Like many others, I have always thought that the Maldives is only for oligarchs and Hollywood stars, and that a “mere mortal” vacation here will cost exorbitant money, so this is a myth. Trust me, an experienced traveler.

I will dwell in more detail on the price of the issue, since it is the rest in the Maldives that causes a lot of rumors:

• There are resorts in the Maldives, where one night stay in houses on the water can cost from $ 850.

• You can fly to the local islands, where 3 * hotels are built and there are also guest houses and a room will cost from $ 50 per day.

• Everything is very relative and depends on your wallet and the amount that you are willing to spend on vacation. Again, arriving at a specific resort, buying vouchers - you already understand what the meal plan will be, because you negotiate it in advance with the travel agency and pay. You can pay only for BB breakfasts (bed & breakfast) or take half board HB (half board), or maybe fully full board FB (Full Board). It all depends on your desire and ability.

• My advice to you - take half board HB, this is when breakfast and dinner are included. Because you can always come to any restaurant in the resort for lunch, the average check will be about $ 70.

• And if you go to a cafe / restaurant in the capital of Male, the average check will be $ 20- $ 25.

• It is a very important detail - remember that water is always paid and it is cheaper to order local water, because fresh water in the Maldives has its own story. A bottle of water can cost $ 5 and up.

The main mode of transport in the Maldives is air. Also, high-speed boats, dhoni boats or ferries are used as vehicles, and in populated cities there are taxis and scooters. As for air transport, it is a seaplane (seaplane). Although it seems to be an air mode of transport, at the same time it is a water transport. Such an aircraft is capable of taking off and landing on the water surface. To the distant island resorts, transfers for guests are carried out from the main airport by seaplane. Seaplane flights are the fastest way to travel in the Maldives and one of the most expensive. The price of one ticket for a group trip is $ 150- $ 350. The price for a seaplane ride depends on the flight time, distance, hotel class and season. A short trip will cost you $ 200- $ 300, while an hour flight is $ 500- $ 600 round trip. Children aged 2-11 years get a 50% discount. Transportation of children under 2 years old is free. You can rent a plane for personal purposes, and it will cost from $ 3000. It is important to remember that seaplanes fly only during daylight hours from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm.

As for this type of transport such as a boat, a traditional wooden boat - Dhoni, for example, from the airport to Male will cost 10 Maldivian rupees ($ 0.50 cents). The owners of these charter boats will take you to the nearby islands.

Also, if we talk about a taxi on Male, then it can be taken for 25 Maldivian rupees at one point (about $ 1.5). That is, this is when you “catch” a taxi and two people can still sit there, like a mini-minibus. And everyone pays 25 rupees. The taxi driver delivers everyone to their addresses. And on the islands themselves there is no such transport, there are special cars - buggies that take guests around the island from the villa to the restaurant. It's free.

Everyone knows that in the Maldives there is no such thing as a hotel on the water or on the shore. All islands here are completely surrounded by the ocean. Each resort has a variety of accommodation options: water bungalows, beachfront residences or villas, treehouses, and more. That is, one island resort can have 20 water villas, 5 residences, 15 villas, 10 bungalows. And you yourself decide what will be best for you. This is again a question of price. For example, houses on the water are more expensive than villas on the beach.

Another myth about the Maldives is that there is nothing to do here other than lying on the beach. I will disagree. Yes, 99% of the Maldives is turquoise ocean. But! That is why it is very exciting to do snorkeling here (this is when you swim with a mask / snorkel / fins and watch fish), you can go diving. Most tourists come here for this. The underwater world in the Maldives is incredible. You can swim with turtles, manta rays, octopuses, and if you're lucky, you can meet dolphins. The diversity of ocean dwellers is truly amazing: from small fish, eels, reef sharks to giant manta rays. Therefore, in addition to beach recreation, many people spend a lot of time in the ocean and study the marine fauna.

For me, for example, diving in the Maldives is one of the best. This is an adventure, new discoveries, adrenaline, and at the same time, calmness and tranquility. I really love nature, and plunging into the ocean, I realized that nowhere else can you find such a variety and abundance of life as on a virgin coral reef, nowhere else do living things seem so mysterious.

As for the season - when is the best time to go. The most favorable time for a holiday in the Maldives is the Iruwai season (November-December, March-April), when the northeastern monsoons bring sunny and dry weather. There is the so-called wet season “hulhangu” (April-October), in which I just got. It brings southwestern monsoon rains, winds, clouds, but this is so insignificant that you simply do not notice such changes in the weather, because all this natural disgrace passes quickly. Also, this time of year, humidity and short-term showers (mainly at night) prevail here. But the general indicators of temperature and precipitation, at this time, are within comfort limits. Again, though, it all depends on the location of the resort and its surroundings. But for snorkeling and diving, it is best to fly here in November, or from February to April, since the water is as clear as possible, and storms are rare. Although, again, during the rainy season, large marine life, ranging from dolphins to whale sharks, come to the coast more often, and excellent conditions for surfing.

Well, and of course, I would also like to tell you about the local cuisine. I love new taste sensations and the next pleasure in the Maldives after sunbathing, for me, was the local cuisine, which is divided into three types: Maldivian, international and island resort cuisine. With European cuisine, more or less everything is clear and traditional, but the local one will say right away - for everybody. Let's start with the fact that tuna is almost everywhere. Yes, it's all pretty tasty, but still.

I really fell in love with the fried fish and curry served with the rosha, these are breads like donuts. Roshi is made from water, flour, corn and salt. Tasty, very tasty. I also liked a dish with a strange name, Hanaakurimas, which is dried fish with curry.

For sweets, I loved jelly cubes and coconut-based delicacies. And also "Bondi" (bondi) - coconut sticks with a very delicate and sweet taste. It is considered the prototype of the well-known Bounty bar.

At the end of the meal, a platter of thinly sliced ​​betel nut (areca), betel leaves, and lime paste is usually served to chew. It is believed to help improve digestion. But I didn't really like all this, these nuts take all the moisture in the mouth, although you immediately feel cleanliness and fresh breath. Therefore, I cannot say that I like any one local dish in the Maldives. But definitely - Roshi bread is my favorite.

And finally - if you are going to visit the Maldives, do not forget: the Maldives is a Muslim country. And if you are going outside the hotel, it is better to change your swimsuit and shorts for something more closed, paying tribute to local traditions.