MALDIVES SEAPLANE- THINGS TO KNOW A seaplane, as its name suggests is an aircraft which takes off and lands on water. The most common hotel transfer in Maldives other than a boat ride is seaplane. For people who have never flown on a seaplane before or are curious about their journey, this blog will help you with all the information Share now Where is Maldives located?The Maldives is a captivating archipelago nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean. Geographically, it can be found southwest of the Indian subcontinent, neighboring both India and Sri Lanka. This tropical paradise comprises a collection of 26 coral atolls, encompassing approximately 1,200 coral islands. The Maldives’ geographical coordinates place it southwest of Sri Lanka and southwest of the southernmost tip of India. Landing and take off depends on the roughness of the sea and weather conditions. If the weather conditions are poor seaplane cannot take off Be prepared for delays,as seaplanes are never on time If your seaplane is cancelled for some reason, and you don’t want to stay overnight in Male, you can look for other options like a domestic flight or a speed boat ride depending on the distance of your resort from International Airport. You can choose to transfer one way by seaplane and other way by speed boat ride is you are on a budget constraint. Seaplanes are compact and can get claustrophobic for some. There are no A/C’s in seaplanes and it can get hot by the time the seaplane takes off. However there will be fans. Seaplanes are extremely noisy, and can get choppy at times if the sea is rough. There are no washrooms/toilets on seaplane. Also, business class option is unavailable. Also, no food and drinks are served on seaplane. By a seaplane you directly reach your resort. In cases where resorts have their own seaplane jetty, you will just walk to the plane. But few resorts land seaplanes on floating pontoon in the middle of the sea. From here there will be a short speed boat ride. The resort will itself book seaplane transfer for you and you cannot directly book it as of now. Seaplane terminals are near the airport and can be reached by a car/bus which is provided free of cost. Many seaplane operators have lounge access as well. You might also like to check out these blogs on Maldives : Documents Required for visa on arrival in  Maldives  & a blog on Things to know before travelling to Maldives From Inside Gorgeous Views How does it work? A guide on how to catch a seaplane once you book it and land at the International Airport in Male, Maldives. Once you book your resort, they will book and arrange the seaplane transfer for you. After completing your immigration and once you collect your luggage you will see a resort representative. He will take you to the seaplane check in counter which are located near the arrival hall. Arrivals You will have to leave your luggage there. You will be then transferred by car/bus to the seaplane terminal which is a 10 min ride from airport. Some resorts have their private luxury vehicles for transfers. You will have to wait approx. 2 hours for you to board your seaplane flight till all the guests from your resort or route join in. There are small lounges inside the terminals usually to wait during this time.Seaplane boarding passes dont have seat numbers so you just walk to the plane and sit wherever you wish. Sea Terminal Lounge Area Sea Terminal As mentioned earlier, seaplanes are extremely noisy and compact.  As there is no A/C and just fans, it can get stuffy and hot. Luggage is stored at the back of plane. As there is limited space, you can keep a small purse or backpack with you. You can handover your cabin luggage to the crew to store at the back of the flight. Don’t forget to enjoy your first seaplane ride with some gorgeous views 🙂   Gorgeous Views Seaplane from inside ~Online Consultation~ On popular demand, our consultations are now available online.  In few simple steps you will receive a customized assistance on planning your itinerary, providing resolution to your queries.  Check out all detailed information about packages we are offering Check here Like this article? Facebook Twitter Email WhatsApp Pinterest Telegram

Things to know before travelling to Maldives All the information one needs to know before landing in Maldives  Share now Maldives has been the most popular destination since the corona pandemic has hit. People have been flocking to Maldives for pristine beaches, diving and snorkeling with easy quarantine free travelling. This blog will focus on information you will need to know before travelling to Maldives during the Corona Pandemic.   Maldives is just an hour away by flight from Sri-lanka. It is made of total of 1200 small islands of 200 islands are inhabited. Many of them are also resort islands with private areas. It can be overwhelming to choose from the wide variety of resorts and guesthouses. Also, Maldives can be heavy on your pockets if you travel in the peak season. Another reason for Maldives being famous are their Water Villas. Many people often are confused to choose between Water Villas and Beach Villas. I would suggest whichever you choose you are undoubtedly going to get splendid views. Dont be surprised to find “All Inclusive/ Half Board/ Full board” Packages at Resorts. These packages are more budget friendly which include lunch, dinner and drinks. These are just few of the many things to know. Here is a comprehensive guide to know about travelling to Maldives. Where is Maldives located?The Maldives is a captivating archipelago nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean. Geographically, it can be found southwest of the Indian subcontinent, neighboring both India and Sri Lanka. This tropical paradise comprises a collection of 26 coral atolls, encompassing approximately 1,200 coral islands. The Maldives’ geographical coordinates place it southwest of Sri Lanka and southwest of the southernmost tip of India. Things to know before landing in Maldives? Which is the peak season to visit Maldives? Peak season to visit Maldives is from November to April , which is also dry weather with no rains Which season is best to strike great and cheap resort deals? The wet and rainy season lasts roughly from May till October. This time of the year is also best for surfing, and you will be lucky to strike amazing deals during this time. Which currency is used in Maldives? Official currency of Maldives is Maldivian Rufiyaa, but the resorts and shops charge in US Dollar $. Majority resorts prefer payments by card. Is visa on arrival available? Yes, free 30 day visa on arrival/tourist visa is granted to all nationalities, if they satisfy basic entry requirements on arrival. Is quarantine mandatory for tourists? Quarantine is not required for tourists who do not have COVID19 symptoms. Is Booster Vaccination dose mandatory? If 6 months have passed since the prescribed vaccination dose was taken then a Booster dose for Covid19 must also be completed. How many hours prior to departure must the RT PCR test be taken? The RT PCR test must be taken not more than 96 hrs before the scheduled departure time.  Which details are required on the RT PCR negative report? The RT PCR negative report must have your name as mentioned in passport along with your passport number. Also many airlines require test results with QR codes which are usually present in your report.  Is Covaxin vaccination approved in Maldives? Yes, if you have taken Covaxin vaccination, you can still travel to Maldives Do tourists need to take a PCR test after landing? No, there is no requirement for RT-PCR test after landing if you dont have COVID19 symptoms. How many days prior to arrival must the person be vaccinated? The person must have taken both doses of vaccination atleast 14 days prior to arrival in Maldives.  Which form one needs to fill before landing and departing from Maldives? Every passenger needs to fill a mandatory Travel Declaration Form within 48hrs of the flight time at IMUGA. Do carry a printout or screenshot of the QR code of the filled IMUGA form.  For Indian passengers which form do we need to fill before landing back in India? All Indians need to fill the Health Declaration Form online on Air Suvidha and carry a printout or soft copy of the filled form  within 24 hrs of departure from Maldives. Is web check-in mandatory for airlines? Majority of airlines have made web check in mandatory for all passengers. What mode of transfer is preferable to travel from Male to islands in Maldives? There are 3 types of transportation. One is seaplane which is expensive, 2nd one is speed boat transfer and 3rd is domestic flights for few islands. Can one visit a different island other than the one which they are staying on? Yes after approval, tourists can visit other island on day trip or split booking basis but after obtaining approval from ministry of tourism.  What if I contract Covid19 while I am staying in Maldives? A mandatory 14 day quarantine will be implemented as per WHO guidelines and travelling will not be permitted.  What are usually the timings of seaplane? Seaplanes fly from morning 6 am till 3.30 pm, 7 days a week . Last seaplane will take off before sunset for visibility and safety issues. One needs to arrive in Maldives till 3.30 pm to catch the last seaplane. For more details on seaplane click here What documents are required for immigration in Maldives? For detailed information on all the documents required for immigration in Maldives check this How much does a seaplane cost? As mentioned earlier, sea planes are pretty expensive and the return trip can cost from 200 -500 US $ per person from Male airport. Can you bring alcohol into Maldives? No. Maldives being an Islamic country you are not allowed to bring liquor to Maldives. Is Travel Insurance mandatory in Maldives? Travel Insurance is not mandatory for arriving in Maldives, but majority of the resorts do need a travel insurance and it is advisable to buy one. Like this article? Facebook Twitter Email WhatsApp Pinterest Telegram