The Maldives, an enchanting tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean, is renowned for its crystal-clear turquiose water, vibrant coral reefs and luxurious overwater bungalows. It is truly a dream destination for those looking to unwind in a picture-perfect setting. Traveling to the Maldives can be quite expensive as it is known for being a luxurious destination. But what if I tell you that you can enjoy this breathtaking destination for as little as 50$ per day? Continue reading to find out everything you need to know to realize your dream of visiting the Maldives without breaking the bank!
What we often see when opening our instagram feeds are the resort islands of the Maldives. These are privately owned and cater to tourists seeking luxury and relaxation. The individual islands are more expensive hotels which offers a luxury getaway with more privacy. However, the secret to traveling to the Maldives on a budget is the local islands.
Local islands in the Maldives are typically inhabited by Maldivian locals, offering a more authentic cultural experience. The biggest and most famous local island is Maafushi. Maafushi is located 1,5 hour by ferry or 45 minutes by speedboat from Male airport. The population of Maafushi is approximately 3000
HOW TO GET THERE?
Firstly, your international flight lands at Male airport. The airport is its own island, which sounds crazy, but it is. Luckily they have built a bridge since we visited the first time so you no longer have to take a boat from the airport. You can simply find a taxi or take a bus to the public ferry. When you arrive at the ferry port, you have to purchase your ticket before going on the ferry. The ticket costs from 2-3$, making it an affordable way to travel between the islands. Keep in mind that the public ferries do not operate on Fridays as it is considered a weekly holiday in the Maldives. If you arrive on a Friday, you must take a speedboat which will set you back 25$ or stay the night in Male (note that Maafushi is not the only local island the public ferries goes to, but it is the most known and where we went). The ride on the ferry is comfortable and when you arrive at Maafushi someone from your hotel will stand ready to greet you.
ACCOMODATION
We have stayed at three different hotels on Maafushi where we have had breakfast and dinner included for 25$ pp/per night! We always use www.booking.com for our hotel bookings. All the hotels we have stayed at have had great buffet dinners with lots of different curries and local fish caught just outside the island. Most of the hotels and guesthouses on the island have between 3-4 stars and are comfortable, so you do not need to sleep in a dormroom with a guy snoring all night to visit paradise on a budget.
FOOD AND DRINK
This is the best part of traveling in our opinion and we usually go looking for the best gelato or ice cream wherever we go. A typical lunch at a restaurant costs from 5-8$ if you go for the local cuisine. However, if you want to visit some of the more international restaurants you will have to pay a bit more. The local food is truly the best on the island so I wouldn’t really go for anything else while being there.
Many of us use quite a bit of money on alcoholic beverages while on holiday, but on Maafushi you will not have that issue (or pleasure?) The Maldives is a predominantly Muslim nation and alcohol is strictly regulated. On local islands like Maafushi it’s not allowed to drink alcohol publicly or in public places. Alcohol is not sold in the island and we highly recommend that you follow the local customs and laws while traveling. However, Maafushi still have bars with music and good vibes during the evenings. We made it a mission to try to go through the moctail menu at the different bars, it proved impossible as it was at least 40 different ones at each bar! We really enjoyed the evenings sitting on beanbags, watching a local band and drinking our moctails. Truly magical!
But for those of you who think “2 weeks without beer? On VACATION? Hell no!”, there is an alternative. There are a few “Floating bars” located outside the island. These are bigger boats that serve alcohol in the evenings. But how do you access these floating bars? You can arrange transfer by talking to your hotel/guesthouse or you can take a speedboat from the docks.
ACTIVITIES
The most exciting part of the journey! The Maldives is first and foremost a water-sport destination. Life under water is AMAZING and beyond anything else we have ever seen in our lives. Måns has probably been more under water than above during our stays in the Maldives. Just imagine crystal-clear waters with fish in all the colours you can think of. You see manta rays, dolphins, sharks, whaleshark and many more beautiful animals. Our tips would be to take snorkeling and dive trips from Maafushi, you can choose between half- and full-day trips. The snorkeling trips including lunch will usually cost you around 30$ and they have many different options. You will find tour operators near the beach so our tips is to go and have a chat to a few of them before booking anything! Then you will make sure that you get the best price and more than one snorkeling spot.
As mentioned above, the Maldives is a muslim country which again affects the customs and laws. Therefore, there are certain restrictions when it comes to the beaches. There are two beaches where you can wear swimwear, these two are referred to as “bikini-beach” and is where most tourists can be found during the daytime. It is not allowed to wander around the island in only your swimwear. There is also one beach that is reserved for water sports so if you want to kite or other watersports you can head there! This beach is close to the ferry.
Luxury?
Do you want to experience some luxury? You are, after all, in the Maldives. What if I tell you that there is a way to experience the resort island without using up your whole travel-budget? Earlier in this text I told you about the tour operators by the beach that sell snorkeling trips. In addition to snorkeling, they also sell daytrips to the resorts. For approximately 100$ you can live like a king/queen for the day at a beautiful resort. Just make sure that you choose a resort where you will get all inclusive included in the price so there is no surprises when you are leaving the resort. During these trips you get to stay at a resort for 7-8 hours and can enjoy their pools, beaches, buffet etc. We have been to three different resorts and will definitely recommend going to one for a different experience during your stay at a local island!
These are the three resorts we have visited:
- Adaraan Club Rannhali: We do not recommend this resort as it was worn down. Compared to other resorts it does not feel like this resort has been taken well care of. The resort also does not have a pool. However, the lunch buffet was quite nice.
- Adaraan Prestige Vadoo: This resort has a nice beach with comfortable sunloungers as well a
- Centara Ras Fushi Resort
The locals on the island are incredibly welcoming and so are the people working in the hotels.
5 TIPS FOR THE MALDIVES ON A BUDGET
1. Stay on a local island instead of a resort island
2. Take the public ferry instead of speedboats whenever possible.
3. Book snorkeling tours directly on the island.
4. Eat local food instead of international options.
5. Consider one resort day trip instead of staying at a resort.
The Maldives does not have to be a once in a lifetime luxury splurge. With a little planning and an open mind, you can experience turquoise water, incredible marine life and tropical sunsets for a fraction of the typical price.
Paradise can be affordable.