With reefs that offer bands of colour, tiny jewel-like islands rimmed with the whitest of soft sand surrounded by the clearest shallow waters that one can imagine, it\u2019s no wonder the Maldives mesmerises travellers! With borders open to travellers from South Africa, no mandatory quarantine measures, the strictest of health and safety precautions in place, and SA travellers receiving a 30-day visa on arrival, the Maldives is an ideal option for an island escape in 2021.<\/p>\n
If this picture-perfect island is on your bucket list for the upcoming school holidays or just to escape SA winter, here are some handy things to know ahead of planning a trip.<\/p>\n
The destination<\/strong><\/p>\n Perhaps best known for its idyllic white beaches and crystal clear turquoise sea, the Maldives is situated in the Indian Ocean. This tropical nation is composed of 26 ring-shaped atolls, which are made up of more than 1 000 coral islands \u2013 many still uninhabited.The Maldives is home to about 5% of the planet\u2019s reefs that comes with an explosion of colour contributed by soft and hard corals that form them, and the reefs are home to thousands of fish species who are lured by the rich nutrients that flow in with the currents.<\/p>\n Surrounded by a reef structure, the Maldives houses one of the most exclusive\u00a0and spectacular underwater life ecosystems. The 1% land is a masterpiece in natural landscaping, divine white beaches and gorgeous villas sitting amidst island flora.<\/p>\n The Maldives has its own unique way of life with traditions that are influenced by various cultures around the rim of the Indian Ocean and shaped by the surrounding island environment and seas. The traditional cuisine is heavily based on fish and coconut, with several dishes that have no parallels anywhere in the region \u2013 making it a dream destination for foodies.<\/p>\n When to go<\/strong><\/p>\n The tropical climate means year-round warm temperatures. The average high temperature is 31.5\u00a0degrees Celsius and the average low temperature is 26.4 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n Logistically speaking<\/strong><\/p>\n Most travellers fly into the capital Mal\u00e9 and then catch resort transport \u2013 either via boat or sea-plane \u2013 to their chosen resort in the Maldives.<\/p>\n Currency<\/strong><\/p>\n The Maldivian\u00a0Rufiyaa<\/em>\u00a0(MVR) is the local currency. If you\u2019re a cost-conscious traveller, the good news is that you have the option to holiday at an all-inclusive resort where your meals, drinks, land and water sports are included and so there is no need to do the exchange rate conversions that often stress travellers out while abroad.<\/p>\n The Maldives for families<\/strong><\/p>\n The Maldives, long-thought of as the preserve of honeymooners or rich couples, is also actively wooing families – catering to multi-generational travel with something for everyone from young children to grandparents, and everyone in between. Until about 10 years ago, few resorts catered for kids (in providing babysitting facilities and child-dedicated activities), but these days, things have changed. From 2016, visitors to Club Med<\/a> Kani have enjoyed activities designed\u00a0especially for kids aged 4-10 and 11-17. At Club Med Finolhu Villas, kids from 12 years old are welcome and can enjoy the kids facilities at their Kani resort (five minutes from Finolhu.) Like all Club Med resorts, apart from the all-inclusive packages which aid hugely in pre-planning your holiday budget, the resorts also employ phenomenal G.Os (Gentil Organisateur) which is unique to Club Med. The G.O is the\u00a0ambassador of the Club Med spirit\u00a0at all resorts, and ensure that guests at the resorts have the best time of their lives, and that all of their holiday needs and requests are met. It is these highly skilled, friendly G.Os are who will be looking after your children in the various kids clubs. With your treasures in good hands, you\u2019ll be able to enjoy various activities ranging from kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkelling\u00a0to sailing and more that Club Med and the Maldives has to offer.<\/p>\n The Maldives for couples and friends<\/strong><\/p>\n Over 99% of the Maldives is sea – making it the ultimate playground for sea fanatics and water sports lovers. Whether you\u2019re a couple looking for an active island getaway or a group of friends looking for adventure, you\u2019ll be spoilt for choice in the Maldives. Jet skiing, wake boarding, diving, snorkelling, kite surfing, parasailing and so much more!<\/p>\n If you and your significant other are looking for a laid-back island honeymoon or romantic escape from the chilly South Africa winter, look no further than dreamy walks on the beach, spectacular sunset dinners, luxury accommodation, gourmet cuisine, idyllic spas and superb wellness\u00a0retreats. For couples looking for a picture perfect destination, the Maldives is quite simply heaven on earth.<\/p>\n Choosing an all-inclusive holiday option where your meals, drinks and activities are included will also ensure you can enjoy your romantic getaway with absolute peace of mind of no unexpected bills at the end of your stay. Club Med\u2019s all-inclusive resorts on the island have prioritised the health and safety of their guests with strict sanitisation measures in place. These have been strengthened via their , \u201cSafe together\u201d initiative- which has been firmly in place for well over a year. These new measures form part of the brand\u2019s Peace of Mind<\/a> policy which aims to allow holidaymakers to book and travel with peace of mind. All this is approved by a Scientific Committee and certified by Cristal International Standards, a world leader in monitoring health and safety processes.<\/p>\n Remember: when travelling to the Maldives you will need to provide a negative PCR test taken no longer than 96 hours prior to travelling.<\/p>\n