If you are preparing for a trip to the Maldives, buying a travel SIM card will help you easily connect with your family and friends or need to call a taxi, or find a tourist spot. To help you get convenience in your travel, please refer to the article sharing experiences about buying a 4G SIM card here. So, how to get SIM card in Maldives and how to use it? Let’s check out our guide on how to buy it at Male airport and other places and 4G SIM card Maldives or E-SIM as well as Maldives SIM card price as follows!
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How to go online (access the internet) while in the Maldives (#how to get sim card in maldives)
There are 2 ways to access the Internet when traveling to Maldives, that is using WiFi or Roaming.
Using WiFi: WiFi is an extremely convenient way to access the Internet in Maldives, you can search for WiFi spots at hotels, cafes, airports and other tourist destinations. Especially when staying at the resort, WiFi often covers the entire island of the resort.
Using Roaming service: Roaming is a feature that allows you to use mobile services in Maldives with your network provider in your country such as Viettel, Mobiphone or Vinaphone. Before using Roaming service, plz check pricing with your network operator and determine if it fits your budget.
Roaming is the best choice if you need Internet access for many purposes such as making phone calls, sending messages, especially when traveling for a short time. Because if you only stay 2-3 days in the Maldives but buy a Maldives 4G SIM, the price will be high without using it up. However, the price of roaming based on the capacity is usually quite high, you should buy a 1-3 day package of a Vietnamese network operator.
List of operators in Maldives
There are many operators which offer mobile services in the Maldives, including Dhiraagu, Ooredoo and Feel At Home. SIM prices at operators in the Maldives range from 25-30 USD, with a capacity of up to 10GB and the expiry date is 7-30 days depending on the specific operator.
SIM card of Dhiraagu – Dhiraagu offers two different types of travel SIMs:
- 30 GB type, valid for 20 days for $50
- 17 GB type, valid for 30 days for $35
Ooredoo SIM Card – Ooredoo is available in three different prepaid plans:
- 17 GB Type, valid for 30 days for $35
- 100 GB Type (70 GB social only), valid for 30 days for $50
As you can see, the lowest price of both operators is a 17GB SIM card for $35 for 1 month. In general, for those who travel to Maldives for a short time, buying this SIM exceeds their needs, because if you stay at the resort, there is WiFi everywhere at all times in the resort. Only have to use 4G at certain times such as on the boat, on the seaplane or at the airport. If you stay for 1 week or more, you should consider buying a 4G SIM card in the Maldives.
Where to buy a 4G tourist SIM card in Maldives? (#how to get sim card in maldives)
You can buy SIM at Velana airport or SIM shops, operator offices in Male or Hulhumale island, or buy directly at local island hotels.
At the airport: When you arrive at the airport, look for stores that sell tourist SIM cards, which are available in the airport lounge area. There are a few SIM shops close to the reception counters of Maldives resorts. You just need to show your passport and they will sell you a SIM card.
At hotels: Hotels on Hulhumale or Male islands all sell 4G SIM cards, or you can go to the stores of the network operators in the city center to buy. The prices are all the same.
4G service quality in Maldives
4G wave quality in Maldives is quite good and stable. However, the waves may lower depending on the area you are in. Especially when you go to uninhabited islands, or are on seaplanes, speedboats. When sitting on a seaplane, there is still 4G signal, but it is quite weak, and on speedboats, most resorts now have WiFi on their ships.
How to buy an e-SIM card in Maldives?
E-SIM is a new concept that allows you to have a virtual SIM card inside your phone. If your mobile phone supports an eSIM card – you can buy an eSIM while traveling to the Maldives.
If you want to buy an eSIM for the Maldives, you can buy one on Airalo. This site offers a wide range of eSIM cards worldwide and special packages for Asia and the Maldives. An eSIM card is one of the most convenient ways to buy a Maldives tourist SIM. This way you won’t need to go to the store to buy a physical SIM card. Here are the options available:
- Ooredoo eSIM: 17 GB, valid for 30 days for 30USD
- Ooredoo eSIM: 30 GB, valid for 30 days for 50USD
You can clearly see that eSIM prices are a bit cheaper than buying traditional SIMs at stores. More convenient and more economical, try it.
Wish you have a wonderful trip in Maldives. Happy traveling!
Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Maldives you can refer to
- Maldives Day Tour from Hulhumale
- Discover Scuba Dive in Maldives
- Male Island Hopping Tour
- 4G SIM Card for Maldives (MY Delivery) by Mewfi
Are you looking for more Maldives travel guide and top things to do in Maldives: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Maldives travel blog — The fullest Maldives travel guide for a great trip on a budget for the first-timers.