What you can't do in the Maldives. Memo for those traveling to the Maldives What can you bring to the Maldives

Olga, 08/29/2017 00:00:00

We spent a week's holiday with our family in June 2017. In this hotel you felt attention and care throughout your stay, without being intrusive and with the utmost tact. Now about the holiday itself: during our stay, all days were sunny and not hot. The water and air temperatures are the most ideal. The ocean is clean and always calm. We traveled around the island on bicycles and on foot. Everything is quite compact and not far away. I won’t particularly describe the views and furnishings in the rooms - everything is shown both on the website and in reality in the hotel. The food is excellent: a very large selection of dishes and everything is of very high quality and tasty. Every day you can enjoy one of forty types of homemade ice cream. For entertainment, there is a gym, and in the evenings they show movies on the shore. There is a gym, very decent. There are many paid options: snorkeling, diving, spa, etc. Overall we were satisfied and I think we will go again.

Yuri, 03/18/2017 00:00:00

Stayed at this hotel Honeymoon. I liked everything very much, there were only positive emotions. Service at the highest level, very friendly and polite staff. Each of the hotel employees tries to help you even with every little thing. A large number of entertainment programs thanks to the animators Patra and Joker. The guys really bring a lot of positivity and smiles to all vacationers. I also liked the buffet and the wide variety of dishes. I recommend this hotel to everyone!

Thank you for your mark! We are glad that you enjoyed your holiday. See you soon!

Ekaterina, 03/16/2017 00:00:00

There are not even enough words to express my feelings from the moment the plane landed at Male airport. You need to see this turquoise ocean with your own eyes! Even despite the long flight, it's worth it. We were greeted very warmly at the hotel. Everything is just super!!! The food is excellent, the staff is friendly, and in the SPA salon you feel like you are in heaven. In principle, there is heaven on earth, beauty, peace and relaxation. Unforgettable impressions!!!

Thank you for your mark! We are glad that you enjoyed your holiday. See you soon!

Andrey, 02/21/2017 00:00:00

We had a family vacation. The island is quite small, you can get around it in 7-10 minutes. The hotel staff is very friendly, they are ready to fulfill all wishes and requests, and practically do not forget anything. Cleaning twice a day. The minibar in the villa is free and replenished every day (beer, wine,... alcoholic drinks, water, nuts). The food is buffet, the food is delicious, they serve you every day different cuisines. In general, everyone is very friendly and ready to help. Almost all imported drinks are available and included in the price, there is little you have to pay for! Which is very convenient. There was practically no need for money. The hotel offers several completely free trips: romantic trip at sunset, evening fishing, trip to whale sharks(unlucky, no sharks were found, we were taken to the reef for a swim), banana ride. There is free rental of masks, snorkels, kayaks, and paddleboards. In the evening, you can sit in two bars at the hotel - on the pier next to the reception and in the Coral bar, where all the evening animations take place. At 6 p.m. near the Coral bar they feed the fish, small sharks and stingrays swim. In the Coral on the second floor there is an E-center (game center), there are several types of billiards, a game console, air hockey, table tennis, you can always play. IN SPA center, every day you can get a free massage for half an hour, they offer several types of massage - upper back, head massage, heel massage, the rest for money. The free services were enough for me. Overall, I really liked everything, the weather was hot, the ocean was warm and clean.

Thank you for your mark! We are glad that you enjoyed your holiday. See you soon!

Valeria, 02/12/2017 00:00:00

Holidays in the Maldives are different from anywhere we have been before. Just a miracle! Greens, greens, and water, water, water all around. Fly to distant island and expecting entertainment in the form of noisy animation, in my opinion, is simply stupid. Everything is different here. The sound of crashing waves, the rustle of lush foliage and deep silence - that’s why I fell in love with the Maldives! Sun Island offers a really inexpensive, high-quality vacation on the island, with all the delights of the Maldives, but without astronomical costs (for the size of the room, expensive furniture, etc. sometimes not important, for a great mood and relaxation, bells and whistles)! I recommend and advise everyone!

Thank you for your mark! We are glad that you enjoyed your holiday. See you soon!

Alla, 01/19/2017 00:00:00

The island is very beautiful, lush greenery, nice beach, fine as flour white sand, there is fauna - flying foxes and herons. Nice rooms- separately standing villas from all sides of the island. Narrow coastline- that's a plus. There are places where the beach is wider, depending on who you like. The cuisine of the local restaurant is wonderful, everything is very fresh and tasty, there is a good choice.
During the day, in addition to the beach, you can spend time diving with local diving instructors, riding boats, and jet skis.
The spa on the island is simply amazing. I highly recommend all types of massages and wraps. It's like being born again.
The hotel staff is very friendly. A 5 star hotel for a complete reboot!

Thank you for your mark! We are glad that you enjoyed your holiday. See you soon!

Natalya, 12/19/2016 00:00:00

We are very pleased with the Huvafen Fushi hotel - this perfect place for a relaxing and happy holiday. The hotel pleased with its impeccable service, excellent food (the chef has three Michelin stars), and impressed with the underwater SPA salon. Snow-white sand, secluded beaches, incredible sunsets, varied undersea world- all this will not leave anyone indifferent.

Thank you for your mark! We are glad that you enjoyed your holiday. See you soon!

Anna, 12/11/2016 00:00:00

The hotel is excellent. We ate at the Ocean restaurant - buffet and unlimited drinks. By the way, we took half board - breakfast and dinner, and made sure that this was enough for us (we don’t want to have lunch in the heat, and we don’t drink much water).
The water is clear and gentle... We swam and swam... And of course we sunbathed.
Cleaning of the rooms is fast, but at the same time high-quality, no flaws were found. I liked the trip on a submarine with a transparent bottom - there were only 4 tourists - not crowded and beautiful. By the way, you could rent a catamaran for free.
I'm trying to remember the shortcomings... It's difficult - the hotel is perfect.

Thank you for your mark! We are glad that you enjoyed your holiday. See you soon!

Oksana, 11/28/2016 00:00:00

This was a gift from my husband to me for my birthday, the Maldives is basically unforgettable and impressive, but this hotel was simply the most vivid memory in my life, very beautiful, I just couldn’t imagine in my life that there was such beauty somewhere , the sea is very warm, the food is varied and very tasty, the service is simply at the highest level, the spa is magnificent, I want to go back there again, for me this vacation has become one of the highlights of my life.

Thank you for your mark! We are glad that you enjoyed your holiday. See you soon!

Marina, 05.11.2016 00:00:00

This is just class!!! People who are thinking about going or not going, don’t hesitate - go!!! Everything is so beautiful! Sunsets, sunrises, sand spit, house reef... As soon as you set foot on the island, you can forget about shoes! Hotel policy - no shoes!!! This is just great!
It's a minute's walk to the ocean shore! Nearby there is a beach where small stingrays and sharks live. They are so funny!!!
The food is very tasty and varied. Everything is very tasty and the choice of dishes is very large. Every evening there are parties entertainment programs. You won't get bored!
The reception staff is very responsive.
The hotel area is clean and well-groomed, there are places to walk, many different beaches, the territory is huge, so you get the feeling that you are alone on the island, no one is bothering anyone. The photos turn out simply gorgeous, especially on the sand spit!!!
We left the hotel with tears in our eyes.
The price-quality ratio is perfect!!!
We didn’t regret a single second that we chose this hotel. Vacation in Paradise was a success!

Thank you for your mark! We are glad that you enjoyed your holiday. See you soon!

Yulia, 03/20/2016 00:00:00

If there is a paradise on earth, it is the Maldives and Centara. Amazing place! Fine cuisine. Beautiful views. Everything here is done for you perfect holiday! You can rent a mask and fins and go sailing. The underwater views are mesmerizing... A great hotel for romantic getaway not far from the airport.

Thank you for your mark! We are glad that you enjoyed your holiday. See you soon!

A fabulous holiday in the Maldives is certainly associated with stunning landscapes in a blue and white palette, deserted beaches and coconut palms, under which it is so pleasant to lie on a sun lounger, enjoying the measured sound of the surf. A bright, refreshing tropical cocktail can complement the idyllic picture, which will further immerse you in a state of relaxation. However, with alcohol in the Maldives, not everything is so simple: in a Muslim country, its circulation is limited. That is why many travelers are concerned about the question of how to bring alcohol to the Maldives. In this article we will figure out whether it is possible, and most importantly, whether it is necessary to do this.

You must be prepared that alcohol is expensive in the Maldives

What does the law say?

The Maldives is a country of strict Muslim rules. And although in relation to tourists the government Republic of Maldives follows the principles of a “secular state”; the citizens of the islands themselves strictly observe religious canons. To local residents It is prohibited to drink alcohol, and there is also a ban on its sale throughout the state. A Maldivian caught drunk will face a serious fine and even imprisonment, so even those who work with alcohol here are mostly residents of other countries.

For tourists, the rules for drinking are more relaxed - you can drink on the premises of hotels, special bars and restaurants. But you won’t be able to buy alcohol outside these places, at least legally. Restrictions and rules for the import of alcoholic beverages concern: all liquids in this category are confiscated by customs. There are no fines or sanctions if alcohol is found on tourists. The drinks will be collected and sent to a luggage room where you can pick them up upon departure.

Of course, many still try to break this rule. Therefore, before moving on to the next part of the story, let’s immediately make a reservation: it’s not good to break the law, so it’s better not to take risks, besides, restaurants and bars in Maldivian hotels are replete with alcohol for every taste, although it costs 2-3 times more than in Russia.


If you want to bring alcohol to the islands for yourself, pack it in a plastic container

How is the inspection carried out in practice?

I would like to note right away that everything that awaits you upon arrival at Male airport, including how the security check will take place, is pure fortune. Some flights are practically not inspected at all, while others are subject to total inspection.

After passing passport control you find yourself in a small hall, from which there are two exits to the city: through the green and red corridors. The first is intended for those who do not have things to declare, so there is no frame and controllers. The second corridor, the red one, is equipped with scanners and customs representatives, which suggests the possibility of inspecting personal belongings.
In the same hall you can receive your luggage, which, if pre-scanned, will already be equipped with green and red stickers that indicate which corridor you need to pass through. If the sticker on your luggage is the color of grass or there is no sticker at all, feel free to go through the green one, even if there is alcohol in your bag: in 90% of cases no one will stop you.
However, sometimes situations occur when, despite the presence or absence of stickers, everyone is sent for inspection to the red corridor. Passengers on direct flights from Russia are especially often “lucky” - apparently, the Maldivians decided to test the myth about Russian love for strong drinks in practice. To minimize the risk of such a situation, choose Emirates flights and Qatar Airways with a connection in Dubai or Doha, or planes departing from Sri Lanka. Of course, passengers arriving on them are also searched, but only selectively.

What to do if you find yourself in the red corridor?

Is the red corridor as scary as it is painted? In fact, there is no need to worry ahead of time: as practice shows, most tourists, even during inspection, manage to bring alcohol. In the red corridor, three belts with luggage scanners will be waiting for you and hand luggage, each of which is served by 3 to 5 customs officers, as well as several frames for personal “calling”.

Since the frames are essentially metal detectors, that is, they do not react to liquids, glass and plastic, it is through them that alcohol can be carried. Simply put, “on oneself”, for example, in a pocket or in the waistband of trousers. The main thing is to first remove your belts and other “clanging” objects in order to avoid a personal manual search after the frame. You should choose alcohol in small plastic flat cans; these are sold in almost every duty-free store.


They sell these special, flat bottles on the Internet.

How to carry alcohol in checked or carry-on luggage?

Speaking about the methods of transporting alcohol to the Maldives, you willy-nilly recall the column “Crazy Hands” and admire the ingenuity of travelers, which would be the envy of even the most professional smugglers and bootleggers. Everything from hot water bottles to empty mayonnaise packaging is used to disguise alcoholic drinks. If you are ready to take a risk, we offer you a rating of the most effective and common options:

The main rule in this dark matter is no glass! With a 90% guarantee, all bottles will be scanned and will join the ranks of alcohol awaiting the return of their owners. Drinks can be poured into plastic water, soda or tea bottles, choosing the right color. You can also use opaque juice boxes. However, quite often customs officers ask you to open at least one of them to make sure that the contents do not smell of alcohol.

Most often, baggage inspection is carried out if bottle-shaped containers were identified on the scanner. To avoid this, alcohol can be poured into soft plastic containers of baby fruit puree, jam or condensed milk, after rinsing them well. You can also use plastic wine bags that have been previously removed from Tetropack packaging.

In foreign online stores you can purchase special containers of various shapes, disguised as sunscreens, shampoos, gels and other inconspicuous things. They close tightly, do not leak and are odorless. It is better to put them in the compartment of the suitcase with cosmetics and bath accessories so that they get lost in the general mass.

The easiest way is a regular flat flask. It should be placed parallel to the bottom in the suitcase so that it does not stand out when scanning.

Place plastic bottles with your cosmetics so they don't get lost

It's up to you to decide whether to take risks or not. However, a holiday in the Maldives, in any case, will be wonderful, with or without alcohol. In an atmosphere of enchanting landscapes and complete tranquility, relaxation and good mood are guaranteed to every guest of this beautiful country.

It would seem that the question “What to bring from the Maldives?” quite simple. Each country has a certain set of something that is not in your country and these things are bought as an exotic souvenir. And here it’s not worth mentioning the various I love Maldives magnets and T-shirts. Not so! Maldives they produce and grow absolutely nothing. We even found two chickens on only one island from one family. Everything from toothpicks to building materials is shipped from other Asian countries.

Chinese magnets with dolphins and turtles, which can be found at any resort, are not the best souvenir, so it is better to find out in advance what you can find as a gift from the Maldives.

On the hotel islands, the choice of souvenirs is small and the prices are quite high. The best place to shop is in Male - the capital Maldives. In this one of the smallest capitals in the world, where 100,000 people live in an area of ​​1.5 km by 1 km, you can find almost everything.

COCONUT OIL

What the Maldives has in abundance is palm trees. Here, even at the state level, a decree was issued that in case the islands were suddenly cut off from the outside world and provisions ran out, every resident of the country should have their own coconut tree. Coconuts are very good for health, in addition, one nut is enough to quench your thirst and hunger.

Accordingly, everything that coconut and palm trees provide is available in the Maldives. The oil here is very High Quality and is inexpensive. It can be added to cosmetics and used to moisturize the body in its pure form. In general, it’s useful to keep it in the house, and it’s not a shame to give it to friends.

DRIED TUNA

Tuna is the No. 1 fish in the Maldives; it is caught here in tons and is incredibly adored. By the way, you should definitely try tuna meat fried or in curry. And bring home sets of tuna pieces, which are eaten here like chips. They are sold in convenient bags in supermarkets with the proud signature “Real Maldivian tuna”.

SPICE MIX

As in any Asian country, in the Maldives the mixture of spices from which it is prepared is held in high esteem. National dish curry. It differs from Sri Lankan or Indian at least in that it is not so spicy. And the spices used are local. So the best souvenir from the Maldives is an evening of Maldivian cuisine at home. You can have a themed party just in time for viewing photos from your vacation.

SHARK TEETH

The souvenir, of course, is for everyone and for connoisseurs. However, it is included in the list of the most popular things that are brought as gifts from the Maldives. You can buy a tooth keychain for $1, and a giant jaw for $250. In general, if you wish, you can be considered an original by hanging shark jaws at home instead of deer antlers.

SARONG

It’s not entirely clear where cotton comes from in the Maldives, but things made from it are very popular here. good quality. Girls are recommended to purchase a sarong in the colors of the local flag as a souvenir of their vacation on the islands. A sarong will come in handy on more than one beach, and besides, it will warm up your home with its appearance.

TRADITIONAL MATS

Mothers, grandmothers and accounting departments will be satisfied. Maldivian mats are made of palm or coconut fiber and reed. They are beautiful to look at, have 100% natural ingredients and are useful in any household.

SAND

Yes, Maldivian sand is a souvenir in itself, take it with you and put it at home in a beautiful decorative vase or bottle. Such a homemade souvenir will definitely delight you and decorate your home.

Finally, we will give advice to tourists on what should never be taken out of the Maldives:
​
- Products made from tortoiseshell;
- Products made from black and red corals and the corals themselves;
- Pearls and pearl oyster shells;
- Reef fish.

A holiday in the Maldives will certainly be remembered for a long time and every tourist will want to bring something special from the islands as a souvenir, so you should definitely take the time to choose good souvenirs!

What is prohibited in the Maldives? Really on paradise islands Are there any prohibitions and restrictions? Since it is a Muslim country, this imposes a number of restrictions on tourists and other guests of the Maldives during their stay in the capital Male, on and even on resort islands. Now I will introduce you to what you should not do in the Maldives under any circumstances. And then your trip will take place without unnecessary unwanted adventures, and your long-awaited vacation will not be spoiled.

  • Firstly, everyone knows that, and it is immediately taken away at the airport by customs. Only those tourists who vacation on the island can freely buy expensive alcohol in bars and restaurants. But guests on local islands sometimes only find out that they cannot bring alcohol to the Maldives and are forced to stop drinking alcohol for the entire duration of their stay. However, not everything is so sad, because enterprising Maldivians have already figured out how tourists can get around.
  • Secondly, the Maldives also has a law prohibiting the construction of buildings on the islands higher than the tallest palm tree. However, in practice there are exceptions, because in fact famous island Maafushi, this law is not being respected. We ourselves saw how the most comfortable and inexpensive hotel 6 floors high!

  • Thirdly, as sad as it may be, you cannot swim in a bikini in the Maldives! This is due to the culture and traditions of this country, formed under the influence of the Muslim religion. However, this ban only applies to residential island villages, and it has no effect. By the way, some islands fence off a special territory, away from residential buildings, and they call it, and there - hurray! — you can walk, sunbathe and swim in bikini swimsuits. But those tourists who go to resort islands don’t have to worry about this at all: everything is possible there, almost like in.
  • Fourthly, you can't swim naked. Nowhere! However, according to rumors, only the hotel turns a blind eye to this Kuramati.
  • Fifthly, eating pork is prohibited in the Maldives. Bacon in the Maldives is also bad. You will not see it on the menu of cafes and restaurants located in public places. But this is not such a big problem. After all, this country is famous primarily for seafood, and fishing is considered one of the main elements. And in those located on private islands, there is no such prohibition.
  • Sixthly, dogs, except for shepherd dogs serving in the police, are also not liked in the Maldives and tourists are not allowed to bring their pets with them. To be honest, why you can’t bring your dogs and cats to the Maldives remains a mystery to us. They write on the Internet that they are considered unclean animals (like pigs), so Muslims cannot stand them. And I can also assume that this was done to preserve the ecosystem of the islands, so that a catastrophe does not happen, like the one that once happened on.
  • Seventh, in the Maldives, under no circumstances should you promote any religion other than the Muslim religion. It is forbidden to even bring a Bible with you. After all, he knows more than one change of religion on these paradise islands. Sun worshipers gradually disappeared under the onslaught of Buddhism, and in the 12th century Buddhism was swept away by Islam. The servants of Allah do not want the same fate for themselves, therefore, while hospitably inviting residents of the rest of the world to their islands, they strictly insist that you leave your beliefs at home during your vacation.
  • Eighth, be prepared for the fact that the Halloween holiday, which originated from the Celtic Samhain and is very popular in the USA and other Western countries, is officially prohibited in the Maldives. So if you're going at the end of October, don't expect carnival and fun. And during the celebration of the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are prohibited from smoking, drinking and eating during daylight hours.
  • Ninth, tourists are not allowed to work in the Maldives. But if you liked the Maldives so much that you are ready to come here quite officially to work in a hotel on a work visa or to help as a volunteer with environmental protection, then you are welcome to read

You need to arrive at the airport in advance: to Domodedovo - 3 hours before, and to Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo 2 hours before.
Do not forget to take your passport with you and, if your minor child is traveling with one of the parents, do not forget to take documents confirming the relationship and power of attorney. If your child is included in your passport without a photo and he is already 6 years old, you must paste the photo.

If all Required documents in your hands, you independently go through passport, customs control and registration, which ends 40 minutes before departure.

Package of documents:

  • international passport
  • voucher
  • insurance policy
  • air ticket
  • if necessary, a power of attorney for the child and a birth certificate
  • certificate from the bank (for export of more than $3,000 per person)

For questions regarding crossing the state border of the Russian Federation, you can contact the Russian Border Guard Assistance Fund.
Consultations are paid. Phones in Moscow: 208-11-08, 208-47-30, 923-83-60, 208-66-79, 208-06-24.

A direct flight to the capital of the Maldives - Male is 9 o'clock.

Visa

Upon arrival at the airport, the visa is stamped into your passport free of charge. Valid for 30 days from the date of entry into the country. You can extend your stay for more than 3 months, but for this there must be a good excuse, a return ticket and a sufficient amount of money - about 50 UDS in a day. Extending a visa costs $100. When departing from the country, an airport tax is paid - $10 per person. The validity period of the passport must be at least 6 months from the date of entry into the territory of the Maldives.

From 01.01.12, an airport tax of 25USD will be introduced in Male.Payment of the fee will be required for everyone departing from Malefor international flight passengers at the check-in counter.Cash dollars or plastic cards are accepted for payment.

customs control

You can export up to $3,000 per person from Russia without obtaining a bank certificate. Allowed duty free import 200 cigarettes and 125 ml of perfume.
It is prohibited to import into the country: any alcoholic beverages, drugs, pornographic materials, salami sausage, pork and products made from it, anti-Islamic literature, weapons (including spearfishing), sharp objects, animals. Alcohol is left in a free storage room upon arrival. Everything comes back on departure. Good on departure DutyFree , cheaper than in the Emirates.

Meeting in the Maldives

Transfers are made by the hotels themselves. When leaving the airport after receiving your luggage, go to hotel counters (the number of counters is noted in the tourists’ documents).Depending on the distance of the hotel from the airport, transfers are carried out either by Dhoni boats, or by speedboats or seaplanes (max 12-15 people). Transfer boats are located near the hotel receptions. Before the seaplane, you need to move to another terminal by car across the runway. The transfer takes 5-6 minutes. There is only 1 landing strip in Male; planes land very quickly, so sometimes they can wait for tourists arriving on the next flights. Sometimes you have to wait for a seaplane, 2 hours max. Many expensive hotels have VIP waiting rooms. Transfers are made only during the daytime; if the flight is at night, we recommend booking a hotel near Male.
Seaplanes on a transfer land on a platform in the sea, then a boat takes tourists to the hotel pier. Transfer boats come directly to the hotel pier. The pier is called "jeti". There is a meeting and welcome drinks. Transfers to Male are also made by the hotel; tourists are left with letters about the transfer time.If a tourist does not catch his flight due to bad weather, the flight will take place as soon as possible, at the expense of the hotel. Guide visits hotels, as a rule, if there is a resident there large group, all the information about transfers, phone numbers of the office and guides, etc. in the information folders at the reception (in Russian). All problems are resolved either at the reception or by calling the guide. due to the distance between hotels. The distances between hotels are large, flights are expensive, so communication with the guide by phone+960 79 00 448

Useful phones

During your stay at the hotel, if you have any questions, you must contact the hotel reception, where you can also book all excursions and find out about the time of return transfer to the airport.
In some unforeseen situations, you can contact a Russian-speaking representative of our partner company "MALDIVIANA"
Mobile tel: +960 79 00 448

Hotel

The main feature of Maldives hotels is that each of them occupies a separate island. The islands are completely autonomous - they use desalination plants for water and solar energy for electricity. Eat staff staff areas and staffjetty , where the tuna catch is brought and the manta rays are fed. At some hotels staff zones are located in neighboring hotels (exclusive hotels). Hotels are classified according to a special system dividing hotels into 5* categories Exclusive , 5* Deluxe , 5*, 4*, 3*. There is no official category*. The main thing when choosing a hotel is to take into account what type of vacationers it is designed for: there are family hotels; hotels offering a quiet and secluded holiday; hotels for divers; hotels for snorkelers.
Tourists not staying at the hotel are not allowed to enter the territory of another hotel on the island; there is no connection by boat between the hotels. There are exceptions when nearby hotels have common infrastructure: restaurants, spas. Transfers from island to island are carried out with a transfer in Male.
All hotel receptions are open under a canopy, without air conditioning, but with fans. Check-in occurs at 14-00, check-out at 12-00. Upon check-in, if the room is free at the time of check-in, they will check in immediately; if not, they can log you into the computer and offer to leave your luggage in the special room. room and allow you to use all hotel services (even eat). There are practically no Russian-speaking staff in hotels. You can explain yourself in English language. Outside hotels, English is not very common. Tourists do not have to carry their luggage anywhere - they just need to put the room number on their luggage. Tipping is optional, but is required as a sign of good manners. ($1 per luggage is enough).
“Overbooking” (resale of rooms) happens extremely rarely, but if it happens, it becomes known in advance and, as a rule, is reported about it at the airport. The hotel itself resolves issues and looks for replacement options (of the same category or higher). If problems arise upon arrival, all issues are resolved at the airport. If a tourist wishes to move to another hotel, then 100% payment for the new accommodation, if the reasons for the relocation are significant (non-working equipment, etc.), a refund is possible. If there are no significant reasons - 100% fine. An old hotel can return part of the cost of accommodation only if the tourists’ arguments are weighty.
Food is usually BB, NV,FB . Water in the room 1 liter free of charge every day.A.I. only soft and low alcohol drinks, very limited choice and with such a food system in the hotel, as a rule, there is 1 restaurant. (3*, 4*). In NV there is also a limited number of restaurants and when changing dinner to a themed restaurant a 40% discount is given. Maximum choice of restaurants when booking BB.Water in restaurants is paid (except for breakfast and when A.I. ). The cuisine is mostly international, Sri Lankan, and Italian is common. The seafood selection is generally small. All fruits and vegetables, except coconuts, are imported from Sri Lanka.
For evening entertainment, some hotels host evening shows with drums and national dances. You cannot walk around the island in shoes (also in order to create an atmosphere of complete detachment from civilization).
There are no carpets in the rooms (it is difficult to clean the sand), there are tiles on the floor, in hotels high level- expensive wood or other modern materials.When placing 2+2, one of the children with parents is on the bed (two extra beds are not available). Baby cot can be ordered for approximately $8/night (upon request). Almost everywhere there are bungalows, in 3* there are two-story cottages, but the entrance to the rooms separate.Wireless Internet (WiFi) everywhere, in some hotels even in the rooms.Most big hotel for 350 rooms, the smallest - 6-8. There is a safe in the room, but it is better to store large amounts in the safe on reception.
Service in the Maldives is slow, this is a feature of the mentality and the influence of the hot climate. Dress - code there is no such thing, but it is unlikely that tourists themselves will want to go to dinner in shorts and swimsuits at a restaurant in a 5* hotel.

Health and Safety

Every hotel has a doctor. If you have an insurance policy, the service is provided free of charge or with subsequent reimbursement of expenses in accordance with the insurance policy (see the memo attached to the insurance policy).
The main danger is the sun; at first it is better to swim in a T-shirt and shorts. Possible health problems: inflammation of the ears in children, sunburn, wounds or burns when a hedgehog or stingray is stepped on, damage in the sea (80% of the living creatures in the sea are dangerous, you can’t touch anything!) It is recommended to take a personal first aid kit with you, because . the island may not have the necessary funds. If an accident occurs, you must call your insurance company. It is recommended to drink bottled water and be careful with local food outside the hotel. No special vaccinations are needed.
The country is Muslim, so it is necessary to observe ethical standards (drinking alcoholic beverages in public places is prohibited, clothing must be sufficiently covered when traveling outside the resort area). The police act harshly, almost arrest or deportation, and deportation at the expense of the company, in extremely severe cases at your own expense.
Main reasons for calling the police:
- for non-payment of bills (all bills are signed by tourists during their vacation and payment is made upon check-out; if there is nothing to cover the bills, the transfer does not wait and then the tourists are taken to the police).
- there may be problems with credit cards, so upon arrival you should immediately check whether the credit card is accepted. They do not accept Electron, Maestro, American Express.
Tip: It is better to make the calculation the day before.

Diving, snorkeling

Each hotel has its own home reef (there are hotels where the reef is located nearby, there is where you need to swim), which allows you to engage in snorkeling and diving: very picturesque, a lot of fish.. As a rule, the hotel has a tide schedule. The information boards of the dive center display a schedule of low and high tides; for snorkeling, it is better to choose a time between them. You can bring your own equipment, but also, on any island you can rent everything you need.
Each hotel has its ownDivecentre , independent from the hotel (rent a place in the hotel). Recently, Russian-speaking instructors have begun to appear (but don’t promise tourists). Equipment very good high level, diving in the Maldives is considered one of the safest - diving no more than 20 m, diving with a computer. You need to be careful - 80% of dives are with the current. Hotels are not responsible for tourists at sea, there are a lot of living creatures, 80% are dangerous. Do not touch anything with your hands under any circumstances.

Climate

The climate is tropical, hot and humid. The average temperature is 28-30 C. There is no rainy season as such in the Maldives. There are 2 seasons, dry - from December to March, and wet - from April to October. At this time, short-term rains are possible, 10 - 15 minutes every day. You can swim and sunbathe in the Maldives all year round. For divers, the “off season” is considered to be the period May-June, since at this time visibility is not very good due to the proliferation of plankton.

Money


Official currency unit- Maldivian rufiyaa. One rufiyaa contains one hundred laari. The approximate exchange rate to the dollar is 13:1.
At resorts, payment in dollars or credit cards is possible.

Transport

The most common type of transport is the flat-bottomed dhoni. For flights between the islands you can use a seaplane. People travel by land on bicycles and motorcycles; cars are only available in the capital.

Population

Maldivians are of mixed race, the main ethnic groups being Indians and Sinales, with Africans and Arabs also living in the country. A third of the population lives in Male.

Language

The official language is Maldivian (Dhivehi). It originated about 1,500 years ago, belongs to the Indo-Aryan languages, and has its own written language called Tana, read from right to left.
Due to the large distances between the islands of the Maldives archipelago, several dialects have formed with quite significant differences in pronunciation and vocabulary. Between residents northern islands archipelago and inhabitants southern islands It may be difficult to understand each other.
The word "atoll" comes from Dhivehi.

State structure

The Maldives is a presidential republic. The head of state and government is the president. Legislative power is exercised by a unicameral parliament - the Majlis. The Majlis consists of 50 members, 42 of whom (2 people from each administrative atoll) are elected by direct and secret ballot, and 8 are appointed by the president.
26 July - National holiday(Independence Day) - declaration of independence of the Maldives from Great Britain.

Religion

Religion - Islam (Sunnism, a small number of the population professes Shiism).
In 1153 AD. e. King Kalaminya, who ruled the Maldives at that time, converted to Islam, which to this day remains the only religion of the country (to obtain citizenship of the Maldives, you must be a Muslim).

Time

Time is 1 hour ahead of Moscow in summer, 2 hours in winter.

Souvenirs

From the Maldives they bring shark jaws, wicker baskets made of palm leaves, wood products, sarongs, and coconut oil.
Export from the country of black and red corals, products made from tortoiseshell, pearl oyster shells prohibited.

We wish you a pleasant trip!