The Maldives has always been known as a luxury destination reserved for the wealthy. But is this true? Is budget travel possible in the Maldives? The short answer is yes. But you do have to do a bit of planning and know the ins and outs of travel in the Maldives to do so. Let’s talk about budget travel to the Maldives.

maldives-coconut-tree-sea-resort | img via Hippopx (CC0 1.0)

As of late, guest houses have become a cheaper option in the Maldives. However, you can still stay at top resorts in Maldives and enjoy luxury within your means. Check out places like the Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi to see if they offer deals or packages. Another way to stay cheap in the Maldives is to travel during the off-season. During the monsoon months of May to November, you’ll find cheaper accommodation and facility rates along with fewer fellow guests. The weather will still be warm, and you’ll have good days to snorkel and sail.

Unless you have your own in which case you don’t need to think about cutting costs, air travel is the only way to get to the Maldives. Look for bargains on charter airlines and low-cost carriers. You can reduce the price of airfare if you opt for a couple of stopovers. The other trick is to book early to avoid last-minute price hikes.

Diving to meet and greet sea creatures is the major holiday fun reason to visit the Maldives. Hence, before you even book your stay, hunt around for diving packages. Find the one with the cheapest or the best deal and book your accommodation accordingly. Most resorts offer generous discounts for diving if you book in advance. This is because it allows them to better manage diving schedules and make the most of their dhoni cruises.

Local ferries offer a cheaper option for travelling in the Maldives. These run on somewhat of an infrequent schedule and cost less than 4 USD for a journey of three hours. However, ferries don’t stop at resort islands. You could go on a ferry to a nearby small island and ask a fisherman to drop you off at the resort island for a rate that is lower than a speedboat. These speedboats are expensive as are seaplane rides. However, if all else fails, speedboats cost less than seaplanes which charge about 500 USD for a 20-minute journey. Local dhonis can get crowded but tend to be cheap. You can soak up the sun on the roof and spot dolphins along the way.

Moving around in the Maldives (especially if you are staying at a resort island) costs money. The trick is to stick to one fabulous island. This is easy to do if you book an all-inclusive resort stay. It makes good financial sense to pick one gorgeous island and stay there snorkelling, swimming, diving, jet skiing and feasting on good food. If you wish to escape the island for a day, try a ferry ride after a short trip to a nearby island. If your resort offers a day’s island hopping, choose that. In truth, you don’t really need to travel much to enjoy the effervescent hues of the Maldives.

The roaming cost is going to be considerable, especially if you are going to use the internet. You can save a lot of money if you pick up a local SIM card for yourself. You’ll only spend about 10 USD on the SIM and the data plan is more than enough for a couple of weeks. You can always top up in the atolls. The other handy advice is to bring your own snorkelling gear. While some resorts offer snorkelling gear free of charge, you can never be certain.