The Maldive Islands are a huge
tourist destination, popular with honeymoon couples, scuba diving
fanatics and other beach and sun loving people. Every effort has
been made to make each guest to these islands comfortable and
safe. Do not take the following tips as warnings, only advice,
remember being a knowledgeable traveler is a big step to a successful
vacation.
| Visa Requirements
No prior visa arrangements are required. A tourist visa
of 30 days will be given to visitors with valid travel documents,
on arrival. Visitors should be in possession of at least
US$25 per day to stay in the Maldives. For those coming
from yellow fever infected regions, an international certificate
of inoculation is required. |
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| Customs
Strict laws prohibit the importation of pornographic material,
firearms, alcohol and illegal drugs into the country. Exports
of coral, shells and other object removed from the marine
environment is also prohibited. |
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| Tipping is
discouraged in the Maldives. Unofficially, if the service
is good - and it usually is - it's quite customary to tip
room staff and waiters in your resort. US$10 per week is
a suitable amount. A few resorts add a 10% service charge,
in which case there's no need to tip. Bargaining is limited
to tourist shops in and around Singapore Bazaar in Male?
and at island village souvenir shops where prices are not
fixed. |
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| Climate
It’s generally warm and humid. The sun shines all year
round generally and the average temperature is around 29
- 32 degrees Celsius. |
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What to wear Nudism
is an offence in the Maldives and this includes bare breasts.
Dress is generally casual. T-shirts and cotton clothing
are most suitable. In Male', the capital island, it is
recommended that women wear modest clothing without baring
too much and when visiting inhabited islands, thighs and
shoulders must be covered by both men and women.
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Language Dhivehi
is the language spoken in all parts of the Maldives. English
is widely spoken by the Maldivians and every visitor can
make himself understood when getting around the capital
island. In the resorts, a variety of languages are spoken
by the staff including English, German, Italian, French
and Japanese.
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Currency The Maldivian
currency is Rufiyas and Laaris. A Rufiya is equal to 100
laarees (coins). The Rufiyaa comes in the following denominations
of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500. The American Dollar
is the most common foreign currency. Payments in the resorts
can be made in most hard currencies in cash, traveller's
cheques or credit cards. The most commonly used credit
cards are American Express, Visa, Master Card, Diners
Club, JCB and Euro Card.
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Health Care facilities
are improving on a daily basis. The Indhira Gandhi Memorial
Hospital in Male' is the biggest hospital in the country
providing sophisticated medical care. ADK Hospital is
the biggest private health care facility, and follows
high medical standards. Experienced European doctors work
at the AMDC Clinic, and some resorts have an in-house
doctor. Decompression chambers are within reach of most
resorts in case of a diving emergency. The Maldives is
tropical and generally a healthy environment abounds.
Most will be safe here but please get advice from your
doctor regarding vaccinations you may require before arrival.
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Local time
GMT +5 hours
Business hours From Sunday
to Thursday 7:30 - 14:30 in the government sector, and
generally from 9:00 to 17:00 in the private sector. Weekend
falls on Friday and Saturday
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| Communication:
Up to date technology and international satellite links
allow Maldives to have a sophisticated communications system.
IDD facilities are available on all resorts, and card phone
facilities are available on all islands. Dhiraagu, the Maldives
telecommunications company, an affiliate of the British
Cable and Wireless Company, provides mobile telephones for
rental on a daily basis. Dhiraagu is also the Internet service
provider. |
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| Food and
Beverages Restaurants, coffee shops and well stocked
bars in all resorts provide varied and delicious meals with
wide choice of fresh fruit juices, punches, cocktail, wines
and spirits. All resorts serve food and beverages to suite
demanding palates, be it favourite international dishes
and or the fresh and exotic delights of seafood. Many offer
a-la-carte services that cover eastern and western flavours.
Maldivian short eats served with tea or coffee are popular
with most visitors as a snack in between meals while grills
and barbecues are much in demand in most resorts. A few
resorts have specialised restaurants each for favoured cuisines
as European, Indian and Chinese. |
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Electricity 220-40V,
50 Hz
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| When to Go
If you're looking for a few extra hours of sunshine then
you should visit the Maldives between December and April,
which is the dry season. This is the high season, however,
and resorts can be fully booked and prices are higher than
the rest of the year. The Christmas-New Year period is the
busiest and most expensive part of the high season. Between
May and November it's still warm, but the skies can be cloudy,
humidity is higher and rain is more likely. This is the
low season, and there are fewer tourists and prices are
lower. The transition months of November and April are said
to be associated with increased water clarity and better
visibility for divers. |
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| Events and
Public Holidays Most holidays are based on the Islamic
lunar calendar and the dates vary from year to year. The
most important religious event is Ramadan (known locally
as rorda mas), the Islamic month of fasting. Other noteworthy
events are Kuda Id, the sighting of the new moon (celebrated
at the end of Ramadan), and the Prophet's Birthday, which
commemorates the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. Fixed
holiday dates include: National Day (the day Mohammed Thakurufaan
and his men overthrew the Portuguese on Malé in 1573,
the first day of the third month of the lunar calendar);
Victory Day (victory over Sri Lankan mercenaries who tried
to overthrow the Maldivian government on 3 November 1988);
and Republic Day (which commemorates the current republic,
founded on 11 November 1968). |
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| Alcohol and
Drugs Maldivians, being Muslims, are prohibited by law
from consuming alcohol, hence there is a strict restriction
on the alcohol available in inhabited islands. Foreigners
who reside in Maldives can have a private supply arranged
by an authorised licensing procedure. All tourist resorts
and hotels, as well cruise ships and yachts have alcohol
for consumption for guests. The Maldives is amongst one
of the toughest countries in dealing with drugs. Lengthy
jail sentences are normal if found in possession or whilst
using them, even with a marijuana joint. Please do not try
to import any form of drug into Maldives. Also, please do
not use drugs even if offered whilst here, it is not worth
the risk. |
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| Culture
A proud history and rich culture evolved from the first
settlers who were from various parts of the world travelling
the seas in ancient times. The Maldives has been a melting
pot of different cultures as people from different parts
of the world came here and settled down. Some of the local
music and dance for instance resemble African influences,
with hand beating of drums and songs in a language that
is not known to any but certainly represents that of East
African countries. As one would expect there is a great
South Asian influence in some of the music and dancing and
especially in the traditional food of the Maldivians. However
many of the South Asian customs especially with regard to
women - for instance the Sub Continent’s tradition
of secluding women from public view - are not tenets of
life here. In fact women play a major role in society -
not surprising considering the fact men spend the whole
day out at sea fishing. Many of the traditions are strongly
related to the seas and the fact that life is dependent
on the seas around us. |
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