Holiday in the Maldives (best advice)
The Maldives is a tropical paradise, the land of eternal summer and carefree life that is waiting for you impatiently to share its inimitable beauty and get you to fall in love with the Maldives holiday forever.
General Information
The Maldives Islands are situated in the Indian Ocean to the south-west from India and Sri-Lanka. The capital of the state is the city of Male. The state language is Dhivehi that belongs to the Indo-Iranian language group. The second official language on the Maldives is English; it is widely spread in Male and in resorts. The Maldives Islands consist of 26 atolls divided into 19 administrative groups. Tourists usually have difficulties in pronouncing the names of the atolls. For this reason, the government has decided to letter them. These letters can be seen on the boats belonging to this or that atoll. All in all, there are 1190 islands that form 26 atolls stretching in the form of a double chain perpendicularly to equator. Only some 200 islands are inhabited by local residents. Other 74 islands are the Maldives resorts.
The national Maldives currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa subdivided into 100 laari. US Dollars and often Euros are accepted everywhere as well as basic credit cards. So there is no necessity to exchange the currency right on arrival, although it is easily done in any bank, exchange office or in the airport in Maldives according to the accurate official exchange rate.
The import and export of the foreign currency have no limitations. However, all luggage goes through a tough custom-house examination.
Main Rules to Be Observed and Obeyed
In spite of the fact that the Maldives, being an Islamic state, is relatively liberal, guests of the country should strictly follow the principle rules of the country to be able to enjoy the holiday in the Maldives to the full. It is strictly forbidden to bring in alcohol of any kind; pork and any kind of products containing pork; video materials; pornography of any sort; firearms, weapon for underwater hunting, powder, high explosives or chemicals; animals and drugs. The export of black coral (except for souvenirs made officially by government certificated manufacturers), things made of marine turtles’ shell, as well as items and things found on the sea ground. Drinking alcohol in public places is strictly forbidden. A wide choice of spirits is offered in hotel bars and restaurants. Do not try to come in contact with native women. If you wish to walk around Male, you should dress in accordance with Muslim ideas of morality: long skirts, dresses or pants, shirts or modest blouses. It is forbidden to visit the capital as well as islands inhabited by natives wearing beach clothes. Topless or nude bathing and sunbathing is forbidden on all the islands of the archipelago. Underwater hunting and unauthorized fishing are forbidden. Breaking or picking up corals, starfish, sea shells and other sea inhabitants from the sea ground is forbidden. Throwing empty cans, tin, glass or plastic bottles as well as other kind of litter all over the islands is forbidden. The violation of the country’s laws may threaten jail.
Living on the Islands
If you decide to spend your holiday in the Maldives and are looking for advantageous accommodation in the Maldives, you should know that there is a unique conception on the archipelago: one island-one resort-one hotel. Pay attention to the resort you are offered to visit, as all the time is likely to be spent on this very island. Almost any island would offer a trip to Male – the capital of the Republic of Maldives; visiting desert islands; scuba diving, etc.
There are no habitual hotels on the Islands, though. A typical hotel includes one- or two-storeyed bungalows. There is also no common star classification. Instead, they use such marks as “Deluxe”, “Superior” and “Standard”. Prices differ from hotel to hotel and from island to island. Generally, it may cost from $100 to $500 per night. Prices generally depend on the hotel class as well as on the room level, dining facilities, season, etc.
The Maldives real estate is generally low. These are usually one- or two-storeyed Maldives bungalows or hotels, Maldives villas or houses of local residents. Those who wish to go for a holiday to the Maldives have a wide choice of Maldives accommodation facilities. These facilities can satisfy the tastes and capacities of any tourist, for tourism is the main industry in the country and the government as well as the people try to do everything possible to attract as many visitors as possible. They may come in the form of Maldives villas, Maldives water bungalows or beach bungalows, Maldives thatched cottages, etc. In any case, all of them are furnished and equipped with all necessary modern facilities to make you feel safe and comfortable, which is going to make your holidays in the Maldives simply unforgettable.
If you choose to live in a water Maldives villa, you are going to be placed in one of the marvellous houses situated on the seacoast with a splendid view of crystal blue lagoons, an inimitable impression along with excellent living, dining and relaxing facilities. A typical water bungalow in Maldives looks like a boathouse being built on special stilts and giving the opportunity to enjoy the underwater life right from the place you live. Whatever hotel you choose to live in during your holidays in the Maldives, you are sure to get the best of it for the best prices ever. It is really worth the money you pay for all the facilities, opportunities, entertainments, trips and whatever you wish to do out there.
Holidays in the Maldives can offer perfect opportunities for exotics fans in any season, even the rainy one. Excursion tours, trips to desert islands, acquaintance with the local history, culture and traditions, scuba diving, snorkelling, diving safari tours, fishing, midnight barbecues, surfing in the Maldives, boating, hydroplane excursions, discos, karaoke and simply sightseeing will leave long lasting impressions making you wish to come again next year.