Maldives Island Resort Stay
Maldives , 5 nights, 6 days.
from
per person · twin sharing · flights extra
Included: Hotel, Breakfast & dinner, Transfers.
Ethan Holidays · +91 94954 78536 · info@ethanholidays.com · www.ethanholidays.com/compare/maldives-vs-thailand
Old Airport Road, Nedumbassery, Kochi, Kerala 683572 · since 2010
Facts checked October 2026
Maldives vs Thailand: which is better from Kerala?
- 4.9 on Google (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
- 10,000+ travellers
- Since 2010
Which is better, Maldives or Thailand?
Choose the Maldives for a resort on its own island, a water villa and the shortest flight abroad from Kochi; it is at its best from December to April. Choose Thailand for islands, cities, shopping and family days out, non-stop from Kochi with no visa; it is at its best from November to February.
Choose Maldives if
- You want a water villa and a quiet island
- You travel between December and April
- Parents are coming and want a short flight with very little walking
- A short break of three or four nights suits you
Choose Thailand if
- Children want more to do than the beach
- You travel in May or November, or want cities and shopping too
- Friends are travelling together
- You want several places in one trip: Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket
Maldives or Thailand: who is going, and when?
Two taps and we name one place for your trip.
How it works
Tap who is going, and your school break or month if you know it. We name the one place that suits you best, and the quote button asks for that place.
Maldives or Thailand in your month
Every month has a reason to go. Here is what each one is like in both places.
Maldives Thailand
Tap a month to see both places that month.
Maldives all year
- Dec–Apr · Dry and bright. Peak season: book the resort early
- May–Nov · Monsoon. Lower prices and good diving
Thailand all year
- Nov–Feb · Cool and dry. Sunny on the Phuket side; Samui drier from January
- Mar–May · Hot and sunny. Fine for the pool and the sea; first rains in May
- Jun–Oct · Monsoon. Green and fresh, lower prices; wetter on the Phuket side
Flights from Kerala to Maldives and Thailand
| From | MaldivesMLE | ThailandBKK |
|---|---|---|
| COKKochi | Non-stop about 1 h 30 | Non-stop about 4 h |
| TRVThiruvananthapuram | Non-stop about 1 h 15 | One change about 7–10 h, via Bengaluru, Chennai, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore |
| CCJKozhikode | One change about 4–6 h, via Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram or Bengaluru | One change about 6–9 h, via Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad |
| CNNKannur | One change about 4–6 h, via Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram or Bengaluru | One change about 6–9 h, via Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad |
Time difference: Maldives 30 min behind IST, Thailand IST + 1 h 30. Times are about, with a good connection, for this winter’s schedule. We quote your flights from your own city with the trip.
Maldives vs Thailand, fact by fact
| Fact | Maldives | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Flight from Kochi | Non-stop, about 1 h 30 | Non-stop, about 4 h |
| Papers | Free arrival visa; with a resort booking | Visa-free for 30 days; online arrival card first |
| Trips from | From ₹1,70,499 for 5 nights, indicative | From ₹56,999 for 5 nights, indicative |
| Our trips | 1 trip, 5 nights | 11 trips, 3 to 9 nights |
| Best months | Dec–Apr: dry and bright | Nov–Feb: cool and dry |
| What you’ll eat | Fresh reef fish, Maldivian curries; Indian dishes at most resorts | Curries, seafood, street food; Indian restaurants in every main town |
| Family or lively | Quiet resort islands; kids’ clubs at some | Family days in Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi; livelier in Pattaya |
| Easy for elders | Stronger:A short flight, then a boat or seaplane; very little walking | About 4 hours non-stop; sightseeing by car with short walks |
| Honeymoon | Stronger:Water villas on their own island | Island resorts on Phuket and Koh Samui |
| For kids | A calm lagoon; family villas and kids’ clubs at some resorts | Stronger:Safari World, SEA LIFE aquarium, Coral Island |
| Shopping | Resort boutiques and Malé’s local market | Stronger:Bangkok’s markets and malls |
| Scenery | Turquoise lagoons, reefs, water villas | Limestone islands, lagoons, golden temples |
| Money | US dollars at resorts; cards widely taken | Baht; cards in hotels and malls |
| Plugs | Several socket types; carry a universal adapter | Two-pin round plugs fit; three-pin plugs need an adapter |
The stronger side for that row. Indicative prices. They can change with dates and availability.
Which is cheaper, Maldives or Thailand?
Both are non-stop from Kochi and neither needs a visa in advance. In the Maldives, resort rates, boat or seaplane transfers, meals and the green tax make up most of the cost; Thailand has hotels and food at every level and no entry fee. The total depends on your dates and hotels.
Maldives
Our trips from ₹1,70,499 per person, twin sharing, for 5 nights, indicative.
Also budget for the green tax (USD 12 a person a night at most resorts) and, for far atolls, the seaplane.
Thailand
Our trips from ₹56,999 per person, twin sharing, for 5 nights, indicative; others priced on request.
No entry fee: the arrival card is free.
Indicative prices. They can change with dates and availability. We quote today’s price, with flights from your city, for the place you choose.
Do Indians need a visa for Maldives and Thailand?
Maldives
A free visa on arrival, usually for up to 30 days, with a paid resort booking and a return ticket. Nothing to apply for in advance; we send you the resort booking immigration asks to see.
Arrival card: the free IMUGA Traveller Declaration, for each traveller, children too, filled in online in the four days before you land; we do it with you.
At immigration: Your paid resort booking, your return ticket and enough money for the stay.
Thailand
No visa needed for a holiday of up to 30 days. Nothing to apply for in advance.
Arrival card: the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), filled in online in the three days before you land; we do it with you.
At immigration: Your return ticket, hotel bookings and about 20,000 baht in cash each, as the Indian Embassy advises.
Maldives asks for a passport valid for one month from the day you land, Thailand for six months. Entry rules change, so we check them again when you book. Any visa fee and our service charge are extra.
What you’ll eat in Maldives and Thailand
Maldives
Fresh tuna and reef fish, Maldivian curries, and mas huni with roshi at breakfast. Most resorts serve Indian dishes and vegetarian choices, and several have their own Indian restaurant. On local islands alcohol and pork are not allowed by law; resorts serve both.
Thailand
Curries, seafood and street food, with rice at every meal. Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket have many Indian restaurants. Halal food is easy to find in Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi, and vegetarian food in every city.
Tell us what you eat and we note it with the resort and the hotels.
Good to know before you fly
Maldives
- Arrival form: IMUGA, free, in the 96 hours before you land, for each traveller
- Green tax: USD 12 a person a night at most resorts, unless the rate includes it
- Money: resorts bill in US dollars; carry small notes for tips
- Time: 30 min behind IST
- Local islands: cover shoulders and knees; no alcohol or pork there
Thailand
- Arrival card: TDAC, free, in the 3 days before you land; only on the official site
- Cash: about 20,000 baht each, as the Indian Embassy advises
- Time: IST + 1 h 30
- Money: baht; UPI does not work there yet
- Plugs: 220 V; two-pin round plugs fit, carry an adapter for three-pin plugs
Maldives trips
1 trip, 5 nights, each one changed around your dates.
Maldives trips
Thailand trips
11 trips, 3 to 9 nights, each one changed around your dates.
Thailand trips
Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket
Best seller.
Thailand , 5 nights, 6 days.
from
per person · twin sharing · flights extra
Included: Hotel, Breakfast, Transfers.
Phuket Island Break
Thailand , 3 nights, 4 days.
Price on request
Included: Hotel, Breakfast, Transfers.
Pattaya & Bangkok
Thailand , 4 nights, 5 days.
Price on request
Included: Hotel, Breakfast, Transfers.
From our travellers
Rated 4.9 on Google. Read all reviews on Google(opens in a new tab)
Rated 5 out of 5
Had a wonderful experience with the travel agency for our Thailand trip! From planning the itinerary to hotel arrangements, transfers and activities, everything was well organised and hassle-free. The team was very responsive, supportive and professional throughout the trip. They made sure everything went smoothly and helped us enjoy our time in Phuket and Krabi without having to worry about the arrangements. Highly recommended for anyone planning a Thailand trip!
Rated 5 out of 5
We recently traveled to Thailand with Ethan Holidays and had the most amazing experience! Every detail was taken care of, from airport pickups to hotel check-ins, island tours, transfers, and even local recommendations. They customized the itinerary based on our needs, and everything ran like clockwork. What really stood out was their attention to detail and how quickly they handled last-minute changes.
Rated 5 out of 5
Trusted travel partner. Everything was handled with such ease that the entire journey felt seamless from start to finish. What impressed us most was the prompt communication, the smooth, hassle-free arrangements, and the continued support at every step. Ethan Holidays truly delivers a premium experience in the simplest, most effortless way.
Rated 5 out of 5
Well arranged: flight, itinerary, package, food, vehicle. Good 24x7 support from start to end of our tour. We covered the Cordelia cruise and a Thailand trip with Ethan Holidays. We always recommend Ethan Holidays for an extraordinary travel experience.
Before you ask
The 8 questions people search most about Maldives and Thailand.
Still unsure? Ask us when you request your free quote.
Office Mon to Sat, 9 AM to 6 PM · Call or WhatsApp until 11:30 PM
Get a free quote Or chat on WhatsApp (opens WhatsApp in a new tab)Thailand usually has fewer extra costs: no visa, no entry fee, and hotels and food at every level. The Maldives also has a free visa and a short non-stop flight from Kochi, but resort rates, boat or seaplane transfers, meals and the green tax (USD 12 a person a night at most resorts) add up. We quote today’s price for the place you choose.
The Maldives, for a water villa on a quiet island, from December to April. Thailand suits couples who want islands and cities in one trip, and is the pick in May and November, when the Maldives has its monsoon.
For parents, the Maldives from December to April: the shortest flight abroad from Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram, a free visa on arrival and very little walking. For children, Thailand: Safari World, aquariums and the boat to Coral Island. From June to October both are in their monsoon, with choppier boat trips; tell us who is going and we suggest the calmer plan.
Both are in season. The Maldives starts its dry season in December, so book the resort early; Thailand is cool, dry and sunny on the Phuket side.
Neither needs a visa in advance. The Maldives gives a free visa on arrival with a paid resort booking and a return ticket, and each traveller fills in the free IMUGA declaration in the 96 hours before landing. Thailand is visa-free for 30 days, with the free TDAC arrival card in the three days before landing. Entry rules change, so we check them again when you book.
Both are non-stop from Kochi: Malé in about an hour and a half, Bangkok in about 4 hours. From Thiruvananthapuram, Malé is non-stop too, about an hour and a quarter, and Bangkok is one change. From Kozhikode or Kannur both need a change.
Three or four nights suit the Maldives, as the flight is short. For Thailand, four or five nights cover Bangkok with Pattaya or Phuket.
Both are calm and welcoming. Swim and snorkel where the resort or the crew says it is safe, and wear the life jacket on boat days. Thailand’s Tourist Police run a 24-hour helpline, 1155, with English speakers.
Where these facts come from
Seasons, entry rules and flights checked against official sources in October 2026. For reference only; we handle the papers for you.
- Maldives High Commission: visa and passport(opens in a new tab)
- Maldives Inland Revenue Authority: green tax(opens in a new tab)
- Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi: visa exemption for Indians(opens in a new tab)
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)(opens in a new tab)
- Thailand Tourist Police 1155(opens in a new tab)
- Onmanorama: Kochi airport winter schedule 2026(opens in a new tab)
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