Visa-free Country for Filipino
Filipino Passport holders are not required to secure a tourist visa to visit Maldives. Philippine passport holders are eligible to travel to Maldives completely visa-free for a maximum of 30 days. Immigration officers will ask you to present your passport which is valid for at least 6 months, return flight ticket, and confirmed hotel reservation upon arrival in Maldives.
How to get to Maldives from Manila?
Cebu Pacific and AirAsia are two of the local carriers that offer flights from Manila (MNL) Philippines to Malé (MLE). Cebu Pacific’s Malé flights stopover at Singapore (SIN), while AirAsia Malé flights stopover at Kuala Lumpur (KUL). Both carriers land on Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, which is alternatively called Velana International Airport or simply Malé International Airport.
Where to stay in Maldives?
There are two types of islands in the Maldives; private and public.
- The public islands, also called “local islands”, are those inhabited, meaning there are locals living there. When the Maldivian government allowed locals to open their own guesthouses and restaurants to tourists. Whereas before travelers were limited to the resort islands, now they can visit and stay on any local island they choose to. Suddenly, homestays, hotels, and guesthouses have started popping up everywhere. Accommodation options are becoming more affordable. if you’re budget conscious, staying in a Local island is an option. Local beaches or in areas near Male city. And staying here means you have access to more restaurants and accommodations. There are guesthouses and lodges that offers cheaper rooms. Maafushi, Fulidhoo and Male/Hulhumale are the most popular local islands.
- The private islands are usually occupied by luxury resorts, most of which are open only to their guests and staff. Some of these private islands are open to non-guests who are staying elsewhere (local islands) but on a day tour only.
Alcohols is only allowed in resort or private islands. Maldives is a Muslim country, so the locals do not drink, nor sell alcohol.
One of the differences between the local and private islands other than the cost is that most restrictions do not apply to the latter. Some private islands have limitations when it comes to age (12 or 18 years old above) as we all know Maldives is very common for the couples and honeymooners, and privacy is all that matters. Other than that, some of the private islands kids ages 12 years below are not allowed to stay in any water bungalow room category due to its safety.
Restrictions in Maldives?
- Alcohols is only allowed in resort or private islands. Maldives is a Muslim country, so the locals do not drink, nor sell alcohol.
- Your bikini and other open clothes if you are staying on a local island. Try to dress modestly and respect the local traditions. You will usually find special “bikini zones”, where you can swim in an open swimming suit, but you should be dressed in a conservative way (long dress and a scarf to cover your shoulders) when passing through the village to get there. This, of course, does not apply to those staying in a resort or private island; you can wear whatever you want there. Each local island in the Maldives is very different. Do a little research to find the island and guesthouse that best suits your Maldives holiday needs.
Continue To : The beauty of the Maldives, above water -Part 2-
