If you’re contemplating a trip to the Maldives, it’s likely that one of your first questions is, “How many days should I stay?”
I get it – I asked myself that same question, and I’ve read responses from hundreds of others as well.
There’s no right answer – it all depends on you, your travel group, and what I list below.
I typically see/hear people discussing stays of 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, and 14 days.
Know that it’s highly unlikely you’ll wish you’d stay for a shorter time. Most people are so disappointed they have to leave and wish they’d booked a longer trip!
Let’s take a look at some important things to consider when deciding on how long to stay in the Maldives.
Flight Length
Flights from the western US are lengthy. For example, a quick search from Los Angeles (LAX) to Malé (MLE) brings up flight travel time of 24-43 hours. And that doesn’t include your travel from Malé airport to your island (likely 30-60 more minutes of travel).
Flights from Europe are shorter, and you can even get direct flights from some major European cities, depending on the time of the year (including London, Milan, Rome, Frankfurt).
Flight times from Australia are inbetween those of North America and Europe.
So, if you’re spending a day (or more) to reach the Maldives, you likely won’t want to turn around in 5 days and go home – especially if you’re affected by jet-lag.
Trip Budget
Budget is a huge factor in how long you should stay in the Maldives. If you want to stay in a high end resort that’s $3000/night but your budget is $15,000 for accommodation, you’d be smart to book for 5 nights.*
On the other hand, if you’re seeking sun and sand and don’t need luxury, you may be able to stay for two weeks with your budget.
*Keep in mind there are additional costs like taxes and tips, and you may need to pay for excursions, food and drink, depending on your meal plan.
Other things that affect your budget:
- Local island vs resort island
- Visiting during high or low season
- Level of accommodation (mid-range to ultra-luxurious resorts)
Once In a Lifetime
If this is your once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Maldives, you may want to stay for 10 days or more. But if you think you’ll be a repeat customer, you could stay for fewer days and when you leave, remind yourself you’ll be back!
Heat and Sun
Are you always seeking out air-conditioning? Do you hide from the sun and prefer sitting in the shade? If so, you may be fine with a shorter stay in the Maldives.
The Maldives see average temperatures of around 30° Celsius, year-round. The sun is strong, and the focus of the Maldives is on sun and sand, so you can’t really hide from it.
If the rest of your group is fine with the heat and sun but you’re not, you can:
- stay under sun umbrellas
- wear UPF clothing
- avoid being out during the hottest part of the day
- take advantage of other resort highlights like the spa or evening enterntainment
Time of Year
The main things to look at when thinking about the time of year are the weather during your trip and the cost of your trip.
While the weather hasn’t followed the ‘rules’ lately, the Maldives typically see the most rain during the summer months, from May through November. If you’re visiting during these months, I would try to stay a bit longer to allow for a few rainy days. For example, if you plan a 7-day trip, and it rains for 4 of them, you may be disappointed. In those months, think about adding a few extra days to account for the possibility of rain. And if it doesn’t rain, you’ve won the jackpot!
The other issue about what time of year you book is the cost. The ‘high’ season for the Maldives runs from December through April, with the peak leading up to and during the Christmas holiday and over the New Years holiday (yes, they’re celebrated at resorts, even though the Maldives is a Muslim country).
Activities
The Maldives is all about sun, sand, and sea. Popular activities include:
- swimming in the sea or a swimming pool
- snorkeling and scuba diving
- other water sports (kayaking, SUPing)
- sunbathing
- eating (there are some incredible restaurants and chefs in the Maldives!)
- going to the spa
- going on boat excursions
- some hotels have evening entertainment like fire shows, karaoke, and live bands
- learning about the local culture on an excursion or by staying on a local island
If you don’t see many activities on that list that interest you, you may want to book a shorter trip to the Maldives.
If you want to do everything on that list, keep in mind that one excursion per day is plenty (I’d even say one every other day works well). And, excursions or activities can be affected by weather. So, if you have three must-do excursions, visit for at least a week, but preferably 10 days, so you’ll have the opportunity to go on them.
Booking Specials
Even if you’ve decided you’ll visit for 9 nights, be sure to check with your resort directly and with consolidators (like LastMinute.com) for booking specials. For example, you may find specials like:
- Book 10 nights and get 2 nights free.
- Book 10 nights and get free seaplane flights for your entire party.
- Book 10 nights and receive an upgrade from full-board to all-inclusive.
In each of these cases, I’d seriously consider booking the extra night.
Travel Style
This is kind of tied to the activities mentioned above. Are you a go-go traveler who loves to see and do all day long and check things off your to-do list? Or, do you prefer to rest and relax?
The Maldives definitely isn’t a place to ‘see the sites’ or a have a packed itinerary. If that’s your style of travel, a longer trip may be too much for you.
I hope this has helped you in your decision. Remember to use these to decide what’s best for you.
What We Do: We fly from Europe, budget this as a ‘big trip’ that we hope to repeat, we’re fine with the heat and sun, we visit during December, we love the activities in the Maldives, we take advantage of booking specials (seaplane flights included on our last trip with a minimum stay), and our travel style is flexible (we’re fine with both, depending on where we are). Our family stayed for 9 nights on our first trip and we’ve booked for 12 nights on our next trip.
Be sure to check out all of our Maldives with Kids posts:
Maldives with Kids – How to Plan the Perfect Trip
7 Reasons to Book a Family Trip to the Maldives
6 Helpful Tips for Your First Visit to the Maldives with Kids
30+ Maldives Family-Friendly Resorts – Compared by a Mom (Includes Table & Notes)
How Many Days to Spend in the Maldives
Family Packing List for the Maldives
Maldives with a Baby – Yes or No?
Maldives with Teens
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Review – Family Paradise in the Maldives
Overwater Villa or Beach Villa – Choosing One for Your Maldives Family Trip
Family-Specific Questions to Ask Your Maldives Resort – Before You Book
Taking a Seaplane in the Maldives
Tips for Taking a Seaplane with Kids
Maldives Regrets – From Resort Choices to Packing Mistakes
