The Maldives is one of the most exotic and alluring travel destinations in the world, and for good reason. This country is made of hundreds of beautiful islands and it is located in a spectacular setting in the Indian Ocean.
The Maldives is one of the best honeymoon destinations, and is known for luxury with some of the most incredible resorts in the world. But is it possible to visit on a budget without spending a fortune? The simple answer is yes.
View our guide with tips how you can plan an affordable trip to Maldives and experience this magnificent country for yourself.
When to Visit
Some months of the year are a lot more expensive to visit the Maldives than others. For example the European/North American summer, from June to August, and also over the Christmas and New Year holidays, is popular. Peak tourism times are generally October to April with prices coming at a premium. If you travel outside of these two periods you will find prices for flights and accommodation a lot cheaper.
Flights
Try to book flights as far in advance as possible, or get a last minute deal. Sometimes if you break the flights up and depart to the Maldives via India, Sri Lanka or Malaysia the prices are cheaper.
Cheap Hotels & Places to Stay in The Maldives
There are over 1,000 islands in the Maldives spread out over 35,000 square miles. Some resorts in the Maldives cost a small fortune, you can spend thousands of dollars per night for one of the idyllic sea villa with a pool. But there are more affordable ways to stay here.
Only a few years ago the only way to stay in the Maldives was by booking a stay at a private island resort, this made it all but impossible for anyone to visit the country without a huge budget. But recently the government changed the laws allowing local people to open and operate guesthouses and hotels through the islands. This has meant there is now a broader appeal for more budget conscious travellers and you can now visit for a fraction of the price of previous years.
The cheapest way to experience The Maldives is to avoid staying on one of the private islands where most of the expensive luxury resorts are located. If you do this you can find some accommodation with rooms for around $30 per night, not the $1000+ which is the cost of some resorts. You can get a really nice hotel room for around $40-$80 per night.
Instead stay on a local island like Malé, the capital. When you see pictures of Malé (like above), you might not think it is a real place, it looks more like a lego island with high skyscrapers literally covering the whole island. Here you can find lots of hotels and guesthouses run by locals, for a fraction of the price of the resorts.
Malé also has beaches and you can visit the more beautiful and exclusive islands on day trips and tours to get the picture perfect Maldives snaps.
Some other cheaper islands to stay in Maldives include:
Maafushi
Maafushi is one of the most popular and affordable islands to stay in the Maldives. There are lots of three-star hotels like Arena Lodge Maldives, Whiteshell Island Hotel and Picnic Inn.
Fulidhoo on Vaavu Atoll
Fuidhoo is another popular island, we recommend staying at the budget friendly Thundi Guest House, or Ukulhas in the North Ari Atoll. Ukulhas Inn is very cheap.
Guraidhoo
A popular island to stay for surfers, the beaches aren’t as pretty as the other islands but it is located close to Malé.
Keyodhoo
A very small island that you can explore in around an hour. There are a few local guesthouses here and some picturesque beaches.
Felidhoo
Another very small island with limited options for places to stay and eat. Very few tourists so you get a more authentic experience.
Thoddoo
One of the closest islands to Malé with some popular tourist beaches.
If you are desperate for the whole exotic private island experience, if you choose a villa on the actually on an island rather than one of the ones floating out to sea, this will be a fraction of the price. You can find rooms inland on some islands which are very low cost compared to ones with sea/beach views. For more advice on staying in the resorts, we have put together more tips below.
Also generally booking as far in advance as possible brings the price down, and sometimes there are also last minute special offers available.
Cheapest Resorts in The Maldives
Are you searching for the most affordable resorts in Maldives? Dream of staying on a private island or wondering if it is possible to find cheap overwater bungalows Maldives?
There are so many incredible luxury resorts in the Maldives, this country is world famous for offering this type of accommodation. And some can be cheaper than you might think.
We have put together a list of the 10 best budget resorts in Maldives which also offer overwater bungalows and beach villas.
Please note these resorts are still expensive by normal hotel prices, but you are in the Maldives after all. If you do want to treat yourself and indulge, these are some of the most affordable island resorts you can book:
- Malahini Kuda Bandos
- Biyadhoo Island Resort & Spa
- Equator Village
- Eriyadu
- Cinnamon Dhonveli
- Cinnamon Ellaidhoo
- Meeru Island Resort And Spa
- Olhuveli Beach Resort & Spa
- South Palm Resort
- Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi
Find the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Airport Transfers
If you are going to be staying at one of the resorts, this are usually located in very remote locations and will usually require a flight connection. This needs to be booked in-advanced of arrival.
If you are going to staying on Malé, there are thee options:
Public Ferry
There is The Maldives public ferry which takes just 10 minutes Malé and costs 10MVR (less than USD$1).
Bus
The local pink ‘bridge bus’ from the airport to Malé stops outside Mary Brown Restaurant on the south west side of Malé. This is the cheapest. Options and costs less than USD$1.
Taxi
Alternatively take a 10 minute private taxi across the Sinámalé China Maldives Friendship Bridge, costing 100 MVR / USD$6.50.
Transport
If you stay on Malé you can walk which is free, or ride the local bus or catch a taxi, both options are very cheap
If you would like to explore more islands you can catch the public Maldives ferry which is very low cost as it is designed to help local people have access to Malé. To give you an idea for costs, from Malé:
• Local ferry to Thulusdhoo – $1.40
• Local ferry to Maafushi – $3.50
• Local ferry to Fulidhoo – $3.50
• Local ferry to Thulushdhoo – $1.50
Unless you are planning on staying on these islands you will need to plan your trip carefully though as sometimes getting back from some of the remote islands after certain times of the day is tricky. Alternative options include catching a speedboat or booking a island hopping tour with a local travel operator which cost more.
You will need to take into considering that timetables aren’t always reliable and are also restricted by the weather conditions.
Money
The local currency in the Maldives is the Maldivian Rufiyaa, or MVR. All local shops, business, restaurants will require you to pay in cash in the local currency. Dollars and Euros are sometimes accepted but it is cheaper to pay in the local currency. All islands usually have ATM machines so withdrawing money is fairly straightforward, you can even withdraw cash on arrival at Male international airport. Credit cards can be the subject to a surcharge of around 5%. Before leaving the Maldives, you will be required to pay a tourist tax, usually $3 per day.
Food & Drink
If you want to save money on food try shopping at local markets, or visiting supermarkets and avoiding expensive restaurants. There are lots of cafes and restaurants which local people use, these are usually very cheap. Please note the Maldives is a muslim country and pork and alcohol is banned from sale in most places other than some of the private resorts.
Tours
Some international travel operators offer tours of the Maldives which include accommodation and some sightseeing activities. We recommend G Adventures who offer a choice of budget friendly tours to tourists.
Activities
In Malé there are lots of free things to do like visiting a beach, relaxing in Sultan Park or haggle for goods at the local markets. Swimming and snorkelling is also completely free!
If you would like to book more adventurous activities in the Maldives, we recommend booking online in-advance as this can save you a lot of money. For example, if scuba diving appeals to you, some packages booked in-person at the resorts can cost a lot of money. An alternative is to book a live abroad trip, these boat trips include accommodation and there are lots of special offers online.
Daily Budget
If you are picky with where you stay, where you eat and what you do you can easily get by on less than $100 per day. This includes accommodation, food, the daily tax and activities.
Hopefully our tips have shown you how you can plan a dream trip to the Maldives on a small budget. It is possible if you plan ahead and avoid the huge expensive resorts.
