Trip Report Dhigurah Boutique Beach

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pelan-pelan

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Just returned from Boutique Beach Dhigurah. Diving was exactly as described for this location. Beautiful fish life from large down to lovely small stuff. Diving was well-organised, thoroughly briefed, very safety-conscious with good quality dive gear for hire. Rooms, food, service etc were excellent. Personalised service. The owner, the manager and the staff were always helpful and interested in what you would like to do. Just ask if there is anything you need.

The island has a number of guest houses, shops, a medical centre, school etc. It was interesting to stroll out into the village, or walk to the sandbar at the end of the island so there was more to do than just dive or lie on a sun lounger.

PCR test requirement prior to leaving Maldives was all booked for us. All we had to do was sit on a chair at the door of the hotel. The island ambulance and two ladies in full protection suits were there to carry out the test.

Many guests are returners. Would we go again? A resounding yes, and again and again. The trip report is brief, otherwise it would be too full of superlatives.

Also, organisation to get guests from Male airport to Dhigurah is seamless. Your holiday starts as soon as you walk out of the Arrivals Hall at Male.
 
Glad you had a good time. Question about your flight in. Did the Maldives require a QR on your covid stamp, or did you just put the info in the health app without one?
 
[...] Did the Maldives require a QR on your covid stamp [...]
Do you mean test certificate or vaccination certificate?
Note that you don't need a vaccination certificate, but you need a negative PCR test to enter the Maldives. Population on Dhigurah has been fully vaccinated, hence island is cleared for accepting tourists.
 
Do you mean test certificate or vaccination certificate?
Note that you don't need a vaccination certificate, but you need a negative PCR test to enter the Maldives. Population on Dhigurah has been fully vaccinated, hence island is cleared for accepting tourists.
From the UK, not only did we need our Covid proof of vaccination, but also a QR code from filling out a Health Travel form on the Maldives government site and a negative PCR result.

One of the factors that has to be taken into account is the airline. You have to be clear what the airline's rules are, as well as what is required for the country. We flew with Emirates changing at Dubai so we were subject to Dubai in-transit rules as well. The Emirates staff were efficient and polite - and that was reassuring. But if we hadn't had all the necessary forms, I am sure they would not have boarded us.

To depart the Maldives we had to have proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than two days previous, plus a UK Passenger Locator form and I think we also needed a Maldives form.

And yes it was worth it.
 
So, i assume the necessity for a covid proof of vaccination came from flying Emirates with a the transfer in Dubai (do not fancy looking that up right now, sorry, but should be stated on the Emirates site).
It definitely does not come from a Maldivian requirement (statement as of 28.12.2021 16:04 UTC)
 
Do you mean test certificate or vaccination certificate?
Note that you don't need a vaccination certificate, but you need a negative PCR test to enter the Maldives. Population on Dhigurah has been fully vaccinated, hence island is cleared for accepting tourists.

The actual test certificate for the PCR.
 
So much depends on where you are travelling from, the airline, and of course the latest updates. These can appear and be applied with minimal notice, as has happened with some countries in Europe.

Imuga - Maldives Immigration for the Maldives Traveller Health Regulation Form

Suggestion - travel with a USB drive with copies of all your documentation. In suitably high definition. When filling out the forms needed for departure you may find you need a passport style photo of yourself - so that should be on the USB as well. And we got caught out by file formats. .pdfs were not accepted on some forms and .jpgs were needed. Note - departure forms may not be filled out more than 2 days before departure. And may well need to be printed out at a suitable quality. So don't do it in the evening when all the staff have gone home and the office is locked.
Now I understand why the Maldives are dry - you need to be stone cold sober to fill out all the forms to get out of the country, get on the airline and to get back into your own country.

Boutique Beach were absolutely geared up for all of this and could not have been more helpful and efficient. And yes, it is worth it.

Check out their whale shark event.
 
@pelan-pelan
Covid busted our planned stay at BLISS. It's postponed not canceled.
So, i may start hating you if you keep telling good things about that island
😈
 

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