Beware of traps – Maldives adventure experience

To travel there is happiness, pain, in an easy journey, as well as shocked and insurance.

February 15th, 6: 50 in the morning, we flew from Bangkok to the Maldives.

Kipahulu tired in the Maldives international airport, we see a small island airport exclusive. The runway is built, reclamation is not long. When the plane landed, we scared. I saw a plane, flying to the seaside. Knowing that worry is superfluous, may involuntarily want: faster heart stop, fast stop, don't fall into the sea. Aircraft to the runway end, the front is the sea, there is no stopping point, however, the aircraft to a 180 degree u-turn u-turn, back to back, slowly and firmly in the middle of a spacious place, this is the landing pad, there are four or five aircraft parked there. It is, we see the most compact of the international airport.

We are full of pleasant feelings toward immigration hall.

Hall, approximately 100 metres long and 20 metres wide, walking to reach the Customs 30 meters. We smiled and the passport and customs officers, immigration card pass, see his open passport, tossing and turning at twice the immigration card, looked up and asked us, what we live truthfully answer Hotel?: it's up, and then find. He reluctantly shook his head saying: no booking hotel cannot entry. After listening, head to Mongolia!? ticket $ 7000 sit overnight aircraft (in Sri Lanka wrap machine, delayed several hours), finally came to the dream of the Maldives, in the background, so it can never be headed home?! we must fight for immigration. So, we have to carefully explain to a customs officer: buy tickets very urgent, took the ticket to be rushed to the airport, hotel, airline ticket agent told us to reach out again. I wonder if you do not set hotel, do not let the entry requirements, and so on. The officers see our conversation honest, exceptions are made for the Passport & customs, the Customs to find good hotels, then go back and get a passport. We have a field day, three-legged and two step ran out. Go in a circle, dumbfounded, no hotel service personnel. Back to Hall, see Consulting Department, the front nose, a lady said: regarding reservations here, mind stone floor, this may solve the problem. She called a male youth, asked what we booked our room?: we retired to the beauty of your country to enjoy the island, housing not luxury, but clean, quiet and cheap. They both fingers were whispering a capital of the island of Mali will be said to us: cheapest 430 per person per night in US dollars, two four-day 3440 dollars, approximately RMB 28000. Oh so expensive hotel we are dumbfounded by asking: what is this there are several individual hotel? live? the cheapest most expensive so!?. They repeatedly said: This includes eating live line, and so on. The Maldives is more significant, the number of transportation cannot be used?, housing is too expensive, we do not, go back! they rushed to the price, after trying for more than half an hour of bargaining, they reported the final price is US $ 370 per night. First night, then change. So and Advisory Office Lady said: we set a date, the appropriate change. Miss lady once said: no, to change must be approved by the Advisory Service. Strange! Advisory Service has the power to force visitors booking? consider time is short, the first time to bother with doubts and its argument. But paying credit card also has a problem, young men, says: with a card to pay a tax of 6%? our eyes wide open: also see our collection?, he said the change fee. It's difficult to believe that the country's tax ratio, who can be arbitrarily set? we full stomach anger, a question mark in my head turned and ran out of room, want to find others. Still didn't find it first arrived, I do not know what is going on?, angry, and had difficulty level, another youth who indicated that they could help our booking. Business talk, 370 u.s. dollars include tax. Be allowed to kill it or not. He let us be your bank card to the airport of Bank staff, written orders to our hotel. Dozens of meters away from the back of customs clearance, no one may also specifically waiting for us. Make hotel, back orders, back to being returned to the Passport. But the Bank did not transfer forms, extracted from the card cash 18000 Maldives currency, first by surprise, and would like to ask out, think, immediately after his own money, an initiative of utter, leading sign. Point number Qing, La luggage to go, also do not care to our hotel orders. The first and second youth found symptoms does not immediately turn together to us, they are together. They let us refund of customs, and complain to a customs officer. We argued that we visited many countries of the world, have never encountered such an event, we cannot trust them. Customs officers did not make any representation that we heart it is a bottom, tall and looked up, justly take exit-entry hall.

Outside there is a restaurant on the left, small shops and departure hall, in front is about 100 meters wide and 300-metre long square, most have sun roof, there are tables and chairs for rest.

Right near the edge of the sea, is a Terminal, but not to the bus station, boat is the main transport. We take a boat to go to Mali each person only needs 10 Ma bi, less than one dollar a day (1 US dollar = 12.75 Ma BI). We now ship, the two young and other two associates Innertube, they have been kept and we want, we will be ignored. They say that a call to a Chinese person, we speak with him. We immediately answer: we don't want anyone to say anything, don't believe them. You even then we are not afraid, when our bodyguard. We certainly can't introduce hotel, you also don't bother! whatever we say, they still keep it down, and attitude. Disembarkation, they take the initiative to help us pull luggage, we graciously. Ashore, we go with where to go, to see the hotel asked: live here? fed up, we have to go blind without purpose, before the Office, one wearing a pink shirt, grab the first step in the door and said: this is my Office, please come in. We despise replied: no, you want to enter it into the President's Office in your country. He reluctantly glance we walked through the door. Three others also follow the step by step, we continue on the streetAlley walk through, and about half an hour later, they may feel that there is no chance, had to give up. And go for a while and see if they're really not around, breathe a sigh of relief. We are in the heart of the city found a new small hotel in double room, living room, large bathroom is not small, TV, telephone, air conditioning and other facilities, very clean, 50 USD per day than second dealers more than 10 times the price. We understand the Mali only covers 1.87 km, 2 km East to West, North and 1 km wide, is the world's smallest capital city, the city has a total of 4 Hotel, per room per night USD 40-70, the most luxurious and most expensive is 140 USD. Other hotels are built on the uninhabited island, an island than a hotel, a unique building in the water villa-style accommodation price is 300-400 dollars, more than 860 $ low, visible second dealers of black. We struggle to victory, not falling into the trap, good fun.

Members of the CityGuide you have this kind of adventure? will inform you of our experiences, to learn from experience.

Please keep in mind, going to the Maldives Tours, be sure to book well in the hotel, to avoid unnecessary trouble. For the convenience of everyone we offer the following hotels for your reference:

Name, e-mail address, phone

Dhonveli inn009603341002imma@yacthtoursmaldives.com

Relax Inn009603314531relaxinn@dhivehinet.net.mv

Kurumba maldives009606642324reservation@kurumba.com.mv

Laguna Maldives009606645903sales@lagunamaldives.com

Bandos island resort 009606640088sales