МаThe Maldives is a white sandy tropical paradise with coconut groves and an azure-emerald sea with an amazing underwater world. Tourists from all over the world come here because of this.

Dhivehi is national language, which is a mixture of Arabic, Persian, Singaporean, Tamil and Urdu. Maldivian writing is written from left to right and known as “Thaana” that consists of 24 letters

The Maldives is one of the oldest countries in the world. The islands were discovered 2,000 years ago b.c.

Even if you can’t swim, you can admire the corals just by standing waist-deep in the water. The water is so clear that you can see everything clearly through

Birthdays are not usually celebrated; often they are not even remembered

You will not find dogs in the Maldives because they are forbidden by law

The discoverer of the islands is considered to be the famous traveler Marco Polo, who called them “the Flower of the Indian Ocean”

Every Maldivian can marry a maximum of 4 women. But today, the Maldivian men are allowed to support no more than 2 wives. After all, for each of them will have to build a separate house.

There is a huge divorce rate in this country – the highest percentage among UN member states. The fact is that adultery is punished with sticks

According to Maldivian law, hotel buildings cannot be higher than the tallest palm tree on the island.

The difference between a local island and a private island

Local islands:

Maldives islands, where local people live, are called – local islands. Such islands are inhabited by 500 and 2,500 citizens. There are about 200 of such islands and a hundred of them have at least one guesthouse for tourists. About 30 of these islands have developed infrastructure with a pier, a few guest houses, cafes and restaurants, a diving center and a tourist beach. The advantages of a local island are:

• Cost of accommodation (from $30 to $150 per night))
• Food – the eateries and restaurants usually serve continental and Maldivian cuisine. However, the portions are large and quite filling. Dinner cost starts from $10 per person
• Transfers – you can travel between islands by public ferry for 10$ one way. But they are often cancelled. An alternative is a private boat. They cost from $10-$80

     If you want to experience the Maldivian culture and traditions, the local islands are the right place to go

Advantages of resort hotels

Resort hotels are self-contained islands that are occupied by a single hotel. The size of these islands is usually much smaller than the local islands. The main feature of the hotels is the individual villas, which are either on the beach or on the water. Consequently, the prices are much higher. The islands usually have fitness center, bars, restaurants, SPA, diving center and water sport facilities. The number of rooms is much higher than on the local ones. Pros of the resort islands:

• Seclusion – this is not easy to achieve on local islands. But the resort islands have everything for peace and tranquility
• A bungalow is a fully furnished villa that is either on land or over the water. Rentals start at an average of $350 per night. But you’ll have a great view of the ocean.
• Bar and liquor – there are no entertainment venues in the Maldives and there are no concerts. The reason is religion. Under its influence some laws are accepted. But this does not apply to hotels where you can enjoy bars, karaoke, restaurants, outdoor discos and entertainment. Only at the resort hotels is alcohol allowed and available