Buzz
For several consecutive years, Maldives (or the Maldives archipelago) has consistently been ranked as one of the most expensive tourist destinations in the world and is a beach tourism paradise reserved only for the wealthy. However, with a budget of $1000, you can still comfortably explore Maldives for about 4 days.
As a group of coral islands in the Indian Ocean, Maldives is located in the southern part of the Lakshadweep archipelago of India, about 700 kilometers (435 miles) southwest of Sri Lanka. If you pay attention, you may notice that from June to September each year is considered the low tourist season in Maldives (during this time, airlines flying to Male, the capital of Maldives, often offer many promotional programs).
Transportation
Currently, there are no airlines flying directly from Vietnam to the capital Male (Maldives), so you have to transit in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, or Singapore. From Hanoi to Maldives, you can fly with airlines from Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia... If you choose the Hanoi - Bangkok route, you should choose the budget airline AirAsia to save costs (transit in Kuala Lumpur, from Kuala Lumpur to Male takes about 4 hours). Then, you should choose Bangkok Airways to avoid too many transits like other airlines and the ticket prices are also cheaper: Round-trip ticket Bangkok - Male costs $264.
From the airport (on Huhumale Island) to Male: There is a ferry every 15 minutes, costing about $0.75/person/way.
From Male to inhabited islands: You can take a public ferry for a very cheap price (to Mafuushi $2/person), but it takes a bit of time.
Other options include speedboats (to Mafuushi $180/boat accommodating about 10 people) and the most luxurious option, seaplanes (approximately $200/person/way). From the ferry terminal at the airport to the island ferry terminal is about 2km; you can take a taxi for $2/car.
Where to stay?
In Maldives, don't expect to find cheap hotels, as budget tourism isn't encouraged, nor are backpackers welcomed. If you're traveling independently without sponsorship, it's best to stay on Mafuushi Island, about 1.5 hours by public ferry from Male ($2/person/way). Additionally, Mafuushi boasts a small, beautiful, and relatively clean beach; the island is small, making transportation hassle-free.
According to a user with the nickname tranttlinh on the Phuot.vn forum, there's a newly opened guesthouse on the island with well-maintained, clean toilets at an affordable price. However, it's advisable to consider and heed the advice of friends to choose even better accommodation options. It's worth noting that most room rates exclude a 16% tax and a tourist fee, amounting to $8 per person per night.
During the off-peak season, resorts on each island offer individual promotion programs. The average resort price usually starts at $300/night, while 5-star establishments can exceed $1,000/night. For cost-effectiveness, it's recommended to explore local services as they often offer reasonable prices and provide an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in and understand the local culture.
In Male, you can find accommodation at Houseclover, each floor consisting of 4 bedrooms, each equipped with a private bathroom, a sofa set, internet-connected computer, fully equipped kitchen (complimentary tea, coffee), washing machine, ironing board, and balcony for drying clothes… Prices range from $65-75/double room. Or for a touch of luxury, you can opt for Thulhagiri Resort, a rather upscale resort not too far from the capital, at $185/day.
What to do?
If you wish to experience the resort feel, you can purchase day tours to nearby islands. A day trip to a 4-star resort on another island costs around $65-200 (depending on the resort). You can inquire about these tours at guesthouses or hotels on the island as they usually offer such packages. Alternatively, you can also purchase tours from iCom.
User tranttlinh also shared: Typically, you'll take a speedboat to the resort at 9 am, and they'll pick you up at 5 pm. Upon arrival at the island, you can utilize the resort's beach, toilets, and swimming pool. Resorts also offer various packages such as entrance only, entrance with lunch, entrance with full board, and unlimited drinks throughout the day.
As for activities like fishing, diving, or dolphin-watching tours, they are usually quite affordable (the more people, the better).
So, with $1000 (around $450 for round-trip airfare if you can find a cheap deal, usually from Airasia), if managed wisely, you can easily budget your finances for a 4-day trip to the Maldives.
Tips for traveling to the Maldives:
- Maldives follows Islam, so avoid dressing too revealing unless you want to cause trouble for yourself (if you want to wear a bikini, try to go to private islands with resorts).
- Finding places that sell alcoholic beverages like beer and wine is quite difficult in the Maldives.
- There are no public ferries between islands on Fridays (the only options for travel are seaplanes or speedboats).
- From morning until mid-afternoon on Fridays, restaurants, shops, and supermarkets in Male are closed. Therefore, it's advisable to stock up on food if you plan to visit Male on a Friday.
- The Maldives offers visa-free entry for tourists. You don't need to apply for a visa beforehand as it's issued at Male Airport, but you need to present your hotel booking confirmation, round-trip flight tickets, and credit card.
- The low tourist season starts from June, but it's recommended to book flights and accommodation 1-2 months in advance.
- The Maldives is an archipelago with relatively low-lying islands, featuring beautiful coral reefs and shallow waters => Diving is a highlight of tourism in the Maldives. It's advisable to bring your own diving equipment to avoid the high rental fees at resorts.
- The currency in the Maldives is the rupiah, with 1 USD equal to 15 rupiah (It's recommended to exchange money into USD for convenience).
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Source: Mytour Travel Guide – Compilation
MytourFebruary 17, 2016
