Joanna James
The stunning Maldives has allured countless numbers of romantic souls for years with the spectacular beauty of its seas and the sublime luxury of its resorts. The country is surely an ideal destination for honeymooners and water sports enthusiasts. If you are planning to visit the Maldives, it would be a good idea to learn a few basic facts that will help you enjoy your stay to the fullest.
Maldives consists of 26 natural atolls which include 1,190 small islands and out of these only around 200 islands are inhabited by locals. A vast majority of the islands of Maldives remain uninhabited. A few of these present delightful opportunities for picnics for tourists too.
The small island of Male which is only 2.7 kilometres in length and 1.2 kilometres in width is the capital of Maldives. It's quite crowded with over 150,000 inhabitants occupying its territories of 5.8 square kilometres. You will find a large number of local offices, apartments as well as small coffee shops when travelling in Male. The roads that connect the different parts of the island are rather congested too with an abundance of motorbikes and small cars.
The local currency is Maldivian Rufiyaa. However quite a number of resorts are willing to accept US Dollars and British Pounds too. When travelling in the local islands it would be a good idea to take some Maldivian Rufiyaa with you as many places are not willing to accept card payments. The few that do, often charge a small fee so in order to avoid the hassle and fees, just take along some cash.
Maldives is a Sunni Muslim country and a strict dress code, especially for women is maintained in the local islands. If you do wish to embark on a tour, be clad in modest clothes that cover your arms and legs well. Even on local beaches that are not designated as bikini beaches you will have to cover up. Men can wear shorts and t-shirts with short sleeves. Keep in mind that these rules don't apply on resort islands.
The official language in Maldives is Dhivehi. English is also quite commonly spoken by locals.
Between the months of December and April summertime comes to Maldives, bringing with it large numbers of tourists. So if you intend to visit the island during this season, do make your reservations well in advance to avoid disappointment. You can easily book a resort in Maldives online now. Try to book a hotel that offers an array of activities and experiences for you to enjoy in order to have a remarkable experience here. Places such as Dhigali Maldives are great options to consider.
The daily temperature of Maldives averages between 24 to 33 degrees Celsius. The rainy season starts in May and ends in November. It's generally quite warm and humid in Maldives and even during the rainy season one will rarely come on a cold day.
Needless to say, seafood is abundant in Maldives. In addition, coconut is also heavily used in local cuisine. Most of the food and ingredients here are imported from other countries and can be quite expensive when compared to the locally grown produce.
Of course, everyone who visits Maldives yearns for a precious memento to take back home. However, do keep in mind that you will not be permitted to take corals and shells of Maldives with you so avoid that temptation! Instead, you can opt for fridge magnets, postcards, vibrantly coloured sarongs as well as beautiful local handicrafts.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
