Stores, Malls or Markets in Maldives

It is in Male airport, next to the arrivals

What to buy: I buy this beautiful book with fantastic photographs from Maldives called DREAMING OF MALDIVES and the wall Calendar 2009 for my self and friends, everybody loved it.
Some other friends order them from the web : www.dreamingofmaldives.com

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This shopping center create in the middle of the city and offer from electronic to fruits and household.I like to shop here coz the price are reasonable.

What to pay: Its depends what you had in mind. Currency accepts Rufiyaa and USD dollars

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If you have the chance, go on an Island hopping trip. There are usually 1/2 days or full days were you would visit from 1 to 3-4 isalnds.
The main island you will be taken to will have a mosque a school and sometimes a hospital.
There are also a few local shops which sell gifts and crafts and are half the price of a shop on the resort or at the airport.
The local people are so nice and the Kids so Happy despite having very little. I spent a small fortune as I wanted to help the local community and if you take the Kids some sweets they are very grateful

What to buy: Wooden crafts, photo albums, sarongs, T shirts,

What to pay: A sarong cost me about £3

You can do your shopping here on the local island, if you go on the island hopping trip. Their prices are much cheaper than the souvenior shop on the island and the airport. Bargaining is expected, most of the shops sells about the same thing.

The funny thing is that the guide on the island pointed us to 4 shops that he says are chosen by the island chief for us to shop in. He told us that each day different shops are chosen for tourist to shop in, and there is no need for us to go to all the shops as they sell almost the same things.

So, we did what he told us and found out that 1 of the shops belongs to him..

I bought fridge magnets, 4 for $3($5 each at the airport)
Kids T-shirt $4 each($8 at the souvenior shop on the island)
Man T shirt $6
Hand painted painting $6($20 at the airport)
Mineral water $1($3 on the resort)

Sun Island has its own little selection of shops. One of them is a jewellry shop. They have many hand made rings, necklaces and bracelets. Unfortunatly, as expected, the price is high. I didnt see any that weren't 3 figure sums. Not a bad idea if its your partners birthday or something though. The jewell stones are of good quality, and they even sell loose gemstones in a little gift box. And yes, of course, these are expensive too. Still, its worth a look.

The souvenir shop on Sun Island is a very good shop. They have a big arrangement of gifts for those back home. and at very cheap prices. I brought an oil painting, A4 size on canvas, and framed for $12...they also have incense, clocks, ash trays, photo frames etc.

Other than souvenirs, they have nessecary things such as sunblock, shampooos, sweets, and other items you may need youself during your stay...Unfortunatly, these kind of items seem to shoot up in price.

The Maldives print their own stamps.Every resort shop on every island has some for sale

What to buy: Maldive Stamps are famous for being amoungst the most beautiful in the world.Even if one is not a collector.It is worth having some just to look at.

This lovely shop just by reception had everything. I bought a lovely kurumba bag which was useful to walk around with in the day and a baseball cap with kurumba on it (looked great!)
I bought some lovley gifts in there, a handmade photo album and wooden keyrings and a great book about the islands by Adrian Neville.
Great postcards and a friendly assistant who also managed to get us a tape for our video camera as we only took the one.
I spent quite a lot in this little shop! :-)
They also sell good snorkell masks and snorkell (good make) at cheaper cost than in uk.

What to buy: wooden & handmade gifts & the tote bag (good idea for presents too)

Handmade Kurumba photo album.