Maldives First Trip: Seaplane, Speedboat or Flight? Budget

In the Maldives, the first question is how to reach your island

The Maldives is an Indian Ocean nation of coral islands. International flights land at Velana International Airport (MLE), which sits on its own island, Hulhulé. So instead of heading from the airport into a city, your first move is crossing the water to the island where you are staying.

If you are staying on a resort island, most visitors go straight from the airport to the island on transport arranged by the resort. Transfers between islands also follow the resort's schedule, so look at the transfer method when you choose where to stay.

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Speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight: what's the difference?

It comes down to where the island is. Speedboats are the norm for resorts near the airport, while resorts in more distant atolls use seaplanes or domestic flights. Travel time depends on the island, and you should check the cost with your resort.

Resorts and hosts usually book seaplanes and domestic flights around your international flight times, so share your arrival and departure times early. Also check with the resort whether you can reach the island on the same day as your arrival time.

• Speedboat: the usual option for resorts near the airport
• Seaplane: used for farther resorts (the transfer in the high-end budget tier)
• Domestic flight: used for distant atolls
• For all of them: check times, fares and luggage rules with your resort

Landing late? Spend a night in Hulhumalé

Hulhumalé is a reclaimed new town linked to the airport by road, about 15 minutes away by taxi or bus. It is a handy place to stay if you land late or head out to an island early the next day, with wide streets, beaches, cafés and a large park.

To reach the capital Malé from the airport island, take the public ferry or a taxi or bus across the bridge. Check official local information for schedules and fares.

Your budget depends on where you stay and how you get there

Costs in the Maldives vary widely with the type of stay and the transfer. The ranges below are estimates per person per day in the local currency, the rufiyaa (MVR).

Luxury resort stays with seaplane transfers fall into the top tier. Resort transfer fares differ from resort to resort, so check them separately from the room rate. Tourism goods and services tax and a green tax apply; check the official source for amounts.

• Budget: about 1,200-2,300 MVR (local island guesthouse, local cafés, public ferries)
• Mid-range: about 3,900-7,700 MVR (resort stay, meals, some transfers)
• High-end: about 15,000 MVR+ (luxury resort, seaplane transfers)

Resort island or local island for a first trip?

Each resort island holds a single resort, so it is quiet, swimwear is fine everywhere and alcohol is served. It suits honeymoons and pure relaxation, but island transfers follow the resort's schedule.

On a local island you stay in a guesthouse in an island community and can enjoy affordable snorkeling and sandbank trips. You travel by public ferry or speedboat. Ferries don't serve every island and run on set days and times, so check the official timetable, and ask your guesthouse about speedboats. There is no alcohol, modest dress is expected, and swimwear is for designated bikini beaches.

When to go and how long to stay

November to April is the northeast monsoon, generally sunny. May to October brings the southwest monsoon with more rain and rougher seas. It is warm year-round, with average highs around 31°C.

Plan on 5 to 6 days. A good shape is island transfer and rest on day one, house reef snorkeling, sandbanks and diving in the middle, and Malé sights before the airport at the end. Leave plenty of time for the island transfer on your departure day.

Before you go: a short checklist

The Maldives is an Islamic country. On local islands and in Malé, modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is expected, and during Ramadan avoid eating or drinking in public in the daytime outside resorts.

• Entry requirements (visa on arrival, IMUGA traveller declaration, etc.) can change; check the official source from the Maldives government or an embassy
• Korean MOFA travel advisory Level 1 (exercise caution), whole country; also check your own government's current travel advice
• Alcohol is available only at resorts, and individuals may not bring alcohol into the country
• Wear a life jacket on boats and for water sports, and ask staff where it is safe to swim
• Flying a drone requires approvals from the defence force and civil aviation authority; check the official source first
• The local currency is the rufiyaa (MVR), and major credit cards are widely accepted

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