The Maldives

[Olddaddy]

May I ask anyone if they have been to this Country?

I must admit that when someone mentioned it to me today I had to look up where it was in the 🌎 

Are the boys black skin ?😍

[vinapu]

I doubt as vacation there seem to be expensive , fitting for crowd usually staying in Capella hotel in Bangkok , not Nantra Silom and the like

[forrestreid]

It's illegal to be gay there, I believe - The Maldives is a Muslim country and their law code is based on Sharia Law.

Most Western tourists are sent straight to island resorts, where things tend to be more relaxed—especially when it comes to two wealthy foreign guests sharing a double room.However, if you're hoping to connect with locals, you'd need to visit one of the non-holiday islands, and that could get you into trouble.

Definitely not a destination for cruising

Edited September 22 by forrestreid
clarity

[Keithambrose]

7 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

May I ask anyone if they have been to this Country?

I must admit that when someone mentioned it to me today I had to look up where it was in the 🌎 

Are the boys black skin ?😍

No, green skin.

[unicorn]

Although not enforced in tourist islands, homosexuality is punished by 8 years' imprisonment and lashes in the Maldives. If I were to visit a tropical island in the Indian Ocean, I'd much prefer the Seychelles or Mauritius, where the laws are much more civilized. If money's of no object, and I really wanted an overwater bungalow, I suppose I'd go to Bora-Bora. Rarely will I go to a country where gay sex is illegal. I've only done it in countries whose sites are very unique and spectacular: Egypt, Morocco, and Zimbabwe/Zambia (Victoria Falls)--though I spent more time on that trip in the more civilized countries of Botswana and South Africa. In this map, homosexuality is punished by imprisonment (light brown), or death (dark brown). In yellow countries, it's technically illegal, but the laws aren't enforced. Gray countries have legalized homosexuality, but not same-sex unions. Dark blue legalized same-sex marriage, and light blue have civil unions:

[PeterRS]

On 9/22/2025 at 9:33 PM, Olddaddy said:

May I ask anyone if they have been to this Country?

I stayed once on one of the cheaper islands in the Maldives, before the mega hotel chains opened their over-the-water bungalows and private planes from the airport. All island accommodations are very small accommodating generally not more than 40 - 50 guests.

First, the Maldives is not cheap. Unless you have a hotel which includes lunch and dinner, be prepared to pay a lot more than in usual tourist resort areas. As importantly for @Olddaddy, as others have pointed out the Maldives is a Muslim country. When I was there, Maldivians were not allowed to work in the hotels and most staff had been recruited from Sri Lanka. This policy has now changed and the ratio of domestic to foreign workers is roughly equal. I would not suggest considering any attempt at sex with workers as this could have serious consequences.

On the other hand, it was wonderful to be on a small island where one could walk round it in less than two hours. The snorkelling is utterly amazing with such a fabulous collection of colourful fish. One evening I dined on the beach with the water lapping close to my feet. Since it was almost pitch black, when I looked up at the sky I have never in my life seen so many stars - millions and millions of them. It was magical! Since I went merely to chill for a few days, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. But I have no particular desire to go back unless someone else picks up the tab for a very expensive over-water villa and all meals. LOL

Maybe best to be aware that as of August this year, the main tourists are Chinese and Russians who year-to-date made up 28% of all visitors. For the whole of 2024, they made up 40.3%.

[unicorn]

With the Maldives being so expensive, I don't see the attraction of going to a relatively gay-hostile country. Their main draw is their very pricey overwater bungalow resorts. Here are some other countries which fit the bill:

https://travel.usnews.com/features/top-overwater-bungalows-around-the-world

[PeterRS]

19 hours ago, unicorn said:

With the Maldives being so expensive, I don't see the attraction of going to a relatively gay-hostile country. Their main draw is their very pricey overwater bungalow resorts.

With respect i think it is wrong to call the Maldives a "gay hostile" country. I am sure plenty of gays go there, particularly from Asia as there are non-stop flights from several Asian airports. If you are a gay couple and staying in a water villa, I cannot imagine anyone showing any form of anti-gay sentiment. But it is certainly expensive! 

On the other hand, if you are basically anti-Muslim because of its anti-gay rhetoric, then you deny your chance of visiting many countries. I have been to Petra in Jordan (amazing!), to Marrakesh and Agadir in Morocco, to Doha for several days and for two weeks in one of the most amazing countries with the loveliest peoples (apart from its regime) I ever visited, Iran. Even Istanbul, another totally fabulous city, would be out of bounds now as Turkey under Erdogan has bascially reverted to being a Muslim State (with 99% of the population being Muslim).

There are of course thousands of other places to visit and enjoy. I note in another forum that you are on a cruise that will stop in Bali. Indonesia, as you will be aware, is the largest islamic country on the planet. Sure, Bali is an almost unique relic of the Hinduism that spread throughout Asia prior to the founding of Islam and the vast growth of trade between Asia and Middle Eastern Islamic countries. Even so, Bali remains subject to Indonesia's laws which are relatively gay-hostile! And Muslim Java is also on your itinerary!

[unicorn]

4 hours ago, PeterRS said:

...On the other hand, if you are basically anti-Muslim because of its anti-gay rhetoric...

No, I'm not anti-Muslim. I've had Muslim friends, and respect their dietary restrictions, etc. As you know, homosexuality is not illegal in Jordan, Turkey, or Indonesia (except in Aceh Province, which I'd never visit). And, as you probably also know, Bali is mostly Hindu. I'm certainly all for polytheistic religions, which seem to make sense from a historical perspective. After several thousands of years of success, the Egyptian dynasties collapsed shortly after conversion from their polytheistic religion to Christianity, beaten by the then polytheistic Romans. The Roman Empire, in turn, collapsed shortly after it, too, adopted Christianity (beaten by Pagans). When tornadoes devastate the Bible belt, I tell my husband "There's Lord Shiva vacuuming the Bible belt."