourage it or even have a no-drone policy.