Sightseeing Pure white sandy beaches, shallow turquoise lagoons and brightly coloured coral reefs; Malé’s Friday Mosque; seaplane and boat excursions to uninhabited islands or inhabited village islands; the fish, fruit and vegetable markets.
Accommodation
Exotic resorts, some with water bungalows – informal to luxurious, intimate to family-friendly. Most resorts have very good spa facilities too. Transfers to islands near Malé are by speedboat and islands further away can be reached by seaplane.
Family activities
Children’s clubs in some resorts offer playgrounds; Bubble-Makers – an introduction to diving; snorkelling, swimming, crafts with natural materials, crab racing and dolphin spotting.
Shopping
What you can buy – Wooden handicrafts; coir products made from coconut husk; ‘bondi’ – local coconut sweet; dried fish and bargain watches.
Where you can buy – Malé’s small shops and those in the resorts.
Entertainment
Some resorts have live entertainment featuring local bands, dancers, outdoor discothèques on the beach or around the swimming pool and theme nights including beach barbecues, lavish seafood buffets and cuisine from other countries.
Sports and leisure
Snorkelling and scuba diving are the biggest attractions. Sailing, parasailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, game fishing, night fishing and surfing; many varieties of massage, spas featuring hydrotherapy; yoga sessions and exotic perfumed baths.
Honeymoon
These idyllic islands are the perfect place for honeymooners – it is hard to beat the romance of tranquil waters, beautiful sunsets and dining alfresco under a canopy of stars on your own patch of desert island paradise.
Visas:
All visitors holding a valid passport are issued a 30-day tourist visa free of charge on arrival. Passport photographs are not required to process the visa.
Health requirements:
Visitors to the Maldives travelling from yellow fever infected areas should have a valid certificate against yellow fever.
Travel insurance:
Adequate holiday and travel insurance is vital. Emirates Holidays offers a comprehensive insurance package to enable you and your family to travel with peace of mind. Please contact your nearest Emirates Holidays office or your travel agent for details of our HolidayGuard Travel Insurance cover.
We also recommend that water sports enthusiasts cover themselves in case of an accident while scuba diving, water-skiing or participating in any other water sport. An extra premium is required for these covers.
Currency:
Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) divided into 100 larees.
Notes in denominations of MVR500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2.
Coins in denominations of MVR1 and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 larees.
Approximate exchange rate:
AED1 = MVR3.48
EUR1 = MVR18.58
USD1 = MVR12.80
Please check the rate of exchange prior to travel.
Banking hours -
0800 to 1330 hours, Sunday - Thursday.
There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency. The most commonly used foreign currency is the US Dollar. However, British Pounds and Euros are also accepted.
Foreign currency should not be converted with unauthorised dealers and all conversion receipts must be retained for inspection on departure. We do not recommend the purchase of Rufiyaa as it is unnecessary.
If one stays at a resort, minimal cash is required, as all expenses are billed to the room and clients can settle payment on departure with travellers cheques, US Dollars or credit cards - Maldivian Rufiyaa is only required at local shops. However, US Dollars are also accepted in these shops.
The most commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Diners Club International, MasterCard and Visa.
There are a few automated teller machines (ATMs) located only in Malé. The resorts do not offer this facility. Local currency can only be withdrawn by those holding an account with the Bank of Maldives and cannot be withdrawn against credit cards.
In Malé it is easier to change money at the Maldives Monetary Authority on Chandani Magu. There are also authorised money changers who exchange US Dollar travellers cheques for US Dollars.
Clothing:
As Maldives is warm and very humid throughout the year, light cotton and linen attire is ideal. T-shirts, beachwear, light skirts, cotton shirts, slacks and shorts are recommended. Casual shoes or sandals are recommended for visits to inhabited islands, where most of the streets are unpaved.
Airport information:
Malé International Airport, situated on Hulule Island, is approximately 10 to 15 minutes by speedboat from Malé. The airport information telephone number is 3338800/ 3325511.
Customs:
At customs, as a rule, all baggage is screened electronically. It is convenient to have luggage keys handy, in case luggage is required for inspection. Strict penalties apply to those attempting to import illegal drugs into the country.
The import of the following items is forbidden unless prior permission is obtained:
• Firearms, weapons and explosives
• Pornography of any kind
• Pork and all products containing pork
• Narcotic drugs, poisons, industrial and hazardous chemicals
• Alcoholic items carried on arrival will be held by customs for collection on departure
• Idols of worship
The export of tortoise shells and black corals is forbidden. All resorts in the Maldives have permits, which allow the controlled import of pork and alcohol.
For those passengers bringing in a lot of photographic or diving equipment, it is advisable to inform the respective resorts of the details prior to arrival. Alternatively the passenger could carry a list with details such as serial numbers of the equipment in order to avoid a delay at customs on arrival. Passengers are expected to take all items, held by customs on arrival, back with them on departure. Import duty is payable for any items left behind.
Emergency telephone numbers:
Police - 119
Fire - 118
Ambulance - 102
Hours of work:
Business: 0900 to 1700 hours, Sunday - Thursday.
Government Offices: 0730 to 1430 hours, Sunday - Thursday.
Shops: 0800 to 2300 hours, Saturday - Thursday, 1330 to 2300 hours, Friday.
The official weekend is Friday and Saturday.
Public holidays (fixed):
1st January - New Year’s Day
26th - 27 July - Independence Day
3rd November - Victory Day
11th November - Republic Day
Public holidays (moveable):
These change according to the Islamic calendar.
Islamic New Year’s Day Beginning of Ramadan
Eid Al Fitr
Hajj Day
Eid Al Adha
Prophet’s Birthday
National Day - a major event celebrated on the first day of the third month of the lunar calendar.
Time zone:
GMT + 5 hours.
Language:
Divehi is the language spoken in all parts of the Maldives. English is widely spoken by Maldivians. Most resorts have multilingual staff who speak English, German, French, Italian and Japanese.
Tipping:
A 10 per cent service charge is added in most hotels. Tipping porters and waiters is optional.
Dress code:
Visitors must bear in mind that the Maldives is an Islamic country and appropriate dress is necessary. On visits to Malé and other inhabited islands, visitors are requested to dress modestly - it is important to be clad in a garment that covers the body from the shoulders to the knees. If you envisage attending a formal meeting, light formal attire is recommended.
Bikinis and swimming trunks are allowed on the beaches at the resorts. Official regulations strictly prohibit public nudity anywhere in the Maldives. Most resorts do not allow swimwear inside the restaurants to avoid offending fellow holidaymakers. At the resort bars or restaurants, casual cotton tropical attire is highly recommended.
Electricity:
220 volts, 50 cycles AC.
Safety tips:
The Maldives is a crime-free destination. However, it is advisable that valuables and passports are kept in the safety deposit boxes provided by all the resorts.