Vacation on a Budget in the Maldives

Maldives has quickly become one of the world’s hottest vacation destinations. Commonly referred to as “paradise on Earth,” the Maldives is a group of naturally formed coral islands located in the Indian Ocean. The Island country is home to crystal clear waters, vibrant coral reefs and the perfect temperature above and below the water.  

The island chain is enjoying newfound fame, thanks to recently being featured in the 2010 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. You may remember Bar Rafaeli and Brooklyn Decker heating up the already hot beach, or maybe you paid attention to the beautiful surroundings.

The Maldives is a Muslim country so contrary to many rumors alcohol is illegal except on a few select resorts. This is one of the reasons the Maldives are considered a favorite among families. Don’t let the lack of alcohol stop you from having the time of your life in this paradise lost. I would visit sooner than later as the super secret vacation destination will soon be over populated and overrun by hotel chains. The island’s best attribute has to be their unbridled beauty, which is seriously unmatched.

The island chain boasts some of the world’s most pristine beaches, untouched reefs and incredibly opulent resorts.  Many of the resorts offer private villas, with glass bottoms, situated over the crystal clear ocean.  These stunning views don’t hold a candle to ITHAA, The first and only underwater restaurant.  Located at the Hilton Maldives, this restaurant sits completely under the Indian Ocean, where diners can enjoy freshly caught seafood in a human aquarium.  The dining experience was second to none and definitely a bucket list situation.

Popular among the Dubai elite, Maldives isn’t just a playground for the rich, if you plan the trip right. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to make your vacation memorable and budget friendly.

Everything on the island can be affordable if you eat like the locals, stay in a neighborhood guesthouse and travel by the regional ferries.   The most expensive price tag will be your airfare, unless you are flying from Dubai, it’ll break your bank. A good budget to stick to would be roughly $60-100 USD a day including accommodations.   Since there is no alcohol allowed on the islands, you can scratch that added costs off your budget.

You can find a room in a local guesthouse for around $40 USD per night and that is way cheaper than any hotels.  Here is a website that helps you find guesthouses in Maldives. This also gives you an insider view on the islands and their inhabitants. It’s always cheaper to live like a local when traveling.

Getting around is easy if you stick to the ferries (side note: they don’t always come and when they do its rarely on time). You must remember that you are on an island so it completely runs on island time. You don’t have anywhere you must be so relax, tyke your time and enjoy the scenery.   Y=the only time I would recommend renting a speedboat is when you need to make it back to Male´ to catch your flight. In that case, a speedboat rental is only $30-40 USD.

You won’t spend much on food and beverages as long as you eat local. Many resorts have 5-star restaurants but remember you will pay a pretty penny for those. I was able to keep my daily meals to under $20 USD and I think I ate like a king. The seafood is plentiful and the freshest I’ve ever eaten.

Aquatic activities are dirt cheap and around every corner. You can’t walk 50 feet on the beach without seeing someone doing an awesome water sport. The snorkeling is possibly the best in the world with some of the most vibrant coral reefs and abundant aquatic life.   Average snorkeling trips will run you roughly $20 USD and that’s for an all day excursion. I was able to find a scuba trip where we dove with whale sharks for under $100 USD. Possibly the most majestic activity I’ve ever done.

I was amazed at how cheap the trip to Maldives ended up being. Overall I spent less than when I go to the Caribbean. SO moral of the story is, there is nowhere on these green earth that isn’t accessible if you plan accordingly and budget correctly.