mega Maldives packing list

Everything I read about packing for the Maldives said bare-foot & minimal, and actually, following our week away, I can definitely confirm that bare-foot isn’t always best when the wooden boardwalks are hot in the afternoon – OUCH. But minimal and beach & evening casual to glam, if you can even think about how to combine the two, seems to be a good fit!

The weather is changeable so this Maldives packing list needs to cover multiple eventualities.

The weather can be hot, breezy, wet, or a combination of all one after the other – so having layers and multiple options are good. I prefer comfort, but I do like to dress up in the evenings given the opportunity. We spent most of our time in, on, or around water during the day, it was very easy to just be in a swimsuit all day. With a cover up for meal-times. And I think I took more “stuff” than clothes on reflection!

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Flat pretty / dress sandals x2
Black Havaianas
Sliders
Water shoes

Swimsuits x5 – multiple needed, as due to the humidity they take a while to dry out
Cover ups x5

PJs x2
Trainer socks – I took too many of course! You only really need them for travelling in
Underwear

Maxi dresses x6
Cardigans x2
Vest tops x2
Floaty trousers
Long skirt
Playsuits x3
Shorts & T-shirts x3

Dry bag – for bringing back anything that may not have quite dried out yet

Beach bag
Beach hat
Snorkel, mask & flippers
Suntan lotion & after sun
Bug wrist bands & a room plug in
Wide tooth comb
Water bottle – we have the Ocean Bottles, made from plastic found in our Oceans – they keep cold water, ICE COLD, even when it’s roasting

Contact lenses
Eye drops
Anti sickness tablets – I needed these for our boat adventures
First aid kit – we pack EVERYTHING all the time, just-in-case! But the only things we needed were paracetamol and ibuprofen
Diarrhoea tablets
Rehydration sachets (I took Revival) – very good for the active morning after the night before, and from being active in the heat of course!

Dry shampoo – useful for the morning
Razors
Nail scissors / file
Toiletries – personal and facial skincare was needed, but so much was provided by the resort. You can save loads of weight and space in your luggage which can be tight if you’re getting a seaplane, so check the resort guide for what they provide in your rooms
Hair bands
Comb
Make up
Hairspray
Mousse

“Travel in” clothes:

  • Leggings
  • Shirt
  • Jumper
  • Comfy underwear for the long flight!
  • Trainers & trainer socks

Maldives hand luggage packing list

Other things I packed in my hand luggage (some of which, if clothing, is counted above)

  • Deodorant
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Thick socks (for the plane)
  • Lip salve
  • Hand cream
  • Perfume
  • Pill(s)
  • Pocket tissues (I aways get a runny nose from air con)
  • Toothbrush & paste
  • Wipes
  • Sanitary wear
  • Flip flops
  • Swimsuit and cover-up
  • Change of underwear
  • Outfit for the evening (just in case! You know when you have had your suitcase lost once, you just never quite feel the same again unless you have 24 hours of “stuff” in your hand luggage)
  • Glasses & case
  • Headphones & charger
  • Mobile phone & charger
  • Copy of passport (recommended online)
  • Book
  • Jewellery (I always take too much and end up wearing the bare minimum)
  • Watch(es)
  • Pen & Paper
  • Handbag & purse
  • Power bank
  • Sunglasses (I’m pleased I took 2 pairs, as I lost one goofing around on a paddle board)
  • Adapters (some resorts have the same as the UK, but we have two of those universal travel adapters – Luke bought one for himself a few years ago, I was green with envy! So I got one myself, it’s definitely worth the money)
  • Decent camera (for taking good photos of wildlife and marine life)
  • Travel pillow for the long flight

Reading back on what I took as hand luggage I’m genuinely shocked! It looks like a lot in black and white! I’m surprised it all fitted in a regular holdall.

Things I packed but didn’t need:

  • Denim Jacket
  • Multiple playsuits (just the 1 was needed)
  • Sarong
  • Baseball caps
  • Sound square (there was zero need to listen to music in the bungalow)
  • Bath and body wash (and other toiletries!)
  • Small talc (recommended to reduce sweating)
  • Aloe vera (recommended for sunburn)
  • Small sewing kit (one was provided by the resort)

Things I wished I packed but didn’t:

  • Having more longer cover-ups for visiting the home islands. It’s important to always have appropriate and respectful clothing with you on a trip. We stopped off at local islands on more than one occasion when we weren’t expecting to – so just having something with you at all times in your bag, is very useful.

Snacks and treats were provided in the room every day, as well as new bottles of water.

Umbrellas were available in communal areas, such as the bar, reception & restaurants. Each bungalow had an umbrella stand at the front door, so you could take one stay dry getting back to your hideaway.

Each room had the following toiletries – when you were running low, they were replaced:

  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body wash
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrushes
  • Sewing kit
  • Cotton wool pads
  • Ear buds
  • Nail file
  • Tissues
  • Soap bars
  • Thin tooth comb

Luke packed a lot of fishing gear which is heavy. We took full advantage of the additional weight allowance with Virgin and from upgrading our seats – but we did have to pay the additional charges for the seaplane, which was an executive decision well in advance. It’s something to be mindful of if you are planning on taking a sea plane to your resort. Your allowances will be smaller than on the long haul flight so make sure your Maldives packing list takes these restrictions into account.

Luke’s Maldives memories are available here.