MALDIVES FAQs

Amilla Travel Tips

Before Arrival

  • Where is Amilla Maldives located?

    Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences, located in the otherworldly Baa Atoll of the Maldives, is within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Maldives is a tropical archipelago in Asia, straddling the equator. The island nation is surrounded by the Laccadive Sea (part of the Indian Ocean) and lies south of India and southwest of Sri Lanka.

  • How do I get to Amilla Maldives?

    The best way to travel to the Maldives is by air, although there are also provisions for international yacht arrivals. Abundant scheduled and charter flights operate between the Maldives and the rest of the world. Learn more on our Getting Here page and chart your journey to Amilla Maldives from any corner of the world.

  • Do I need a visa to enter the Maldives?

    All travellers receive a free 30-day visa upon arrival providing their passport is valid for at least six months. They also need a valid return air ticket home/onwards to another destination and a confirmed reservation at a resort.

  • What is the weather like in the Maldives?

    The Maldives has a hot tropical climate, with plenty of sunshine, high humidity, and a constant sea breeze. The temperature generally hovers around 30°C (86°F) year-round, with night-time lows sometimes of 25°C (77°F). Sea temperatures are around 22 to 28° C (72–82°F). The climate is influenced by monsoons—the dry Northeast Monsoon from November to April, while the Southwest Monsoon (May–October) is technically the wet season. However, it’s very possible to have many sunny days, even during the rainy season.

  • What is the best time to visit the Maldives?

    The Maldives is a year-round destination, with a tropical climate and temperatures averaging 30°C (86°F) throughout the year. While snorkelling and diving have good visibility throughout the year, the Southwest monsoon season (May–October) is the ideal season to sight manta rays in Hanifaru Bay, the dry Northeast monsoon season (November–April) is when we see the clearest skies.

  • How do I get to Amilla Maldives from the nearest airport?

    Malé’s Velana International Airport is accessible from various hubs around the world. From there, you can get to Amilla Maldives by a 35-minute shared or private seaplane or 20-minute domestic flight, followed by a 10-minute boat transfer. Transfer options are booked by the property with our partner Manta Airways.

  • How big is the Amilla Maldives Island?

    Our lush island offers 1.2 kilometres long and 800 metres wide of enchanting space to roam and play. With only 67 villas and residences, the vast majority overwater, this leaves a great deal of undeveloped jungle and green space. It is a rare luxury in the Maldives—dedicated zones for rest, play, relaxation and rejuvenation. Secret beaches. Cycling and running track. Space for being at one with nature and precious time with your loved ones.

  • What currency is used in the resorts of the Maldives?

    We use the US Dollar and accept all major credit cards.

  • What time zone is the Maldives/Amilla in?

    We are five hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (official Maldives time).

  • What languages are spoken at Amilla?

    We all speak English. Our Maldivian staff speaks Dhivehi in addition to English. We also have team members who speak additional languages, including Russian, French, Arabic, Italian and Thai.

  • What should I pack?

    Pack lightly. The Maldives has a hot tropical climate, with temperatures generally hovering around 30°C year-round, with night-time lows sometimes of 24°C. Our villas are equipped with bathroom amenities and a hair dryer. We follow a resort-casual dress code for all our restaurants.

Experiences

  • What is there to do at Amilla Maldives?

    Dive into a host of activities by sea or on our Naturally Lush Island Paradise. Peruse our comprehensive list of Experiences offered at Amilla and check out our award-winning Javvu Spa and wellness packages. We also design one-of-a-kind experiences for the entire family in addition to on-island weddings and the most romantic of celebrations.

  • What activities are included?

    We invite you to partake in daily yoga classes, utilise all non-motorised sports equipment, learn how to make kombucha or join our cocktail-making class. Take on a badminton, tennis, table tennis, pickleball, giant chess, or bocce ball challenge. Your Katheeb will also provide complimentary snorkelling equipment and yoga mats directly to your villa.

  • Is there a football pitch?

    Yes, we have a huge football pitch and often hold tournaments you can join in with our Maldivian local staff and sometimes a surprise soccer star!

  • Can I fish on the house reef?

    We do have a lively house reef with numerous species of marine life and colourful corals within paddling distance of our Naturally Lush Island Paradise. However, to preserve our delicate ecosystem, we do not allow fishing or crabbing at Amilla. In this same spirit, we do not feed our local fish, manta rays or baby sharks in our effort to be as ethical as possible in our Sustainability efforts. Instead, we offer a wide array of fishing excursions—please, contact your Katheeb or visit H.U.B. for options.

  • Can I swim anywhere around the resort?

    Yes, and we provide a complimentary safety briefing before you swim/snorkel (even if you have personal snorkelling gear). We also have a fabulous swimming pool and most villas have a private pool(s).

    We do not, however, allow swimming at night for your safety. Please be aware—the currents can be strong everywhere in the Maldives, so we advise our guests not to go out of their depths and not try to swim to another island. Life vests are provided for your safety, but as we have no lifeguard on duty, we take extra safety measures to ensure all our guests’ safety in the water.

  • Can I play tennis at Amilla?

    Yes! We have two floodlit tennis courts, and you can even book private lessons with an RTC Tennis Pro.

  • How far is Hanifaru Bay from Amilla Maldives?

    Hanifaru Bay is 15 mins away on a speedboat, approximately 8 kilometres from Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences. Learn more on our Hanifaru Bay page.

  • What are some of the spa and wellness offerings at Amilla Maldives?

    Discover a holistic approach to wellness tailored to your lifestyle. Our pioneering concept, Wellness Your Way, combines traditional spa, yoga, massage and meditation with nutritious cuisine. Visiting practitioners offer therapies and personal training sessions. Javvu Spa conjures up exceptional treatments, incorporating traditional Maldivian herbal medicine (Dhivehi Beys), complemented by customisable menus catering to vegan/vegetarian, low-carb/keto, paleo, gluten-free and dairy-free lifestyles. Learn more on our Spa & Wellness page.

    We also have a children’s spa menu for special treatments for the entire family. If you plan on booking an evening treatment, our last appointment is at 7.00 pm local time.

  • How can I book experiences, events and restaurants?

    We recommend booking experiences, dining venues, massages or spa treatments in advance – either before arrival at the resort or as soon as you arrive. Our guest services (guestexperience@amilla.com, timezone (MVT) UTC +5) would be more than happy to answer any queries you might have. Additionally, download our Weekly Activities within our Experiences page to gauge scheduling for both our complimentary and some of our most popular excursions by sea and by island. Once you receive your booking confirmation from us, you’ll also be able to download the Eleanor App directly to the convenience of your phone, which is exclusive to Amilla’s guests and makes booking effortless for dinner reservations, activities, and other amenities during your stay. Download the Eleanor app in the Apple Store or get it on Google Play.

  • What animals might I see while visiting Amilla?

    As the Maldives islands are so remote, we have no large mammals such as monkeys or big cats, but we do have hectares of glorious jungle! Our jungle has a fabulous diversity of wildlife, including rare birds that live and breed in our ancient banyan trees. As with all Maldives islands, there is the occasional fruit bat and small lizard—as well as butterflies and other small insects (but nothing dangerous or of an Amazonian/Australian size!).

    The Maldives is a very safe country for its wildlife. The majority of our country’s wildlife is found in the ocean. We urge you to avoid touching any ocean wildlife or coral as some species can sting or cause a rash (and you could harm them too by touching them). If you are concerned about hazards, the biggest concerns in the Maldives are sunburn or falling coconuts. In fact, we regularly send our best climbing experts to shimmy up coconut trees in our public areas and remove coconuts—so they won’t unexpectedly crash to the ground. Don’t worry—we don’t waste a thing. We have a coconut machine to make our own virgin coconut oil.

    We also have pest control measures to help control mosquitoes etc. We encourage our guests to keep their doors and windows closed to ensure their villas and residences remain deliciously cool (as opening them affects the efficacy of the air-conditioning) and also helps circumvent any issues with ‘new friends’ that may be outside wanting to move in!

  • Do you have a salon at Javvu Spa?

    Yes! We have a salon at Javvu, complete with a nail salon.

  • Do you have a gym on the island?

    Yes, we technically have three gyms. A zero-carbon outdoor gym featuring functional fitness stations built using natural materials like a coconut weight machine, a scramble net and monkey bars, all under a majestic Banyan tree.

    We also have cardio and strength studios, outfitted with the latest machines, a Smith machine, functional fitness equipment and open space for lifting and toning workouts.

Dining

  • What is the best dining package at Amilla?  

    Amilla Maldives offers a stress-free holiday with our specially designed meal plan options. Our Dine Around All Inclusive package provides you with the best value and optimum peace of mind during your stay—including breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus selected drinks and minibar. Learn more about our dining venues, Wellness Your Way and meal plan options directly on our Dining page.

  • Do you cater to special dietary requirements?

    Absolutely! Check out our Wellness Your Way menu options on our Dining page. We cater to vegan/vegetarian, low-carb/keto, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free and much more. All our dishes are customisable. If you have any food allergies or any food-specific religious requirements, please let us know in advance.

  • Do you provide room service?

    Yes, we have a wide selection of In-Villa Dining dishes—why not treat yourself to a starlit dinner on your private terrace or a floating breakfast?

  • What are the meal options for children?

    Children from 0–4 years old can have up to three complimentary meals a day on the same meal plan as parents. Kids from 5–12 years old have reduced-rate meal plans. Please contact us for any further inquiries.

  • What’s included in the minibar?

    Soft drinks, beer, wine, spirits, water, snacks and milk. Minibar is included under our Dine Around All Inclusive meal plan.

  • Are there set times for meals?

    Mealtimes are very flexible, but a regular schedule might look like breakfast that finishes at 10.30 am; lunch can be provided until 6.00 pm; dinner at any of the resort’s outlets would end at 9.30 pm, but you can dine in at your villa 24 hours a day.

Families

  • Does Amilla have a Kids Club?

    Our Kids Club is a well-equipped, fenced open-air playground with a splash area and sun canopy that offers a fun-filled daily programme of activities where you can book kids’ bicycles, snorkelling equipment, selected water sports, ping pong, tennis, badminton, PADI Bubblemaker courses and much more. Safety Turtle wristbands provide additional water security for tots.

  • What age is allowed in the Kids Club?

    We welcome children from ages 4–12. Children who are 3 years old and under will also have access to the Kid’s Club with the presence of a parent, guardian or a dedicated team member as a babysitter.

  • Do you provide a babysitting service?

    Yes, we do! It’s just $20+ per child per hour, so why not have a romantic night out?

  • Does Amilla have family rooms?

    Our two-bedroom Beach Pool Villas and two-bedroom Lagoon Pool Villas are ideal for families with young children, while older kids will love the bunk beds in our exotic two-bedroom Treetop Villas (which come with a strip of beach). The enormous residences are perfect for larger families.

Health & Safety

  • Is Amilla Maldives accessible for guests with physical disabilities?

    We have committed to embracing total-guest-inclusion, undergoing comprehensive training from Inclucare to become the world’s first certified inclusive and accessible resort. We are a wheelchair-accessible beach resort with additional accessibility adaptations for our hearing and visually impaired travel guests. 100% of our front-of-house staff have undergone inclusive hospitality training to accommodate all guests regardless of disability or impairment; to learn more, visit our Accessibility page.

  • Can I drink the tap water?

    Yes, our tap water is produced from desalinated seawater, perfectly safe for brushing your teeth. Our bottled water (produced in-house and complimentary) is enhanced with minerals, so better to drink.

  • Is there a doctor on-site at Amilla?

    Yes, we have a resident resort doctor living at Amilla, on call 24 hours a day. The nearest local hospital is a mere 20 minutes away by speedboat.

  • Will I need any vaccinations?

    Vaccinations are required only for visitors travelling to the Maldives from a region where yellow fever and cholera are endemic. For guests travelling from all other destinations, no vaccinations are required.

  • Are there CIP services at Velana International Airport?

    CIP services can be arranged by our reservations team for both ways of your journey which includes:

    Upon arrival, a black car service will meet you at the stairs of the plane, and all entrance formalities will be arranged for you in the CIP Lounge. Once your seaplane is ready, the Amilla team will greet you for your seaplane journey.

    Upon departure from the Maldives, receive check-in formalities, immigration clearance and an escort to the aircraft from the CIP Lounge, which allows for direct boarding.

Good to Know

  • Is there wifi?

    Yes, we have complimentary wifi across the resort and in each accommodation.

  • Do you provide a laundry service?

    Yes, we offer an excellent paid-for laundry service, although we cannot provide dry cleaning services.

  • Can I smoke anywhere in the resort?

    You may smoke outside in designated areas, but please note all our villas and residences are non-smoking.

  • Can I take photographs, videos and film drone footage?

    Please do snap away, and don’t forget to tag us @amillamaldives! If you want to use any photos or footage for commercial use, please have a word with us first.

    Maldivian privacy laws prohibit unmanned aerial systems or drones on the island. Drones can be left at our airport lounge and collected on departure.

  • Do I need to bring adaptors?

    We provide adaptors in all villas and residences. Our electricity sockets are multi-standard to fit a wide range of plugs and chargers.