Useful facts for your holiday to the Maldives

Flight and Transfers

The direct flight time from Gatwick or Heathrow to Male’s Ibrahim Nasir International Airport is approximately 11 hours. It is possible to book regional flights from Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow, although these flights will include a stopover in Dubai, Oman, Qatar or Abu Dhabi en route. These stopovers will vary in length. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Oman Air and Etihad Airways all offer free stop overs helping you make the most of your holiday experience.

Visa Requirements

If you are a British tourist, you are eligible to obtain a tourist visa for up to 30 days on arrival in Maldives, provided you hold a valid ticket to continue your journey out of Maldives and have enough funds to cover your stay.
British Citizens travelling to the Maldives require a full British passport which must be valid for 6 months after departure from this country. All children and infants must also have their own passports. Please check up to date visa requirements with the Foreign Office.

Language

The official language is Maldivian Dhivehi, but you are unlikely to need even a cursory understanding of it. In the major tourist areas English is widely spoken and (especially amongst the younger generation) you’ll be hard pressed to find a Maldivian who can’t speak at least some English.

Transportation

The Maldives is not the kind of destination that you can easily get around on your own – nor do you need to. Booking with Tropical Sky will mean that as well as your air travel, you’ll also receive any transfers included in the price. These transfers may be by domestic flight, seaplane or speedboat.

Most resorts offer excursions if you’re looking to explore the Maldives. Booking your own is possible but would be very expensive.

If you’ve got an adventurous spirit and a keen sailing ability (and, realistically, a lot of money), it is possible to hire a private boat and sail between the islands yourself. You’d need a permit, though, and it would take a lot of planning.

Currency

The local currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa, but unless you’re planning to spend time on Male or any of the inhabited non-resort islands, you’ll probably never need to use it. The majority of the resorts only accept payment in US dollars or credit cards.

Electricity

230V, 50 HZ, flat plug, three round, two round and three flat pinned plugs will work here.

Vaccination & Health

As health requirements change please consult with your GP or specialist travel clinic well in advance of your holiday for specific information related to your travel and medical history. Additional information can be found by visiting MASTA Travel health.

It’s worth noting that not all resorts have drinkable tap water and it’s worth enquiring just to be on the safe side. The sun might be the biggest issue for health in the Maldives. It is very hot all year round and you can overheat or become dehydrated very quickly. Make sure that you drink plenty of water and stay in shaded areas whenever possible.