First trip to Maldives 🇲🇻 Dhiffushi: Nailed it with a blind pick! ✨

A solo vacation is perfect for blending into local life, so I chose a residential island this time. Dhiffushi isn’t as crowded as Maafushi—just the right balance between quiet and lively 🏝️😊 📋 Essential pre-trip prep: Passport, entry form, round-trip tickets + hotel reservation (screenshots work; customs will ask) Bring some USD to exchange for Rufiyaa at Male Airport (usually 1:13, but I exchanged with hotel staff for 1:16 💸) Hotels and airports have WiFi, but better to get a global data plan (like just in case 📶 Mosquito repellent 🦟, power bank 🔋, plug adapter (some hotels don’t need it 🔌) Bikini, wetsuit, water shoes ✈️ Transportation: Shanghai - Doha - Male I specifically wanted Qatar Airways, so I transited in Qatar and even checked out Fendi Cafe at the airport—this is only for those with extra time! Not recommended if you’re short on time ⏳☕ (Pro tip: Flights via Kuala Lumpur are usually cheaper and shorter. May tickets are even heavily discounted now 🌏) Return trip: Maldivian National Airlines, Male - Shanghai (Post-vacation blues hit hard—I felt like I was still floating at sea. Kinda regret booking a direct flight 😂) 🏡 Accommodation: #Dhiffushi Summer Luna I booked a homestay that caters to Chinese taste buds for 5 days/4 nights. Staff waited with a sign at arrival. The speedboat from Male Airport to Dhiffushi takes ~40 minutes—no need for international roaming (too busy staring at the view! 👀) Activities include dolphin watching 🐬, snorkeling 🤿, turtle spotting, sunset fishing 🎣, and visits to uninhabited sandbanks. Captains and staff are super friendly—you can also book extras like sunrise tuna fishing or wilderness camping 🏕️ (The homestay just launched combo packages for residential + resort islands after I left—visited too early! But May tickets are surprisingly cheap 💰) Steps from the beach—strolling around, you’ll spot friendly stingrays, nurse sharks, and seabirds 🦐🦅 🌮 Food: Besides 3 meals a day at the homestay, there are lots of local eateries. Hit the boat bar for drinks at night 🍹, and there are cafes and gelato spots for coffee/sweet lovers 😋 All with amazing views! Total cost for solo traveler: 💴 ~16,000-17,000 RMB (includes extra activities and on-island spending). For couples, it’s way cheaper—around 10,000 RMB per person including flights! #Snorkeling #GlassSea #BeachVacation #Maldives #MaldivesGuide #ResidentialIsland