9 Mistakes to Avoid in the Maldives
What you need to know before heading to the idyllic collection of more than a thousand islands.
Fact checked by Jillian DaraFact checked by Jillian Dara
The Republic of Maldives, a collection of more than a thousand islands in the Indian Ocean, is known for clear turquoise waters, endless white beaches, and of course, luxurious overwater bungalows — the ideal (and often literal) jumping-off point for unrivaled snorkeling, swimming, and diving.
While there's no single right way to experience the Maldives, there are several ways you might go wrong. So whether you're still in the planning stages — or already lounging by your infinity pool in the Baa Atoll — here are nine mistakes to avoid in the Maldives.
1. Visiting Only One Island
An archipelago of nearly 1,200 islands — the vast majority uninhabited — the Maldives tends to favor a "one island, one resort" approach to hotel development. So you could all too easily journey across the world to see only one tiny, albeit stunning, islet — and maybe a bit of Malé, the capital you'll fly in and out of. Try not to let that happen: Whether you charter a boat, take a day tour to a nearby atoll, or divide your time between two resorts, make sure to get in some island-hopping while you're here.
Related: 15 Best Beaches in the Maldives You Have to See to Believe
2. Assuming the Maldives Can’t Be Budget-friendly
The Maldives has a well-earned reputation for being ultra-lavish, but visiting on a budget is certainly possible. Even the airfare isn't prohibitively expensive, with roundtrip prices dipping below $1,000 for much of the year. To cut down on expenses when you arrive, stay at a four-star hotel such as the Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma or a local guest house.
As for activities on a budget, there are many ways to immerse yourself in local beauty that don't involve a chartered yacht or helicopter. For starters, you can participate in reef restoration initiatives — many of them run by affordable resorts such as Reethi Beach Resort, where the ongoing coral propagation program includes periodic hands-on opportunities for guests. And while folks staying at a resort may be able to snorkel along the house reefs, anyone opting for a rental home can snorkel on select public beaches instead. Plus, staying in a rental home or guesthouse generally gives you access to experiences you can't put a price on: those that revolve around local life (see item number 3 below).
3. Missing Out on Local Culture
Because the Maldives tends to be known abroad as a beach destination, its cultural offerings are often overlooked. But in this unique melting pot of Sri Lankan, Indian, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Indonesian, and African influences, getting to know only the local resorts and reefs would be a big miss. So check out a music or dance performance, try some local cuisine, take a day trip to a fishing village, and never pass up the opportunity to sail anywhere (even from reception to your room) on a small, traditional wooden dhoni.
4. Not Considering a Liveaboard for Part of Your Trip
Offering sea safaris around the clear waters and teeming reefs of the Maldives, liveaboards come with a wide range of accommodations and facilities, plus professionals who range from dive and surf instructors to sommeliers. You can even rent your own yacht, houseboat, or small cruising vessel, and customize the staff to your requirements, perhaps with a massage therapist or yoga instructor. That said, island-hopping through this archipelago is so inherently de-stressing, you may find wellness pros superfluous.
5. Not Going Until Your Honeymoon
Thanks to its profusion of secluded private islands, dreamy overwater bungalows, and unrivaled sunsets, the Maldives will always rank as a top honeymoon destination. But this isn't a place you need to save for the ultimate romantic getaway. The Maldives is just as well-suited to a girls' trip or family escape. In fact, many resorts in the Maldives keep one-upping each other on the family-friendly front. There's everything from a nearly 15,000-square-foot kids' club (The Den at Soneva Fushi) to an "adult-free zone" restaurant (the Petit Bistro at Avani+ Fares Maldives).
Related: 50 Best Honeymoon Destinations Around the World
6. Forgetting the Reef-safe Sunscreen at Home
Here at the equator, the UV rays are famously strong, so your sunscreen should be high SPF and constantly reapplied, especially when you're in and out of the water all day. But given what lies beneath — that is, endless tracts of coral and the surrounding Technicolor marine life — your sunscreen should be reef-safe, too. While the Maldives hasn't (yet) joined the growing list of destinations that officially ban chemical sunscreens (only certain physical sunscreens are considered reef-safe), at least one hospitality group with a Maldivian property has banned chemical sunscreens brand-wide: Six Senses.
7. Not Considering an All-inclusive Resort
Though secluded islands have their benefits, easy access to a wide variety of foods and spirits isn't one. To avoid the sticker shock of the resulting imports, travelers to the Maldives often choose all-inclusive resorts. Yes, the nightly rates and fees may exceed others, but many guests find that bundling in the cost of food and drink is the most... palatable approach here.
Related: 13 Stunning All-inclusive Resorts in the Maldives
8. Not Combining the Maldives With a Trip to Asia or the Middle East
For all the seclusion it offers, the Maldives is shockingly accessible. You'll find regular direct flights from, say, Colombo (an hour and a half), Dubai (four hours), or Kuala Lumpur (four and a half hours), so you can easily pair a Maldivian interlude with a trip to Sri Lanka, the Emirates, or Malaysia, among other Asian and Middle Eastern hubs. Check Malaysia Airlines, Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar Airways — for starters — to find deals and routes that make a multistop trip seem eminently doable.
9. Skipping the Bioluminescent Views
While the daytime views get all the screensaver glory, nights are no less magical in the Maldives, especially along the sometimes naturally illuminated shores. Somewhat rare and elusive — but perhaps best seen from April to November — this ethereal light show is caused by visiting bioluminescent plankton that create a glow-in-the-dark effect at the water's edge.
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