Scattered across the Indian Ocean, the atolls of the Maldives lie approximately 435 miles southwest of Sri Lanka. The country is comprised of 1,192 tiny coral islands, of which only 200 are inhabited. Over recent years, the Maldives have come to define luxury in increasingly opulent terms. But their real draw is the opportunity to live out a Robinson Crusoe fantasy in an exquisite setting. Because the Maldives is a devoutly Muslim country, the government has insulated its tourist trade from the local population. A few hotels offer day trips to the capital of Malé, but most travelers spend their entire visits happily sequestered at the resorts of their choice. Emirates now has a nonstop 13-hour flight from New York to Dubai, where you connect onto a four-hour nonstop flight to Malé.
The Maldives have a tropical climate, with rainfall and moderately high temperatures throughout the year. The period from November-April is hot and dry, while from May-October the sea is rougher and the humidity increases.
Nine hours ahead of New York (EST). (Time listed is for DST in the West. Difference is one hour more November to mid-March.)
To phone hotels in the Maldives, dial 011 (international access) + 960 (Maldives code) + local numbers in listings.
Rufiyaa (MVR). Fluctuating rate valued at MVR15.40 = US$1.00 as of October 2016. Note: Our suggested hotels quote rates in US$.
Passport and visa. Visit travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, cdc.gov
None. U.S. Embassy is located in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tel. (94) 11-249-8500.
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
1 (800) 375-4685
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