Maldives tips please

[AGreatUsername]

Hi,

We are off to the Maldives in March to celebrate me finishing chemo at the end of last year. It’s very much a once in a lifetime trip and we are going with no children to the Riu Atoll.

I have no idea how things work in the Maldives, whether we tip, how transfers work from Male, what currency we need etc.

Any top tips or recommendations? Thanks.

I went 15 years ago but the done thing was to tip in one go at the end of the holiday, rather than in small tips here and there. Currency was US dollars.

Transfer at Male was easy. Bit like when you get your transfer on other package holidays except you get on a seaplane or a boat instead of on a coach!

Is there room for me in your suitcase?

The Maldives are lovely! I'd highly recommend a seaplane transfer if you can - we went there on honeymoon and took a seaplane out from Male and the boat back - the boat was cheaper but nowhere near as nice! We went all inclusive so I don't remember the currency - we used a cash machine on site for funding spa treatments etc I think.

Definitely a sea plane transfer!

Don’t bother with shoes other than flip flops. I took some heels and couldn’t walk in them on the paths made of sand. Also, you won’t need a cardigan/wrap for the evening as it stays warm.

We’re also going all inclusive with TUI and I think the transfer is by boat sadly. Not that I mind! I’m so so excited. I really hope we see a good variety of sealife off the beach!

Read up
the hotel
reviews on Tripadvisor or/and the Maldives travel forum
for any tips or indeed tipping guidance.
Invaluable advice on there and great insight by many travellers/nations.

Looks like the hotel is a boat journey away and not a seaplane one (saving you £££ !!! ) .
Maldives, whilst amazing , are CRAZILY expensive, especially alcohol, so look into
packages maybe.
I remember the utter bliss of walking around on bare feet or flip
flops for the whole holiday , inc going for dinner .
Heaven.
So laid back.
Even in 5* resorts.
Have a lovely time, you deserve it.

We went last summer. If you can afford it, sea plane transfer from Male. It saves so much time and you see the atolls from the air. From what I can see Rui atoll has a tiny house reef so if you want to snorkel amongst fishes you are going to need to visit different islands. Likewise, diving will be a boat ride away. If you have visions of snorkelling from the beach I think you may be disappointed.
Take double the amount of sunscreen you need, take your own snorkel and travel fins too!

As per others, thoroughly recommend sea plane transfer, even if just on the way there

Also agree don’t take much footwear, I went bare feet the entire holiday other than getting there/leaving and was brilliant

Take a rash vest, it will save your back from getting burnt in the water. The fish were so amazing I spent far longer than I thought I would just bobbing around watching them, I ended up wearing a normal top in the sea which got wrecked as forgot to take a rash vest - decathlon ones are good (but white one will likely turn yellow if wear in pool too)

Tips - we tipped the staff that refilled the mini fridge in our room at the start and regularly every few days to help with requesting certain drinks, other staff at end only (as was all inclusive) - US dollars

If not going all inclusive or a resort with different levels of all inclusive (which ours had) it may be worth seeing how much it would be to upgrade before you go, the resorts are very very pricey for anything not included when there.

When flying back it may be worth seeing how much an upgrade on flight may be, it was over £500 each if we wanted to upgrade for our flight going out, it was £80 each on way back!

Flight there - get a window seat, the view as you get there and descend is incredible!!!

Once daily sun cream, always my saviour - P20 stains everything but Ultrasun is brilliant and worth the money, Boots Once suncream also very good and fully tested out in tropics including on my very fair skinned DCs

Have an absolutely amazing time!!!!!

Have a comfortable life jacket and snorkelling kit fitted before you go, you save so much not renting kit, can go when ever you fancy and best still float with no effort.

Take a change of clothes in hand luggage for arrival, change in the terminal loos right by baggage claim, much comfier for your transfer.

The airport is tiny, no queues and straight onto your transfer boat.

You WILL see flying fish immediately during transfer.

Take enough money for a massage if there's a spa, book it for day one!
Take binoculars.

Lots of books.

A big hat.

It's wonderful, we went after my DH had a bad head injury and returned for the next 6 years.

So lucky, enjoy!

@AGreatUsername we stayed at the Riu Atoll when it had just opened 3 1/2 years ago. It's absolutely gorgeous and you will have a fabulous time!

Don't worry too much about the speed boat, it's really not very long at all and after all those flights to get there was actually a nice break!

Have the most amazing time, we didn't tip every evening, just at the end of the holiday to house keepers and waiters we had serve us quite often! There's a great shop for bits and bobs you may babe forgotten and snacks too, but I would recommend some pool shoes for exploring the reef. All non mechanical water sports are included so snorkels and paddle boards.

And huge congrats on finishing chemo ❤️

we took the boat transfer and it was amazing - half way the boat was stopped so that we could see dolphins playing and jumping right next to us.

take a rash vest if you intend to get in the sea. Tip in USD at the end of the trip.

Thanks so much everyone. Really useful advice.

A silly question, but shows how long it’s been since I’ve been long haul, if we were to decide to book excursions etc while out there would we be able to pay on debit card or do we need to take all cash?

The resort will swipe your credit card and you can pay for tours on that. Rui will more than likely own all 'businesses' on the island. We only took a few dollars for tips.

Take water/reef shoes for walking in the water,it can be quite sharp in places. If you are not used to snorkelling get a full face snorkel. I would just walk around sticking my face in the water watching the fish as I'm no swimmer lol.

Factor 50 sunscreen and lots of it and must be reef friendly. Altruist, green people are thicker and way better than Nivea etc.

Honestly just take some good books, relax and enjoy. I have been twice and it's amazing!

Would definitely agree about buying a package for food/drink before you go. And resort shops can be eye wateringly expensive. We were running low on sun tan lotion but to get one in the shop was $75!!!! And excursions were similarly eye watering ($500 per person for a snorkelling trip).