Independent travel to the Maldives

Beaker99

Has anyone travelled to the maldives independently?

I'm wondering how you got on arranging transfers? - did you book transfer flights sperately, or did you ask your hotel to do them for you? - or is it best to use ferries?

not looking particularly for the cheapest option, just the best or most efficient?

Beaker99

<bumpety bump>

saffiedale_2

we tried all ways, must say marks travel beat everone hands down. we have got shrilankan air flight. thomas cook want 1200 for the same holiday. best of luck.

dmg24

The Maldives is the one place that I would use a tour operator for. I'm normally pretty good at undercutting 'package' prices, but could not come close when I added in all the extras.

You also need to take into account the protection you will get when booking through an operator - as beautiful as the islands are, I would hate to be stuck on Male without accom.

I have used Kuoni twice, once with Emirates (excellent) and once with Monarch (never again).

Voyager2002

If you want independent travel, consider the Seychelles instead.

Beaker99

Thanks all.. It was looking the way that indepedent travel there could be difficult. I'd noticed that Bangkok airways was starting a Male > Bangkok route, so thought it might make a nice stop off for a few days on the way to Phuket or Koh Samui.

..and I agree with dmg, I've been long haul once on Monarch. Unsure how they seem to get it quite so wrong..

bylromarha

dmg24 wrote: »

I have used Kuoni twice, once with Emirates (excellent) and once with Monarch (never again).

Nice to hear-we're flying to Male with them in June.

We decided we were happy to pay a little more to go with Emirates rather than Monarch to Maldives.

Turned out Monarch were more expensive, so even happier to book Emirates. Looks like we've won on both counts!

jcorbygas

If you wanted to book accommodation and seaplane transfers you can do on www.kuredu.com which is a good all inclusive (or not) island but the seaplane cost does make it expensive - although it is a fantastic experience.
If you book with Emirates you can do a stop in Dubai for a couple of nights maybe?
I am looking next year at doing Bangkok, Koh Samui, and Dubai - coming in cheaper doing all the flights and hotel bookings myself rather than using Kuoni - thanks for the tip re Bangkok Airways.

driver8_2

how'd you get on with this, Beaker99 ?