Speedboat or Seaplane transfer in the Maldives: what is better?
In order to reach your resort in the Maldives, the 2 most common ways are with a seaplane or with a speedboat. But which one is better and what are the pros and cons?
Florian
11/8/20242 min read
The pros & cons of seaplane transfers in the Maldives
Let's start with THE emblematic transportation option in the Maldives: the seaplane.
While the seaplane may appear absolutely amazing, reality is sometimes different, so here are the pros and cons of the seaplane transfers in the Maldives.
The pros:
It is BEAUTIFUL
It is fast to cover long distances
It is the ideal option with people who would have seasick
It gives an aerial overview of the resort before landing
The cons:
It is expensive
It is HOT (there is not AC, only some basic fans that only work while flying)
It only operates during day-time
It requires some waiting time, sometimes up to 2h
The pros & cons of speedboat transfers in the Maldives
Now that you know the pros and cons of the seaplane transfers to reach your resort in the Maldives, let's see how the speedboat transfers compare.
The pros:
Super flexible to adapt to your schedule and international flights
Comfortable with (for most of them) AC and lots of space
Can operate at any time of day and night
Much cheaper (in most cases) than the seaplane transfers
The cons:
No amazing aerial views
Can be a rough journey when the sea is not calm
Limits you to a selection of resorts close to Male
Conclusion: Which one is better?
As you could see, there are pros and cons for both options when it comes to transportation from the airport to your resort in the Maldives. An other alternative is a domestic flight + speedboat transfer which we would cover in an other article.
Overall, we would say that if it is your first time in the Maldives and. you are staying for more than 5 nights, it is worth doing the seaplane transfer for the experience.
Yet, if, like many repeaters, you are a bit tired of the differents "cons" of the seaplane, you may want to choose resorts within speedboat transfer distances from Male.
And, do not worry, there are many amazing resorts that you can reach from there. For instance, one of our favorite all-inclusive honeymoon resorts in the Maldives, Ozen Reserve Bolifushi, is a short 30-min luxury speedboat away from the airport. Perfect for short stays or if you don't want to go through a seaplane transfer.
If you have any question, need some suggestions or want us to quote you some resorts for you, feel free to contact us and we'll be very happy to assist you and get you the most competitive rates.
