The weather in Maldives is always warm and humid, and the sun shines all year around. You will be able to be very comfortable in cotton clothing and swimwear, especially on the many resorts in Maldives . If you are in inhabited areas, the dress style is generally a bit more conservative, but comfortable. For instance, men and women alike will fit right in with most shirts and shorts. It is customary for women to not expose their midriffs or much of their thighs.
In the resort islands, of course, a variety of languages are spoken. In the capital island, English is widely spoken and understood by Maldivians, who generally speak Dhivehi as a first language. The US dollar is also the most widely used foreign currency. If you want to take home some Maldivian currency when you depart, the Rufiyaa and Laaree are the currencies used. There are many places, including shops, on the inhabited islands (especially in Male') that accept credit cards as payment. You may have trouble using your card to receive cash, however, so plan ahead!
Maldivians are very educated people, with a functional literacy rate of nearly 100%. If you are familiar with the British educational system, than you would recognize the Maldivian educational system as being very similar to it. The Maldives Islands use international satellite links to connect them to the world, allowing for internet and phone use on inhabited and resort islands. You will need to check with your resort ahead of time if you have specific requirements during your stay.
If you mingle with the people of Maldives , you will find that they are the result of a melting pot of sorts, uniting the cultures of several African, Arab, and southeast Asian countries. Family life is very important to Maldivians, who maintain close knit, extended family relationships. Maldivians are mostly Islamic, and have mostly conservative values, but are also open to other cultures as well. They have a great deal of national pride and tend to live quite harmoniously with one another.
Although Maldivian women are often dressed more conservatively than their foreign counterparts, they are also very important to the country as a whole, and help reinforce the Maldives Islands ' reputation as a country that values women equally with men. Women are educated at the same rate as men at every level in Maldives , and they serve in many important government and business positions. Many women still are deemed with taking care of their families and homes while their husbands fish to support them, but that has more to do with the importance of fishing to the economy than it has to do with gender inequality.
If you are planning on taking in some of the wonderful shopping and souvenir locations in Male', make sure that you do not plan on exporting items that are made of prohibited export items, such as pearl oyster shell, turtle shell, and black and red coral. Many shop owners will know this, and often will not sell items like this to tourists without mentioning that they may have trouble exporting them. Again, Male' residents are used to having many tourists, so shop owners and other people are accustomed to being around foreign tourists, and are very friendly and helpful.
Also, if you decide to bring your own electrical devices, you may need to bring adapters, as the electricity is set at either 110 or 220 volts (varying by location). However, if you are staying at a resort, most of your electrical needs will be furnished for you! The key is to know ahead of time, and plan to avoid any difficulty before you arrive.
