Maldives is one of the most popular holiday destinations around the world for many good reasons. It is the place to be for all thrill-seekers, adrenaline junkies, the honeymoon-ers and even the laid back seeking a getaway from the hustle and bustle of their cities. Experience Maldives Travel like never before with Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts with our five-star comfort and top-notch service.
Photo Credits: ig_travelmind
Here are some facts that you may have never known and some Maldives travel tips to make it an experience of a lifetime;
1. A collection of islands?
The popular land of the Maldives is in fact a collection of islands or an archipelago. It consists of around 1200 little islands. The small islands are further divided into 26 natural atolls stretching from north to south across more than 800 kilometers.
2. A hop-step and a jump away!
Maldives is conveniently located about an hour away from Sri Lanka. Take a few days off your Sri Lanka travels to visit the Maldives, or vice versa. There are nearly 3 direct flights daily from Colombo to Maldives. So, you can take your pick!
3. Almost no pre-travel processes
We all agree that visa processes are tiring and burdensome, so here’s the place to travel to. You don’t need pre-arrival visa to enter the Maldives. You will receive a thirty-day visa upon arrival and all you need is a passport valid for the next 6 months and a valid air ticket.
4. They’re a religious country
The official religion of the Maldives is Islam. Therefore, there are a few restrictions upon the travelers as well. Pork and alcohol (you cannot take alcohol to the Maldives) are forbidden on local islands, and you may hear calls to prayer throughout the day if you are staying near a mosque. It would also be a good idea to respect the local culture by not exposing too much skin on local islands.
5. Best time to visit
The Maldives is in its peak during the period starting early December to March. However, this is a little different if you’re a thrill seeker waiting to catch some waves. The most epic swells of the year and the best time to go to the Maldives if you’re a surfer is actually during the monsoon season in June, July or August.
Photo Credits: Pablo Martinez Iribarne
6. Choose your hotel with care
It is definitely a task to choose where to stay while you travel, however, you can get the best Maldives experiences with Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts by booking your stay with us. You can stay with us at Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives or Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon to experience the beauty of the Maldives. We offer the best of everything with luxuriousness and comfort at your fingertips and food to rake your tastebuds on a journey of a life time. You can experience the same or even better with the opening of our new hotel, Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives.
7. A sea-plane ride is a must
Apart from the beach and sea activities you can do in the Maldives, you must also take a sea-plane ride to get a complete experience of island living. Hop into a sea-plane and make a short trip to a nearby island and be amazed by the amazing views of endless turquoise blue waters from the sea-plane. You’ll never miss the view cause sea-planes don’t travel at night!
Photo Credits: Cynthia Wan
8. Breath-taking life underwater
With more than 1,000 fish species, 40 species of sharks, dolphins, turtles, tropical fish, manta rays, sting rays, sea turtles and even whale sharks, Maldives is able to boast some of the most vibrant marine-life around the world. Snorkeling and Diving to witness the marine-life for yourself is an absolute must on your trip to the Maldives.
Photo Credits: Eva Pujolar
9. Make sure to leave the sea-shells back
The Maldives is a land of beautifully shaped and vibrantly coloured sea shells, and it would be such a temptation to take some of them back home with you! However, the Government of Maldives has implemented very strict policies on collecting seashells, sand, coral and tortoise shells. This is because these seashells provide homes for hermit crabs and play a large role in controlling the sand fly population. It’s hard, we know!
10. Connect with friends and family back home easily
One of the greatest plus points about travelling to the Maldives is the impressive internet connectivity. You can buy a local SIM card at the Airport for a reasonable price of USD 15 for 4 GB of data, or USD 20 for 17 GB of data and keep yourself connected with family and friends back home.
Author: Shenella Fonseka
