Your Questions Answered: Our Mother & Daughter trip to the Maldives
Answering some of the questions asked in our community about the recent trip I made to the Maldives with my teenage daughter
The following questions were posed in my community and wanted to write about them here to create helpful resources. You’re welcome to come and join the community where I share behind the scenes insights as they happen and help others with their travel plans: www.totallylaura.com/travel-with-laura
Q: Do you feel safe out there travelling as two women/girls on your own?
A: 100%. I have travelled solo to the Maldives multiple times, with my daughter twice and even once with both my daughter and my son (her younger brother). That said there are certainly several things to consider that help us to create our own safety.
Firstly, the resorts themselves are manned by 24/7 security. Nobody is coming or going without forward planning and once you are in a resort you are probably in one of the safest places you could be from unexpected incidents other than a fall/unexpected health scenario. In those cases, all resorts are required to have their own clinic and if you have specific health concerns you can also select your resort based on proximity to larger healthcare facilities or hospitals.
That said, if you choose to visit Male, Hulhumale or a local island rather than a resort, being prepared ahead of time in order to be able to respect the local culture will serve you well.
The Maldives follows Shariah Law which means that modest clothing is required by law. Think shoulders covered, swimwear only on dedicated “Bikini beaches” and no alcohol.
It’s illegal to bring alcohol or pork products into the Maldives so don’t be tempted by duty free or you will find it confiscated on arrival.
There are local islands which are very familiar with tourism and are welcoming and setup with guest houses, activity provision and tour operators. There are other local islands where tourism is not a part of how they operate. Personally, I would recommend sticking to resorts and islands where tourism is welcomed as this is the most respectful way to experience the Maldives.
While we visited Male & Hulhumale on this trip along with a local island, we were 100% pre-planned and in the hands of people we know and trust in the Maldives. When we were unsure on how things worked we were able to ask questions so that we could meet with local expectations.
When I travel anywhere my intention is always to create the least interruption to local life whilst being able to experience the country I am visiting.
Overall, with pre-planning, you set yourself up to move around the Maldives confidently and as the country depends so heavily on tourism those who are your point of contact will want to support that to their fullest ability.
As a specialist travel agent for the Maldives, I’d be delighted to help you plan your experience to get the absolute best from you trip.
Q: When is the best time of year to go?
A: This is probably the trickiest Q to answer. In the past, there has been a much clearer division between seasons and a clearer picture of the “wet” and “dry” seasons. These days, the weather is the least predictable it has ever been.
As a rule of thumb, you can hope for the best of conditions December through April. January-March are therefore peak months which comes with typically higher nightly prices for resorts. Add Easter into the mix and it can prove a touch tricky to navigate making all of the puzzle pieces fit together.
This said, I have been to the Maldives in every month other than May (which hasn’t been avoided on purpose it’s just where the cards have fallen with plans). I’ve had wall to wall sunshine in the midst of the supposed “wet” season in August, and just this week New Year was a wash out the length of the country due to late monsoon changeover.
The one thing we can’t control is the weather. What you will be promised is that the temperature never fails to drop below 26 degrees Celsius (approx 82F) and averages out between 29-31C year round even in the middle of night. When it rains, you can swim, you can sit outside under cover and enjoy the drastic downpours and chances are high that an hour or two later, it will be as if nothing ever happened.
My advice to those travelling who are concerned about the weather is to go for a minimum of 10 nights, ideally 14. Especially if travelling during a time where monsoon is due to change. That way you can relax and allow for a few days of undesirable weather without feeling like your trip is ruined.
If you stay in a resort, they largely operate “rainy day” activities which include entertainment for the children, spa offers and other fun ways to pass the time that they will pull out of their sleeve when the need arises. Some of our most memorable times have arisen from rainy days in the Maldives
The pictures below were taken from the same dip in the sunset adults only pool at Atmosphere Kanifushi, Maldives during an August visit. These images are 10 minutes apart and always remind me of a very fun afternoon with my friend :)
The advantages of travelling in “wet” season are much lower rates and resorts are offering their most attractive deals to entice visitors. Great to take advantage of.
If you’d like help identifying the best fit for your Maldives trip, feel free to fill out this enquiry form for my help.
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