Maldives is a fascinating country for independent travellers. With the government and hoteliers efforts, the last decade has been a positive sign for the hospitality industry. Guesthouses are frequently springing up on local islands, offering budget travellers an affordable way to explore the country. Independent and Budget Travel, in general, is a new era for the Maldivian economy. The Maldives' first resort opened in the 1970s, and the destination gained momentum for its expensive island retreats.
A few local options are ideal for the budget-conscious tourist out of a vast chunk of the thousand-plus islands. The most popular of these islands, Maafushi, can be reached in half an hour by speedboat from the Male international airport. It lies on the south Male atoll and has a wide range of accommodation options and food joints. For folks who want to visit the Maldives on a budget, Maafushi stands as an ideal choice.
The months from November to April is considered the best time to visit the Maldives. The prices will generally be higher for most of the properties compared to their original tariffs. The peak season in the Maldives is from December to April each year. Most of the booking will be made this season to enjoy the soft sunshine on this tropical island. Folks can expect a 20% discount between the peak season and off-season.
It is essential standard advice and a must-known for all the Holiday Packages planned for the Maldives. Tourists can check for the online cheapest flights and accommodation options, especially if you plan to stay in multiple OTA and Travel agents' resorts. One should thoroughly research and go through the review and rating and select the ones which suit your budget the most. On pre-booking individual resorts, you can expect to get great deals and offers.
Opting for all-inclusive packages in the Maldives can be quite expensive if you consider staying on the beaches to enjoy water activities. The half board meal plan covers two meals, usually breakfast/ lunch or dinner and drinks at a few resorts. All-inclusive buffet breakfast and lunch can be the right choice for families. Make sure to post an enquiry about the coffee, drinks, and other unique delights included with your plan. Additionally, a few activities or excursions are usually included and keep an eye for the kid-friendly menu and places to travel with kids.
The standard tip for all travellers to Maldives trip on a budget includes research and know-how to reach the islands independently. We also recommend knowing about the distance and timings required to travel between coral reefs and resorts. Tourists can enjoy few excursions via swimming, a few by ferry rides from the resorts for snorkelling or diving. There are other ways, such as boating, Sea-kayaking, jet-skiing, parasailing, standup paddling. You should enquire the prices from organizers and choose what suits you the best.
The primary factor that we usually neglect while budgeting our travel is taxes, which are always present directly or indirectly. Keep an eye on the food menu, local prices and imported drinks at the luxury resorts. You can Keep USD for general transactions on the island; even though the national currency of Maldivian Rufiyaa is used widely in the country, USD is widely used and accepted almost everywhere in the country.
While planning this vacation, one of the best decisions is to consider booking your Maldives trip through a local Travel agent. These agencies know the islands incredibly well and can offer unbeatable packages to over 100 affordable Maldives resorts. One additional check is checking for their reviews/ratings on TripAdvisor, Google and Facebook.
Since there's no alcohol on the islands, you don't have to worry about drinking away your budget. Here are some typical costs for the Maldives (subject to change, as of 2021):
The Maldives conjure up images of reef-ringed atolls, luxurious bungalows and pristine beaches on the water where visitors can observe fish through glass floors and jump into the sea from their balcony. Travelling on a Maldives budget can be a great option than staying in luxury resorts, especially on a shoestring budget. When it comes to luxury resorts, each resort is built on its island, isolating you from the rest of the country. It means that visitors miss out on exploring local life.