Before you go to the Maldives
The secret to a perfect holiday is spending a little time beforehand, preparing for it. Although the Maldives is a dream paradise where you can forget about all your worries, it helps to know a few fundamental facts about the country, its people, rules, and regulations to make sure your trip is hassle-free.
You’ll also find that compared to many other island nations, the Maldives has very few restrictions, and thus, is a vacation you can even plan at the spur of a moment.
What to Pack?
Pack light is the mantra to follow when planning your holiday in the Maldives. Not only is it a vacation where you want to relax, but certain transportations like seaplanes have weight restrictions lower than international airlines.
Clothes – With no need for warm clothes, your packing list for the Maldives can include shorts, t-shirts, kaftans, and fashionable swimwear. If planning to visit any of the inhabited islands, remember to carry a couple of long pants and dresses that cover most of your body. A scarf and very light overalls are useful for speedboat rides, which can get a bit windy. Do pack at least one evening dress for those romantic beachside dinners.
Shoes – Comfort is the name of the game when on a Maldivian resort, so you can skip over dress shoes and heels, opting for sandals, flip flops, and a pair of walking shoes instead.
Sun Gear – Being out and about in the sun is the main reason most people decide to visit the Maldives, but protection from the sun is equally important. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat should thus be a vital part of your packing list. Moreover, if you will be in the water for long, consider wearing a rash vest to avoid getting sunburnt.
Beach Bag – Since spending copious amounts of time on the beach is a given on any island holiday, carry a dry beach bag to keep your items organized.
Snorkeling Gear – If planning to go snorkeling several times during your vacation in the Maldives, bring your own gear, including aqua shoes, to save on rental costs.
Camera – There is beauty on land and underwater on every island of the archipelago. So, photography enthusiasts must carry a camera for both occasions. If planning on snorkeling or diving, a waterproof action camera is essential.
Drones – Tourists can fly drones over the islands, under 400 feet, but with prior approval. They need to take permission from both the resort and Maldives National Defense Force, followed by a CAA endorsement. All of this is possible via filling forms online.
Mosquito Repellent – A tropical climate, unfortunately, means mosquitoes, and although resorts regularly fumigate, visitors still should bring a couple of mosquito repellant creams from home.
Visa
There is no prior visa required to enter the Maldives. Tourists receive a 30-day stamp on their passport upon landing. However, the passport must have six months of validity remaining on it.
Furthermore, while filling the immigration form, travelers need to disclose their hotel or guesthouse’s name and address. It is also advisable to keep details about the return air-ticket and proof of funds handy, in case asked for by the immigration officer.
Money
Maldivian Rufiyaa (Rf) is the local currency of the archipelago with both banknotes and coin denominations. However, US$ is commonly accepted almost everywhere. Moreover, it is possible to spend an entire vacation in the Maldives using your credit card, especially on resorts where all expenses get charged to your room. Travelers staying in guesthouses might require some cash if visiting local restaurants or shops. Remember that changing back your money from Rufiyaa to any other currency is not easy, and it is only possible to do that at the airport. If using US Dollars or any other major currency in cash to pay for your expenses, make sure the notes are new, as locals will not accept old looking bills. There are ATMs machines on most inhabited islands, especially in Malé. However, some of the smaller islands might only have one ATM.
Taxes
When budgeting for your Maldivian vacation, factor in an extra 22-24% of taxes into your expenses. There is a 12% GST tax, which is non-refundable. Resorts and restaurants add a further 12% as service charge. Lastly, there is a Green Tax, which amounts to US$6 per person per night in resorts and US$3 for travelers staying in guesthouses.
There is no separate departure tax in the Maldives, as it is part of the airfare.
Phone and Internet
With Maldivian islands being “in the middle of nowhere,” one would expect that telecommunication and internet services are a bit of an issue. On the contrary, all the inhabited islands are well-covered by the two local service providers Dhiraagu and Ooredoo. Holidaymakers can pick up a SIM card from the airport, which comes with fixed internet usage, depending on the mobile plans that start at around $15. Telephone services are available in resorts, although charges are on the expensive side, making it worth buying a local SIM on your arrival. Typically, WIFI is offered on most resorts, and its use is part of the total package. The coverage in secluded parts of an island and near the beach might be a little sporadic.
Medical Requirements and Assistance
There are no vaccines required before planning a trip to the island nation.
Getting specific medications can be an issue when in the Maldives. Tourists are thus recommended to carry any prescribed medication from home, along with a doctor’s note.
Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and the ADK Hospital are two world-class facilities in Malé. Most inhabited islands have medical centers with excellent doctors and staff that can take care of general medical problems.
The resorts in the Maldives have doctors and nurses on call, trained to take care of minor problems. Travelers are better off bringing general medicines for cold, cough, diarrhea, and band-aids to avoid unnecessary medical costs.
Insurance
The Maldives is an extremely safe country, but mishaps can and do occasionally happen. Thus, having travel insurance is of utmost importance. Besides the usual accidents and airline delays that are a standard part of policies, make sure that your insurance also includes seaplane or boat transfers in case of an emergency, as they can be quite costly.
Diving insurance is compulsory in the Maldives, so most tour operators include it in the excursion cost. Therefore, you need not add diving insurance to your policy separately.
Prohibited Items and Practices
Alcohol, drugs, pornography, religious idols, and pork are entirely banned in the Maldives, owing to it being a Muslim country. Any alcohol bought from a foreign airport duty-free shop will be kept at the Maldivian airport to collect on your return. Resorts do have special permits to sell spirits but be ready to buy it at a marked-up price.
If bringing a computer, customs might ask you to switch it on and check for porn (according to Maldivian standards). It is best not to have any questionable movies or visual media on your device.
Travelers need to be conservatively dressed when exploring the inhabited islands, which means wearing clothes covering up the chest, knees, and elbows. One can also not wear revealing bathing suits on public beaches. Moreover, any display of affection between couples is frowned upon and can get you into trouble.
To counteract this issue, some islands now have discrete “bikini beaches” meant only for tourists, although nudity is out of the question. Once again, the rules on resorts are more lenient; however, going nude is still not permitted.
There are no dogs allowed in the Maldives. If planning on bringing a pet, several prior permissions are required, which can be quite tedious.
When on inhabited islands, do not photograph locals without permission. The same holds for some of the government buildings.
What Not to Bring Back?
As an island nation struggling with the effects of climate change, the Maldives is very particular about conserving its wildlife and environment. Therefore, it is illegal to collect, purchase, or sell corals, seashells, shark teeth, sand, turtle shells, and its products anywhere. The local government takes this offense very seriously with harsh penalties when caught.