Vacation in the Maldives is certainly every couple’s romantic dream, sun kiss beaches, luxurious hotels, crystal clear turquoise sea, colourful fishes & reefs.
However many people even us made mistakes unknowingly during travel planning thus causing over budget spending, leaving a scar in the whole experiences.
But you are not to blame, as the Maldives is unique compared to other countries, therefore those mistakes are totally out of your expectations. This article, we will highlight some for you.
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Also Read: How to Plan 5 Days Affordable Luxury Maldives Holiday for less than RM4,300/SGD1,550 per pax
1. Avoid staying too many days in the Maldives.
Unless you are into specific activities that require time such as diving & deep-sea fishing, Maldives is perfect for a short stay instead of a long one. Anything more than 1 week will be too much for our opinion.
4 to 5 days is usually sufficient if staying in one hotel and perhaps 7 days if 2 hotels. Opt for quality vacation rather than quantity when in the Maldives.
Note: DO NOT stay in few hotels for a short trip, it is not as easy as hailing a taxi to get to another hotel. A transfer is very tedious & expensive in the Maldives.
2. Splurge in a luxury vacation
Mentioning the Maldives, people associate with a luxurious & romantic getaway. Though you can travel Maldives budget which we did for RM1950 per pax, it seems we missed out the most important component of Maldives akin to not visiting Eiffel Tower when in Paris.
So asking everyone in our group about their feedback, the answer was quite similar “We will be back for a luxurious stay, not a budget one”
3. Airport Transfer might be MORE Expensive than your flight ticket to the Maldives
This is a very important criteria people often overlook when planning their Maldives holiday. Most visitors will arrive at Male the capital of Maldives.
Airport transfer is Very Expensive in the Maldives. Therefore you MUST CHECK how much is the transfer cost to your hotel as most hotel rates do not include transfer which can be very expensive.
There are 2 common ways to reach your hotel: speedboat or seaplane.
Hotels located nearer to Male you are able to arrange speed boat transfer which cost from USD5o to USD200 per pax return. Some hotels even make it compulsory to take their transfer so do a double-check.
Hotels which are located far from Male, Sea Plane transfer is required. Sea Plane transfer easily cost USD350 to USD450 for a return trip per person.
So not only you have to compare hotel rates, but you will also need to check transfer fees as we have a friend who paid USD70 per night but found out the hotel is only reachable by seaplane thus forking out extra USD350.
Note : If arriving late evening or flying out early morning, you might require to overnight at Male, do check with your hotel.
4. You are most likely to stay on an island with just your hotel
Most hotels are located on their own private island thus it is the only hotel on the island. One reason we recommend a short stay as you get bored easily after 4 or 5 days.
5. Food is expensive & limited choice, your 3 meals are mostly eaten at your hotel.
Since the island has only one hotel which is the one you are staying, all your daily meals will be eaten at the same hotel. When choice is limited, dining can be expensive. Always budget USD50 per meal per pax.
If possible book a full board price which includes meal & drinks during your stay, at least there is less pain than ordering expensive meals.
6. Budget for extra activities.
Not all hotels have lagoon near to them, therefore you might need to spend some money for a snorkelling trip or nearby island hopping.
7. Always know the details of your activities, especially how long is the transfer.
Certain activities are located at a specific location, for example, whale shark watching, though your hotel might offer this excursion, do find out how long to reach there. The locals are used to sea transportation but as foreigners, we might not be accustomed to 5 hours boat ride per way especially people who are prone to seasickness.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you are more prepared to enjoy the Maldives better!
Do SHARE this article to friends and family members who are planning their trip or to start planning your Maldives trip together!
thx! really useful!
Most travellers visit Maldives for Scuba Diving 🙂 Plenty of Manta Rays to be seen.
would you recommend the best afforable resort for kids?
Hi, maybe Holiday Inn
Very nice information but seems you miss the part that resorts are very expensive and especially the if you need to buy some thing there such as drinks
Hi Usman, Club med is an all inclusive resort meaning drinks are included in the price. Thanks
DId you use CludMed?
Thanks for the comprehensive review about Maldives. Since so much information regarding food etc are not provided on travel sites.
Great tips! Thank you!
I went to the Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa. It’s all inclusive and has activities that is suitable for families.
Dear Alliepii, glad to hear that
thank you for sharing <3
Hi, appreciate if you could share with me the speedboat transfer service provider that you had engaged with.
thank you!
Hi Janelle, usually it is compulsory arrangement by the hotel
Thanks for sharing, Really helpful.
We have visited the Maldives twice, each time at a different all inclusive hotel. Travelled by boat the first time and seaplane the second, time all booked as part of our holiday package. We happily spent 10 and 12 nights respectively, never tiring of the choice of food or daily snorkelling trips. Amazing experience and ready for a third trip soon.
Hi Debra
Which islands and hotels did you book with, and how much were they? I am trying to find an all inclusive hotel for 10 or 12 nights.
Velvet
Hi,
Loved your article!
Could you recommend a luxury resort for a couples 4 day trip. I think I would prefer one with nearby activities and good food.
Thanks!
Hi Alisha the most straightforward will be Club Med
Thank you. It is good to be prepared,you have some good tips to consider.I will look into things a lot more closely.
hI!
I AM PLANNING COMMING OCTOBER 17TH TO 28TH WE NEED GOOD OFFERS AND AMAZIING LOCATION MALE
Any tips for travelling to the Maldives in May?
The Maldives is an amazing destination for people who love the beach life.
I have been there once, and wish to be back.
Your guide was impressive and photos are mind-blowing.
Thanks.
We took a 25 min speed boat from Male and enjoyed the wonderful island.
We felt like inside aquarium and took amazing pictures.
You need to check and do your proper research from multiple sources before planning trip to anywhere in the world. From what I can say on Maldives is that it is totally safe nation from tourism perspective and you can even take your family without any hesitation. Visit us @ https://www.rent-boat-dubrovnik.com/private-boat-tours/
do you recommend staying at 2 different hotelsl for the experience or staying at 1 the whole time. We are thinking about 6-7 nights.
Hi Young, yes provided if you are able to stay min 3 nights in each hotel. Lesser than that not recommended
Hi , please suggest some budget but nice hotel considering airport transfer cost, also please suggest islands and places which is a must visit for 1st time honeymoon travel.
I find it really insane to advice not to stay in Maldives longer than 1 week!
Yes if you stay in a resort you ll get bored for sure but there are so many things to do and see in Maldives, it’s not just resorts!
Also if you don t like the ocean, Maldives might not be the right place for your upcoming holidays 😉