When you mention the Maldives, immediately you think of beautiful sandy beaches with waves lapping at your feet in a luxurious, decked-out resort, where you can relax without a care in the world.
Though you are not too far from the truth in terms of how much a typical stay in the Maldives may cost, which for most normal people would be a splurge, here’s the good news: There are ways to enjoy the Maldives without spending an arm and a leg. Stick to the following tips and you’ll realise the Maldives could be a paradise you can afford and enjoy on a budget.
Fly budget
It’s not just full-service airlines that fly to the Maldives these days, many budget carriers in Asia have gotten in on the act. This brings competition to the market and means significant savings for travellers looking for flights to the Maldives.
Some of the low cost carriers that fly to the Maldives include Scoot, Air Asia, Fly Dubai, Cebu Pacific and Tigerair.
Stay at local guesthouses
One of the reasons the Maldives has become infamous for its luxury hotels that cost a pretty penny is because it was only in the last decade that the Maldives government loosened the laws that prohibited locals from opening up guesthouses. But all that has changed.
On local islands, like Maafushi and Fulidhoo, guesthouses have been sprouting up like mushrooms. Though you won’t find dorm beds for $15 a pop, like you might in other parts of Southeast Asia, $75 to $135 a night for a twin room is a decent price, especially if you look at what you’ll pay at larger resorts.
And you won’t be put up in shabby lodgings. Most guesthouses are clean and spacious, come with air conditioning, hot showers and breakfast. Most importantly, especially for flashpackers, they have a good reliable Wi-Fi connection.
Travel like the locals do — by public ferry
The Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed countries, made up of a chain of islands, and taking a ferry is the best way to get around.
Private ferry transfers are possible, but will not come cheap. So, do as the locals do and take the local ferries to get from one island to another. From the airport to Male Island there is a frequent local ferry, and from there you can take a look at the local ferry schedule which provides options for getting around the country’s many islands.
Ferry timings may be sporadic but the savings you can incur is huge. A private speedboat transfer is $136 and up, while a ferry is well under $14, and, as an added bonus, you get to interact with the locals.
Enjoy the high life — for a day
Maldives is most well-known for its resort islands that offer gorgeous beach views and upscale accommodations with plenty of amenities. Not to mention hotels and resorts that cater to tourists are the only places where alcohol can be publicly consumed. But, of course, an overnight stay at a pricey resort is not something that a thrifty traveller may want to splurge on. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the resort islands.
A day trip comes with a much more affordable price tag than an overnight stay. Make arrangements for a day trip at your guesthouse to one of the many resort islands in the Maldives and enjoy the luxurious surroundings there. Do note that prices do vary, depending on the resort you want to visit, with the Four Seasons Maldives being one of the most pricey.
The more affordable Fihalhohi Island Resort is said to have one of the best in-house reefs for snorkeling. Some resorts will even let you top-up to include lunch. Visiting a resort instead of staying at one, not only allows you to save money, but it also gives you the opportunity to enjoy different sides of the Maldives. Note the most pricey part of a day-trip is the cost of transportation, which, for private islands will require a speedboat transfer to and from the island.
Other travel tips
Maldives is a Muslim country and though you may have seen pictures of ladies in bikinis lounging by the pool, this is only for foreigners and is confined to the resort islands. The standard rules that apply to locals will apply to you when you stay on a local island at a guest house. For women this means covering your shoulders and thighs at all times, even when in the water.
The local currency is the Maldivan rufiyaa, which you may only be able to change in the Maldives itself. Credit cards are accepted at very few places outside the resort islands and, when accepted, the transaction fees are usually high.
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Feature image: istockphoto/Joakim Leroy
