Even during the so called rainy season in the Maldives, it doesn’t rain much, like an hour two at the most usually in the afternoon so if you want to save yourself some money and avoid more people, I’d head over during the rainy season, July is probably best.

Don’t stay a night in Male if you can avoid it (more on that here). Probably the most important thing you need to know is things are expensive, if you want to experience the Maldives in style, and that really is the only way you should do it, then you’re going to paying around USD$1000 per night, probably more.

Also, the Maldives isn’t a place for partying, boozing or the like. Sure, there’s some hotels that have a nightclub but this is not what the Maldives is about. It’s about going to a secluded white sanded, blue watered getaway, and either staying in your over the water villa with private pool, or lying on the beach doing absolutely nothing.  There’s some water sports at most of the resorts, you know, paddle boarding, water skiing, jet skiing and the like, but it’s not for adventure and it’s really a mates getaway to get pissed up every night, although obviously you could do that in your own villa with a small group of mates.

Don’t skimp on a hotel and if you can avoid staying a night in Male, give it a miss.

If you fly direct from Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific, you basically have to stay the night in Male, and that will involve staying in a bit of a dump at a hotel near the hotel, or heading over to Male by speedboat and staying a night there before you most likely get a seaplane to your resort the next morning.  We’ve done both, and for the time you are there, I’d rather stay in a dump a few minutes from the airport.  The hotel is not that bad actually, it’s just we were situated right next to the reception, like open the door and the reception is waiting, along with any guests checking in or out, is waiting for you.  Staff were friendly enough, don’t expect any bells or whistles but most likely you will late at night and be leaving early morning, so it’s not really a big deal, plus the contrast from staying here will make you appreciate your other accommodation that much more.

The other option, going into Male, requires a short speedboat ride, then, depending on where you stay, possibly a taxi ride.  Sure, you can get a better hotel, but for me it wasn’t worth the hassle and not something I’d ever do again.

If you stay at Niyama Maldives Aquum, the snorkelling isn’t great. They have a snorkelling tour, but that isn’t any better and I’d recommend not doing that.  In fact the first time we stayed in Maldives we went on a snorkel tour (takes a 30 minute boat ride to get to), sore a few turtles, got back to our own resort, then saw, up close (like close enough to touch) 2 or 3 turtles right off the shore.  So give the Turtle Tour a miss too.