How to Get to the Maldives
The Maldives has quickly become a Travelzoo member-favorite destination, so it’s welcome news that airlines have added flights from major U.S. cities to this Indian Ocean paradise.
What you need to know:
- There are no direct flights to the Maldives from the U.S., but many upscale carriers such as Turkish Airlines, Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways fly to Male (the Maldives capital) after a connection. This means you'll have a layover in some of the nicest airports in the world, allowing you to reset and stretch your legs, before continuing on to your final destination. Qatar's flights lay over in Doha's Hamad International Airport, while Etihad has layovers at Abu Dhabi Airport. Both airports are state-of-the-art and offer multiple restaurants, shops, sleep pods and even hotels to pass the time. If your layover in Abu Dhabi is longer than four hours, you can apply for a transit visa that allows you to leave the airport to explore the city.
- For mileage junkies, Qatar is a member of the oneworld alliance. So if you’re a frequent flier on American or Alaska Airlines, you may be able to cash in on your miles. If you can’t find a favorable flight online, we recommend calling American or Alaska if you’re interested in going this route.
Once you land in the Maldives:
To get to your final destination, we recommend making transfer arrangements with your resort. There are ways to get to your hotel via ferry or sea plane, but it depends on how far you are from the main airport in Male. Trans Maldivian Airways flies directly to more than 80 resorts in the Maldives.