Due to uncertainties elsewhere, I have extended my Maldives stay this winter. Now I had no clue split stays were prohibited under the old rules, but now they are allowed. However, the rules say I need to contact the Ministry of Tourism with the travel plans for approval, at least 2 days before arriving i MLE. How does one go about doing that?
I’m planning on splitting my stay between 4 different properties (4n, 3n, 2n, 4n). Is it more of a ”let them know” kind of situation, or is it actually an application?

Understand this is not the appropriate place to ask this, but it is the best bet for someone in the same situation as me. Heading over to WA Maldives end of Oct from Bay Area California, since we are past the free cancellation time (with in 30 days) so will probably continue our journey flying QR. Does anyone know where to take the PCR test in Bay Area that can guarantee results within 2-3 days? Most of the testing site states anywhere from 2-5 days but had a friend took one before and ended up getting the results in almost 10 days..

Your transfers have to be organized and communicated to the ministry by the resorts themselves, not you. A PCR test between each transfer will add $170-$200 for each person, each time, keep that in mind.... So start getting in touch with all the resorts first, before making further planning.... but things can change again, come November.

That’s reassuring. Maybe I’ll skip the first resort to make things simpler.

Are there any rules regarding where the pre-departure PCR test is taken?
Can I do a test in London, then get to Paris and the next day fly to Maldives from CDG provided that I have received my test from London?

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Originally Posted by zoneflyer (Post 32710830)

Understand this is not the appropriate place to ask this, but it is the best bet for someone in the same situation as me. Heading over to WA Maldives end of Oct from Bay Area California, since we are past the free cancellation time (with in 30 days) so will probably continue our journey flying QR. Does anyone know where to take the PCR test in Bay Area that can guarantee results within 2-3 days? Most of the testing site states anywhere from 2-5 days but had a friend took one before and ended up getting the results in almost 10 days..

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I utilized urgentmedhousecalls.com, talked to Ashley. Their doctor is S.F based.
I just left SMF yesterday and currently in DOH for the overnight layover.
Took the test Monday at 11, by the time I landed in ORD at 11 the following day, I had the results.
But you do pay a pretty penny for that service.

Also, AFAIK... ALL Hilton hotels are 24 hour cancellation if you booked your stay in the last few months. Double check their website, but if you decide you don't want to go, you should be able to cancel.

We cancelled a mid September WA Maldives reservation within 30 days when we figured out we were waiting until Oct to go.

I used the Pixel test from LabCorp earlier in the year. Got the results in a day. (Less than 24 hours after they received the sample in their lab). Was covered by insurance. Super easy all around and highly recommended.

https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/at-hom.../covid-19-test

Indeed a hefty premium for this service, probably out of my wallet range as it'll cost $1200+ for two people. Thanks for sharing though.


Looking into this option. However, wondering with the current 72 hour Maldives PCR rule before the first port of departure (SJC - LAX - DOH - MLE), how can you prove that you took the test within the 72 hour mark using the self test kit? And how long will it take for the mailing to reach their lab?

The official test result report has the date and time stamp for when you took the test (self-reported on LabCorp's Pixel website), the day/time is was received and when results were reported.

LabCorp gives you a FedEx First Overnight shipping bag to return the test in. So you could take the test at home in the late afternoon, get it to your local FedEx quickly, LabCorp gets in the next morning and will give you results in a day. I collected my sample at 1pm at home and got my results via email two days later at 7am. So about 42 hours total from sample to email. You can shorten that by taking the test closer to your FedEx drop off time.

Greatly appreciate the info, based on your input this will probably be our route to take PCR test.

Confirming Pixel as a good option for <72hr turnaround. We opted to take the Pixel test and an Everlywell test to increase our odds of success.
Flight Time: Sunday 8:25pm IAD-DOH
Sample Collection Time (self-reported via online kit registration system for Pixel and Everlywell): Friday 12pm
Sample Received: Pixel - Saturday 3pm (notified via email) | Everlywell... UPS didn't pickup from their dropbox :/
Results Received: Pixel - Sunday 10am (notified via email) | EverlyWell... see below

Everything went smooth with Pixel, from order to results receipt. Everlywell was frustrating, though it's hard to blame them in full because UPS didn't pick up from a drop box which they listed as having a Friday pick up time of 5pm (I dropped off at 1pm so there's no way it was just picked up early or something). That being said, Everlywell was adamant the sample had to be dropped off in a Drop Box and not at a UPS Store or via UPS pickup which I'm sure they have their reasons for, but I can't help but think if I'd just dropped it off at the UPS Store it would have made to the lab overnight as intended. The Everlywell sample was picked up on Monday and we received results on Wednesday via email at 11am EDT, so the turnaround time was pretty similar to Pixel's. But - and this seems like a pretty big but - the Everlywell report didn't have the sample time or time of receipt filled out (the fields were there but were left blank). So, highly recommend Pixel over Everlywell.

Upon check-in QR was very detailed in making sure the sample collection time and result date were on the report and within the 72hr timeframe. They also looked at our QR code from the Maldives health declaration, but did not scan it. The immigration agent upon arrival to Male was also pretty thorough and made sure we presented our first boarding pass (IAD-DOH) because at first glance the sample was taken outside of the 72hr threshold for the DOH-MLE flight. She also asked whether we had stayed in Doha, to which we clarified that it was just our transfer point & we did not leave airport. Then, we were cleared for entry and off to enjoy our honeymoon at the Conrad Maldives!

Do they care which country you've done the test in?
Was thinking of flying out from ARN, but will do a test in the UK within 72 hours of the departure from ARN (-DOH-MLE) since there seem to be no PCR test providers working on weekends there... Essentially Day 1 is test in London, Day 2 is separate flight to ARN, Day 3 is new ticket from ARN to MLE, at which point they will check the PCR test.

I just received this from the Ministry of Tourism (see attached). Who here has been to Maldives lately and can say how strict they are about requiring a passport number? :confused: Most places are only offering an automated report via electronic chart. I called one place that said they can do this, but they would write it on top of the lab report and have the doctor sign it. This whole thing sounds super janky.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...cd71a2eda1.png
Also, notice how they say nothing about time (only date), but clearly QR is checking for the time (which actually makes sense!)

I just emailed the ministry of tourism of Maldives and they told me the same thing! They need passport # ADDED on to the test report and i just call NYU langone (who do covid test) to see if they can add the passport # they said it MIGHT NOT be possible.

Well I went (flying ZRH-DOH-MLE) on Sept 12 and flew back on Sept 20 and I did not have my passport number on the test result. And I uploaded it to the IMUGA website within the required 24h window. No issues at all.
At check-in however, QR asked me to call the hospital to get the lab results because they wanted to see the hour at which the test was done, not just the date. Which is silly because the test was done on the 11th, and I flew on the 12th, so it didnt't matter whether it was 2AM or 11PM, it still is within the 72H prior to the flight... But the QR attendant didn't bulge.... so yeah try to get the time stamp as well....

You can see below what was shown at check-in and uploaded on the IMUGA website.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1d93f30171.jpg