Many resorts in the Maldives set their clocks an hour earlier so guests can enjoy a longer day, but this also makes guests worry about getting the wrong time at the airport.
Luxury resorts in the Maldives are famous for their turquoise waters, rich marine life and some places even have their own time system or “island time”.
Many resorts will set their clocks one hour ahead of the country’s official time zone, or 5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+5). “Adjusting the time earlier to enhance the tourist experience and meet the diverse needs of international guests,” said Mohit Dembla, General Director of JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa.
Sunset viewed from the Ritz-Carlton Maldives – Fari Islands resort. Image: CNN
JW Marriott is one of four resorts in the Maldives that observe “island hours”. The remaining accommodation facilities include St. Regis Maldives Vommuli, Westin Maldives Miriandhoo and Ritz-Carlton Maldives – Fari Islands.
Extending daylight time by more than an hour compared to other areas is not a big problem for tourists who are used to living in places where the days are long and the nights are short. This time zone change is said to “make a big difference” when you’re on vacation but still need to work during the day.
This means the Sun rises at 7am at the resorts, instead of 6am like the Maldives’ official time.
Soneva Fushi resort seen from above. Image: Sovena
Soneva, a luxury resort group with properties around the Maldives, also turned clocks forward an hour. Instead of using “island time”, they will tie the time to the name of their resort. If you are staying at Soneva Jani, you will have “Soneva Jani hours”. By turning the clock one hour early, visitors here can enjoy daylight at the right time, perfect for jogging early in the morning or playing sports in the evening in the cool of the day, escaping the heat of summer days.
Despite its widespread popularity, island time can still be a shock to first-time visitors to the Maldives, especially as they try to balance relaxation with real time, as well as time it accurately to Get to the airport in time for your return flight.
Representatives at St.Regis said they understand guests may be confused by the time change. To fix this, hotel housekeepers will always inform guests about their time on the island and help coordinate the time to see them off at the airport.
Guests have a candlelit dinner at a luxury resort in the Maldives. Image: The Lane
However, not all resorts follow “island hours”. Kurumba, the island’s first resort, opened in 1972, is an example. Ali Farooq, resort manager, said there is “no concept of time on the island”. The reason is that many employees from the capital Malé come to work and go back and forth during the day. The hotel therefore wants to respect the balance between life and work of its employees. In addition, visitors also feel convenient and are not confused by time zone changes.
Made up of 1,190 low-lying islands, the Maldives spans an area of 90,000 square kilometers. Most resorts are located on individual islands. Many of the islands are accessible by seaplane from Velana International Airport in the capital. These planes cannot fly after dark, so daylight time in the Maldives is “very precious”.
In recent years, resorts in other countries have also created their own time zones for various reasons. But the Maldives “definitely has the most time zones”. As for the JW Marriott hotel representative, whether time zone changes are important or not “depends on the traveler’s experience”. The resort’s mission is to provide luxurious accommodations, services and create an environment in which time harmonizes with the comfort and interests of guests.