How to get in Male
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What's in a name?
The city's name is alternately spelled Male' with an apostrophe, Malé with an accent and just plain Male. Technically, the first is correct ? it's abbreviation of Malei, the original name ? but the second is popular among foreigners writing about the Maldives, as it both hints at the correct pronunciation and helps prevent confusion with the gender.
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Male International Airport (IATA: MLE) is located on the neighboring island of Hulhule. The airport has a good set of facilities, including bank, ATM, pharmacy, internet cafe and a left luggage service ($3/bag/day) awkwardly located in the arrivals area; the guards will let you in if you tell them you're going there.
Most visitors to the Maldives are met by travel agent reps right outside Customs, who then whisk them away to their resorts by speedboat or plane. If your destination is the city itself, turn right and head for the public ferry dock. Ferries to the city take about 15-20 min and leave every 10-15 min during daytime (Rf.10 or US$1), every 30 min after midnight ($2).
Note that you will not be allowed into the airport's air-conditioned departures area until flight check-in opens, usually 2-3 hours before your flight. Facilities "outside" include free showers (bring soap and towel), a basic but cheap cafe, an overpriced but airconditioned restaurant and a Movenpick ice cream shop.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Male
