When you picture the Maldives, you might think of sitting outside an over-water bungalow while looking out over the jade and sapphire-hued ocean, with nearby staff serving sparkling wines and giving you their full attentions. It is the definition of romantic getaway and the ultimate beach destination. Not to mention, it costs a fortune.
To many people, this country is an unreachable dream.
What if you were told that you can easily stay a week in the Maldives for less than the price of a night at a luxury resort? What if you can travel there without having to stay in high-priced resorts or eating overpriced food?
A local budget airline has recently commenced direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Maldives. This has made the trip to paradise even more possible to be made into reality.
Travel Tips
All Maldivian resorts are on their own island. These range in size from 2.5km across to just 150m across. This means that the facilities on the resort you choose (restaurants, bars, sports facilities, entertainment etc) are the only ones you will have access to during your stay. Most resorts offer excursions by boat to local fishing village islands, or to the capital Male, but otherwise you will stay on the resort island for the duration of your stay. There are 106 resort islands to choose from, ranging from affordable to ultimate luxury. Bear in mind that everything except for fish and coconuts in Maldives are imported, therefore they will be expensive.
If you want to experience the ‘real’ Maldives then you might want to consider one of the Guesthouses that are now available on 5 inhabited islands, offering rooms at very reasonable rates. In order to budget your way through Maldives, choosing the right accommodation is very important. If you are looking to experience the Maldives, get to know the locals, and be cost efficient at the same time, staying at one of these small guesthouses will allow you to experience the beauty and wonder of this stunning part of the world before having to burn a hole in the pocket for the rest of the month.
Budget tourism on the Maldives is made possible by flights’ seasonal fares and checking online sites for cheap guesthouses. Some of these guesthouses provide meals, this is typical as the islands don’t have many restaurants. Fishermen would dock and sell off some of their fresh catches, you could easily haggle with them for some fresh fish and throw it on the grill in your guesthouse. These guesthouses also provide excursions which are affordable and definitely worth the experience.
Other things to remember
The Maldives is a Muslim country and forbids alcohol and pork from entering the country or being consumed on local islands. Generally one is only allowed to drink wine and wear bikinis on the resort islands. Do take this into account when planning your budget tour through Maldives. Wearing bikini on an excursion is fine but generally it is important for women to cover their limbs.
Staying healthy is also very important for travellers. As the Maldives is near the equator, make sure also to stay hydrated. Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. Unclean food and water can cause food poisoning and diarrhoea. As a precaution, stick to clean water and hot cooked food.
