Paradise corner: when is the cheapest time to travel to the Maldives
The gin-clear waters and palm-lined beaches of the Maldives are attractive all year round. But traveling to the archipelago can be even more enjoyable thanks to great airfare and hotel prices.
To help tourists plan a trip to the Maldives, experts talked to the sales and operations departments at Marriott Bonvoy, The Nautilus, Kandima Maldives, and Ozen Life Madhoo to find out the best times to visit the Maldives. This information is detailed in the material of cntraveller.in.
The best time to visit Maldives
The high season or the best time to visit the Maldives is December-March, when the skies are clear and there is minimal rainfall. The low or wet season is from May to October. However, this is the best time to enjoy the beaches without crowds. There may be other factors to consider: from May to October, Baa Atoll experiences the largest stingray migration in the world. Diving reservations may be limited, but prices for adventure activities will remain the same. April and November are considered to be the shoulder seasons, or the transition periods between the peak and low season, and usually experience lower tourist activity.
Cheapest time to visit the Maldives
The period from mid-April to mid-December is the cheapest time to travel to the Maldives for Indians, as this is when most seasonal campaigns for celebrations such as Diwali begin. This means that you are likely to find packages with the best value for money. Rates per night tend to increase towards the end of December. The New Year period from December 26 to January 6 is the most expensive to book. In the summer months (May to October), room rates remain the lowest on record.
While accommodation in the Maldives can range from $100 to $50,000, most 5-star resorts cost an average of $2,000 to $3,000 per night. During the high season, this rate averages between 2,500 and 4,000 USD and drops to 1,500 to 1,800 USD during the low season.
The best time to book
Prices and packages may vary depending on where you are flying from. For example, Altaf Mohamed Ali, COO of Pulse Hotels & Resorts, shares that European travelers see peak prices in January and September as these are the months when a high percentage of people book their trips for the upcoming summer and winter travel, respectively. Travelers from long-haul destinations plan their trip well in advance, booking their stay at least 90 days ahead. The best time to book a trip to the Maldives is 30-60 days before your trip.
How to get the best hotel package in the Maldives
Pay attention to packages that can be specifically tailored for the appropriate time of year. Most resorts monitor flight trends to update their packages. The best time to book a stay in the Maldives is when the number of airline bookings has increased significantly. As the number of airline bookings increases dramatically, resorts release new packages with added value to attract tourists.
Transportation considerations
While some resorts can be reached by speedboat, others require a seaplane. Roundtrip seaplane transfers cost between USD 800 (for resorts like St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort) and USD 1300 person (for resorts like Soneva Fushi). Speedboat seats start at USD 35 a shared transfer, where travelers may have to wait for other guests to join the boat. At some hotels, you can also rent a seaplane from USD 1200 to USD 15,000.