What do you think of when you hear about The Maldives? The first things that come to mind are probably vast expanses of beaches with white sands and beautiful wooden bungalows built on top of crystal clear water. The small country is full of resorts with breathtaking views that bring in millions of tourists every year.
Because of this popularity, the Maldives are infamously expensive to visit. Its remote location makes it tougher, as flights from the USA often exceed $1,000. A trip to this little country, no matter the season, will be costly.
To get the perfect ratio of good weather to low prices, the best months to visit the Maldives are October and November. These months have the cheapest flights since they’re at the end of the low season.
Local weather poses another challenge to visitors. Those picturesque scenes of calm waters and clear, sunny days aren’t an everyday occurrence. The country has a rainy season that’s much longer than the dry. This plus constant hot weather creates some ugly humidity that makes the afternoons feel unpleasant.
With crazy prices and unpredictable weather, is there any good time to visit the Maldives if you want to save money and stay dry? Though it may prove challenging, you can find some small deals! It depends heavily on the season you visit, but also on the accommodation you stay in.
This article assesses the average weather and tourist season trends to determine the best month to visit the Maldives for good weather and low prices. To do this, we will look at the climate and weather patterns the island republic experiences year-round. Additionally, we analyze tourism trends in these areas to determine how traffic reflects in pricing.
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Average Temperature In Maldives
Maldives’ temperatures are categorized mostly as hot and oppressive, which is why it’s such a popular destination for spending time in the water. It’s hot and stays consistently hot throughout the year. Since it barely fluctuates, there’s no real cold season.
The average high temperature creeps up to 88°F in April. However, the difference is hardly noticeable when the rest of the year’s average high is 86°F. At night, the temperature drops to the lower 80s. The average low varies by month, but it never goes below 80°F.
If hot, summer temperatures are suitable for you, then there’s no bad time to visit the Maldives! Enjoy the unique opportunity of wearing shorts on a winter getaway. Visiting in the summer? It may get hot, but it’s no worse than any other time of year. The temperatures are constantly warm and beach-friendly.
Daily Chance Of Precipitation In Maldives
Though lacking cold and warm seasons, the small island chain definitely has wet and dry ones! Depending on when you visit, rain and cloudy skies can make those picturesque huts over crystal clear water and under blue skies a far cry from reality.
Mid-January through march is the best time to visit and stay dry. Rain is at an all-time low with mid-February being the lowest point with a 9% chance of wet days. The month only gets about 0.8 inches of average rainfall. March is close behind with only 1.1 inches of precipitation throughout the month.
Unfortunately, the wet season outlasts the dry. However, that’s not to say you should expect constant monsoon-like precipitation! From April through December, the chance of precipitation climbs over 30%. Throughout this period, it often rests in the 40s and even reaches a 54% chance towards the end of May.
Though considerably wetter than February and March, these months don’t get daily rainfall. August, the rainiest month, gets about 15 wet days, leaving over half the month dry. The average volume of rainfall for the wet months is between 4.5 and 6 inches depending on the month.
Humidity Comfort Levels In Maldives
Though most wouldn’t consider the Maldives’ high temperatures in the 80s as “brutal” or “oppressive,” the country’s humidity is the real killer that makes the otherwise mild weather feel that way.
In addition to constant warm weather, they get a constant humidity level of 100%. According to the chart, every day of every month is humid to some degree, day and night. It doesn’t depend on the wet or dry seasons– you can count on it to be muggy!
If muggy weather bothers you, it may prove difficult to cope with when in the Maldives, as it never goes away. Luckily, there are abundant swimming spots to keep cool and hide from it.
Best Time Of Year To Maldives For Great Weather
With the constant humidity and regular threat of precipitation, it seems like the Maldives aren’t the paradise they’re always depicted as. However, this is hardly the truth! It depends on what type of tourism you plan to do.
There are two factors used to decide the best months for weather called the “tourism score” and the “beach/pool score,” respectively. The first is used to determine how pleasurable outdoor activities like sightseeing tours are in a given month. Clear skies and temperatures between 65°F and 80°F are the criteria here.
The Maldives’ tourism score ranks poorly due to its regular humidity, plus its temperatures always surpass the 80°F cutoff for the right conditions. It scores highest in mid-January at 3.3, but for most of the year, it rests below 2. This makes the country less than ideal for sightseeing activities like walking tours.
However, before you write the place off for your next destination, be aware that the small island chain doesn’t have many things to offer for this type of tourism. They have a small capital city, but most of the tourist sites revolve around leisure activities. Resorts and bungalows are the main draws.
In that regard, the beach/pool score, which favors hotter temperatures ranging from 75°F to 90°F, the country scores much higher! The humidity and rainy season still keep the score down, but a February peak score of 6.3 makes it a solid contender for those looking to dodge cold temperatures in their home countries.
If planning a trip to the Maldives, chances are that you’re going to relax by the beach and swim in clear water. You need the best weather conducive to being in the water. As a result, the combination of warm weather and minimal rainfall makes February the best month to visit the Maldives for great weather.
Best Time Of Year To Visit Maldives For Low Prices
A paradise full of luxury resorts, it should come as no surprise that the Maldives are a pricey vacation destination. Due to its remote location and lack of space to produce its own food and goods, everything is more expensive than in most countries. Besides rooms and flights, it’s hard to avoid paying high prices for basics like food and beverage. How can you make an affordable holiday out of the Maldives?
Travel costs to the Maldives don’t change much, but flight prices decrease slightly during the wet season from May to November. Due to the long distance and lack of direct connections, you’ll pay a lot either way if traveling from the USA.
Connections from Los Angeles to Maldivian capital Malé via Singapore cost between $1,200 and $1,300 in wet season months like July and November. A flight in dry months like January and February will run you $1,500 or more.
The tiny country is home to over 70 famous resorts. A room at one of these establishments varies from a few hundred dollars to over $10,000 per night! This price range doesn’t fit most people’s budgets, so is it impossible to plan an affordable vacation in the Maldives?
If your dream is to stay in one of the iconic wooden huts built over water, you’ll have to pay top dollar as the famous resorts rarely lower their prices. If you just want a taste of the island life and don’t mind a more modest accommodation, consider staying in a local guest house. They’re no lower in quality and are available year-round on Booking for as little as $30 per night. It can be challenging to plan a cheap trip. However, wet season flight prices make November the best month to visit the Maldives for low prices.
When Is The Peak Travel Season In Maldives?
The Maldives’ peak season coincides with the drier months from December through February. Humidity is high, but the period is the least windy, making for perfect summer-like days to spend by the sea.
The island is at its most crowded during these months as tourists pile in from around the world to take in the picturesque beaches. There are plenty of rooms to accommodate the masses, but they’ll cost the most during this period.
Budget options like guest houses might decrease in availability, so don’t wait until the last minute to book. If they’re available, you can sleep comfortably for just $30 per night. Take advantage of new properties opening at the beginning of peak season. Some slash their prices to $15 or $20 and offer great quality to get positive reviews from their first customers.
Flights are the most expensive here. Airfare from the USA often costs $1,500, sometimes even more. Don’t expect many deals in this period. Flying from Europe, on the other hand, offers easier routes and lower prices. Turkish Airlines offers connections to Malé through several cities via Istanbul for around $800.
When Is The Shoulder Travel Season In Maldives?
Right on the edge of the rainy season, the spring months of March and April make up the Maldives’ shoulder season. Tourists are still around, but they stop coming en masse.
Temperatures and humidity stay high, and the chance of rain slowly increases. However, more than half the days of these months stay dry. The wind speed is even lower than in peak season, and the low threat level of thunderstorms makes it a safe time to visit a remote island country.
Accommodation prices vary depending on your preferences. From comfy guest houses to the top resorts, you can pay from $30 to $10,000 per night. Many new listings on Booking open up at the beginning of peak season or a few weeks prior. Hosts slash their prices to rack up positive reviews from happy customers so they can keep their properties full during the peak season.
Flight prices are slightly cheaper than those found in peak season. You can fly from the USA for about $1,300 in this period. Tickets below $1,000 exist but are rare. Flights from Europe stay the same at about $800 round trip.
When Is The Low Travel Season In Maldives?
The Maldives’ off-season, running from May to November, is characterized by the same high temperatures and humidity as in other seasons, but with more overcast skies, higher winds, and more precipitation. However, you shouldn’t write off the low season for visiting the country! If you can stand a few potentially wet days, you’ll be rewarded with some beautiful ones. Plus, there are deals to take advantage of!
Since the Maldives are a remote destination, flights are long and therefore always costly. A good deal on low-season flights from the USA might cost around $1,200. Travelers flying from Europe have good potential for savings during this period, as direct flights exist for $700.
Accommodation prices don’t decrease much in the off-season. Top-rated resorts are still busy and therefore not desperate to fill their rooms. Don’t expect a room to drop from $500 to $100 per night for the season. Still, guest rooms are abundant and you can find beachfront properties for only $30 per night!
On clear days, it’s just as nice to relax on one of the Maldives’ many beaches as it is in the dry season months of January or February.
Best Months To Travel To Maldives
Visiting the Maldives requires a bit of wise spending and, possibly, patience with the weather. If you want guaranteed sunny days and clear skies, you’ll pay a lot more for flights and will compete with fellow tourists who want to vacation in the same iconic spots.
To get the perfect ratio of good weather to low prices, the best months to visit the Maldives are October and November. These months have the cheapest flights since they’re at the end of the low season. Though there’s the potential for rainy, stormy weather, there are plenty of dry days in between.
There’s no bad time of the year to visit for good weather. The country stays consistently warm and the rainy season is nowhere near as heavy as the monsoons of nearby South Asian countries like India.
However, if you can wait out a few rainy days, you’ll receive more good weather than bad. Visiting the Maldives in the off-season presents a unique opportunity to get the same beautiful scenery but for a slightly cheaper price and with smaller crowds.
