With lush golden sands, and crisp blue waters which stretch out for miles, it’s little wonder the Maldives continues to attract visitors from all across the world.
But as any seasoned traveller can tell you, even idyllic locales such as this have secrets you didn’t know – but probably should have – before heading away. Sometimes it genuinely does pay to do your research.
In this brief guide, we’re going to look at four of the most important factors to keep in mind before any trip to the Maldives. From ensuring you know exactly what time it is, to avoiding a surprising legal battle, here are some vital factors you might not already know.
1. Resorts have different time zones
Somewhat amazingly, time zones in the Maldives can be dictated by the resort you’re staying with, rather than the government. And while there is only officially one time zone (UTC+5), you’ll quickly discover that this isn’t something which is universally adhered to across the 1192 coral islands which make up the South Asian nation.
In an attempt to capture as much of their patrons’ time as possible, some resorts have added anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour-and-a-half onto their clocks. This is something you’ll want to check with your specific resort first before visiting.
2. It doesn’t matter when you visit
Whether you fancy a spring, summer, autumn, or winter trip to the Maldives, it will have very little bearing on what you can expect conditions to be like. That’s because this tropical paradise has a consistent average temperature of no higher than 32℃ (in April) and no lower than 30℃ (September through to December) across the year.
For those of us who live in more variable conditions, this consistency is what makes the island nation one of the most desirable locations to visit. It’s hard to look past a spot where February is just as good for working on your tan as August.
3. It’s illegal to take seashells home
Here’s one which could save you a real headache when you’re going through customs. While they might seem like harmless trinkets to bring back as a souvenir of your trip, it’s actually illegal to remove seashells from a beach and take them home with you.
The reasons are twofold. Firstly, the shells are used by hermit crabs to build new homes, who in turn keep the sand fly populations under control. Secondly, resorts want to keep beaches as pristine and natural as possible. And while one or two shells going missing would be fine, it might start to become an issue if every visitor follows suit.
4. You can pay in US dollars
Lastly – and perhaps most conveniently of all for American travellers – US dollars is an accepted currency across most resorts in the Maldives. That makes buying and paying for items considerably easier if you want to avoid the hassle of exchanging money at the airport. For those who don’t mind the conversion, the official currency of the region is the Rufiyaa – which works out at roughly 15 Rufiyaa to 1 USD.
Are you more prepared for your trip to the Maldives? Make sure to keep these factors in mind before you travel. They could make all the difference.
