How to fall in love

with
Maldives Island
The Maldives, a tropical paradise of pristine beaches, are an archipelago
of 1,192 coral islands grouped into 26 coral atolls (200 inhabited islands,
plus 80 islands with tourist resorts) in the Indian Ocean. They lie south-
southwest of India and are considered part of Southern Asia.
The Maldives are the perfect place for honeymoons and couples looking
for a luxury island vacation. This country of 1,000 islands has everything a
person could want in a tropical island — clear water, white sand beaches,
palm trees, warm sunny days, and lots of great diving. It’s as close to
heaven as you can get. While the Maldives have always been thought of as
an expensive, honeymoon /couple place to visit, it’s actually an incredible
budget traveler destination. Yeah, the resorts are expensive (even the ones
on the cheaper end) but the country has opened up its tourism in recent
years and now allows locals to start their own guesthouses and the ferry
system is greatly improving. You can easily visit these countries on a
budget and still get to experience that picture perfect beach vacation you
came here for!
Tourism is the largest economic industry in the Maldives. A tourist
resort in the Maldives consists of an exclusive hotel on its own island,
with its population entirely based on tourists and work force, with no
local people or houses. These islands developed for tourism are
approximately 800 by 200 metres in size and are composed of sand
and coral to a maximum height of about 2 metres above the sea. In
addition to its beach encircling the island, each island has its own
"house reef" which serves as a coral garden and natural aquarium for
scuba divers and snorkelers. The shallow water enclosed by the house
reef also serves as a large natural swimming pool and protects
swimmers from the ocean waves and strong tidal currents outside the
house reef.
Accommodation
Aside from the capital, there are no “hotels” in the Maldives. The
cheaper resorts usually start at around 900 MVR in the low season. At
most resorts, a double room will cost at least 1,500 MVR per day. Air-
conditioning and WiFi are relatively standard at most resorts, however,
if you want a resort with a swimming pool, expect to pay several
thousand MVR per night! However, thanks to new laws, locals can
open their own guesthouses and you’ll find many islands with
guesthouses. Most start around 600 MVR per night for a room with a
private bathroom (and will include wifi and breakfast).
Food
All your meals and drinks are included when you are at the resorts. On the
main island of Male, you can find local markets and restaurants where
meals typically cost around 80 MVR. For a nicer meal at a restaurant with
table service, expect to pay around 325 MVR. If you buy your own
groceries, and depending on your diet, expect to spend around 1,000 MVR
per week. On the non-resort islands, expect to pay, 110-150 MVR each for
most meals, 150-230 MVR for the dinner buffets you see around, and 5
MVR for a pot of tea. A bottle of water will cost between 6-12 MVR.
Transportation
Your resort takes care of all your transportation needs and can help you
figure out what ferries you need to get around. Getting from the airport to
Male via ferry will cost around 40 MVR per person. Public inter-island
ferries cost 30-75 MVR while speedboats cost 110-310 MVR. Flights from
Sri Lank are the cheapest, with tickets costing as little as 2,300 MVR, round
trip. If you are flying from the United Arab Emirates, expect to pay double
that.
Attractions in Maldives
Diving Bluetribe Moofushi, Sun Island beach, Alimatha Island, Manta Point,
Banana Reef, Grand Friday Mosque, Hukuru Miskiiy (Old Friday Mosque),
HP Reef, National Museum, Veligandu Island beach, Bodu Mora,
Hulhumale, Mulee Aage, Utheemu Ganduvaru, Biyadoo Island, Tiny Island
Marine Conservation Centre, Kuda Bandos, Muraka Diving
Climate in Maldives
The tropical climate is influenced by monsoons, although bright sunny
weather with a light sea breeze can be expected most days.

Temperature: 30°C all year round | Sea temperature: 22°C to 28°C

What to do in Maldives
The Maldives is renowned for its incredible diving opportunities. The
crystal clear water and shallow lagoons are perfect for snorkelling, while
the reef walls offer a kaleidoscope of sea life for more experienced divers.
The Maldives have an amazing diversity of sea life, with corals and over
2000 species of fish, ranging from reef fish and reef sharks to moray eels,
rays and whale sharks. The island's many sheltered lagoons also provide
the perfect destination to enjoy an adventure-filled family holiday or
romantic getaway for two.