Travelling to Maldives? You MUST know this information!
Far far away, behind our comfort zones, far from home land. After a 2 stressful weeks in Egypt staying with Adam's father health issues. After his father got well, we decided to get 2 one way tickets to Asia in a journey of searching our purpose.
Velana Air port Challenge
It's first time Adam step his legs in Asia, Eva had been before in Sri lanka few years ago, but first time Maldives.
We arrived in Velana airport in Male, Maldives at 5:00am full of energy and excitements. But first thing we hit the airport check in counter to get our Visa upon arrival we got shocked with a surprise that we cannot enter without an authorized hotel booking. Yes same as you know, me and Eva said "What!!!?"
We explained to policeman that we have an Airbnb booking during our entire 12 days stay and we showed them the booking confirmation, but they rejected it saying that your Airbnb is not registered on the website of Ministry of tourism of Maldives and hence its not authorzied. We contacted our Airbnb host but she had nothing to say but "sorry its my first time on airbnb and I didn't know that! 😏
We asked the police officer, ok so what we will do now. He said unfortunately I cannot let you stay here in the airport for a longer time, so either to book an authorized hotel now or we have to send you back on the nearest plane going to Abu Dhabi. Eva to the officer; seriously!!? 😳
Adam to the officer: Alright please allow us 5 mins to figure this out and let you know. We quickly hopped on Booking.com and started to search for an authorized hotel, taking the hotel name, go to ministry of tourism website (will leave the link below) the police man gave us to check if its authorized. And guess what!!! after checked 6 hotels from booking.com, non of them was authorized, but finally the 7th was, but guess what again!!! It cost around €2000 to book this hotel for 12 nights! Holly cow! you said how much....
Then we came up with a genius idea, to keep searching for another hotel "With no prepayment" required, then we book it , show it to the officer and pass!
The plan worked, we booked a random hotel for €2500 "with no prepayment required" show it to the officer and boom! Gates are open. Yay!
Our First Impressions!
We left the airport looking to each other and laughing so much, how fortunate we are to come up with this solution while we were so stressed, in the middle of our cheering, we looked found a magnificent view, right front of the airport gates, very big beach with a very clear light blue water, surrounded by beautiful palms and ferries taking people form the shore to other island, Eva said: Adam are we in heaven!? 🤤
Lessons learned (Conculsions):
As a travellers, its important to always learn and reflect from such a stressful lessons:
Visa on arrival in Asia (Maldives) doesn't mean that you can just go as a backpacker who lives day by day. You have to show in the airport a documentation about your trip, also you have to fill this online form for a "Travel declaration" providing details about your stay, without this Travel Declaration + a proof an authorized hotel booking, you cant pass.
Here are the 2 important website you will definately need prior to arrival to Maldives:
✅ Website of Travel Declaration form in Maldives: https://travel.immigration.gov.mv/
✅ Website to check out if your hotel is authorized: https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ethd
Thank you for reaching, hope you find this information useful in avoiding such a stressful airport unplanned situations 😄
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Peace! 🤘