Resort – booked!
Seaplane – booked!
Are you and your kids excited for the seaplane flight? It’s such a unique experience and one of our favorite parts of a Maldives vacation.
Still, it doesn’t hurt to prepare for the seaplane flight, which is quite different from a typical plane trip.
Check out our family’s tips for taking a seaplane in the Maldives, and have a fun, stress-free, and memorable flight!
Be sure to read my general guide to Taking a Seaplane in the Maldives
Be Prepared to Wait
There’s plenty of waiting at…
You won’t get off of your main flight to Malé, hop on your seaplane flight and land at your island resort with the snap of your fingers. The process looks something more like this:
- Land at Malé, go through immigration, get luggage
- Meet your resort representative
- Check-in at the seaplane desks and weigh bags
- Take 10-min shuttle bus to the seaplane terminal
- Wait in your resort’s lounge (or the main terminal lounge) for your seaplane flight.
Good To Know: Seaplane schedules in the Maldives aren’t fixed – they are set depending on where guests need to go each day. So, you won’t know exactly when your seaplane will depart from the Malé seaplane terminal (Noovilu terminal).
- Walk from the lounge to the seaplane via the dock
- Enjoy the flight!
Helpful Tip: You’ll notice the heat immediately when you land in Malé. You may want to bring a change of clothes for your family, depending on what you wear on the plane. I ended up putting on a lighter top, but my boys just took off their fleeces. In the future, I’d have them change into shorts too. If you need to, you can get into your luggage before you check in for the seaplane.
Know the Luggage Weight Limits
Your luggage will be weighed at the seaplane check-in, and the weights will likely be less than what you flew out into Malé with.
Also, infants don’t get a seaplane luggage allowance (even if you did on your main flight into Malé).
Have Everyone Use the Bathroom
Use the toilet before you get on the plane. The seaplanes don’t have toilets, so you’ll need to go before you get on. This is also the moment to make sure diaper-wearing kids have a fresh diaper on.
And, if you’ve got a newly potty-trained child or one that can’t ‘hold it’ well, you may want to put him/her in a diaper for the flight.
Helpful Tip: You’ll get bottled water for the flight. You may need to limit your kids’ intake since there aren’t toilets on the seaplane.
Bring Anything You’ll Want for the Beach
Bring your kids’ swimsuits, sunscreen, and beach equipment (like water wings) in your carry-on because your larger suitcases may not be on the same flight as you. This didn’t happen to us, but I’ve heard it’s common. You’ll definitely want to hit the beach as soon as you get to your island, so make sure you have everything you need!
Let Your Kids See the Seaplanes
One of my kids was a little nervous about taking the seaplane when he learned they landed on the water. To help him feel more comfortable, we watched multiple take offs and landings from the balcony of our resort’s lounge.
He ended up being the most excited about flying on the seaplane… and landing on the water in one!
Decide Where You’d Like to Sit
First, let me say that there isn’t assigned seating – it’s first-come-first-served. So, if you have somewhere on the plane you’d really like to sit, make sure you’re at the front of the line walking out to the plane.
You may want to sit:
- In the front – Watch the pilots (often barefoot!) work their magic and see the take off and landing through the front window.
- In the middle of the plane – I liked this area best because we had great views of the islands and sea during the flight.
Good To Know: If you don’t care where you sit, enjoy the walk to the seaplane via the dock. Look for rays and sea life on the way!
Consider Earplugs
The seaplanes are loud! We were offered earplugs (the squishy foam kind that mold to the inside of your ear). You may want to use noise-canceling headphones or Baby-banz.
Enjoy your seaplane flight! It’s a core memory for us, and hopefully it will be for your family too!
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
Where to Eat at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi with Kids
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
