How to Spend a Week in the Maldives for Less Than a Night in a Resort

Before I finally made it to the Maldives, it was the destination I’d been dreaming about. White sand beaches. Overwater bungalows. Azure blue ocean. It was perfect. But those dreams turned into nightmares when I realized how much those bungalows cost.

Luckily, changes in the way tourism is done in the country have allowed a small but growing budget travel industry to emerge. In this post, Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse shares how to travel the Maldives on a budget (tips I used during my own trip)

When you picture the Maldives, you might think of sitting outside an overwater bungalow while looking out over the jade- and sapphire-hued ocean, with nearby staff serving sparkling wines and waiting on your every whim.

It’s the epitome of romantic luxury.

And it costs a fortune.

Resorts cost hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of dollars per night — and that doesn’t even include food! To many people, the Maldives is an unreachable dream.

But what if I told you that you can stay in the Maldives for less than the price of a night at a luxury resort?

What if I told you that you can travel to the Maldives without having to stay in high-priced resorts or eat overpriced food?

It wasn’t until I had impulse-booked a trip to the island nation that I learned how affordable travel to the Maldives can be. It won’t be super cheap, of course, but it won’t break the bank either.

While the Maldives is known for its luxury resorts and over-the-top pampering, it’s also possible to enjoy an affordable trip to this paradise.

 

Traveling to the Maldives for Cheap

Getting to these beautiful islands used to cost a great deal of both time and money, with flights involving multiple layovers costing upwards of $1,000 USD (if not more).

The great news is that now a growing number of regional airlines are offering more reasonable flights to the Maldives. For example, flights from Colombo in Sri Lanka to Malé can be found for under $300 USD (round-trip).

Cheap flight tickets can also be found via Dubai, with round-trip, non-stop fares starting at as little as $350 USD.

There are also flights from Kuala Lumpur with fares as low as $200 USD (round-trip). Flights from Bangkok and Singapore start at $300 USD (round-trip).

In short, you can fly here from most major hubs in the Middle East and Southeast Asia on fairly affordable, direct flights.

(Matt says: If you aren’t already in the region to take advantage of the cheap fares and want to fly from North America, Europe, or Australia, your international airfare can get pricey, but by using points and miles, you can score some free flights. Find out more here.)
 

Getting Around The Maldives for Cheap

In the Maldives, nothing is accessible without taking a ferry or a domestic flight.

Upon arrival to Malé from the airport, take a taxi to the main ferry station to access the other islands (the taxi costs around $5 USD. US currency is legal tender here). From the airport, the ferry to Malé leaves every 10-15 minutes, costs around $1.50 USD, and is a 10–20-minute ride.

To get around the islands, you can take a public ferry, but be sure to check the timetables as the ferries don’t run every day of the week, and even when running, there may only be a couple of ferry departures per day. Research the ferries beforehand so you know when and where you can go next, as island hopping is very difficult without planning. Also note that no public ferries go to any private resorts.

Ferry prices range from $5–30 USD. If a ferry doesn’t run on the day you need or to your island of choice, you’re looking at either a night in Malé, a speed boat ($30-200 USD), a $200-$400 USD domestic flight (one-way), or a very expensive seaplane (think $300–600 USD). You can learn more about all the different transfer options and prices here.

If you’re looking to visit an island farther away from Malé but don’t want to pay for the more expensive transfer options, you’ll need to do some island hopping via the ferry system. This might require you to stay overnight on an island along the way.
 

Best Budget-Friendly Places To Stay In Maldives

In 2009, the Maldives started allowing locals to start their own guesthouses. This opened the door for several affordable and locally-owned establishments to welcome guests on the islands.

Though there are still no convenient hostel dorm options around the country, private rooms at guest houses and B&B can be found for as little as $30 USD per night (though most places average closer to $60–75 USD). If you’re traveling with a friend or partner, that price is split in half. Either way, it won’t break the bank.

I used Airbnb during my visit, which I found useful because it allows you to communicate directly with the host. I stayed on Mahibadoo at The Amazing Noovilu.

My guesthouse owner used to work for the resorts, so he had a great handle on what his guests wanted and how to cater to their needs. The room itself was clean and comfortable, with air conditioning and fans. The bathroom was Maldivian style: outdoors but completely walled off for privacy, with frangipani plants growing through the sand and up around the shower.

It was easily the coolest bathroom I’ve ever used. Plus, it had hot water and a Western-style toilet.

If you’re looking to experience the Maldives, get to know the locals, and save money at the same time, staying at one of these small guesthouses allows you to experience the beauty and wonder of this stunning part of the world without paying resort prices (which normally start at $200–300 USD per night).

To find these privately run (and affordable) guesthouses, use the following sites:

• Airbnb
• Booking.com

 

Eating on a Budget

At my guesthouse, each meal was authentic Maldivian cuisine, eaten as a group with the owner’s family and included in the price of the guesthouse. This is typical, as many islands don’t have a lot of restaurants, so most guesthouses include meals in their nightly rate. (“Eating out” isn’t really a thing in the Maldives, and locals mostly cook for themselves.)

If your guesthouse doesn’t provide meals, local restaurants are very inexpensive. Coffee houses around the island serve coffee from early morning until late at night for around $2 USD. They also offer snacks, sandwiches, and noodles for $3–5 USD. Dinner at a nicer restaurant on the beach is only $15–20 USD.

Moreover, each morning fishermen dock and sell their catch. You can easily join the locals, haggle for some fresh fish straight from the source for reasonable prices, and then throw it on the grill at your guesthouse.

Other than grilled fish, typical Maldivian cuisine involves a breakfast of sweet and thick milk tea, canned tuna mixed with onion and lime juice, and delicious flatbread called roshi, which is similar to Indian roti.

Lunches and dinners consisted mainly of fresh fish, mouthwatering curries, more roshi, and buttered rice, which we ate with our hands (though a fork and spoon were provided if desired). Other popular dishes include gulha (fried fish filled dough balls), kuli (spicy fish cakes), and dessert treats like bondi bai (Maldivian rice pudding).

Note that as a Muslim country, alcohol isn’t sold anywhere in the Maldives, except on some resort islands or booze boats that have special exemptions. Expect to pay at least $5 USD for a small beer.
 

Budget Friendly Excursions In The Maldives

Given how much emphasis I had put on diving via our Airbnb correspondence, my guesthouse owner made it a point to take me out on a few dives himself, renting the gear from local sea cucumber fishermen and asking his brother to drive us out in the family’s speed boat.

It ended up being just the two of us, which meant that I was diving the best reefs in the world without any other divers around for only $65 USD per tank.

My host also took us snorkeling with manta rays (for $30 USD) and something I’ve been dying to see for years: whale sharks.

I had the pleasure of swimming with a whale shark for 45 minutes since my guide was happy for me to stay as long as I wanted. He was enjoying the encounter as much as I was!

Every excursion was like this, from night fishing on a local fisherman’s boat (for $25 USD), to visiting a nearby deserted island ($60 USD). I had a private tour guide each day, driving me to the best spots and offering flexibility that just doesn’t come with a packaged resort.

These kinds of experiences are much more attainable when staying at a smaller guesthouse; most even list their prices for excursions on their websites and Airbnb listings, so you know what you’re getting into before booking.

If your guesthouse doesn’t provide these tours, ask the local resorts what they might provide. They may be willing to let you join their excursions even though you’re not staying with them.

Tour operator Secret Paradise specializes in helping those who want a local experience by setting up tours and scuba diving while avoiding expensive resorts. They offer everything from food tours and cooking classes to sunset cruises and Malé city walking tours.
 

Other Things to Remember When Traveling To The Maldives

While I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything, I would think twice about going the cheap route if I wanted to be able to drink wine and wear a bikini. These activities are both generally allowed only on the resort islands or specially designated beaches for tourists, called “bikini beaches”.

The Maldives is a Muslim country and forbids alcohol (and pork) from entering the country or being consumed on local islands. It’s also important for women to cover up shoulders and legs, which means no bikinis, though once we left the island on an excursion, a bikini was fine.

Additionally, while my guesthouse was great, it was still going through some growing pains, such as a lack of Wi-Fi and the occasional cold shower. But it was eye-opening to find out that it’s entirely possible to spend a week in the Maldives, complete with excursions and meals, for the same price as just one night in a fancy resort bungalow.

While being pampered is great, I don’t like being walled away in a fancy resort. Taking advantage of the opportunity to see how local Maldivians live, eating meals with them, and joining them for excursions on their speed boats made paradise even more idyllic.

Budget tourism on the Maldives is just beginning, and now is a good time to go, as there are still not many foreigners outside the resorts (I was the only foreigner on my ferry) and the islands are not on many budget travelers’ radar.

The remoteness of the country will always mean that it will take time and some money to get to, but the Maldives is no longer the exclusive playground of the wealthy and can be enjoyed by travelers of all types.

Kristin Addis is a former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and bid California goodbye in favor of traveling solo through Asia while searching for off-the-beaten-path adventures. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.