The Maldives - Info & Facts

Suggested Length of Stay

If you want a good overview of The Maldives, and experience the cultural and natural wonders of the country, a good length of stay is between 5-10 days.

Modes of transport

Taxi
Addu and Male in the Maldives are the two places where you can spot taxis widely and is also popular for road transport. So they have a very efficient taxi service. In Mahe, you have a comfortable taxi ride that you can easily avail of. This will be your mode of transport from the airport to the city. These taxis charge 20 MVR for any distance and raise about 10 MVR more after 11 PM. Shared taxis in the Maldives is a very common thing. This is because it is a small place and hence it can pick up multiple passengers at a time. The easiest way to get your taxi is from your hotel itself. So yes, look for a shared cab when you are in the Maldives. It can be easy and quick as well.

Cycle
Cycling is healthy and one of the most convenient ways to roam around the Maldives. Many resorts like Senova Fushi, Island Hideaway, Diva, Shangri la, etc., have cycles available for visitors. But when you look at the overall city, few cycle rentals can ease the hiring process. Some resorts even have their own cycle guided tours which will be a great experience for you. So, enquire with your resort; if they have a cycling tour, you are simply good to go.

OperatedBus

by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), buses in the Maldives are only active in some designated routes. But comparatively, it is a cheaper option than to the other options. The basic fares start from 3 MVR. You will be able to find the bus station 50 metres away from the airport and you will be dropped off at Hulhulmale for 20 MVR. Avoid boarding the bus with a lot of luggage. During rainy days the transport can be difficult because the buses remain crowded.

Ferry
For commuting between islands, Ferry is the cheapest option in the Maldives. Fares vary from 30 to 60 MVR. This journey lasts up to 5 hours which is really long. Getting a ferry from the airport to the island costs around 40 MVR. Public island ferries cost around 30-45 MVR. This is definitely one of the cheapest options for your travel between islands. Most of this ferry operates from 6 AM to 6 PM. But the one thing about these ferries is that you cannot rely on their timings. But this is the major transportation in the Maldives.

Health Precautions

Mosquito-borne illnesses, including dengue fever, malaria and chikungunya fever, occur but rarely outside the main city of Male.

Food

The food of Maldives is a fusion of its neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and India. Since Maldives is mostly sea, fish is the main staple food. Coconut is another major part of Maldivian food used in different forms like milk, oil or grated on top of dishes. The traditional Maldivian cuisine is known as the Dhivehi Cuisine that provides a smorgasbord of flavours. The food in Maldives has a mild spiciness and a delicate sweetness and is prepared using techniques passed down from generations.

Money

The Maldivian Rufiyaa is the currency of Maldives (Maldives Islands). Although as a tourist, you really do not need to take much, if any, local currency. The best currency to take to the Maldives is either the Euro or the Dollar. Although many island allow and some prefer you to pay by card.

Time Zone

The Maldives only has 1 official time zone, Maldives Time (MHT), which is 5 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Visas

You can get a tourist visa on arrival to Maldives, provided that you meet all entry requirements. Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration of the Republic of Maldives for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

Australian Embassy & Consulate contacts in The Maldives

Australian High Commission, Malé
Level 5, JEN Maldives Malé
Ameer Ahmed Magu
Malé 20096, Republic of Maldives
Phone: +960 334 0080

The Maldives Embassy contacts in Australia

Consulate General Information of Maldives
Suite 3/94 Union St
Northcote Vic 3070
Melbourne Australia
Phone: +61 411 422 226

Electricity

In the Maldives, the power plug sockets are of type D and G. The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.

Getting there (stopovers)

Flying to Male in the Maldives is best done via Singapore.

Tipping Guideline

In the Maldives, a 10% service charge is automatically added to your purchases, so tipping in the Maldives is not required. Unlike other countries where not tipping is frowned upon, in the Maldives, there is no need to leave a tip in most cases. However, given the low wages paid to staff and the great service offered, it is a nice gesture to help the resort’s staff earn some extra money. The culture of tipping in the Maldives has changed over the last few years as the Maldives has grown as a tourist destination.