joellebohringerAre you interested in travelling to the Maldives, but you think that it is out of your budget, then this guide is for you! It will teach you exactly how to plan a perfect budget trip to the Maldives!
Can you really travel to the Maldives on a Budget?
Yes! The Maldives can be a very expensive destination, but it can also be done on a pretty small budget. While the Maldives are not as cheap as some other destinations in South East Asia (for example, Thailand or Vietnam), you can find mid-range hotels for as little as $50 a night. There are meals available for less than $10, and you can arrange full day tours to see amazing things in the ocean for $50-$75 per excursion.
Previously, the Maldives only catered to luxury travellers. However, in 2009, the country opened up its local islands, meaning that small hotels and guest houses could be built on islands where the Maldivian people live, instead of only letting tourists stay at private resort islands. This dramatically increased the possibility for budget travel in the country.
Is a Budget Trip to the Maldives the same as a luxury trip?
While most people imagine going to the Maldives to stay at a luxury overwater bungalow, a budget trip to the Maldives doesn’t have the same level of luxury lodgings.
However, I still believe that a budget trip to the Maldives allows you to see the same ultimate highlight of the Maldives: the ocean! The real draw of the Maldives is the chance to experience crystal clear blue water
On a budget trip to the Maldives, you still get the chance to experience the best ocean experiences available in the world.
Additionally, budget trips to the Maldives give you the unique opportunity to interact with local people, something that is not possible on resort islands.
Overall, if you are looking for utmost luxury, you may be better off saving for a luxury trip to the Maldives. However, if you are simply looking to experience the incredible ocean and are okay with mid-level luxury, then a budget trip to the Maldives is the perfect choice!
Sample Budget Breakdown for a 5 Day Budget Trip to the Maldives:
- Flights: Your flight price will depend greatly on where you are travelling from. However, flights from select destinations can be found for as little as $250 per person roundtrip.
- Accommodation can be found for about $50 per night for a mid-range guesthouse. This is on a sharing basis and usually includes breakfast. If two people were to travel together, 4 nights would cost $100 per person.
- Food: Breakfast is included in most guesthouses. On days that you take excursions, lunch will also be included. Full meals can be bought for about $10 on local islands, so I would estimate about $20 a day for food, including treats like ice cream and snacks . = $75 per person
- Excursions: Excursions on average costs between $50 and $100 per person. Snorkelling tends to be more affordable than diving. On my recent budget trip to the Maldives, I spent about $150 on excursions
- Transport to local islands: Public ferries can be taken for as little as $3 from the airport to nearby local islands. You can get to and from local islands for as little as $6 per person.
How to Plan a Budget Trip to the Maldives
1. Look for Budget Flights
Some of the best budget airlines flying to the Maldives:
In general, my favorite way to look for cheap flights is to use the took Skyscanner. It allows you to find the cheapest connections from your home city to any destination.
2. Stay in Guesthouses on Local Islands
The best way to save money in the Maldives is by staying on local islands.
Why I reccomend staying on local islands
While resorts give you a luxury experience, local islands allow you to truly immerse yourself in Maldivian life, while still enjoying tropical paradise!
Another added bonus of local islands is that you can actually contribute your money to meaningful small and family businesses. On local islands, so many local Maldivians have been able to built a new future for themselves by opening small guest houses, hotels, and tourism companies. Previously, almost all of the money went to large resorts. To earn an income, local people would have to work far away from their homes, only earning a small salary, which didn’t have a massive impact on local communities. Since local islands have opened for tourists, the Maldives has experienced a significant decrease in poverty and an increase in overall wellbeing, such as funding to local schools!
Money spent on local islands not only goes further in terms of a budget, but it also goes to helping local communities! Its a win-win!
Can you drink on local islands?
The Maldives is a 100% Muslim country. Therefore, alcohol is only allowed on private resort islands. However, some local islands, such as Maafushi, have boats that serve alcohol. You can take a water shuttle to the boat and enjoy a drink or two as you watch the sunset.
Can you wear bikinis on local islands?
On local islands, it is requested that you dress modestly in order to respect local culture. This means that is not considered respectful to walk around the island streets in swimwear. However, shorts are okay!
Bikinis are not allowed on all beaches on the islands, but each island has a dedicated bikini beach for foreign tourists. On excursions and boat trips, you are free to wear a bikini all day.
The Best Local Islands
There are over 1,000 islands in the Maldives, so it can be difficult to choose which island to stay on!
It is important to consider location when booking a local island, as transport to and from the island via speedboat or local ferry can add up if you book an island far from the airport in Male.
Some of the best-developed local islands for tourists include:
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Maafushi: This is the easiest island to get to with the best tourism infrastructure and some of the cheapest excursions. There are both daily public ferries ($3) and private speed boats ($25 each way, per person) available.
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Dhangethi: This island is famous for seeing whale sharks. It has well developed tourism infrastructure.There are 3 public ferries a week ($6), but you will probably want to take a speedboat ($45 each way, per person).
- Ukulhas: This island offers a wide variety of excursions, but is slightly less crowded than Maafushi. There are only 2 ferries a week ($4), so your best bet is to take a speedboat ($50 each way, per person)
- Thoddoo: Thoddoo has daily public ferries ($15) and speedboats($45 each way, per person). However, it is important to note that there is not transport to or from the islands on Fridays.
- Rasdhoo: Rasdhoo is one of the most famous islands for diving. There are daily speedboats for $30 each way, per person.
- Thulusdhoo: Thulusdhoo is famous for some of the Maldives best surfing. There are public shuttles and speedboats ($35 each way, per person).
How to Book Stays on Local Islands
I reccomend booking your guest house in the Maldives on booking.com. They have some of the best prices and the widest selection of guesthouses. Be sure to choose which island you want to stay at first, and then look for lodgings on that island.
3. Book excursions when on the island
A lot of times, it can seem easier and more affordable to book excursions ahead of time before a trip. However, I actually found it much cheaper to book excursions in person on the island.
Each island has a number of dive and tourist shops where you can book excursions. I reccomend checking out different pricing on the first day of your trip, and then booking directly from the tourist agencies.
Be sure to plan in advance though, as some islands do not ave ATMS or accept card payment. Be sure to bring plenty of cash if you are staying on a smaller island that does not take card.
What excursions are available?
There are a number of excursions available in the Maldives, depending on what island you stay on. Pricing and availability is highly dependent on the local island, but I included some rough prices.
Here are some of the more popular excursions; however, they are not available on all islands:
- Snorkelling: a lot of islands have reefs directly off of the beach! You can usually rent snorkelling gear for a few dollars.
- Scuba Diving: You can get your diving license (from $200 for 3 days) or take part in an explore scuba diving dive (from $70 for unlicensed divers and $40 for licensed divers)
- Sea Safaris: These trips usually take you to see and snorkel at a number of incredible sites. You may see and swim with animals such as such as sharks, dolphins, turtles, or whale sharks. These day trips usually start at about $40 per person. If you want to see a particular animal, be sure to research if the island you are visiting has the animal in nearby waters in advance.
- Fishing: Most islands offer open sea fishing trips. These trips usually start around $30. A lot of guesthouses will cook the fish that you catch for you.
- Water Sports: Bigger islands have a wide variety of water sports, such as kitesurfing, paddle boarding, or jet skiing. Pricing depends on duration and sport chosen. On my trip to Maafushi, I rented a paddle board for only $10.
- Resort Day Pass: If you want to experience a bit of luxury on a budget, you can book a day pass to a nearby resort. Prices range from $80-$200+ per day, but the visit usually includes drinks and food.
4. Take Public Ferries
Public ferries in the Maldives are slow and fairly infrequent. However, they are significantly cheaper than speedboats. If you are travelling on an extreme budget, public ferries can be a great choice. The site Islandii has public transport information for each of the recommended islands that I’ve listed above.
Pin It! – How to Travel the Maldives on a Budget!
5.Choose Guest Houses with Free Breakfasts
This may seem a bit obvious, but food is expensive in the Maldives, so if you can choose a guest house that includes breakfast (or even lunch and dinner!), you can save a significant amount of money!
Do you have any questions about travelling the Maldives on a budget? If so, feel free to comment below!
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[…] It may surprise many people, but you can actually travel to the Maldives for less than $1000. Last year, I even spent 5 days in the Maldives for less than $600! […]