Trip readiness checklist for Maldives
The Maldives is two parallel worlds: anything-goes resort islands and conservative local islands. Here's the trip-readiness checklist for Maldives: what to pack, when to go, entry rules for your passport, and the official sources to confirm before you fly.
Build my checklistWhat to pack
The Maldives is barefoot luxury on tiny coral islands. Pack beach and reef gear, strong sun protection, and (if you're off a resort) modest cover for local islands.
Reef-safe sunscreen and snorkel gear
The reefs are the point; protect them and your skin. A rash guard helps.
Light beachwear and a cover-up
Hot and humid; resorts are relaxed, but local (inhabited) islands require modest dress.
A hat and sunglasses
Equatorial sun reflects hard off water and white sand.
A dry bag
Boat and seaplane transfers mean splashes; protect electronics.
When to go
The dry season (Nov–Apr) is peak — sunniest, calmest seas, priciest (peak around Christmas/New Year). The wet season (May–Oct) is cheaper with short downpours and better surf.
Money & getting around
The Maldives uses the rufiyaa (MVR), but resorts run almost entirely on US dollars and cards — you'll rarely handle local cash unless visiting local islands. Resort spending is charged to your room; settle by card. Tipping ~US$5–10/day is customary.
Local quirks worth knowing
The Maldives is two parallel worlds: anything-goes resort islands and conservative local islands. Know which one your feet are on.
Resort rules ≠ local island rules
Resorts: bikinis, cocktails, no dress code. Local islands: modest dress everywhere except the designated 'bikini beach' — the signs mark it exactly.
Don't bring alcohol in
Importing alcohol (and pork) is prohibited and bags are scanned on arrival — duty-free bottles get confiscated at Malé. Resorts serve plenty once you're there.
Friday is the quiet day
On local islands, shops and cafés pause for prayers and family time; ferries run reduced schedules. Plan island-hopping around it.
The reef is the whole point — protect it
No touching or standing on coral, no chasing turtles, reef-safe sunscreen only. The house reef gives back exactly what visitors leave intact.
A week in Maldives, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
What am I forgetting?
A real answer from Trip Happens for a sample week in Maldives, departing in five weeks with a checked bag and nothing packed yet. Yours is built from your own trip.
Five weeks out, a week of coral and sun. Three gaps.
- 1.
Reef and sun protection
Seven nights on a coral island means water, glare and very little shade, and nothing is packed yet. Add rash guard, reef shoes or fins, hat and sunscreen to the twelve items on your list.
- 2.
Your transfer from Male
Resorts here are reached by boat, domestic flight or seaplane, and each has its own timing and luggage rules. Confirm with your resort how you get there, when, and what your checked bag is allowed to weigh.
- 3.
Entry rules on a US passport
Maldives arrival paperwork and passport validity requirements are worth reading before you're at the gate, not at the counter. Work through the entry card and its official source, and check your passport's expiry date yourself.
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for Maldives with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for Maldives — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for Maldives — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full Maldives checklist
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