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| FAST FACTS | |
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THE
MALDIVES
|
1,190 Indian Ocean islands and islets (of which some 200 are inhabited) grouped in 26 natural Atolls, 400 miles to the south-west of Sri Lanka. A republic since 1968. |
|
AREA
|
A land area of just 115 square miles scattered across 41,500 square miles of ocean |
|
BANKS
|
BUSINESS HOURS (Malé) 9 am to 6 pm Saturday - Thursday (shops 8 am to 11 pm and also 2 30 pm - 11 pm Friday). The official weekend is Friday and Saturday. |
| CAPITAL | Malé on the island of the same name (and among the world's smallest capitals), reached by 10- minute boat ride from the airport |
|
CLIMATE
(Malé)
|
Average daytime temperatures vary little around the year and are normally between 29° and 31°C. Rainfall is determined by two monsoons - the April-to-October south-west monsoon and the December-to-March north-east monsoon (the latter the most settled time, with least rainfall). Showers are normally brief though the May-to-October period may see changeable weather at times with rougher seas. |
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CLOTHING
|
Casual light cotton or linen tropical wear. T-shirts, beachwear, light skirts, slacks and shorts are recommended, hats, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, etc. |
|
CREDIT
CARDS
|
All major credit cards are widely accepted |
|
CURRENCY
|
Maldivian Rupee. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors may bring in |
|
ELECTRICITY
|
Voltage is 230/240 50 cycles AC |
|
HEALTH
|
There are
currently no compulsory vaccinations for travel to Sri Lanka, although
it is strongly recommended that you are protected against Polio, Typhoid,
Hepatitis A and Malaria. Please contact your doctor or MASTA (Medical
Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) at the London School of Hygiene
& Tropical Medicine (Tel 0891 224 100 for the latest details. |
|
LANGUAGE
|
Divehi, with English widely-spoken |
|
LOCAL
TIME
|
GMT + 5 hours |
|
PASSPORTS/VISAS
|
British passport holders travelling to The Maldives must be in possession of a 10-year British Passport, valid for at least six months after your intended return date. 30-day tourist visas are issued free of charge at entry for most nationalities. |
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POPULATION
|
260,000 (1997 census) |
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RELIGION
|
Muslim |
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TRAVEL
ADVICE
|
For further information about the Maldives please contact the Maldives Tourism board Web: www.visitmaldives.com email:mtpb@visitmaldives.com.mv |
| GETTING TO THE MALDIVES | |
| Emirates operate daily flights from London and Manchester to Dubai, with excellent connections to Malé. Twice-weekly Sri Lankan Airways services direct to Malé are also available, as well as daily departures with a change at Colombo. | |
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