The Maldives May Require 14 Day Minimum Stays and More… Would You Still Go?

I love the Maldives. It’s an interesting topic as some people think the Maldives is well overdone by travel bloggers. For sure, it’s one of the most luxurious beach vacations you can have using miles and points on a “cents per point” basis, but not everyone thinks the juice is worth the squeeze.

Are the Maldives “Worth It”?

For me, heck yes! We went for the first time last March using points to stay at the W Maldives. I called it the best resort I’d ever stayed at. We loved it so much that we booked the Maldives for our honeymoon last month, using points to stay at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives. Except, that trip didn’t happen.

Still, I’m doing my best to take that trip in December, assuming that our wedding actually happens. It’s incredibly difficult to get to the Maldives, with the easiest routings via Abu Dhabi on Etihad, Dubai on Emirates, or Doha on Qatar Airways – with total flight times ranging around 20 hours.

Clearly, I think it’s worth it….

The Maldives Reopening Plan

The Telegraph reports (and thanks to Doctor of Credit for posting the unabridged version) a reopening plan that I had to read three times to believe it’s even being conceptually considered.

Starting July 1st, 2020, the Maldives would reopen for business. Perhaps you recall the stories of when the Maldives shutdown due to COVID-19 and people were stranded in luxury villas?)

You will need:

• A $100 tourist visa
• Proof of a negative COVID-19 test (or positive antibody test) to get the visa
• Submit to another COVOD-19 test (for another $100) when you land at Male Airport (MLE) and wait 3-12 hours for test results before you move about freely (I’m not entirely clear if you have to wait in Male or if you just have to isolate at the resort until you have results).
• Travel insurance
• A 14-day stay

I bolded that last one because here’s the thing: A couple will have to spend $400 between the visas and antigen tests, but when you are already talking about a destination that requires speedboat or seaplane transfers that run more than that, I don’t think most people will forgo the trip. I wouldn’t, though I wouldn’t love the extra expense, obviously.

But a 14 day stay? That’s CRAZY.

You see, I opened this post with how much I love the Maldives. But the Maldives is about relaxing. Maybe some scuba or snorkeling, but it’s mostly relaxing. We stayed 5 nights at the W Maldives. I loved every minute and could have stayed 1 or 2 more nights. But more than that and I would have been bored out of my skull. We are scheduled for 6 nights at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives which I think is about perfect.

But if we were forced to extend the trip to 14 days, we simply wouldn’t go to the Maldives. The cost of the trip in cash or points would be exorbitant and it wouldn’t even be enjoyable to me for that long.

And don’t forget that even on a points stay, you have to pay for meals. When you are talking about a place that a burger or pizza can be $50, you aren’t kidding around with a 14 day requirement.

I can’t imagine that this aspect of the plan stays part of the plan. I get that they really need to avoid cases on the island. You wouldn’t be able to get the care you need at a resort and I’d imagine that Male’s two hospitals with just 470 beds (and that’s total, not ICU)  could get overrun quickly.

Still, a 14 day stay requirement doesn’t make much sense to me as the resorts would have so few tourists, it wouldn’t even make sense to be open, which doesn’t help anyone.

Would you stay 14 days in the Maldives?

Let me know here, on Twitter, or in the private MilesTalk Facebook group.

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