Hotels near Male International Airport - MLE, Male City

I prefer Hulhulmale to Malé when I have a stopover. It has a beach and isn't that busy and loud. The travelling time from the airport is only 15 minutes. Hulhulmale offers everything I need for my short stays.

Male city is a lot of building crammed into a very small space, pavements and streets are hard to walk, motorbikes are crazy speeding down small alleys where people need to walk to move around. No alcohol is understandable as it’s Muslim country but surely hotels could relax the rule a little even if just in the room.

Hulhumale is great for crashing out after a long flight or for staying the night before an early flight. It is also a good base for visiting Male by ferry. The long straight beach is made up of broken coral and soft white sand. The off shore reef protects the beach and make swimming safe for children. There are also areas of shade from the palm trees for those who don't want to stay out in the sun. There are numerous cafes and restaurants of all kinds.

Malé itself is a bit of a dump. The Indian Ocean is encroaching soooo close and high that the government has built protective concrete barriers around the entire island, which is just one big city.

I had previously stayed in Male city on two previuos visits and found it a pleasant place to stay. In the intervening 12 years since my last visit the entire Hulumale area has been developed and has become something of a dormitory suburb to Male city with the completion of the China Friendship Bridge. Male is now a somehwat traffic choaked hot and relatively dirty city with Hulhumale a relatively quiet place to stay with plenty of good restaurants and hotels to suit almost any budget. In addition there are plenty of options to keep you occupied from shark and manta dives, island tours and windsurfing, paddle boarding and even kite surfing advertised by tour groups located in the area.

Our quick stay in Male was a delightful addition to our travel itinerary. Despite the limited time, we managed to explore many of the city's vibrant attractions. Male is bustling with energy, offering numerous shopping spots that cater to a variety of tastes. The city's cleanliness and welcoming atmosphere were truly impressive. It's a place that I would highly recommend visiting either before or after a trip to one of the nearby islands, as it offers a great contrast to the tranquillity of the island resorts. Overall, Male exceeded our expectations and heightened our travel experience. It's a destination worth exploring, even if just for a short while.