How To: Maldives on a Cheap

How To: Maldives on a Cheap. The beautiful archipelago, made up of almost 1,200 coral islands, offers so much beauty -it is addicting. That is why, after our first trip to Maldives (March 2015) we utterly wanted to go back, but with a smarter budget to spend (so hopefully we can make it a habit, wish!).

Compared to our first trip, our next one (July 2016) was around USD1,000 cheaper! Having had more days spent (5days) and more activities done (i.e. island resort day trip, dolphin sunset cruise, snorkeling and sandbank trips, and a night at an island resort), we definitely made good deals on what we’ve spent this second time.

So let me share the following points (based on research, advice and experience) on how not to be poor and stay home until the next pay day, at the end of your Maldives holiday:

• Flight: It is cheaper to take off from South Asia (India or Sri Lanka) or the middle East (Dubai/Doha/Muscat). Or, like a hustler traveler, sign-up for flight deals or low fare notifications.
• Accommodation: Should you take a water villa or a beach villa in an island resort? Both are much more (10x) expensive compared to a hotel room in Male or Humhumale, the city islands. A water villa in an island resort could cost at least USD500. Is it worth it? Of course it is when you are in Maldives! But then, if you want to stay for longer days -better take a beach villa for the rest of days and take a water villa for a day or two just to experience. Or best, stay in Hulhumale for a USD50/night good enough beachfront hotel; then, find a local travel agency (I highly recommend Secret Paradise, based on experience) who can book you and provide a free transfer to a resort so you can stay for a night or two and experience the luxury an island resort offers -which we did on our second time in Maldives!
• Transfers: Another freaking high budget cost on a Maldives holiday is the round-trip transfer from the airport (Male) to your chosen island resort. Some resorts could be reached by boats (normally USD150 per person) and some are only accessible by seaplane (prepare your USD500 per person just for the transfers). You can always check the transfers cost at the policy/important notes, some charge (50%) kids as young as 2 y.o.
• Food: All island resorts offers half-board, full board, or all inclusive package for your daily meals. Definitely though, island resorts charge higher (compared to the food prices in Male & Hulhumale) since the only option for guests is to get food from their restaurants, plus the fact that they have logistics cost for their goods requirement. The good side, being a Muslim nation, alcohol is not sold in Male and Hulhumale but only on resort islands for tourists.
• Activities: Island resorts monopolizes their services, and that includes their tours and trips. So if you want a cheaper dolphin cruise or snorkeling trips and what not, book and get them from Male or Hulhumale -and that means staying in either of the latter for a day or two before you go to your chosen island resort. You can compare the rates from your prospect island resort with this recommended local holiday agent and see the price differences.
• Seasons: July and August are the cheapest months for resorts, could be due to the monsoon but don’t worry -the sun will still be glorious most of the day. It was said that the busiest, hence the priciest, are from December-April.

Experience Maldives via its many exquisite island resorts. Stay in a water villa or beach villa and let time slow down as you bask around paradise. Pictured here are the water villas of Paradise Island, beach villa is more than enough for us this second time!

Ahhh… what holidays are for ❤️ Lazy lounging in front of our beach villa 🐢

The boutique hotel we stayed in for 3daya in Hulhumale, Lonuveli Hotel. Not bad service and the rooms are decent enough for the price (around 100USD/night). Very frugal breakfast selection but hey, better than nothing 😉 This one’s from a travel package via Holiday Factory (best-value price type of travel agency).

For great value activities from Hulhumale, book these guys – secretparadise.mv -for a half day sandbank trip, 2 snorkeling spots and a dolphin sunset cruise on a private boat, you only pay 110USD/person. ❤️ Shout out and big thanks to Ruth and Kamey!

Snorkel around the islands booming with sea life, snorkel spots in Kurumba and Sheraton are epic places for fish corals and stingrays, respectively.

The views at night from the beachside bar of Paradise Island resort … ahhh life.

Overlooking 1 out of the 1190 beautiful coral islands in Maldives 😍

See, you don’t really need to break your bank just to go to Maldives. There are a lot of ways to save bucks and be smart with your spending in and around that beautiful archipelago. Once you’ve understood and tried the tricks, you’d want to go back with budget at ease.