Your Complete Guide to a Maldives Honeymoon

Escape to one of the world's most luxurious honeymoon destinations.
private waterfront villas in Maldives, Asia
Photo: Icemanphotos | Shutterstock
Suzie Dundas - The Knot Contributor.
by
Suzie Dundas
Suzie Dundas - The Knot Contributor.
Suzie Dundas
The Knot Contributor
  • Suzie is a freelance writer for The Knot, with a focus on honeymoon content and couples’ travel.
  • She’s written for publications like Outside Magazine, TripSavvy, Insider, Playboy, Forbes, SkyLife Magazine, Popular Mechanics, the SF Chron and more.
  • Suzie is an avid traveller, and she’s both stayed in luxury over-the-water villas in the Maldives, and slept in the plastic tube of an indoor playground at an airport when he...
Updated Feb 12, 2024
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When it comes to romantic getaways, there are few experiences that can beat a Maldives honeymoon. Equal parts laid-back and luxurious, it's one of the best honeymoon destinations for newlyweds. With more than 1,100 islands and a unique concept of "one island, one resort," most resorts in the Maldives are actually on their own private island, where couples can stay in an over-the-water pool villa or experience an underwater fine dining experience 15 feet under the sea.

As luxurious as staying on a private island resort sounds, a honeymoon in the Maldives is also extremely laid-back. Most guests will walk around the islands barefoot, have lunch in a swimsuit while sitting in the surf, or chill out in a hammock all day in the island breeze. It's not a place where you need to worry much about makeup or formal clothing. Nearly every island features white-sand beaches, and the country's turquoise lagoons, marine life and tiny atolls are the very definition of a tropical paradise.

Ready to plan the perfect Maldives honeymoon? From the best time to visit to choosing a fabulous all-inclusive resort, here's what you need to know.

Maldives Honeymoon Tips in this article:

Best Time to Visit The Maldives

Fly board and jet ski in Maldives
Levente bodo/Getty Images

If you're wondering when the best time to visit the Maldives is, you'll be happy to know that there really isn't a bad time. It holds a steady temperature of around 80 to 85 degrees year-round. The water temperature is almost exactly the same, so you'll be able to snorkel or scuba dive any month.

The Maldives does have a rainy season, however, from May to October. This is when hotel prices are slightly lower. That said, you may still have weeks of sunshine during that season. If you can handle the risk of an overcast afternoon or slight shower, it's a great time to go for fewer crowds and lower prices.

Best weather: November to April.
Festival highlights: Celebrated across the islands, July 26th marks the Maldives' independence from British rule in 1965. The festivities include parades, marches, and performances in the capital city of Malé. Eid-ul-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. The festivities involve communal prayers, feasting and giving gifts. The date of this Islamic festival depends on the lunar calendar, so it varies each year.

Maldives Honeymoon Planning Tips

You won't be surprised to learn the Maldives is perfect for a romantic getaway. With more than 1,100 islands, nearly all of which are covered in white-sand beaches and swaying palm trees, the country is the definition of a remote, island paradise. Couples stressed after having planned and executed their weddings will love how relaxing and stress-free a Maldives honeymoon can be.

Resorts are often all-inclusive, so you won't have to worry about carrying your wallet around—which makes it easy to facilitate a romantic champagne toast whenever it strikes your fancy. Whatever ocean-related activity you like, you'll find it in the Maldives. Nearly all resorts have on-site activity shops to arrange water sports, boat tours, snorkeling, fishing, scuba diving, parasailing, submarine tours, kayaking and the list goes on. Non-motorized water sports are often included in inclusive hotel packages.

If you prefer an adventurous honeymoon, consider booking flights that'll allow for an extended layover in Dubai. There, you'll find high-end dining and luxury shopping boutiques, world-class hotels, as well as bragging rights that you've witnessed the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

Keep in mind, you should expect a long flight to get to paradise. New York City is about 13 hours from Doha (Qatar) and Dubai (UAE), the two common layovers for travelers from the US. From either of those airports, it's another four hours to Male, from which point you'll need to take a seaplane or speedboat to your island resort of choice.

Flights aside, here are a few other important things to consider while planning your Maldives honeymoon.

Entry requirements: US travelers need a valid passport with at least six months remaining until expiration. Upon arrival, visitors are granted a free 30-day visa on entry, provided they have a valid return ticket and proof of sufficient funds.
Language: Dhivehi is the official language of the Maldives, but English is widely spoken and understood.
Location: The Maldives is a tropical paradise located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka and India. It consists of 26 atolls, which are made up of over 1,000 coral islands, known for their stunning white-sand beaches, clear blue waters, and vibrant marine life.
Currency: The Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) is the official currency. However, US dollars (and credit cards) are normally accepted in tourist areas.
Flight time to the Maldives: From the US, flight times to the Maldives (Male International Airport) can vary significantly depending on the departure city and the number and duration of layovers. Generally, the journey can take anywhere from 18 to 24 hours or more.
Getting around: Transportation between islands is usually done via boat or seaplane. Within the islands, walking or cycling is often the norm.

Pro tip: Invite a honeymoon planning expert to join your vendor team. Browse travel agents near you on The Knot Marketplace for Maldives honeymoon expertise, reviews, testimonials and more.

Best Maldives Honeymoon Hotels & Resorts

The Maldives is pure luxury: many hotels have private butlers, catamaran sails, over-the-water villas and even submarines available for their guests. Your room will likely be perched over the clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Each resort is typically on its own tiny island. It won't take more than five minutes to walk from your room's infinity pool to the gourmet restaurant.

Whether you choose an overwater bungalow or underwater hotel, there are plenty of top-notch stays for a memorable Maldives honeymoon. Here are some of our recommendations.

 Aerial view of W Maldives
Firushan numaan/Shutterstock

JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa

Believe it or not, the sunrise-view, over-the-water villas at the JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa are their most affordable rooms, making it an ideal choice for honeymooners keen to wake up to the lapping sound of its surrounding turquoise waters. The emphasis here is on organic and natural luxury with earth tones throughout the elegant rooms. Thatched roof and open-air restaurants feature hanging woven chairs around the resort's pool and beach bar. The resort's over-18 pool, perched on a sandbank above the private lagoon, is especially stunning.

5.0 Star Rating | Read Reviews

Robinson Club Noonu

An all-inclusive resort with the perfect blend of romance and entertainment, Robinson Club Noonu is ideal for couples who want both the option of an over-the-water sushi dinner with a private chef (the resort's on-site teppanyaki restaurant) and a beach bar where they can dance to live music long into the night (The Sundowner Bar.) Put your wallet away while you're here; yoga, glass-bottom kayak paddling, mimosas, and as many fresh fruit cocktails as you'd like are included in the rate.

5.0 Star Rating | Read Reviews

W Maldives

It's hard to think of a hotel more romantic than the W Maldives. The private island is literally heart-shaped. The resort offers five-star, over-the-water bungalows with private pools, complete with glass floors so you watch the coral reef below. Nearly everything at this luxe resort is made for two, from the two-person beach loungers to the resort's private Gaathafushi Island, which guests can have to themselves as a private hideaway.

5.0 Star Rating | Read Reviews

Hurawalhi Island Resort

Not keen on hanging with kids during your honeymoon? Hurawalhi Island Resort is an adults-only luxury resort. It offers several private dining experiences ranging from torch-light beach dinners to floating breakfasts to beach picnics to-go, complete with champagne and portable versions of its restaurants' most popular dishes. The resort can also arrange any number of other romantic bespoke activities, like private snorkeling trips in the blue waters of Hanifaru Bay Marine Reserve, or couple's yoga classes on a remote island beach. It's also home to the largest all-glass underwater restaurant—the views are truly incredible.

5.0 Star Rating | Read Reviews

Conrad Maldives on Rangali Island

If you're interested in staying at an underwater hotel in the Maldives, book The Muraka Suite at Conrad Maldives on Rangali Island. With a huge pier and large living space, the entire suite is surrounded by the ocean and the bedroom is 16 feet below water. The ocean outside is illuminated at night, so you fall asleep while gazing at passing fish and other nocturnal creatures.

4.5 Star Rating | Read Reviews

Pro tip: For other honeymoon accommodations that'll offer you more privacy or lower prices, check out a romantic Airbnb or VRBO.

Things to Do in Maldives for Couples

From scuba diving to underwater dining experiences, there are some pretty incredible things couples can do in the Maldives. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Underwater restaurant at the Conrad Rangali Resort, Maldives
George Steinmetz/Getty Images

Go Scuba Diving

With incredibly warm water and clarity that allows you to see for well over 100 feet underwater, there's no better place to try scuba diving than the Maldives. If you've never experienced diving before, couples can sign up for a class at most resorts. It requires no advanced knowledge and will allow you to do a shallow dive with an instructor. If you're already certified, you'll be pleased to know that the Maldives is known for manta rays, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, as well as healthy reefs.

Take a Sunset Cruise

You've got to spend time on the water in the Maldives and sunset cruises are in no short supply. Many resorts offer evening sails as part of all-inclusive honeymoon packages, and the boat ride is usually short. (The focus is on seeing the sun dip down while sailing, not on covering as much distance as possible.) Some resorts will offer private sails, while others offer it as a daily option at a reasonable price.

Have Dinner Underwater

There aren't too many places in the world where you can have dinner literally under the sea. Fortunately for couples in the Maldives, many of them are under the Indian Ocean in this very location. Most are going to be luxury experiences and won't be included in an all-inclusive package. But if you're planning on springing for an elegant dinner on your Maldives honeymoon, book one of these before you take off. Popular options include 5.8 Undersea Restaurant at Kudadoo Resort and Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at the renowned Conrad Maldives.

Try A Traditional Spa Treatment

Even non-spa couples will want to try a traditional treatment while on a Maldives honeymoon. Nearly every resort offers natural and organic spa treatments. If you're able, book one that relies on endemic ingredients and traditional remedies. The Javvu Spa at Amilla Maldives Resort in the Baa Atoll works with a traditional Maldivian healer to offer treatments using local ingredients like homemade massage oils from thamburu leaves and karanfoo spice grown on-site. Anantara Veli Maldives Resort offers traditional Ayurvedic Shirodhara treatments, in which hot oil is slowly poured on your forehead as you receive a scalp massage from a master of wellness. Just ask your resort what Ayurvedic treatments they recommend for jet-lagged honeymooners.

Pro tip: Include some things to do in Maldives on your gift registry, so your loved ones can give you an experience you can enjoy after the wedding. There are plenty of activities you could add, like snorkeling and island-hopping tours.

What to Pack for a Maldives Honeymoon

Couple on a tropical beach at Maldives
PhotoSunnyDays/Shutterstock

The Maldives is a no-stress destination, and that means you don't need an extensive packing checklist. Clothing-wise, you'll be fine in swimsuits, shorts and T-shirts during the day. Depending on your hotel, you may want to bring a sundress for women or a nice button-down shirt for men, though it's not required. Getting dressed up is an option. Going barefoot around the islands is de rigueur, though you'll likely want flip-flops for restaurants.

In terms of makeup, blow dryers, hair products and more, the best advice is to leave most of those things at home. This honeymoon destination is hot and can be humid; this is a place to let your natural beauty shine and not worry about getting your eyeliner perfect or curling your hair (overwater villas and resorts will likely have something in your room anyway.)

You may want to pack lightweight water shoes for snorkeling, an underwater camera since nearly all your activities will involve the ocean and some extra plastic bags for wet clothing. If your honeymoon involves a seaplane, consider packing noise-canceling headphones or earplugs in your honeymoon luggage—the planes tend to be quite loud.

Brittany Barber contributed to this article.

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