Maldives travel info

The runway ends at the sea. Walk out of arrivals and there's a row of desks with resort names on them; someone tags your bags and from then on you just get carried along. Nearby resorts are 20 to 40 minutes by speedboat, the far atolls a seaplane ride away. Out the window the coral rings slide past one after another and the water turns from navy to mint. You touch down not on tarmac but next to a floating jetty in front of your island.

There are two ways to do the Maldives. On a resort island, one hotel has the whole island to itself: drinks and bikinis are fine, and the resort controls your meals and your transport. On an inhabited 'local island' such as Maafushi you stay in a guesthouse for a fraction of the price, but there's no alcohol on the island and swimwear is for the designated 'bikini beach' only. The capital, Malé, and the new town of Hulhumalé sit next to the airport, linked by a bridge and buses, and are handy for a night when you land late.

Most itineraries change planes once, in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Dubai, Doha or similar. Seaplanes only fly in daylight, so if you land in the late afternoon your first night is near Malé. December to April, the northeast monsoon, is dry and clear; May to November, the southwest monsoon, brings showers and wind but lower prices.

Velana International Airport (Hulhulé Island) (MLE)

• Resort speedboat (North and South Malé atolls): 15–90 min by boat, mostly 20–60 · Set by the resort. 2026 guides put it at about US$150–300 return per adult for 15–30 min rides and US$300–500 for 30–60 min. Some resorts and promotions include it in the room rate
• Seaplane (Ari, Baa and other atolls): 20–60 min flight; 2–4 hours airport to resort with waiting · Per 2026 guides, about US$500–700 return per adult to Ari Atoll and US$600–850 to Baa or Noonu; top-end resorts charge more. Children roughly half
• Domestic flight + speedboat (far atolls): 20–60 min flight + 10–40 min boat · Varies by resort, sold as a package by the resort; usually cheaper than a seaplane (2026 examples around US$250–600 return per adult)
• Airport ferry to Malé (MTCC): About 10 min · MVR 15 (US$1 accepted)
• RTL bus (Malé and Hulhumalé): Malé about 25 min, Hulhumalé 20–25 · R3 to Malé MVR 10, R4 to southern Hulhumalé (Phase 1) MVR 10, R9 to northern Hulhumalé (Phase 2) MVR 15
• Taxi (flat fares): Malé 15–20 min, Hulhumalé 10–15 · Government-set flat fares: Malé MVR 70, Hulhumalé Phase 1 MVR 80, Phase 2 MVR 85. Cash
• Shared speedboat (Maafushi and other local islands): Maafushi about 30–45 min · Around US$25 per person one way to Maafushi (per guides; varies by operator and season)

• Visa and entry forms: Free 30-day VOA + IMUGA form
• Getting there by air: No nonstop; 1 stop, 12–15h
• Time zone: UTC+5, no daylight saving
• Currency: Rufiyaa; resorts charge in USD
• Paying and taxes: +10% service, 17% tax, green tax
• Power: 230V; UK 3-pin, bring adapter
• Language: Dhivehi; English works everywhere
• Internet: Nothing blocked; SIM at airport
• Emergencies: Police 119 · Ambulance 102 · Fire 118
• Best time: Jan–Mar dry; May–Nov wetter