Learn how to plan your Maldives trip without a tour agency. Step-by-step guide for booking flights, hotels, transfers, and travel insurance. Budget tips, real prices, and advice on alcohol restrictions in 2025.
Why the Maldives?
When winter hits hard and you’re dreaming of escaping somewhere sunny with palms and turquoise water, there are plenty of options: Zanzibar, Thailand, the UAE, Cuba, Mexico, Florida, the Dominican Republic, Seychelles, the Philippines, Indonesia. Sounds dreamy, right?
But let’s be honest — every destination comes with its own “but”: tricky visas, inconvenient flights, or way too many loud tourists in identical sun hats.
The Maldives, however, is a safe and stable bet. An island, sand, the ocean — the perfect background for your next “Finally in paradise” Instagram story. And no, you don’t need to own a yacht or a private bank to get there. A bit of planning is enough.
Step-by-Step: How to Plan Your Maldives Trip Without a Travel Agency
Step 1. Book Your Flights
Start simple — find your flights. I usually search through Aviasales — no hidden fees, decent prices, often cheaper than airline websites.
For the Maldives (Velana International Airport in Malé), the best connections are usually through Europe or the Middle East.
Reliable airlines:
✈️ Emirates
✈️ Qatar Airways
✈️ Turkish Airlines
✈️ FlyDubai
Roundtrip tickets typically start from $800, but keep an eye on airline sales for better deals.
Pro tip: Choose flights that arrive before noon. That way you’ll have enough time to catch your speedboat or seaplane transfer to your island the same day. Arriving late? Congrats, you’ll enjoy a night at an overpriced hotel near Malé airport.
Step 2. Book Your Hotel or Resort
Booking.com is your best friend here. You’ll find everything from luxury villas to cozy guesthouses on local islands.
💳 You can either pay upfront or at the property — depends on the booking policy.
🖨 Save your booking confirmation — you’ll need it for filling out the Health Declaration form.
Advice for first-timers:
If you’re staying on a resort island, go for at least half board (breakfast & dinner), or better yet — All Inclusive. There are no shops on the islands, and restaurant prices may haunt you long after you leave.
Fun fact: “All Inclusive” often excludes alcohol. Welcome to the Maldives.
If you’re staying on a local island with locals, you can survive on breakfast and dine at small, budget-friendly cafes.
Step 3. Organize Your Transfers on the Maldives
The Maldives consists of 1,192 islands. Getting to your resort means a boat or a plane — and trust me, it’s scenic either way.
Options:
🛩 Seaplane — pricey, impressive, unforgettable. From $250 to $400 per person.
🚤 Speedboat — most common and budget-friendly. From $25 per person.
Tip: Resorts usually organize transfers for you. Just double-check when booking. Sometimes transfers are already included in the “All Inclusive” deal.
❗️ Important: Transfers operate until 4:30 PM local time. Aim to land by 3:00 PM to avoid an extra night in Malé.
Travel Insurance: Small Price for Big Peace of Mind
Technically, no one asks for insurance at Maldives immigration. But let’s be honest — traveling without insurance these days feels reckless.
🔎 Hotline Finance — good aggregator.
If you travel often, it’s cheaper to buy half-year or annual coverage. Planning to dive, surf, or do other activities? Don’t forget to tick “active leisure”.
How Much Does a Maldives Vacation Cost? (Spoiler: You Don’t Need to Sell a Kidney)
Rough estimates per person:
- Flights: from $800+
- Accommodation: from $75 per night
- Transfer: from $25 to $500
- Meals: approx. $30 per day
Expect to spend $1,000 to $5,000 per person depending on the level of comfort and season. DIY planning is often cheaper than booking through an agency.
Can You Bring Alcohol to the Maldives?
Officially — no. The Maldives is a Muslim country. Alcohol is strictly prohibited for import. Resorts, however, make a fortune selling it to tourists.
But let’s say — purely hypothetically — some travelers get creative:
🥃 Alcohol in checked luggage is easily spotted on scanners. Red sticker = bag inspection.
Two “alleged” options:
1️⃣ Remove the sticker discreetly, walk through the green lane.
2️⃣ Buy alcohol at Duty Free during a layover (Dubai, Istanbul, etc.). If refused, fellow travelers heading elsewhere are often happy to help.
Some even repackage drinks into flexible bags from AliExpress — not my thing, but people do it.
My opinion: A bottle or two won’t shake the Maldives’ economy. Worst-case scenario? Customs confiscates it.
Enjoy Your Vacation!
Pack sunscreen, humor, and patience for layovers. The Maldives awaits — and yes, those sunsets are as perfect as they look on Instagram.
