Country code: 960.

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent throughout the islands. Handsets can be hired by the day.

The Internet can be accessed from most areas of the Maldives. Malé, the capital, has a lack of internet cafes, but Wi-Fi is available in many cafes. Almost all resorts have Internet connections, though these are rarely free.

Airmail to Western Europe takes about one week.

Post office hours: Sat-Thurs 0730-1330 and 1600-1750.

Since the democratic change in the Maldives in 2008, the press has become a freer entity and open debate and discussion of the governments performance is now the norm after decades of compliant and uncritical media coverage.

• Local dailies which publish in the Dhivehi language have some English-language pages and concentrate on local and regional topics.
• The Maldives News Bulletin is published weekly in English.
• The other dailies Aafathis Daily News, Haveeru Daily and Miadhu News have English sections.
• Information about local events is widely available on all the resort islands.

The government controls the sole TV service, Television Maldives (TVM), which operates two channels.

• The government controls the state radio station Voice of Maldives.
• Radio Eke is also state owned.