7 min read · Published: July 22, 2024 · Updated: October 29, 2026 · Prices and details checked: October 2026
The first decision for a Maldives trip is where you sleep: on a private resort island or on an inhabited local island. That choice sets your budget, your transfer, the rules you live by and how much of everyday Maldivian life you see. Everything else, from the airport to the season, follows from it.
Key takeaways
- The country consists of 1192 islands in 26 atolls, and only 200 of them are inhabited. Resorts occupy separate islands, local islands are real communities.
- The northeast monsoon from November to April is generally sunny. The southwest monsoon from May to October brings rain.
- Resorts near Velana International Airport are reached by speedboat, farther ones by seaplane or a domestic flight. The transfer is usually arranged when you book.
- A free visa of up to 30 days is issued on arrival, but you need an onward ticket and an online Traveller Declaration within 96 hours before travel.
- Alcohol is served at resorts. Importing it as a traveller is not permitted, and modest dress is expected on inhabited islands.
Table of contents
Resort island or local island: which one fits you?
Choose a resort if you want full service, alcohol, a house reef and the least friction. Choose a local island with a guesthouse if you want contact with Maldivian daily life and a lower cost, and if you accept the local rules.
On a resort, the island is the hotel: restaurants, bars, dive centre and beach all belong to one operator. On a local island you stay in a guesthouse and share the place with residents. Amenities, service and luxury differ from a resort, but according to the Maldives tourism board you can still book excursions, water sports, snorkelling and diving.
The main trade-off is behaviour. Women are expected to dress more modestly on local islands than in resorts. Alcohol and pork are not forbidden for tourists there, but are usually frowned upon, and alcohol is normally not on offer. Many local islands do not have a beach where swimwear is the norm, so ask your guesthouse where you can swim before you book.
How do you get from the airport to your island?
You arrive at Velana International Airport near Malé, and from there your transfer depends on the distance. Resorts around the airport use speedboats, resorts and islands further out use seaplanes, and some farther atolls are reached by domestic flight.
Your transfer is usually arranged when you book the accommodation, so the practical question is to check what the price includes. Two points are worth clarifying before you pay:
- Ask for the full transfer chain, including any domestic flight and the final boat, and the times at which it runs. A late international arrival can mean an overnight stay near the airport, so plan the first night accordingly.
- Ask about luggage rules for the type of transfer. Small aircraft are stricter than speedboats, and the operator or your resort can give you the current limit.
For local islands, scheduled ferries run from Malé to most atolls, and several daily flights serve the twelve domestic and international airports. Ferries are cheaper but follow a timetable, so build in a buffer day before your flight home.
Find your resort in the Maldives
Flight plus resort, filter by island, board and budget.
Show Maldives offersWhen is the best time to go?
The best weather runs from November to April, when the northeast monsoon is generally sunny. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings rain, though temperatures stay hot all year: the average high is 31.5 degrees Celsius and the average low 26.4.
The dry months are the busy months, so book resorts and transfers early if you travel then. The wet months suit you if you prefer lower prices and can accept showers and some grey days. Rain in the tropics often comes in short bursts rather than all day, but we cannot promise a specific stretch of sun in any month. Pick your dates by what matters more to you: reliable beach weather or cost.
What does a Maldives trip cost, and where does the money go?
A Maldives trip is expensive compared with most beach destinations, and the biggest cost drivers are the island type, the room category and the transfer. A resort on a remote atoll with a seaplane transfer sits at the top, a guesthouse on a local island at the bottom.
Compare offers on the same basis. Check whether meals, drinks and the transfer are included, because a resort that looks cheap per night can become costly once food, drinks and a seaplane are added. All major credit cards are accepted, and the local currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), though you will rarely need cash at a resort. We do not quote nightly prices here, because they change by island and season. Ask for a complete quote in writing before you decide.
What do you need to enter the Maldives?
You need a valid passport, an onward ticket and an electronic Traveller Declaration, and you receive a free visa of up to 30 days on arrival. Requirements can change, so confirm them on the official immigration website before you travel.
According to the Maldivian mission entry guidance, your passport must be machine readable and valid for at least one month. You must also show enough funds for your stay or a confirmed reservation at a resort or hotel. The Traveller Declaration is filed online through the IMUGA platform within 96 hours before travel. Work is not allowed on the tourist visa.
Check the customs list before you pack. Alcohol and pork may not be imported without prior approval, and the Maldives states that travellers should not buy alcohol on flights or at duty free shops. Narcotics, material offensive to Islam and pornographic material are banned. Prescription medicine for personal use needs a valid prescription from a registered doctor.
How should you behave in a Muslim country?
Respect local customs outside the resort: dress modestly on inhabited islands, ask before photographing residents and follow the guesthouse’s rules on swimwear and alcohol. Resorts have their own more relaxed rules because they sit on islands without residents.
The official tourism guidance asks visitors to dress modestly when visiting or staying on inhabited islands, and cotton clothing suits the climate. Sandals are practical because you often take them off. Pack reef safe sunscreen, a light rain jacket for the wet season and a shirt or cover up for time in Malé or on local islands.
FAQ
Do I need a visa for the Maldives?
You do not need to apply before arrival: a free visa of up to 30 days is issued on arrival. You still need a machine readable passport valid for at least one month, an onward ticket and an online Traveller Declaration submitted within 96 hours before travel.
Is alcohol available in the Maldives?
Yes, at resorts. Individuals may not import alcohol without prior approval, and on local islands it is usually not served. If you want a drink with dinner, a resort is the simpler choice.
Can I stay on a local island instead of a resort?
Yes. Tourists stay in guesthouses on inhabited islands, which are usually a different experience from a resort in service and amenities. Expect modest dress and fewer options for alcohol, and ask about swimming arrangements before booking.
What should I pack?
Light cotton clothing, sandals, swimwear and sun protection cover most of it. Add a light rain jacket for the wet season and a shirt or cover up for Malé and local islands. Bring prescription medicine with the doctor’s prescription.
What currency should I use?
The local currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), and major credit cards are accepted across the country. At a resort you will usually pay by card or add charges to your room account, so carrying much cash is not necessary.
If you compare romantic destinations before choosing, our guide to city, island or resort romance shows where the Maldives fits. When you know your dates and island type, we can compare resort and guesthouse offers and arrange flights and transfers through our booking service.
Image credits: Pixabay / Giselleinmotion; Pexels; Pixabay / Isebra; Pixabay / 12019
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