Joanna James
Maldives may not be your typical shopping-heaven, but if you know exactly where you should be looking, there is an abundance of great places to get yourself some colourful mementos to remember your trip to this paradise by. So just to take a break from all that fun in the sun that you have been having, try heading down to some of these places and get yourself some goodies at well reasonable prices for the most part.
Shopping in the Maldives gets exciting at a whole new level the minute you enter the Male Local Market. This enormous market place is one of the most popular street markets on the north waterfront of the Maldives. This favourite of locals as well as foreigners' alike, brims with numerous stalls selling local handicrafts, mementos and a range of other gift items. Amidst all the different kinds of stalls, what has got to be the highlight of this place are the local snack kiosks.
Located down in the heart of the city, this is a street market that is constantly sprawling with marginally enthusiastic buyers. From garments and accessories to electronics and gadgets, everything you would fancy buying can most definitely be bought in here. Make sure to exercise some of that admirable bargaining skills of your- you never know how lucky you will get! Should you get tired of walking around marvelling about all the pretty things you can find here, worry not, as there are plenty of eateries within this street market that are waiting to delight you some more!
If you are the nut for all kinds of beauty products- especially perfumes- do make it a point to visit Le Cute, one of the most renowned retail beauty shops in the whole of Maldives. This swanky store deals with cosmetics, toiletries and other healthcare products which are some of the top-notch products that will be available in Maldives. It is similar in appearance to the gift shops available in hotels like the Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, but in terms of the collection, it is far more diverse!
Now, unlike all the other shopping centres and boutiques that we described earlier; this gives you one-off Maldivian shopping experience. This multi-storeyed building has three of its levels occupied by the STO trade centre. The first level hosts the household section while the second and third levels are dedicated for souvenir counters alone! Visited by both locals and tourists alike on the daily, this is one of the best places we can think of for you to get done all your shopping in Maldives!
The experience of shopping at Island Bazaar will always be a as unique as this establishment itself- featuring its posh and classy boutique enthralling with a chic ambience, selling stylish lifestyle products whilst also supporting other intricate handicrafts of local artisans. Be it a cushion, a shoulder bad or a handmade fridge magnet that you are looking for, you can find some truly artistic pieces on sale here that are quite unique in their own sense, not to mention how gorgeous they are! It makes the perfect spot to get a unique and elegant gift for your loved ones!
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