Maldives is an archipelago of 26 atolls located to the South-West of Sri Lanka, right in the center of the ancient maritime trade routes. Maldives is also known as the ‘Pearl necklace of the Indian Ocean’. It is one of the highly sought-after vacation destinations in the world and consistently stays so. With its pristine blue waters, soft white sand beach-fringed islands and scenic locations, it continues to maintain its grandeur and peaceful surroundings. So, if you are planning a vacation to Maldives for the first time, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.
The first thing that one should have in mind, is that the guests will only have access to the restaurants and locations that are available within the hotel or resort that they are staying in. While excursions are available to the capital, Male Atoll, all the other amenities are the only ones that are available in the vicinity. There are over a hundred resorts in Maldives, each taking up its own island and with its own wonderful facilities. With the assistance of the best local tour operator – Crown Tours Maldives, will provide you all the information necessary to guide you with their first-hand knowledge of the facilities your preferred hotels or resorts well before taking a decision.
While most resorts in Maldives offer seaplane transfers to the respective resort islands, the transfers might take place only during a certain period of time in the day. Therefore, one should schedule their flights and travels very carefully. However, some resorts accessible via domestic flight or speedboat also provide transfers round the clock. Therefore, the choice of resorts must also be made very carefully to avoid any inconvenience. If the transfers are not available on the scheduled time, the guests also have the option to stay in the hotels on the airport island.
Food items other than coconut and fish have to be imported from other places to Maldives, thus making the cost of meals expensive. There is an additional tax of 10% as service charge and tourists are also charged an additional 12%. Therefore, the budget has to be kept in mind, however, being served with fresh seafood and the most popular Catch-of-the-Day, it’s definitely worth spending. When in Maldives, a marine dive is a must to experience the beautiful underwater world. If the marine adventure packages are included in your trip package, they won’t cost you much but if they are not included, the cost will easily mount up. The souvenirs sold at the gift shops are also highly overpriced and therefore, one must be careful while making a purchase from the gift shops in Maldives. Though Maldives have their own currency, a lot of resorts and shops in Maldives accept USD. Some even offer you a great price for USD currency, so don’t forget to carry some extra dollars with you wherever you travel in Maldives. Though for your information the current exchange rate (as on September 2017) is USD 1 = Maldivian Rufiyaa 15.40 and Euro 1 = Maldivian Rufiyaa 18.28.
Crown Tours Maldives suggests that one should be aware that Maldives is a Muslim country, and therefore the clothing worn by the guests must be conservative. While there is no particular dress code within the resorts, trips to the local villages and airport area will demand a more rigid and modest dress code, as locals might find anything less than conservative as rude and offensive. Evening bars give women the option of a liberal choice of clothing, while men are required to dress more formally here.
Although the weather in Maldives is mostly tropical and humid, it is very unpredictable, even when the forecasts predict a dry weather. Untimely tropical showers are very common in the region of Maldives. The weather cycle in this region is very different from the weather cycle elsewhere and hence, one should be well prepared for all kinds of weather conditions on their vacation to Maldives.
And yes, don’t forget to visit the Museum of Maldives located in Male. Opened in 1952, this museum in Maldives is all about the country’s rich culture, heritage, and history. Many of the items displayed in this museum were once owned and used by the former kings and queens of Maldives.
With all these tips in mind, we hope that your time in Maldives will be a memorable and eventful one. Given the small size and the unique geography of each Maldivian island, visitors experience a truly breathtaking time on their getaway to Maldives. Book your holiday at Crown Tours Maldives and visit their websitecrowntoursmaldives.com or simply send your queries to sales@crowntoursmaldives.com and ensure a lifetime of travel experience.
Author – Crown Tours Maldives
Established in 1985, Crown Tours Maldives is a subsidiary of Crown Company Pvt. Ltd., one of the most reputable businesses in the Maldives. The Crown & Champa Resorts operate 9 top quality resorts in the Maldives and 2 hotels in the Seychelles. Additionally, Crown Tours also work closely with selected partners in the Maldives, Seychelles, and Mauritius. We offer free consultations to bring you the best deals and offers with guaranteed lowest available rates.
Crown Tours Maldives is a pioneer in modern tourism in the country and proud to be a leading hospitality company in the Maldives for over 25 years. Their diverse international team consists of professionals with years of experience in the hospitality industry and vast local knowledge that helps Crown Tours Maldives offer the best holiday deals and experience packages Maldives. Their main focus is to provide an outstanding Maldivian experience to all clients, as well as unmatched hospitality services that will meet and exceed their needs, providing you with a world-class travel experience with a Maldivian touch.
