The Maldives is one of the most exotic travel destinations in the world. It is one of the most sought vacation destinations preferred by travelers and tourists from around the globe and will surely leave you with reminiscing memories for a lifetime. Wondering how to travel to the Maldives on a budget? Don’t worry! This article covers exactly all that you need to know about traveling to the Maldives on a budget.
About The Maldives
Be it a family trip, a holiday with friends, or a honeymoon, Maldives is a highly rated and preferred location by travelers. It is a tropical island located right in the middle of the Indian Ocean and to the southwest of India and Sri Lanka. The Maldives, a destination consisting of 26 oval-shaped atolls and over 1000 coral islands, has established a reputation as one of the most exotic offbeat travel destinations. Around 200 of these islands are inhabited. The Maldives has extensive white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons, beautiful corals, and classic villas built just above the turquoise waters. The Maldives is an ultimate getaway destination that will leave you with happy memories for a lifetime.
If you are wondering how many islands the Maldives have and which ones to pay a visit to, then, trust me it’s an unending exhaustive list. All the islands offer great experiences despite some being more pocket-friendly than others. The Maldives is no less than paradise on earth. One can definitely visit this place on a limited budget with correct planning.
Travel to the Maldives on a Budget- Yes, It’s Possible!
With flights to the Maldives being as expensive as $1000 to resorts charging the same amount or more for just a one-night stay, Maldives has become more tourist-friendly in recent years. It earns its maximum income through tourism. Maldives is expensive because the country relies solely on tourism for the majority of its GDP and has branded itself as an ultimate getaway luxurious destination. One can book a stay at local islands instead of the private ones and shell out a lump sum price on the luxurious high-end resorts instead.
Now, guesthouses are springing up on the local islands that offer a weekly basis for budget travelers as an affordable way to explore the exotic country. Staying on local islands is better as it gives an insight into the local life of Maldives. It is much better than staying in a resort as the resorts are built upon their very own Island and isolate you from the latter part of the country, due to which you cannot experience local life. The number of guesthouses on some of the more popular islands is doubling up yearly as more travelers turn up in search of paradise on a limited budget.
Local Islands Of Maldives
Maafushi, Fulidhoo, Guraidhoo are some popular, local islands of Maldives. They offer reasonable accommodation and food. One can also explore the local life of Maldives and indulge in a hearty breakfast. As for activities, Maldives offer an array of water sports like snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving which can be availed from the hotel itself. Of the 200 inhabited islands, one can look up local islands, as they are better and more tourist-friendly and recommended if you are on a limited budget.
Wondering About Prices And Costs?
How much does it cost to travel to the Maldives on a budget? As little as $50 a day! As a budget traveler, you can expect to spend 30$ on a daily stay at a private resort and 10$ in a guesthouse. Food is not very expensive here. The spending on food is $10 per day, breakfast being inclusive of your hotel stay.
The Maldives has plenty of good restaurants serving its tourist’s lip-smacking delicacies. One can expect to spend around 10$ on activities. You can even bargain a little with the hotel where you reside to get them at an even better price. One can also try Airbnb bookings to avail of cheaper offers.
Maldives Tourism
Independent and budget travel is very new to the Maldives!
About ten years ago, the government changed its tourism regulations to allow guesthouses to open up on local islands. Tourists are now allowed to stay with the locals and gain insight into their daily lives. Many budget travelers are unaware of this to date! Traveling to these islands is easy as transport by boats and ferries from the International airport straight to your destination is available. Transportation internally also comes at a reasonable price.
Airfare To The Maldives
You can fly to a Southeast Asian destination and then catch a separate flight to Male airports (Maldives international airport). Flights from Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Dubai are often a steal. You can catch cheap flights from there for merely $200-$300. The journey may be longer, but you can see two countries for the price of one!
How To Save Your Bucks On Maldives Transportation?
If one chooses to stay on a private island, transport options are limited to the hotel you stay in. So, local islands are a better choice. If you choose to stay on a local island, transport by ferry from Male airport to your destination will most likely be available.
The Maldives has an affordable ferry system for transporting tourists and island hopping. It comes at a reasonable price of $10 only and not at a hefty price. Even speedboats that are faster than ferries and a little more costly are available for transportation purposes. $35 is the estimated price per head on it.
How To Save Money On Food?
If you reside at a guesthouse on a local island, you will notice that many guesthouses offer affordable dinners at a mere price of $10-$15. These might be inclusive of your nightly hotel rate. If meals aren’t provided, eating traditional Maldivian food is the cheapest way. It consists of fish, curry, coconut, and rice. You can indulge in true, authentic Maldivian cuisine to satisfy your hunger craving and treat your taste buds. Bringing along a few snacks and protein bars from home is another way to save up on food. Most hotel rates include breakfast.
Activities In The Maldives
You can participate in various water sports since the Maldives is known for scuba diving, snorkeling, picnic trips on sandbanks, and surfing. Hotels provide these services and rates can be negotiated with them.
Conclusion
Thus, all these are achievable even if you are on a limited budget. Advanced and good planning is all that is required. You can go with the option of staying on local islands and opt for guesthouses rather than choosing the costly private ones. It will go light on the pocket. The Maldives has become sensitive to budget-friendly travelers as well. So, you can add the Maldives to your bucket list and not shy away, thinking that the prices are too high. The Maldives welcomes travelers on a limited budget too.
This place is a paradise and a must-visit once in a lifetime. It is a most sought destination, especially by couples who want to indulge themselves and be away from the noisy hustling bustling city life. It offers creativity, rejuvenation, and relaxation to its travelers. The Maldives will surely leave you with unforgettable memories to cherish for a lifetime. So do not hesitate and wonder about the budget.
The Maldives is an exotic island, a paradise on earth that is budget-friendly and offers you memories forever. It is a total must-visit offbeat destination. And it is very much possible to travel to the Maldives on a budget! Adventure, thrill, and ultimate excitement await you at the Maldives. Start booking your trips now! The Maldives has a lot to offer! It is indeed a lovely place to travel, whether you are single, with friends or family, or on a honeymoon. It is the ultimate travel destination. Backpack and get ready to explore the Maldives