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 Tips & Advice |
Local Travel: The government has measures in place to protect the societies of the traditionally Muslim communities. To that end, guided visits for tourists to travel to villages on some of the islands are permitted, afterwhich the visitor must return to their resort. Deviations in length of time or outside the tourist zone will require a permit as well as a local sponsor.
Customs: A few local conventions to keep in mind especially when visiting smaller towns: alcohol is not allowed outside the tourist resorts, remove your shoes before entering a home or mosque, Ramadan will have an impact on business hours for restaurants and stores, nude sunbathing is punishable by fines, and women should dress conservatively covering their arms and legs.
Cash: Most businesses that deal wish to deal with tourists accept credit cards and traveler's checks, and note that banks are typically opened Monday to Thursday during the morning.
When To Visit: The high tourist season is the dry season from December to April making the rooms harder to find and more expensive when you do, with prices lower for the balance of the year, carrying a high risk of rain and clouds. November and April are the best months for diving, snorkeling and enjoying the water, as the water is clearer.
Food: In the Maldives, meals are normally based on fish and rice, including fish curry and soup, with other meat and chicken reserved for special occasions. Afterwards, have a cup of raa, a toddy made from palm trees, or an arecanut, a nut chewed with cloves and lime. Note that alcohol is only available in the tourists resorts and most of the food in resorts is imported because of the limited agriculture in the islands.
Tipping: Tipping is not the norm in the Maldives.
Climate: The Maldives have a tropical climate that are usually hot and humid, drier during the northeast monsoon season from November to March, and rainy during the southwest monsoon season from June to August. - Currently 90º, Mostly Cloudy. 
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