How to pay in the Maldives?
The official currency in the island nation of Maldives is the rufiyaa (Rf, ރ). You can easily pay in rufiyaa cash in any store, hotel, etc. But today everyone is used to paying by card (cashless). Will there be problems with this in the Maldives? Let’s figure it out.
Where can you pay by card in the Maldives?
If you live on a resort island, you will never have problems paying for any additional services by card. This is a normal practice for resorts, when tourists are given the opportunity to pay in any convenient way. That is, the issue of difficulties with payment disappears here.
Local Islands: Home to Locals
Where the local population lives, for example our island of Toddoo. Not everything is so smooth with the widespread payment by cards, but let’s figure it out. We will also discuss the issues of payment in cash and any other exotic methods.
Yes, of course, the world-wide currency dollars and euros are also easily accepted for payment in any shops and service centers on the islands. You will most likely be given change in rufiyaa. The exchange rate in shops is adequate, so there is no point in exchanging currency upon arrival in the Maldives (unless, of course, you have already arrived with dollars or euros).
You can pay by card at a guest house, but only if you booked your stay on booking.com, and then the aggregator will simply write off the frozen amount from your card.
In any chain establishments (for example, there is a Burger King fast food restaurant at Male airport), you can easily pay by card. In shops (especially small ones) on the islands where locals live, you will not always be able to pay by card.
You can easily pay for diving services and other excursions that require some preparation by card.