I came back to real life a few weeks ago and I could not wait to write an article about the Maldives. I know; spending your Christmas holidays at the Maldives is a dream for all of us, and if you plan it ahead it can really become a reality as well as the perfect holiday destination to celebrate a special anniversary, your honeymoon – just like we did – or to simply take a break from this chaotic lifestyle we live.
Let’s start from the beginning.
WHERE AND WHAT are the Maldives?
The Maldives are made of 26 atolls which include 1200 islands, some of which are made only of a fine stretch of sand.
According to some theories, the word Maldives comes from the Sanskrit language and it can be translated as “Islands Garland”, considering that in this area garlands are used as one of the main symbols to celebrate weddings.
GETTING THERE flights
There are a number of direct flights leaving to the Maldives from Rome – or from Milan via the Emirates. All you got to do is to keep monitoring the best offer in terms of dates and price. Once you land in Malé, you will need to jump on a second flight – which is usually a very small plane – that will take you to the atoll of your choice.
WHEN TO GO climate / best time
The Maldives has a monsoon climate. The dry monsoon season starts from December until April, and it is characterized by some occasional rain. The wet monsoon season, on the other hand, goes from May to November, and it is characterized by frequent rains which can last for hours or even days.
Luckily, considering its location, the Maldives are rarely hit by hurricanes.
Average temperatures go between 26° and 31° all year long, with some light temperature range from day to night. April is by far the hottest month of the year, although February and March are pretty dry and sunny too.
The constant presence of the sea breeze will diminish the feeling of muggy weather, although the level of humidity is pretty high.
MALè
The capital city is developed on an area of 2.5 square meters with a population of 70.000 people. It means that its density of population per square meter is higher than Manhattan.
There is a 24 hours shuttle service from the airport island to the capital. During the day there is a special ferry leaving every 15 minutes from the airport to the capital city, while after midnight ferries depart every 30 minutes.
USEFUL INFORMATION
You don’t need to require a visa at the embassy in advance in order to travel to the Maldives. Entrance visa is granted upon arrival.
Before leaving the country you will be asked to pay a 1o $ or 10 € tax.
THINGS TO DO activities
Every resort on the Maldives islands is a mix of activities, organization, all inclusive packages designed to meet all your needs and preferences.
There are so many activities one can do, however I personally recommend to choose those related with nature, considering that you are literally living on paradise on earth.
Diving is by far one of the most interesting activity one can do. Atolls are surrounded by the coral reef, the clearness of the water is simply incredible and life underwater is various and abundant. Here you can also meet mantas, sharks and even some recks.
WHERE TO STAY facilities
If you follow me on my social media channels, you might have seen that I had the chance to try different structures during my stay. We spent the first part of our honeymoon at Angsana Velavaru, and then we ended it at the Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru – you can find all the details in every single post by clicking on the resort name.
Have an amazing trip!