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Maldives - $section - Countries Guide
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Time: Local time is GMT +5.
Electricity: Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. A variety of plugs are in use, including the two-pin flat blade plug and the round three-pin plug.
Language: Dhivehi is the national language. English is widely spoken in addition to German, French, Italian and Japanese, spoken by the resort staff.
Health: Immunisation against typhoid, Hepatitis A and polio is recommended. Visitors should take precautions against mosquito bites as cases of dengue fever and Chikungunya virus have been reported in the Maldives. Precautions should be taken to avoid sunburn and dehydration. There is a good private hospital on Malé and first aid facilities are available on all the resort islands. In the event of diving emergencies, a decompression chamber is available. Food and water in the resort hotels is generally risk-free. Medical insurance is advised.
Tipping: Officially, tipping is not encouraged in the Maldives, but if the service is good it is customary to tip waiters and room staff in the resorts (unless a service charge has already been added).
Safety: Crime levels are low but petty theft does occur. It is best not to leave goods unattended on the beaches or in hotel rooms. There is a measure of political instability and visitors are advised to avoid gatherings and demonstrations, particularly on Malé Island. A small bomb explosion on Malé on 29 September 2007 injured a number of people, including foreigners.
