Buzz
Having visited Maldives twice in the last 2 years, I've come to realize that this paradise isn't exclusive to the wealthy, as I once thought.
Budget-Friendly Travel Tips for Maldives
With 26 coral atolls, over 100 resorts, and more than 200 inhabited islands, Maldives welcomes anyone who loves small but incredibly beautiful island nations. And certainly, that includes those with limited budgets like mine.
I'll share some cost-effective ways to experience Maldives, based on my own adventures.
1. Malé – LVIS Boutique Guesthouse:
One essential equation that anyone delving into Maldives travel on their own knows is that the Maldives tour price comprises two components: room rates and the cost of transportation from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport to the residence island.
The first cost-saving solution that comes to mind is minimizing transportation expenses. This also translates to opting for accommodation right in the capital city, Malé, where it costs only $2 for the ferry ride from the international airport. The LVIS Boutique Guesthouse, where I booked a room, is one of many options worth considering.
If you're traveling in a group of 7-10 people, this is a highly advisable suggestion.
For a 3-4 day trip, you'll have the following choices:
– Purchase a full-day tour to visit nearby resorts, to experience the luxurious services you've always envisioned in a glamorous Maldives.
– Book a seaplane tour to admire and capture the beauty of Maldives from above.
– Rent a boat to visit local islands, Robinson Island (uninhabited island), sandbanks, admire coral reefs, go fishing, have a picnic…
– Explore the capital, Malé.
Traveling in a group gives you the advantage of negotiating prices. And one thing is certain – your experience will be much more diverse than just staying at a luxurious resort.
2. Dharavandhoo Island – Blancura Guesthouse:
Dharavandhoo is a small local island, covering less than 0.5 km², located in Baa Atoll, 116 km away from the capital, Malé. To get here, travelers have no option other than taking a domestic flight – small planes accommodating around twenty passengers, resembling flying buses.
There are two outstanding advantages when visiting Dharavandhoo or other local islands/resorts in this area: Baa Atoll boasts the richest and most diverse marine life in Maldives – the only place UNESCO chose to conserve rare marine species; besides, visiting Baa Atoll allows you to admire the Maldives necklace from above without the need to book the expensive seaplane tour commonly found in resorts, as transportation here is done by high-speed boats.
During my days in Dharavandhoo, the song 'Runaway' kept playing in my mind, as if there were no better place on this earth to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life and worries.
Here are some suggestions for about 3 to 4 days in Dharavandhoo or nearby islands:
– Book an excursion trip right at the resort/guesthouse where you stay to explore the most beautiful marine areas in Maldives: turtle point, coral gardens, sandbanks, visit picnic islands... Excursion trips are usually organized 6 days a week, except for Fridays, allowing you to experience true Robinson Crusoe-like days.
– Join a night fishing tour and savor a dinner made from the fresh catch you just reeled in.
– Close to Dharavandhoo are two 5-star resorts, Kihaad Maldives and Dusit Thani, where you can book sightseeing tours and enjoy a day with top-notch services.
– Fridays, the holy day for Muslims, is a day for you to leisurely explore the daily life of the people living on the island.
3. Thinadhoo Island (Vaavu Atoll) – Plumeria Guesthouse:
Thinadhoo is a tiny local island in Vaavu Atoll, 77 km south of the capital, Malé. The registered population is over 200 people, but only about 15 locals are consistently present on the island. Currently, there are only 2 guesthouses with a total of approximately 70 rooms on the island.
Thinadhoo is not too far from Malé, just a 1.5-hour journey by speedboat, boasting an indescribable raw and pristine beauty.
When in Thinadhoo, you'll have the following options for an unforgettable holiday:
– Book a snorkeling tour. You should familiarize yourself with snorkeling and using a breathing tube before coming to Maldives to fully enjoy this exciting exploration tour. I paid 25 USD for a one-on-one snorkeling session for about 2 hours with a guesthouse diving instructor. There are many other services I want to experience in the future, but as of now, snorkeling is the most fascinating experience I've had with Maldives.
– Sandbank tour. Sandbanks are one of the 'specialties' of Maldives, where a small mound of pristine white sand emerges in the vast ocean.
– Tour to visit nearby local islands.
– Dolphin watching tour.
– Full-day or half-day tour to explore the most beautiful snorkeling spots, leisurely swimming to discover the ocean, accompanied by lunch served right on the beach.
4. Maafushi – Velana Beach Guesthouse:
Maafushi is one of the largest local islands in Maldives, located in Malé Atoll, just 27 km south of Ibrahim Nasir Airport. Before my first visit to Maldives, Maafushi was the most accessible result I found when Googling how to travel to Maldives as a backpacker. At that time, I had no idea where the island was, how to get there, or what was on the island.
If you come to Maafushi, you'll have hundreds of options for accommodation. With an area of less than 0.4 km², Maafushi has over a hundred guesthouses, each typically having around 6-10 rooms.
Not just in Maafushi, but all the guesthouses I've visited in Maldives have completely changed my previous thoughts about 'guesthouses.' Drawing on the knowledge acquired from the world's top resort investors who have been here, guesthouses in Maldives, even with less than 10 rooms, operate extremely professionally and systematically.
However, what impressed and touched me the most is the warmth, hospitality, and attentiveness that perhaps can't be found anywhere outside of Maldives.
When in Maafushi, you can:
– Swim at the bikini beach.
– Explore the islanders' way of life.
– Engage in underwater sports: snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing...
– Visit nearby resorts.
– Every Thursday and Friday night, there's a beach party where you can immerse yourself in a lively Maldives filled with music. It's also a place to meet and make friends with people from all around the world.
According to Zing News
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourAugust 29, 2016
