Maldives Master Thread

[CZ60]

For those coming to Maldives, be aware, for those coming from e.g. New York, the 10 hour time difference from Eastern Standard Time - can be very miserable. Maldives is UTC+5. Take along sleeping pills, so one can force sleep at night, and lots of coffee by day, to keep awake. Better yet, make a stopover for a few days on the way (where accommodation is not so expensive), so one can at least partially acclimatize to the time-zone change, so one can fully utilize the days in Maldives.

Or if you get tired, just jump in the ocean from your villa. That'll wake you up 

[Dan]

If arriving at 745pm in MLE, hotel is saying no transfers that late and we will have to stay in MLE overnight and transfer the next morning,

any recommendations for a convenient MLE hotel?

I am also worried about the food we will bring being in suitcases for 40 hours, and with overnight stay it will be more like 50 hours

50+ hours in transit and having to overnight in MLE sounds absolutely miserable to me.

[KidOOO]

Trying to decide between these 2 routings

Option 1 in CZ Business:
NYC 00:45 - CAN 05:45(next day)
10 hours layover
CAN 16:45 - MLE 19:45

Pros: Option to explore CAN
Cons: I will have to stay overnight in MLE and transfer to island next morning


Option 2 in EY First/Business:
NYC 22:00 - AUH 19:45 (next day) First
Overnight in AUH (Can't leave airport wife has Israel passport)
AUH- 09:20 - MLE 14:45 Business

Pros: First, less travel time overall
Cons: 245pm arrival may be cutting it close to make the sea plane, AUH with Israel passport,

What do you guys think

[Dan]

Those sound horrendous.
Why not do BOB instead?

[KidOOO]

Those sound horrendous.
Why not do BOB instead?

Did it last year.. Well technically I did MOZ but don't want to go again even if this time would actually go to BOB

[Dan]

You're comparing MOZ to BOB?

Those are some horrendous travel options for MLE. Don't think I would do either.

[KidOOO]

You're comparing MOZ to BOB?

Not to argue with you, but really how much better is an OWB in BOB vs MOZ?   

Those are some horrendous travel options for MLE. Don't think I would do either.

I know. I found a good hotel now I just need good flight options, I would pay if you or anyone found me good options for my dates

[AJK]

Why is transiting UAE not an option? Should be.

[CZ60]

I know. I found a good hotel now I just need good flight options, I would pay if you or anyone found me good options for my dates

What are your dates?

[CZ60]

Why is transiting UAE not an option? Should be.

+1

Plenty of flights with short stops in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

[KidOOO]

What are your dates?

PM'd

[Denverite]

Those sound horrendous.
Why not do BOB instead?

Also, why not switch hotels?  7:45PM is not a late arrival for many hotels.  I know at the Conrad, any arrival after sundown until 10PM is just routed to a domestic flight and quick speedboat ride over, instead of a seaplane.  This will also enable you to stay another full day at your resort.  Plus, if you don't want to route through the Emirates I would think you would not want to spend a night in Male. I would be ok to route through one of those countries and wouldn't feel comfortable to sleep in Male.  I had a blast and would totally return to the Maldives but I felt safe at the airport because the security looked really tight and it's on a totally separate island than the main city.  I grew up overseas and am used to bad bathrooms, bugs and other weird situations and although it seems developing world, not 3rd world by any stretch, at this point in my life if my "dream vacation" included having to sleep in Male, I'd personally skip the trip.

This short TR shows what is probably a normal hotel that the resorts recommend and the whole annoying process to get there and back to the airport the next day.  Remember also you might not actually get to your hotel until noon and waste half of the next day.  We arrived to MLE at like 11:30 am and weren't able to get on a Seaplane until around 2:30 (we had only come off a 4hr flight from Singapore and were in the very comfortable Conrad lounge getting massages but it still wasn't ideal)...so you might get to your hotel early the next day but you might not.

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/04/07/this-is-what-65night-gets-you-in-the-maldives/

[eliteflyer]

I would be ok to route through one of those countries and wouldn't feel comfortable to sleep in Male.

+1 Israeli passport holder or otherwise, I would much prefer overnight in AUH (and I did this with my wife) than a night (or any amount of time, for that matter) outside the airport in Male.

I am skeptical about Israeli passport holders not being allowed in. Pretty sure you just need a visa (which both EY and EK allow you to apply online for in advance) and if you're staying for under 24 hours, you can transit with out a visa:
https://www.emirates.com/english/plan_book/essential_information/visa_passport_information/find_visa_requirements/visa_passport_information_results.aspx?NC=IL&NV=Israel&AC=US&AV=United+States&DC=MV&DV=Maldives&TC=AE&TV=United+Arab+Emirates&h=983382a2bc24b924cc9bcad7535a82bcfc8c2d7

[KidOOO]

Also, why not switch hotels?  7:45PM is not a late arrival for many hotels.  I know at the Conrad, any arrival after sundown until 10PM is just routed to a domestic flight and quick speedboat ride over, instead of a seaplane.  This will also enable you to stay another full day at your resort.  Plus, if you don't want to route through the Emirates I would think you would not want to spend a night in Male. I would be ok to route through one of those countries and wouldn't feel comfortable to sleep in Male.  I had a blast and would totally return to the Maldives but I felt safe at the airport because the security looked really tight and it's on a totally separate island than the main city.  I grew up overseas and am used to bad bathrooms, bugs and other weird situations and although it seems developing world, not 3rd world by any stretch, at this point in my life if my "dream vacation" included having to sleep in Male, I'd personally skip the trip.

This short TR shows what is probably a normal hotel that the resorts recommend and the whole annoying process to get there and back to the airport the next day.  Remember also you might not actually get to your hotel until noon and waste half of the next day.  We arrived to MLE at like 11:30 am and weren't able to get on a Seaplane until around 2:30 (we had only come off a 4hr flight from Singapore and were in the very comfortable Conrad lounge getting massages but it still wasn't ideal)...so you might get to your hotel early the next day but you might not.

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/04/07/this-is-what-65night-gets-you-in-the-maldives/

Thanks for your insight, while I did find nicer hotels in MLE I agree with you would not want to spend the night there.

[KidOOO]

+1 Israeli passport holder or otherwise, I would much prefer overnight in AUH (and I did this with my wife) than a night (or any amount of time, for that matter) outside the airport in Male.

Did you stay in the transit hotel or out of the airport?

[eliteflyer]

Did you stay in the transit hotel or out of the airport?

We stayed at the Rosewood (across the street from the Cleveland Clinic) in Abu Dhabi. Used Uber and taxis to get around and visited the mosque.

[AJK]

Agree with preferring overnighting in UAE > MLE 100%.

I would never arrange an MLE trip that required an overnight in MLE.  I've already overnighted in AUH once enroute to MLE and will be doing it again at PH AUE in a couple months.

[eliteflyer]

I've already overnighted in AUH once enroute to MLE and will be doing it again at PH AUE in a couple months.

as an aside, PH Abu Dhabi is not that close to the airport and I didn't think worth the redemption when there were other 4.5-5* hotels to be had for under $100. I thought Rosewood, though not a resort, was fantastic and got a $75 rate on an Indian site that included $25 room credit plus breakfast. Very comfortable bed, Evian spritzers on demand at the pool on a hot day, well appointed 6 fixture bathroom, more than happy to deliver warmed POM meals on demand via room service for less than the cost of a motel 6.

Hyatt capital gate could be a good option too, if looking to use Hyatt anniversary night.

[AJK]

FYI, Rosewood and PH are almost identically equidistant from AUH (35.9 and 36.2 km, respectively).

But for $75...

What site did you use? I'm seeing $400+ for my dates.

[eliteflyer]

FYI, Rosewood and PH are almost identically equidistant from AUH (35.9 and 36.2 km, respectively).

But for $75...

What site did you use? I'm seeing $400+ for my dates.

agreed that it was the rate rather than distance that made it worthwhile. It was makemytrip.com. I used the deal here: http://dcta.boardingarea.com/2016/02/great-deal-55cad-discount-on-hotel-min-spend-100-no-night-min/
They have similar promotions from time to time.