For years I had dreamed of visiting Maldives: tiny islands dotted in the Indian Ocean, surrounded by the most incredible turquoise water and hotel rooms with a staircase straight into the Indian ocean.
In my mind it was the ultimate honeymoon destination, a place that I would save for that day when I finally get married to a Prince Charming, but I realize that it could be a DECADE before that happens and so once the opportunity to travel to Maldives presented itself -
I couldn’t say no.
It was a very last minute trip, so booking the flights, preparing all the documents and planning 155 outfits, all happened in such a rush.
Sure, my expectations were incredibly high, and I was worried that once I travel to Maldives, any other place in this World will be ‘not as good as Maldives’
But I had to see it with my owns eyes.
Like with any place in the World, some things don’t quite live to your expectations, and many aspects might not be quite as you imagined they would, so I wanted to shed a light on some key information that is important to know, if you are planning a trip to Maldives.
Right now (May 2021), Maldives is one of the only destinations in the World welcoming tourists from all countries. You have to present a negative PCR test upon your arrival (some hotels require you to stay in your room up to 24 hours after your arrival) and then you are free to soak it all in!
Maldives has the perfect infrastructure to manage the spread of the virus, and they have done a very good job over this past year monitoring the guests and immediately stopping any outbreak, if a positive case occurs..
So if you are exhausted from your own lazy/unmotivated self, wanting to escape and looking for a safe holiday destination – a place where you can soak up vitamin D, enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables that boost your immunity, and keep yourself active and healthy –
then look no further! Of course, it’s no secret that Maldives is not a budget destination,
but that is not 100% the case.
There are several local islands that offer much more budget-friendly accommodations, and whilst your room might not have a staircase into the ocean, stunning white sand beach is probably just a few steps away..
I stayed on Dhigurah island for 4 days – and it was definitely a highlight of my trip.
Dhigurah, meaning a long island, is about 3km long, and no more than 250 m wide.
It is a true definition of beach paradise.
In low tide it takes about 50-60 min to walk the entire length of it.
I recommend planning a day trip with a little picnick basket, plenty of water and sunscreen.
You will find yourself mostly by yourself, surrounded by white sand and incredible torquise water. The beach experience is better than any luxury hotel offers, and for a fracture of money.
There are few local cafes serving satisfying breakfast/lunch/dinner (meal will cost you around 4-10 eur), just important note: for religious reasons, there is no alcohol served on this island.
Your hotel will help you with booking variety of tours available to explore the nearby atol, this of course can add to your expenses, but you can enjoy incredible snorkeling just off the coast and find yourself amongst beautiful sea-life; dipping in and out of the water
as your soul pleases..
My hotel recommendation is White Sand Dhigurah (average 100 eur a night ) or Dhiguveli Maldives (average 100 eur a night).
So it is indeed possible to travel to Maldives on a budget and you don't have to break a bank to add this dreamy destination on your holiday list :)
If you, however, dream of experiencing Maldives, the way you have seen it in pictures, and spending close to 1000 euros for a room (for one night) is not an issue, then choosing where to stay can be quite an overwhelming process ..
Or perhaps you have been saving for this, most special holiday of your lifetime, in which case it's even more important to make the right choice for you.
There are over 100 5-star resorts, all offering incredible amenities, restaurants, activities and over-water villas with stunning views.
This might be obvious to some, but every resort in Maldives is its own island (except for some local islands) so popping out for a dinner someplace else is not an option.
If you love Italian food, you have to make sure that the hotel has an Italian restaurant, if you want to surf, or have other particular water activities, you have to make sure the hotel offers that.. Like I said "make the right choice for you"
The Maldives archipelago consists of 1190 tiny islands scattered across the Indian Ocean. Only around 180 of these are inhabited – most of them formed by volcanoes but some manmade.
All international flights arrive at Male airport – it’s the capital of Maldives and the hub from where everyone immediately hops on to their chosen island/hotel.
The first two things important to know when choosing your hotel?
The distance from Male airport and the atoll it’s located at (there are 26 different atolls)
There are three ways to get to your hotel from Male airport.
Domestic flight (which is used for the islands further away from Male)
Sea Plane (which is that breathtaking flight you have most certainly seen
on someone’s Instagram feed)
and speedboat – for the islands closer to Male Airport.
The downside with flights are that they only operate from 6am-6pm so if you have a late arrival or departure time you will have to plan the logistics of spending the night or long hours at the airport or a nearby hotel – neither one of those options are great.
The second big problem is the cost involved in this transfer. Some hotels might include sea-plane transfer, but if they don’t then you have to account for the short 20-40 min return flight ticket might cost you around 500-1000 usd.
Speedboats can go at any time of the day, so even if you arrive or depart at midnight – the connection will be hustle-free and comfy.
It’s also less pricey option and more often included in the room price (all hotels have their own private boat, so they don’t have to handle the fees by TransMaldivian Airways – the local airline that carries out all sea-plane transfers).
My recommendation?
Pick a hotel that is closer to Male airport and offers speedboat transfer, however if you want to experience with your own eyes the breath-taking view flying over the beautiful island archipelago – make sure your international flights arrive and depart day time, not midnight (which was my uncomfortable experience..)
And check with the hotel if they offer this as a complimentary service.
When choosing a hotel, review what meal plan it offers and be objective when evaluating your hunger level.. If you are someone who likes to have 3 meals a day then I highly recommend choosing full-board – breakfast lunch and dinner included. Depending on the resort – it will be either buffet style or a la carte restaurants (seems like breakfast is the only meal that almost all resorts serve buffet style..)
Half-board includes breakfast and dinner, which I would recommend as the optimal choice!
Breakfast-only option means that you will be signing a lot of additional bills (also probably piling embarrassingly high piles of bread and fruit from the breakfast buffet so you can 'stock up' for the day..) and still, by the time you check-out, your food bill could be almost as high as the room itself.
Prices in Maldives are expensive, and lunch for two at a 5 star resort could be
around 150-250 eur (drinks not included)
Regarding the choice of the room – it’s between beach villa and over-water villa.
Apparently everyone who comes to Maldives wants to stay in an over-water villa with a pool..
It’s just that image that is associated with this location and there are not many places in the World where you have your own private steps into the ocean.
I am not going to lie – it’s impressive and looks amazing in the pictures, but the downside is that they are usually set at the far end of the resort, so restaurants, pool bars and any other facilities will be quite a walk away.. Most hotels have buggies so you can spare yourself the walking, but you still have to account that in your time when planning the day..
My recommendation?
Book the first few (or the last few) nights at the over-water villa and spend the rest of your time at the beach villa – the Ocean will be only few steps away from you!
Also, if you are traveling with kids – beach villa Is highly recommended as a much safer choice for you and your little ones.
Still feeling confused?
Don't hesitate to contact me
I will be happy to help with my recommendation!
Comments