Key takeaways
- Local island: cheaper guesthouses, local life, modest dress, no alcohol, bikinis only on designated beaches.
- Resort: a private island with its own beach and villas; alcohol available; higher cost.
- Green Tax (from 1 January 2025): USD 12 per person per night at resorts; USD 6 at small guesthouses on inhabited islands.
- Entry: tourist visa on arrival — but you need a prepaid booking at a registered hotel or guesthouse.
Choose a local island if you want a lower budget and to see everyday Maldivian life, and are happy with modest dress and no alcohol. Choose a resort if you want a private beach, overwater villas and everything on one island — it costs more, including a higher Green Tax of USD 12 per person per night against USD 6 at small guesthouses. Either way, Indians get the tourist visa on arrival with a prepaid booking — see our Maldives visa guide.
Local island vs resort at a glance
| Local island guesthouse | Resort island | |
|---|---|---|
| Green Tax per person per night | USD 6 (inhabited island, 50 rooms or fewer) | USD 12 |
| Alcohol | Not available | Available at the resort |
| Dress | Modest in the village; bikinis only on designated bikini beaches | Beachwear anywhere on the resort |
| Transfers from Malé airport | Public or speedboat ferries | Speedboat for nearby resorts; seaplane or domestic flight for distant ones |
| Best for | Budget trips, families, divers, first-timers | Honeymoons, special occasions |
Children under 2 are exempt from the Green Tax. Rates are from the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority.
Rules to know on local islands
- Dress modestly in the villages of inhabited islands.
- Swimwear is fine on the designated tourist or ‘bikini’ beaches.
- Alcohol cannot be brought into the Maldives, and is not sold on inhabited islands.
Getting there
All international flights land at Velana International Airport near Malé. Resorts close to the airport use speedboats; farther resorts are reached by seaplane or a domestic flight plus boat. Local islands are usually reached by ferry or speedboat from Malé — ask us for the transfer to your island.
Best time to go
The Maldives is warm all year (highs of 30–32°C). February and March are the driest months; May and November–December are the wettest, according to long-term averages from the Maldives Meteorological Service via the WMO.
Entry rules for Indians
- Tourist visa granted on arrival, with no pre-approval.
- Passport with a machine-readable zone and at least one month’s validity.
- Confirmed return ticket, prepaid booking at a registered facility and enough funds.
- Free IMUGA Traveller Declaration online, within 96 hours before arrival — one per traveller.
Our Maldives package can be built around a resort or a local-island guesthouse, with transfers and flights on request.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Maldives local island cheaper than a resort?
Usually, yes — guesthouses cost less, and the Green Tax at small guesthouses on inhabited islands is USD 6 per person per night, against USD 12 at resorts.
Can you wear a bikini on a Maldives local island?
Only on designated bikini beaches. Elsewhere on inhabited islands, dress modestly.
Is alcohol allowed on Maldives local islands?
No. Alcohol is available only at resorts and on liveaboard boats, and visitors cannot bring alcohol into the country.
Do Indians need a visa for the Maldives?
No visa before travel — the tourist visa is granted on arrival, with a prepaid booking, return ticket and the IMUGA declaration.
This article reflects official sources checked in September 2026.
