Joanna James
The Maldives is a tempting destination and if you are planning on visiting no sooner the COVID restrictions in your country have been lifted.... it's no surprise! But if you will be visiting for the first time and are not quite sure of the dos and don'ts here's a list of all of them to help you out.
The Maldivian culture is such that is very conservative. Women are fully covered from head to toe and men usually don't go out topless and are rarely even seen in shorts. In a country such as this, PDA is definitely frowned upon and not accepted in the least bit. Hugging, kissing (even on the cheek) is considered almost illegal. If you are travelling with your partner, it is essential that you keep this in mind.
Since the Maldives is a Muslim country, there is much to be mindful about and one is the fact that alcohol and pork are prohibited should definitely not be taken lightly. If you are found possessing these items, they will be confiscated at the airport and legal action will be taken against you. However, this does not mean that you will not have alcohol for your entire stay. Hotels like Saii Lagoon Maldives allow guest to order their wines from a menu of selected products.
As mentioned earlier the Maldives social culture does not accept revealing clothes and bikinis are definitely a NO! Ladies visiting inhabited islands are expected to dress conservatively so as to not reveal shoulders and knees. Once again this does not mean that you will not be able to take those pretty photographs in your best bikini. You can definitely wear your bikini at the resort without an issue when indulging in Maldives activities.
If you feel like you are going to be thirsty during your travels in the Maldives, then remember to either fill your bottle at the hotel or buy some water from a store. But never drink from the tap. The water here goes through a purification process that completely kills all the healthy minerals in it as well. So bottled water from the store is your best option.
As in most other countries, drugs are completely illegal. If you do get caught with even a tiny bit of illegal drugs, you will be jailed, and this will be a black mark for you. You will even have to pay a hefty fine or might even be deported from the country or both.
The Maldives is more focused on the protection of marine life than ever before today, therefore it is definitely illegal to sell or purchase items like jewellery or utensils made of turtle shell and shark teeth. Once again you will have to pay quite a fine if you are found possessing these items.
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