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We hope you will find
this feature helpful in planning your vacation under the sun in the
Maldives. We have enlisted the help of experienced individuals with
first-hand experience of the activities that you may wish to
experience in the Maldives. Surf on and find out more about our
experts, who knows, you might be for a pleasant surprise! They might
be old friends.
Additionally, here are a few helpful tips that you might find
helpful in packing and getting ready for the trip.
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Entry
Requirements
Visitors to the Maldives are granted a 30-day tourist visa on
arrival. |
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Airport
All flights from overseas arrive at Male International Airport,
located on its own island a few minutes boat-ride from the
capital.
The terminal at Male has a bank where you can change money, but
it’s unlikely you will need very much local currency as payment
for all facilities can be added to your hotel bill. There is
also a snack-bar, tourist shop, information office and, when you
have gone through customs on departure, fairly extensive
duty-free facilities. Before leaving the Maldives you will have
to pay a departure tax in US dollars. |
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Banks
Open Sunday to Thursday 8 a.m.–1.30 p.m. |
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Climate
Temperatures vary little throughout the year, ranging between
25.4°C (78°F) and 30.4°C (87°F). On average, there are more than
2,500 hours of sunshine annually. Luckily, there are often very
pleasant breezes off the ocean. |
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Clothing
There’s no need to take any more clothing than lightweight
cottonwear, sandals, a hat and a pair of sunglasses, and some
rainwear. When visiting the capital, people should be covered
from shoulder to knee—T-shirts and Bermuda-style shorts will
do—and women should not wear see-through clothing. Beachwear
should be confined to the resorts. Nude bathing is strictly
forbidden. |
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Credit Cards
All the resorts and larger hotels in Male take the main credit
cards and charge in US dollars. On the resort islands, you can
sign for meals, drinks, day trips, gifts from the shop and hire
of diving equipment and pay by credit card at the end of your
stay, making a Maldivian resort a virtually cashless society. |
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Currency
The unit of currency in the Maldives is the Rufiyaa (Rf), which
is divided into 100 laari (L). Coins range from 1 to 50 laari,
and 1 and 2 rufiyaa; banknotes from 2 to 500 rufiyaa. US dollars
are equally acceptable, and you might want to take some small
denomination bills. The exchange rate at the time of publishing
this is Rufiyaa 12.85 for a US Dollar. |
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Customs Allowance
You are allowed to take with you sufficient quantities of
cigarettes, tobacco or cigars for personal use. It is illegal to
bring into the country alcohol, drugs, pornography (which can be
interpreted quite widely by the Maldivian authorities), pork,
firearms or idols for worship. There is a government ban on the
export of all products related to the killing of turtles, such
as carvings made from their shells. |
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Electricity
Electric current is from 220-240V. Sockets are mainly for three
square-pin plugs. Bathrooms in the resort rooms tend to be
equipped with multi-use sockets for razors, etc. Electricity in
most of the resorts comes from their own generators, which are
tucked away in discreet corners of the island. They at least
guarantee 24 hour a day supply, something which several of the
inhabited islands don’t enjoy. |
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Holidays
January 1: New Year
July 26: Independence Day
November 3: Victory Day
November 11-12: Republic Days
December 10: Fisheries Day
Many of the Maldives’ public holidays are based on the Islamic
lunar calendar and therefore moveable. The most important
festival is Ramadan, held on the ninth month of the Islamic
year. Other festivals are: Martyr’s Day, Kuda Eid, Al’h’aa Eid,
National Day and Huravee Day. |
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Photography
Don’t take any snaps of the National Security Service building
on the main square in Male, and respect other signs that say no
photography. Never photograph inside a mosque or worshippers at
prayer. Out on the islands, ask permission before taking
someone’s picture. |
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Post Office
The main post office is in Male, on Boduthakurufaanu magu, and opens
daily, except Friday, 7.30 a.m.–6 p.m. On the resort islands,
stamps are available at the resort shop and postcards and
letters can generally be posted in the reception area. |
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Shops
Most shops are open any time between 6 and 9 a.m. (though later
on Friday) and can close as late as 9–11 p.m. |
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Time
The Maldives is 5 hours ahead of GMT. As it is on the equator,
sunrise and sunset occur at roughly the same time all year
round, at about 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. There’s no daylight saving
time, and the country is 4 hours ahead of British summertime and
3 hours ahead of European summertime. (Some resorts change their
clocks to maintain longer periods of sunshine.) |
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Tipping
It is customary to leave a small gratuity for the room cleaner,
your regular waiter and the porter, especially if you are at a
resort for a week or more. |
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Tourist
Information
The airport has a tourist information counter, although it’s not
always brimming with brochures and leaflets. |
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Water
Bottled mineral is recommended. |
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