Maldives: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Maldives feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 37 written places.
One island, one resort is the classic formula; local islands run by different, Muslim rules.
✓ Considered polite
- Choose consciously: resort islands for bikinis and bars, local islands for culture and guesthouse prices
- Respect local island norms - modest dress away from designated bikini beaches, no alcohol
- Snorkel the house reef daily - it is the real luxury
- Check transfer logistics before booking - seaplanes stop at dusk
✗ Better avoided
- Bring alcohol through the airport - it is confiscated even in transit to resorts
- Wear swimwear on inhabited local islands outside marked zones
- Touch or stand on coral ever
- Expect nightlife beyond your resort - the islands sleep early
Worth knowing
- US dollars are accepted everywhere alongside rufiyaa
- Resort service charges of 10% plus taxes are added to most bills
- Guesthouse tourism on local islands runs a third the price of resorts
- The best snorkelling months are the dry northeast monsoon, roughly December to April
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.