- The Maldives is known for being an expensive holiday destination.
- I had a $1,000 budget for five days, including flights, accommodation, and everything in between.
- I stayed on two local islands, swam with sharks, and had lobster without breaking the bank.
The Maldives is a dream destination for many travelers, including honeymooners, wealthy families, and even budget explorers like me.
My goal for 2023 had been to only visit countries that didn't require a visa. By November, I had successfully made it to eight countries.
As a Philippines passport holder, it was a tall order. My passport currently only gets me into 69 countries without a visa, ranking 73rd on the Henley Passport Index — 66 positions behind the US, which has visa-free entry to 188 destinations.
So, when my sister and I were trying to plan a five-day trip for the end of the year, the Maldives was put on our list of ideas. The country in South Asia — made up of coral islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean — offers tourists of all nationalities a free 30-day visa on arrival.
I had a limited budget and wasn't sure how I would make it work, especially as the trip was being planned to take place during peak season, right between Christmas and New Year's — when prices are often the highest.
The plan was to spend five days in the Maldives and stick to a $1,000 budget — this had to include flights, accommodation, activities, and everything in between.
According to Expedia's booking site, all-inclusive resorts charge between $816 to $3,270 a night. Flights to the Maldives can be pricey, even when flying from Singapore, the city-state in Southeast Asia where I'm based.
Despite the modest budget, I felt like I still got to experience the Maldives.
Here are five things I did to save money and not break the bank:
1. I detoured through a cheaper airport and chose a budget airline.
Flying direct to the Maldives from Singapore can be very expensive. On Singapore Airlines, it costs around $900 to fly to the Maldives during the Christmas season.
I decided to fly out of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on AirAsia and paid SG$495, or around $370, for a return direct ticket. The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Malé was around five hours.
Making that short transit — a one-hour flight from Changi Airport — was cheaper than flying directly out of Singapore. A flight between the two cities can cost as little as $50; taking a bus can be as cheap as $15, but will take at least four hours.
2. I skipped the all-inclusive resorts and stayed in local hotels on local islands.
Many travelers transit through Malé, the capital, just to get to their island resorts. But I found that spending a few nights there was the best way to save money on accommodation and experience a new city.
I spent two nights at a local boutique hotel with a rooftop lounge that offered a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean. They charged around $150 a night. I split the costs 50/50 with my sister, helping to save even more.
By spending time in the capital, I also got the chance to learn more about local life. In the city, where dozens of tiny rugged alleys led to a busy pier, the ocean was a deep blue color. People zoomed past on their motorcycles, hurrying to work and school.
I discovered that many Maldivians enjoy going to an artificially constructed pond for an evening swim as the waters around the city are too rough. I spotted people eating sandwiches made with sesame-topped buns filled with tuna in the dozens of roadside stalls across the city. And, five times a day, everything would stop when the call from the local mosque echoed through the narrow streets.
For the second half of the trip, I booked a beachside resort in Maafushi, located 45 minutes away from Malé by boat, for two nights. It's known for being the most popular local island for budget travelers and backpackers, costing around $180 per night. The price was higher for full board, which would have included breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so I just paid for lodging and ate at local eateries instead.
My meals — including a fruit smoothie or drink — cost an average of $15 each. I feasted on seafood platters — that included fresh Maldivian lobster, reef fish, and skipjack tuna.
3. I booked a day pass to experience the private luxury resorts.
From Malé, I traveled to SAii, a luxury beach resort about 15 minutes away. The day pass at the resort was $20.
Unlike the raw side of the island I'd experienced in Malé, at the beach club, I experienced a picturesque island with the bright turquoise colors the Maldives is known for. The ocean was so clear I could see my shadow on the sea floor.
Only a few dozen people were at the beach club that day, despite it being the day after Christmas, making it feel like a private island. The food was pricier than in the capital, but my sister and I shared a massive seafood pizza for $26, which made for a filling lunch.
4. I booked an all-day excursion package in person and got discounts I didn't see online.
One of the reasons I traveled to the Maldives was to snorkel in the Indian Ocean. Some popular excursions online were priced around $100 to $150. After watching a few vlogs, I figured I'd try talking to someone about deals in person.
Maafushi offers some of the cheapest excursions in the Maldives, costing as little as $35 for a day of snorkeling with sea turtles.
I chose an all-day excursion for $75. The package included transportation, snorkeling gear, and food. On the excursion, I got up close and personal with stingrays at the shore of Fulidhoo Island, explored the famed Keyodhoo Shipwreck, snorkeled alongside nurse sharks , and even had a hearty Maldivian lunch at a remote sandbank.
As my sister is not a fan of swimming in the ocean, I was on my own and happily spent the day with two dozen strangers.
Maafushi was a great place to get active. I went tubing and rode a jet ski — which came with complimentary drone footage — for around $50. This was a discounted price, as I couldn't parasail because of the strong winds.
5. I traveled on shared ferries instead of booking private transfers.
As the Maldives is made up of 26 atolls — which each comprise a formation of islands and a lagoon — the only way to travel around the country is by boat or plane. Transportation can get pricey, so I traveled only on shared ferries.
The $20 day pass at SAii already included a return ferry ticket from Malé. Without the day pass, the ferry ticket would have cost $13.
From Malé to Maafushi, I paid $50 for a return ticket on a ferry shared with other guests. I was quoted between $180 to $600 for a one-way charter of a private speedboat to the resort — depending on the capacity of the boat.
Another option was to take the public ferry, the cheapest mode of transport in the Maldives. It only operates from the local islands and can cost as little as $3 for a one-way ticket. In comparison, taking a seaplane to a private resort island can cost several hundred dollars for each flight.
Despite my small budget, I got to see and do everything I set out for in the Maldives. I can't wait to return and snorkel with the dolphins and sea turtles.
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