Do you love the typical photos of amazing small white sand island in middle of crystal blue water of the ocean in Maldives? Than make your dreams true and join the trip to a nearby sandbank to swim, snorkel and
Maldives is a very popular tourist destination. Number of tourists increase thanks to the permission to build hotels on the local islands of the Maldives in 2010. That creaste a chance to stay there at affordable prices compared to the formerly exclusive offer of fabulous resorts for the richest. Due to decreasing ticket prices, the Maldives is experiencing a major tourist boom. However, they are still a very peaceful and relaxed destination (except of the island of Maafushi, which is beginning to remind Croatia in the summer), which Europeans are most interested in in winter because of its constant tropical climate and temperature of 30 ° C.
The Maldives are a group of islands with 1196 coral islands. These islands are divided into 20 atolls. The archipelago lies in South Asia, south of India and has a length of approximately 400 km. The nearest neighbors to the Maldives are Sri Lanka and India. Many clients use this location to combine a Sri Lanka travel vacation with a relaxing stay in the Maldives with snorkeling, which is rated as one of the best in the world.
The capital is Male and along with the neighboring island of Hulhumale (which is the airport) is the artery of the whole Maldives. It is a very busy city with high traffic load. In the capital live about 100 thousand inhabitants. Almost all important state offices, parliament and president are located here.
Upon arrival at Male Airport (official name Velana International Airport, formerly Ibrahim Nasir International Airport) and filling in the arrival card you receive on the plane and submitting a confirmation of accommodation, you will be granted a 30-day residence permit. There are no arrival, departure or entry fees, as is the case in other countries.
The local currency is called Maldivian Rufie, its exchange rate is fixed – 1 USD = 15.42 MVR. US dollars are expected from tourists, there’s no need to convert them to rufie, you pay dollars everywhere in the Maldives. The ATM is at the airport, in Male and some of the larger islands. Since 2016, new banknotes have been in circulation, issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of independence. Taxes paid by all hotels and guest houses in the Maldives: TGST – Tourism Goods & Service Tax of 12%, Service Charge of 10% and Green Tax of USD 3 per person per night. Our prices are quoted with all fees and taxes. Beware, other hotels often list prices without green tax and service charge and add them to the final bill.
The Maldives are among the very safe countries of Asia, but some risks must be taken into account and prepared for. Primarily prepare for strong sun rays, the Maldives are close to the equator and the sun burns there even though it sometimes hides behind the clouds. We recommend a cream with a factor of 50, in particular. to stay in the shade for children and at noon – which is why full board is the most recommended option – will force you to leave the beach and relax in the safe shade of the hotel. For snorkeling, we recommend keeping your shirt and of course remember to follow the drinking regime.
In the second place, pack an effective mosquito repellent (Predator) or buy locals right after arrival (white bottle with pink cap) – it costs about $ 2, smells beautiful and is more effective than most of those you buy in the Czech Republic. The risk is minimal, but the Maldives also belong to a tropical area with a possible infection with the Dengue virus.
No vaccination is required or recommended for the Maldives. If the Maldives are the beginning of a series of vacations throughout Asia, then we would definitely recommend vaccination against jaundice and typhoid fever, or yellow fever. Based on your goals, we recommend that you discuss it with experts in your city’s vaccination center.
In the event of health problems, you will find an English-speaking health center on the islands. The center is equipped with basic devices. a professional examination will send you to the hospital in Male. The level of health care in the Maldives is not very high, and the locals fly to the hospital for India.
