Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa

Daylight only

Seaplanes cannot fly after dark. Whatever time your international flight lands, the transfer only runs between sunrise and sunset — roughly 06:00 to 18:00 year round, since the Maldives sits near the equator and day length barely changes.

“the uniqueness of flying in these conditions, landing on & taking-off from water, permits us to fly only from sunrise to sunset”source

A late arrival costs you a night

Land too late for the last seaplane and you overnight in Malé or Hulhumalé at your own expense, then fly out the next morning. The operator says so plainly; resort booking pages generally do not. Budget for a hotel night and a lost day whenever your inbound flight arrives late afternoon or later.

“If you are unable to find an international flight which gets you here in time, you could also spend a night in Male or Hulhumale”source

25kg baggage limit, not your airline’s

The seaplane allowance is 25kg per person total — 20kg checked plus 5kg hand luggage. Most international carriers allow 30kg or more, so the constraint that matters is the one nobody mentions when you book the flight. Excess is charged, or your bag follows on a later aircraft.

Lounge access is not automatic

Some resorts include a lounge at the seaplane terminal and some do not. Without one you wait in the public Neeri Lounge, where refreshments are bought rather than included. Waits of several hours are normal, because seaplanes depart when they are full rather than to a published timetable.