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Once you have collected your luggage from the collection point and made your way to your Rep, you will probably be asked to wait a while while your transfer boat arrives.
There is a Cafe area with seats outside, and there are a number of people who look like nice helpful airport staff. They will say things like, "oh you must be weary sit down here, let me get you some water". I told him I would sit down but I had a bottle of water in my bag. "No, no, sit here and I will bring you a drink". He genuinely seemed concerned about our welfare.
He came back with two bottles of water, so we sat and drank them whilst waiting for our boat to arrive.
Then he came over with a bill for $20, yes you did read that right $20. I nearly fell of the Chair. Had I not just arrived in the Country and was not feeling so vunerable, beleive me I would have had something to say - I was just in a state of shock! I have kept the receipt for the comedy factor! We paid it - what else could we do - we had drank the water!
After speaking to other people in the resort, the same thing had happened to them, and it would seem we got off lightly compared to some others!
Tell the man in no uncertain terms that you are not thirsty and you dont want to sit in his Cafe!
Go and look at the beautiful sea instead! Leave a Comment
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 Please buy a different
souvenir... by FletteMette
We saw quite a few souvenirs made from shark teeth - jewelry, and entire shark jaws. Even though exporting these things isn't (yet) banned, I strongly recommend finding another souvenir to take home!!
From an online newspaper in the Maldives: "The sale of shark products continues to be legal in the Maldives despite a growing level of concern over the conservation of the reef sharks that are killed for their teeth. When asked what it would take to ban their sale, Environment Minister, Mr. Ahmed Abdullah said: We are already working on revising our laws so we can protect our environment in a better way." Hopefully, the trade with shark products will soon be banned. Leave a Comment
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 At least this water is free...
;o) by FletteMette
At Kuramathi island, one small (0.5 litres) bottle of water cost 3,30 USD - while a big (1.5 litres) bottle cost 4.50 USD - and those prices are not at all unusual for the tourist islands! On our trips to the local island of Rasdhoo, a ten-minute boat ride away from Kuramathi, we paid 1 USD for an identical 1.5 litre bottle. Drinking water was not even available at breakfast at Kuramathi Cottage & Spa - only fruit juices, coffee and tea. Leave a Comment
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 Outside Airport by shash1010
Once you come out of airport, you approach the counter for the resort. The guys at the counter will ask you to wait for the transport boat to arrive and lead you to a small cafe adjoining the counter.
This place hardly looks like a cafeteria. It has a few plastic chairs and tables. DO NOT buy anything here. They will overcharge you.
The wait for the transport boat is not very long.
We took a bottle of water before getting of the plane. Though we did not use it, as the boat arrived in about 20 minutes. Leave a Comment
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 NO CHEAP DRINKS FOR YOU! by DAO
Either take a lot of money, stop drinking or sneak it in. Leave a Comment
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After proceeding through the exit of the airport you will be met by a resort representitive or will have to find your resort rep at his desk. They will tell you that they are waiting for other guests (if you get out ahead of others) and lead you to a seat in 'rip-off' cafe! If you sit down the water (small) will cost you 5 USD!
Sit on a bench and wait for your group! Although there are actually few benches around!!! Leave a Comment
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 View from the Seaplane. by MOSSETT
It is very expensive out there and the All Inclusive is of a very good standard.
We were glad we chose All Inclusive because otherwise we would have had to pay £5.00 for a Bacardi ! Also at the Airport on our return journey we bought some lunch and it was almost £20 for a couple of chicken sandwiches !
Don't be fooled, the drinks cost the earth and the food is not any better.
The cheapest rough price for a bottle of wine is around £20/£25. It was very nice wine but it would mount up if you were buying wine every night for two weeks.
Make sure you have checked your transfers when booking.
quite often Islands are very far from the Airport and you could be stuck on a boat for four hours and that would be the last thing you would want after being on a plane for twelve hours !
Take the Sea-plane !
Very quick and enjoyable - apart from when you are travelling in bad weather as we found out and had to land at the nearest Island and sit bobbing up and down in the sea which was ok if you had a cast iron stomach ! Leave a Comment
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 coral and shells by Myndo
Personally I think it is a pity that they don't look at this more closely in the Maldives, but fact is, that you can buy big shiny coral shells on the streets and in the shops.
I was told that the shiny ones are looking that good because they fish out the living snails and mussels for it. If they would take the ones where the animals already died, they would not be that shiny anymore.
So think well, before you buy one of these.
Some of the sellers will assure you it was perfectly all right to take the shells or corals with you. Some may even offer "certificates". Don't believe them.
There are enough souvenirs and products you can buy without harming the environment. Go for these instead. Leave a Comment
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 drink! by Perucha
But u can't bring ur own alcohol. Just when u pass the custom at the airport, they will ask u to open ur luggage and take ur alcohol away.
U can fill a form to 'let' them keep ur bottle at the airport - u can pick it up when u fly back. Means, no own alcohol in the island.
Price of a glass of alcohol in the resort = 6 - 15 USD. Leave a Comment
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Every tourist hotel in the Maldives, outside of Malé, is an isolated island where there is no need for money. For every drink, meal and souvenir, you just sign you name and write your room number down. So far, so good. Then you notice that there is a place to put a tip (gratuity) when you are signing. Well it was a good drink, so you put down a tip for Mr. Bartender. Besides you are drunk in Paradise, so it seems like a good move at the time.
Then when you check out – you get the whole bill.
POW! What’s that? A service charge of 10% on everything!!!!
Yes, you just tipped someone 20-40%!
Do not tip on written bills! Save a few coins here and there if you really want to for the real hard workers in the resort. These are the guys who move your incredibly heavy bags (pictured) and the guys who clean the beach every morning – 7 days a week.
Your room person? Pennies only. They are going to be charging you 10% for every can of overpriced soda. Leave a Comment
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