If you’ve read my previous blog post, you know I planned a trip to the Maldives last June. But what you don’t know is the crazy story of how I ended up traveling with a complete stranger! So, let’s go back to the beginning.
Before the Trip
Early in May of last year, I planned a Maldives trip with a friend for June. Even though we booked well in advance, our flight tickets remained reasonably priced at approximately 1,688 AED, despite the potential for price spikes due to the Eid holidays. So a couple of weeks go by and my friend tells me she has to cancel due to some unforeseen circumstances.
It was unfortunate, but since the tickets were already booked, I still decided to go even if it was alone. But then there was the case of the spare ticket that would go to waste.
So, I reached out to a travel group I’m a part of to ask if anyone was interested. I talked about what happened and I mentioned that they would only have to pay for the name change fee.
Enter Karen! She replied to my post, sent me a message, and we met up for the first time at the Abu Dhabi Airport for our flight. We were both nervous because we had no idea who the other was, but I’m so glad we got to meet. One of the great joys of being a traveler is making new friends in different cities. Who would have thought that I’d make a new one before I even left the country?
Now, let’s talk about all the fun details of my Maldives trip with my new travel buddy!
Day 0.5: Arriving at Malé
The flight from Abu Dhabi to Maldives took a little over 4 hours and we were lucky enough to have arrived ahead of schedule. Upon arrival, we headed straight to Immigration which went pretty smoothly. For those of you who don’t know, the Maldives offers a free 30-day visa for tourists of all nationalities. All you have to present is your passport, proof of onward travel, enough funds to sustain your trip, and the filled-up Imuga Travel Declaration Form. The Immigration Officer wasn’t as strict as we expected them to be. We didn’t have to present our hotel details and itinerary and it was a seamless process.
After Immigration, we noticed a couple of kiosks that offer free tourist SIM cards. It’s easy enough to avail— just scan your passport at your chosen data provider and wait for the machine to give you your card. You can top it up with a data plan and you can stay connected while you’re in the country! In our case, Karen suggested an e-SIM on her Airalo app because it had more flexible data plans at a more affordable rate.
It’s so nice to travel with someone who’s always prepared and is down for anything because we were gonna have to rough it out for the night. Since it was already late, we couldn’t get a boat out to Maafushi Island until the morning and it didn’t seem worth it to stay at a hotel for only a couple of hours. So, we chose to spend the night at the airport!
We dined at the airport restaurants that were still open. Karen opted for Burger King, while I ventured to try Thai seafood fried rice, my first time squeezing lime over my rice. The food was flavorful, albeit spicy. After our meal, we gathered our stuff and found a spot in the airport’s waiting area to rest. Stepping outside the arrival area, we were greeted by the refreshing scent of the Indian Ocean, its breeze revitalizing us after the flight, and the sight of turquoise blue waters at night beckoning us to explore.
After a brief respite, we set out for a little adventure. Just a few steps from the airport, the tranquil Indian Ocean awaited us. Seated by the seaside, Karen and I took the opportunity to get to know each other better. As we enjoyed each other’s company, we lost track of time until the break of dawn neared. Realizing it was late, we decided to catch some sleep. Despite the less-than-ideal sleeping arrangements, we felt secure knowing there were CCTV cameras and airport staff passing through every so often.
Day 1: Hotel, Souvenirs, and Food
The next morning, we took a 30-minute speedboat to get to Maafushi Island. The Indian Ocean was a sparkling azure in the morning sun and the boat ride felt like no time at all. The Arena Hotel was only a short walk away from the port so we opted to go by foot.
The hotel we would be staying in was only a short walk away from Bikini Beach. Since the Maldives is a predominantly Muslim country, there are designated areas where you can wear your swimsuits. Make sure to look into the restrictions, which I also detailed in my previous blog post, before you book your Maldives trip!
As soon as we arrived, the staff greeted us with moist towelettes and refreshing juices which were highly appreciated. The walk was short but it was hot out and we were carrying around our luggage. The hotel staff were warm and polite, and they immediately shared their WiFi password with us before guiding us to the next building where our hotel room was located.
We booked a Deluxe Double Room with a sea view and balcony. The room came with complimentary breakfast for two and access to the infinity pool on their rooftop. The room was nice and comfortable, but there was a bit of a noise disturbance (loud music at the beach wafting into our room) when we were taking a short rest after lunch.
Karen and I decided to go for a walk and explore the beach in front of the hotel. The area was filled with souvenir shops, and we stumbled upon one that offered discounts for guests staying at the Arena, so naturally, we had to do a bit of shopping! I already had my money converted into US dollars before leaving Dubai so I used that for payment, but they also accept debit and credit cards.
The first day of any vacation should be for unwinding and getting used to the pace of the island, so that’s what we did. We had a shared lunch back at the hotel, watched the sunset on Bikini Beach, took a dip in the rooftop infinity pool, and had dinner at Coco Grill. We walked around a bit after dinner and came across the MOONLIGHT which had a fun crowd of people dancing and had a great selection of foods and mocktails (no alcohol allowed). We didn’t stay long, however, since the next day was bound to be jam packed. Our Maldives adventure will begin tomorrow.
Day 2: Maldives Adventure
Karen and I had an early start on our second day in the Maldives. We took advantage of the free breakfast buffet at our hotel because it was going to be an adventure-filled morning.
We first visited Bikini Beach and witnessed a group of fishes bouncing off the water while the waves washed them onto the shore! Some baby sharks and small fishes were also delightful to see!
At 10:00 am, we headed off to the beach for our Half-day Maafushi Island Adventure. The tour took us to see the dolphins, snorkel at Biyadhoo and Turtle Reef, and the experience was out of this world! The clear blue waters, the rich marine life, and the stunning corals made me want to stay underwater for as long as I could.
Unfortunately, I did notice bits of garbage and plastic waste while we were on our boat and while snorkeling. As tourists and travelers, we all have a responsibility to maintain the ecosystem of the places we visit. Remember to leave nothing but footprints!
The tour also covered lunch at the sandbank, so we had a small picnic under a wide umbrella. Around the late afternoon, Karen and I prepared to go sunset fishing. It was a beautiful and peaceful experience to sit around on a boat while watching the sun go down. The exciting part happened when I managed to snag a fish! You can see how happy I was in the moment because I caught it on camera. Check out my vlog here! Ultimate Guide: How to Plan Maldives Budget Travel (Visa, SIMcard, Cost, Hotel, Weather, Activities)
Day 3: Last Hurrah
On our final day in the Maldives, we knew we wanted to experience what it was like to stay at Sun Siyam Olhuveli | Beach & Spa Resort in the Maldives. But as you probably know, even just one night’s stay at the exclusive resort can be really expensive.
Our friend suggested asking our hotel about tours or transfers to Sun Siyam, and we were fortunate that Arena Hotel does provide such a tour option! It would include speedboat transfers, access to their pool and beach, as well as unlimited lunch and drinks. It would cost $125/person but Karen and I both decided it would be worth it.
Since it was the off-season, there weren’t a lot of guests and we could explore the area as we pleased. Lunch was delicious as expected and since we were on a resort island, they served alcoholic drinks. The pool was so beautiful, but when you have the Indian Ocean just a short walk away, why would you swim anywhere else? The overwater cabanas were supposed to be off-limits, but we asked one of the hotel staff nicely and they let us into one of them!
When we returned to Maafushi, we looked for screwpine ice cream, a must-try delicacy in the area. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available at that time, as we were informed by the locals we asked. Instead, we settled for passion fruit ice cream and fresh coconut.
Half an hour before leaving Maafushi, Karen realized she had left her Apple Watch at Sun Siyam resort. We immediately sought assistance from the staff at Arena Hotel, and we were pleased with how promptly they offered their help. Karen’s watch was swiftly retrieved and delivered by the Arena hotel staff to the airport, just an hour before our flight. It was truly an amazing and memorable trip to the Maldives, despite the rain that greeted us at the airport on our departure.
In Conclusion
This Maldives trip couldn’t have gone better! I love solo traveling as much as the next person, but this one wouldn’t be complete without Karen around. Who else would have roughed it out on an airport bench with me, gotten equally excited about me catching a fish for our dinner, and watched the dolphins gracefully swimming and so much more!
So, I know it’s exactly what they tell you not to do growing up, but I traveled to the Maldives with a complete stranger. It sounds risky, right? Yet, there was something exhilarating about stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing the unknown.
It wasn’t just about exploring a beautiful destination; it was about challenging stereotypes and discovering the unexpected connections that can blossom between strangers. And you know what? It turned out to be one of the most enriching and unforgettable experiences of my life.
