Should I take US dollars to Maldives?

Taking cash & cards to the Maldives However, US dollars are widely accepted. It may be useful to have some small denomination bills in the local currency or US dollars to use for tips to local guides if you are doing any excursions outside the hotel.



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Taking cash & cards to the Maldives The only time you are likely to need the local currency is if you are staying in a local guesthouse or if you are visiting Malé City and would like to purchase something from a local market or shop. However, US dollars are widely accepted.

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Currency Exchange
Bring a credit card and US dollars traveler's cheques. Most hotel and travel expenses will be billed in dollars, so there's no point in incurring extra conversion costs. Some cash in small denomination US dollars is useful for tipping and to change into rufiyaa for use in local shops.

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Maldives transporting cash amounting to 10,000 (ten thousand) United States Dollars or more, or its equivalent in Rufiyaa or foreign currency, shall be required to report the said amount to the Maldives Customs Service under Section 24(a) of Law no.

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Generally speaking, if you have had a memorable ride on a small boat with a friendly crew, a modest $5-10 tip is a great compliment. Some of the transfers in the Maldives are private or chartered and the price reflects this, so tipping here is not necessary.

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In the Maldives, most of the travel expenses are billed in the major currencies like USD, GBP and EUR, though USD remains the most widely accepted currency in the resort islands, and is even taken by the restaurants and guest houses in some of the Public Islands.

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(Plus, if you're staying at an all-inclusive resort, you can essentially leave your wallet as home!) All purchases including meals, drinks and activities are billed in dollars and settled by credit card, so you won't need to worry about carrying around money unless you choose to visit a local island.

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It is prohibited for tourists to bring firearms, alcoholic beverages, pork products, pornography and idols of worship into the Maldives. Additionally, strict penalties apply to those attempting to bring illegal drugs into the country.

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How much do you tip a Maldivian butler? The butler or concierge will be the member of the staff you interact the most with, so they should get the biggest tip if you have been happy with their service. About 3-5% of the nightly room rate is a good rule of thumb in this case.

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In terms of prices it's usually cheapest to visit from May to November. If you're looking for value, arguably the best time to visit the Maldives is March or April (avoiding the Easter holidays). However, don't expect rock bottom prices.

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Buy currency before you travel. Doing so gives you time to shop around for the best rate. Plus, when you arrive, you won't have to immediately find a bank or currency exchange. Do some research ahead of time to see if US dollars are widely accepted at places you plan to go to.

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It's not uncommon to see gratuities of between 30% and 50% from these travelers. If you leave tips like that, then you can safely consider yourself in the overtipper category. Is there such a thing as being too generous? says Samantha Lambert, the director of human resources for a media company in New York.

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