The Maldives has a number of features for those who are planning a trip to the paradise islands. One of the important issues is the transfer. An expert in booking exotic islands - wiotto.com - will help you understand all the nuances and choose the appropriate type of transfer. The company is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and has been in the Maldives booking market for over eight years.

What is the peculiarity of the transfer in the Maldives

The Maldives is a scattering of more than 1000 small islands. Between them, communication is carried out by boats and ferries, as well as by planes and seaplanes. The distance between the farthest islands is overcome by seaplane in 1.5-2 hours.

The main airport of the Maldives, where most international airlines arrive, is located in the capital Male. And already from here, tourists choose a transfer - usually a speedboat or seaplane - to get to the chosen resort island.

Transfer types and their features

1. Seaplane flights are directly dependent on weather conditions. The flight may be delayed or rescheduled. At night, seaplanes also do not fly: flights are carried out from 6:00 to 16:00. Therefore, the flight to Male and back should be planned so that you do not have to spend the night at the airport while waiting for a transfer to the hotel. Ideally, choose a flight so that you arrive in Male in the morning and have a margin of time for a possible flight delay. It is also worth considering that you will need at least 30-40 minutes to collect your luggage and check in for the seaplane. It takes approximately 15 minutes to get from the arrivals terminal to the seaplane terminal. The cost of a two-way seaplane transfer for two ranges from $400 to tens of thousands. In the latter case, we are talking about renting a private seaplane with all possible amenities. As a rule, tourists choose a budget option - a shared seaplane flight.
2. Transfer by speedboat is suitable for those who have chosen a resort near Male. In terms of time, the transfer by boat can take from 10 to 40 minutes, depending on the distance. This is the cheapest type of transfer and is often chosen by couples with small children as the journey is short. By the way, in the wiotto.com catalog there is a filter of hotels “Near Male”. It contains all the hotels of the Maldives, located 10-20 minutes by speedboat from Male. There are hotels to which the boat transfer is available around the clock. There are not many. Most of them work from early morning until late at night. Contact the wiotto.com online chat and the managers will tell you which hotels offer a shuttle service around the clock. The cost of a two-way speedboat transfer for two costs from 100 to several thousand dollars, depending on the hotel, distance and type of boat. It could also be a private yacht.
3. The third option is domestic airlines. This is the most inconvenient option, since airports are located on local islands, and from there you still need to transfer to a boat to get to the resort island. This transfer option is suitable for those who have chosen a remote resort and want to save on transfers. Because a flight with local airlines is cheaper than a seaplane. In addition, airlines fly from early morning until late at night - it's easier to plan a trip. In terms of time, this is the longest type of transfer: from 30 minutes to an hour and a half it can take a plane + 10-40 minutes for a boat. The cost of transfer by airlines + boat for two in both directions ranges from 300-2000 dollars.
4. Ferries run only between local islands where the local population lives. There is no clear schedule, and tickets can only be bought on the spot a few hours before departure. Ferries are very slow. The distance that a speed boat covers in 20 minutes can be covered by a ferry in 2-3 hours. The cost of a ferry ticket costs 5-20 dollars. If you have chosen a vacation on a resort island, this transfer option will definitely not suit you.

When and where to book a transfer in the Maldives

Transfer to the resort islands in most cases is organized by the hotel. Having booked a villa on the island, you should definitely book a transfer to the hotel. If this is not done in advance, upon arrival you may encounter two problems: organizing a transfer will cost more and the most unpleasant thing is that it can be carried out a day later, or even two. Since traffic is often planned in advance, there may not be free places and time.

Book a transfer in the Maldives with a hotel when booking on wiotto.com. The site immediately shows the cost of different types of transfer - you can choose the most comfortable for you. In addition, some hotels provide free shuttle service. This is also indicated in the catalog and on the pages of the hotel. For any questions, please contact the wiotto.com online chat managers. You will be provided with up-to-date information and professional support.