General Information about the Maldives

The Maldives consist of about 1200 islands, mostly only 2 metres above sea level, of which 200 are inhabited and about 100 are resort hotel islands, open for tourists. Apart from the airport island and the capital Malé (busy, small with 70,0000 inhabitants) the other islands are only accessible with special permission.  

Tourist information
You'll find plenty of useful information about the islands on the following site: www.visitmaldives.com

Customs and Immigration
A valid passport (at least valid for another 6 months and a visa are required. The visa, valid for 30 days, is granted when you arrive and it’s free. You also need a valid return ticket, a hotel reservation and a budget of at least $25 USD a day. Importing pornographic material and any alcohol is prohibited (it is impounded and, if you are lucky, you'll get it back when you leave)

Transfers
You'll arrive on the airport island of Hulhule and you'll then be taken by dhoni (traditional diesel-powered boat), speedboat or seaplane to your accommodation. Any additional transfers must be booked ahead. Sometimes going by boat and coming back by plane is also a possibility. For boat transfers longer than 3 hours, you are probably better off flying. If bad weather prevents your travel, any overnight stays at Hulhule Airport are not covered. You can also take the free boat to Malé Island and organize your own accommodation for the night, which may also be required if you arrive after dark as most seaplanes and speedboats operate only during the day. A hotel will cost about $55-70 USD per room per night and your resort will organize the reservation. 

Language / Religion / Time difference
The local language is Dihevi but English is spoken in all of the resorts. Almost all of the inhabitants are Sunni Muslims. At the (tourist) resorts you don’t notice this much, although topless sunbathing is prohibited. Alcohol is available only in the resorts. It is respectful to ask people for their permission before you take any photos of them. The time difference is 5 hours ahead of GMT.

Electricity
The plug points are 220v, and UK moulded. The islands lie on the equator so the sun rises and sets at between 6 and 7 in the morning and evening, which means that a flashlight is handy. It shoudln;t be a problme to find somewhere to charge your camera.

Phoning / Bank / Post
You can reach the Maldives by calling 00 960 plus number. Phoning out, via satellite, can be done everywhere in the resorts and costs about $20 USD for around 3 minutes. Banking and post are conducted at your resort reception. Please not that there are no ATMs on the islands.

When to go
The best time to visit is between late September and April, as this is the dry season. Christmas is very busy and expensive. It is also possible to visit the islands duringthe rest of the year, and although it doesn’t rain all the time, you might find that there are long periods of rain. The average sunlight per day is 6 hours all year round, the daytime temperature averages 30°C and the average temperature at night is 25°C. On average, it rains between 0 to 4 days per month in the dry season, and from 10 to 18 days per month during the rest of the year. June and July are the wettest months.

Money
The local currency is the Rufiyaa (MVR) and the rate is about 25MVR to £1. However, you almost never need this currency. In the resorts, you can put your drinks and extras on a tab, and pay at the end of your stay, usually with your credit card (American Express, Visa, MasterCard) or cash US dollars. Small denomination dollar bills are handy, and diving schools like to be paid in US dollars. Tipping is polite.

Average Price Levels
Almost everything has to be imported to the islands because almost nothing grows on the infertile atolls other than coconut palms. This is why staying on the islands isn’t cheap. Price indications: beer $4 USD, water $2.5-3 USD, cocktails $7 USD, lunch $10 USD, 3-course meal $20-40 USD, introductory dive $30-35 USD, PADI beginners' diving course $350 USD. Shops and stalls at the resorts are pricey, so bring your own toiletries, sun creams etc. 

Health Care
Medical care is fine, Malé has a hospital, but the transfer can take quite a long time. Bring a first-aid kit. You don’t really need any vaccinations, DPT is optional. There is no malaria risk. There are mosquitoes etc, so bring a good insect repellent with DEET and long-sleeve shirts and trousers. Good sun cream and headgear is a must. If you take medicines, bring sufficient to last your trip.

Diving
All of the islands have PADI diving schools. The best are the Dutch Delphi Diving Centres and Providers. Snorkelling equipment is available for hire everywhere.

Meals
Most resorts are full board or all-inclusive, which includes most drinks. It is handy to choose all-inclusive if you plan on drinking a lot. Half board is also offered, and most of the meals are buffets, with plenty of fresh fish and international cuisine. The larger islands have several restaurants with a variety of cuisines, and many of the resort have a different culinary theme each day. Half-board customers have to pay for water and other drinks themselves. The resorts will all be happy to cater for vegetarians, so tell us when you make a reservation and pass the information on to the resort.

What to bring
Light cotton clothing, informal is fine. Books and magazines (as long as it isn’t porn), toiletries, bathing clothes, and maybe some candy for a little variety.

Is it really paradise ??
The islands really are pretty much as close to paradise as it gets. However, there are a few things to remember: - All resort islands have been set up specially for tourists, and that’s who you’ll bump into most of the time. You’ll only see the locals in the hotel and in Malé, so if you are looking to delve into local culture you might be disappointed. Most islands aren’t very big but they still have about 100-250 rooms. We’ve chosen the smaller, quieter resorts with no more than 50 rooms. All of the bungalows are nicely situated, but they can’t all be perfect. Luckily you can sometimes indicate a preference, or change when you arrive, but that perfect bit of beach can still be just a little further. And you are in the tropics and surrounded by nature, so there are small insects and pests, but the resorts keep them under control!