Flights to Maldives

Highlights of the Maldives

A geologic anomaly, Maldives was formed by a series of coral reefs attaching themselves to the sides of towering antediluvian volcanoes. Its waters are so surrealistically blue, so warm and welcoming that honeymooners, divers and worshippers of the sun have begun to flock to this little known paradise. In fact, from its usually minute tourist activity, Maldives is slowly competing with many other countries. In 2006, more than half a million travelers visited Maldives, most of them arriving by air. Since Maldives is an island country, the most ideal way of traveling here is by air, however tourists who have boats or yachts are also welcome to the land of Maldives. The sights in this country are bewitching and amazing and there is no wonder why many visitors to Maldives have kept coming back. Dive at Fushifaru Thila to swim with the manta rays, sharks, sweetlips and turtles. The capital of Male displays the modern side of the Maldives. Take a trip to Thulhaadhoo Island to pick up the perfect souvenir, where the art of incised lacquer decoration thrives. The Maldivians embrace holiday visitors and allow the freedoms that many other primarily Muslim locations don't tolerate well. This may be somewhat of an indulgence, as a vacation to Maldives won't be cheap, but it is well worth the price and is much lower priced and more enjoyable than trying to relax in one of the major capitals of the world!

Getting to the Maldives

Most international visitors to Maldives are taken to the Male International Airport, which is the main airport of the country that handles international flights to many countries in the world. International flights through other international airline carriers also land at this airport including flights from XL Airways France, Transaero, Thomson Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Monarch Airlines, Martinair, Malaysia Airlines, Livingston Energy Flight, Indian Airlines, Eurofly, Emirates, Condor Airlines, British Airways, Blue Panorama Airlines, Best Air, Bangkok Airways, Austrian Airlines, Air Italy and Air Berlin. A second international airport in Maldives is the Gan International Airport which handles some international flights and has been improved to international airport standards and is now serving thousands of tourists each day.

Airports

Each of the major islands hosts their own airport. The islands of Gan, Hanimaadhoo, Kaadedhdhoo, and Kadhdhoo have airports of the same name. Hulhule Island is where the capital of Male's, Male International Airport receives the majority of international island visitors. Researching flights to the island of Gan may result in lower airfares. This smaller international airport has undergone upgrades to allow for more flights and passengers.

Airlines

Maldivian is the national airline of the country and has its main base at the Male International Airport. It caters international and inter-island flights to and from Maldives with direct flights to India and Sri Lanka.

In Closing

You deserve to indulge yourself a little. Maldives is the perfect paradise to do that in. Leave your cell phone and laptop in the room and set out to thoroughly enjoy the clear, cobalt waters, brilliantly colored sea life and the tepid waters of protected lagoons. Inhale truly fresh air, free of pollution, and be transported away from the stress of your every day life.

As Maldives is a slightly indulgent destination, saving money on the flight will balance your budget. Visit and participate in travel blogs about the country. People that have been there are more than willing to share their experiences, including where they found the cheapest airfares. Research always pays off. Online fares are often the least expensive, but also consider checking each individual airline. Airlines designate a certain number of seats at a certain cost and dole them out among travel agents, online booking companies and their own Web site and reservationists. Oftentimes the online and travel agent low-cost seats will disappear first, where they are still available on the airline's site. Booking far in advance will guarantee those lower cost seats are still available, but many times the flights do not fill up and the 'last minute' fares can amount to amazing savings. This requires great flexibility and the ability to depart, usually within a week, but many have found this to be the best cost savings on airfare.