Maldives Travel Journal: A Barrier-Free Travel Experience Without Any English Language Skills!

When I first planned my trip to the Maldives, I was worried how I would manage with no knowledge of the English language. But, I am glad to say that, I had an amazing time in the Maldives without any language barriers.

Arrival

As our flight landed in Maldives, I felt overwhelmed, stepping out of the airport. The clear blue sky and the turquoise water surrounding the airport were mesmerizing. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a friendly staff member who spoke in clear English, making the process of getting through the airport very easy.

Accommodation

We had booked our accommodation online, so we had no contact with English-speaking staff beforehand. However, all the receptionists were well-versed in communicating via gestures, maps, and even drawing sketches to help us understand any particular requests. The staff allowed us to take our time to grasp the details and made sure we were comfortable with all the relevant information before leaving us.

Food

I am a vegetarian, so I was concerned about the food options during my stay. However, all the restaurants had a wide variety of vegetarian options. The chefs and waiters' teams were more than happy to help me choose the right dishes. The non-vegetarians also had a wide range of dishes that were not only tasty but also visually impressive.

Activities

The Maldives had a lot of activities to offer, like snorkeling, scuba diving, and other water sports. The activity guides were quite cooperative and spoke slowly and clearly so that I understood what they were telling us. They helped us with the necessary gear and explained the safety procedures using gestures, making it quite an enjoyable experience.

Transportation

We used boats, seaplanes, and domestic planes to travel between the islands. The mode of transport varied for the different locations, but all were well-coordinated, and we did not face any issues. The captain and the crew members on the boats were amicable and tried to make us comfortable.

Conclusion

Overall, I had a memorable and hassle-free trip to the Maldives without any language barriers. The staff was willing to help and communicated effectively using non-verbal methods like gestures, maps, sketches, and photos. I would definitely recommend the Maldives to everyone, even if they don't have any English language skills.