Maldives

[juxtaposition]

Welcome back

Few yrs back no Chinese at all. Now you can even see the Chinese are spending $ to build a bridge from the airport to male city.

just came back from maldives today.
I reserve Changi wireless set, but forgot to collect before flying.

Yeah got 2 Telco shop just right of exiting the customs.

the data plan is $15 USD for 4GB (7 days), $20 USD for 17GB.
Opt for the $15 USD since 4 GB is sufficient for me.

The normal domestic flight (Turbo plane + speedboat) is about USD $100 cheaper than the Seaplane direct, but i guess the seaplane saves u time, plus its a bit different landing in the sea. lol.
Anyway the domestic flight + speedboat is already USD $300 per person roundtrip. really expensive.

I do realise why things are so expensive there, everything is shipped in from faraway, and tons of tourists.... europeans seem to love maldives, and i see tons of japanese and chinese at the airport too.

 

[dnsfpl]

unless you are exploring male, why do you need a data plan?

iirc resort free wifi, airport free wifi

the only time i got disconnected was during the speed boat ride

 

[archcherub]

unless you are exploring male, why do you need a data plan?

iirc resort free wifi, airport free wifi

the only time i got disconnected was during the speed boat ride

coz my room is far from all the wifi area (read all the reviews earlier) so can't have wifi in my room lol.

 

[mytaroavocado]

Maldives is my dream destination! Anybody recommend an amazing hotel ... any Budget ok

 

[Alphas]

Go stay in water villa, per night 800 usd.

 

[juxtaposition]

Haha true
Water villa must try
Best is water villa w pool
Else beach villa also nice

 

[juxtaposition]

Continued

 

[linghuanghottie]

Wow - it really looks like paradise What hotel is this please?

 

[mingingerrday]

Looks beautiful - thanks for sharing. U took me to beach when I is sat in office only

 

[juxtaposition]

Still have many nice pics but then this is not HL post.

Got cheaper way to see this place too

https://www.google.com.sg/amp/s/moncochon.wordpress.com/2017/11/23/maldives/amp/

Looks beautiful - thanks for sharing. U took me to beach when I is sat in office only

 

[kennysme]

Just came back from a 8-9 day trip, did mostly diving with some time to explore Huhulmale and Male.
For those who think it looks like paradise - be warned ; the weather there is worse than Singapore, scorching hot and muggy. You wonder why you see pictures of sea and sand but hardly any people out in the water - then you see they're taking the pictures in the shade.
The temperature was 32*C daily when I was there. Don't know why its so humid because people always say humidity is due to the jungle and forest etc but there's hardly any jungle there.
We stayed on a live aboard diving boat for 8 days and went round to many atolls. Every atoll has at least one resort that you see either on the beach or over water. But hardly see any people out playing in the open. I think its great for honeymooners who are virgins.
Everything is expensive there, even for locals - I went into their local provision shops where the locals do their groceries and the prices for some products are higher than here. That's why the eateries there charge similar to what the hotels charge in Singapore, yes even the restaurants you find while walking the street of Hulhumale. I went to one restaurant that looks like locals go to (cos they advertised a set meat for breaking fast - its ramadan there as well) and found that a set meal there cost 200 MVR or S$18. And their food is nothing to shout about - think Indian food but less refined and with lesser quality ingredients. All their foodstuff has to be shipped/flown in because there is no space to grow anything and the islands are far from the nearest developed land masses. Their fish taste bad, probably the only edible seafood is sotong.
So, just to share some experiences so that people are prepared for the heat and humidity that hits you the moment you step out of the plane haha (btw I've done road marches in scorching heat and exercises in Brunei so am familiar with heat and humidity) and the high costs of food and lodging.
But the people are friendly.

 

[gpangpingpong]

Sounds like a fabulous trip

 

[juxtaposition]

Usually I go Aug/Dec
Not so hot
Don’t go Feb because CNY

 

[kennysme]

Usually I go Aug/Dec
Not so hot
Don’t go Feb because CNY

How many times have you gone there?
Why CNY they are mostly muslim?

Ok haha just to clarify, am just trying to find the reason people want to go there because after spending on the airfare and lodging and food, most would find themselves in the room. If its sand and beaches then Thailand and Indonesia have what you want at lower costs.

 

[juxtaposition]

Haha because Chinese tourists 很多很多

How many times have you gone there?
Why CNY they are mostly muslim?

Ok haha just to clarify, am just trying to find the reason people want to go there because after spending on the airfare and lodging and food, most would find themselves in the room. If its sand and beaches then Thailand and Indonesia have what you want at lower costs.

 

[kennysme]

Haha because Chinese tourists 很多很多

Oh ok lol know what you mean.
Was in Samporna, Sabah (yes diving again) and whaddaya know so many Chinese tourists and they do weird things - like I was at this shop talking to the shopkeeper then suddenly he looked behind me and stared with mouth open. I looked behind and there were this couple of Chinese tourists in matching full lycra dive suits walking down the middle of the road and I mean literally in the middle of the road, nonchalantly just walking.

 

[oceanicmanta]

Oh ok lol know what you mean.
Was in Samporna, Sabah (yes diving again) and whaddaya know so many Chinese tourists and they do weird things - like I was at this shop talking to the shopkeeper then suddenly he looked behind me and stared with mouth open. I looked behind and there were this couple of Chinese tourists in matching full lycra dive suits walking down the middle of the road and I mean literally in the middle of the road, nonchalantly just walking.

they go Sipadan but dont scuba dive .. lucky for us, we used their quota, sign in with their names at the visitor log for 3 days ... luckily i can pass off as Liu De Hua

 

[kennysme]

they go Sipadan but dont scuba dive .. lucky for us, we used their quota, sign in with their names at the visitor log for 3 days ... luckily i can pass off as Liu De Hua

Yes, Sipadan has a daily quota for divers for those not familiar.
And yes, nearby Sipadan are Mabul and Kapalai resorts which are built over the water like the Maldives which are probably half as expensive as Maldives. The nice thing about Sipadan is you can snorkel and swim amongst fishes and turtles in 3-5m of water. I know because was filming this group of bumphead wrasses (in scuba gear) and got kicked in the head by a group of screaming Chinese girls who were snorkelling - they thought they were going to be eaten.

 

[linghuanghottie]

I scuba dive a lot there. These are my favourite places:

NOT Upper or Northern Atolls. "All the coral was dead. All grey and brown. ...
Rasdhoo Atoll. Kuramathi. ...
Lhaviyani Atoll. Kuredu Express. ...
Lhaviyani Atoll. Fish Head. ...
South Male Atoll. Kandhooma Thila. ...
South Male Atoll. Embudhoo Thila. ...
Ari Atoll. Kuda Rah Thila. ...

 

[jamietehc]

Can anybody recommend the best hotels in Maldives please?