The idea to go to the Maldives was born in the summer after visiting Italy and its beaches. Italy was beautiful, but the beaches of the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas frankly disappointed. I immediately wanted a "bounty", azure water, clean sand and a minimum of people. Where else to go to the Maldives for this!
Why did you decide to go on your own?
The search began, of course, with offers from travel agencies, but quickly faded. The first reason: a standard and rather small set of hotels was offered. Judging by the number of reviews on travel sites, travel agencies send all Russians to these 5-10 widely offered hotels. In each of them, unfortunately, we (again, judging by the numerous reviews) found significant disadvantages for us. So it turned out that there was nothing special to choose from the proposed travel agencies. And we switched to an independent search on the Internet. Scouring the sites also gave disappointing results: everything that we liked and met our requirements and budget was already unavailable at the beginning of November (it was in August) or did not offer the type of accommodation we were interested in (three adults) or meals (all inclusive). As a result, with the help of the English-language site tripadvisor and the advice of experienced friends, the hotel was chosen. Requested the cost of the tour to him from the agency. And they fell for the second time: the cost turned out to be $ 1,500 more than when booking independently on the same conditions (type of accommodation, meals, flight, transfer). Of course, we had such an amount not superfluous, therefore, despite all the fears, the choice was made in favor of independent travel.
And as it turned out, not in vain! Everything turned out just fine. And now below for those who, like us, doubt whether it is worth embarking on such a long journey without relying on an agency.
Fear 1: Flights
Actually, it was not about booking air tickets itself - we have been successfully doing this for a long time on our own via the Internet and consider it a big advantage in itself: you do not need to overpay the agency for the purchase of each ticket, and in case of trip cancellation it is easy to return tickets with minimal financial losses for yourself. In this case, the question was what to book ahead: tickets or a hotel. I wanted to, of course, at the same time. But the hotel didn’t work out for a long time, and while we were looking for the only one, tickets for Aeroflot’s direct flight were slowly leaving. When the tickets for the date we were interested in were all sold out, and we had to shift the dates of the trip, thus reducing it by a day, we decided: we take tickets, and we'll see! Therefore, advice (for someone it may have long been obvious): if you find the flights you are interested in at an affordable price for you, then do not hesitate - take tickets, you will always pick up a hotel later. Procrastination in buying air tickets is expensive.
Further on the airline and the flight, I can say the following: Aeroflot worked well in terms of informing. The airline rescheduled the time of the return flight, but warned us in a timely manner by e-mail. mail and sms, sent new e-tickets and then, already in the Maldives, reminded the time and date of the return flight. There is online check-in for a flight from Moscow to Male, but the Aeroflot website is very slow. Back from Male, it was not possible to check in for a flight online from the Aeroflot website at all (apparently this is impossible in principle). An Airbus 330 flies. There are two seats on the right and left in a row, and four in the middle. The distance between the rows in the middle (where there are four seats) is very small, where there are two - wider. Flight Moscow-Male at night seemed harder than during the day. I was dying to sleep, but it was impossible to fall asleep normally on uncomfortable chairs. The return flight was more cheerful - a personal monitor with a set of films and music and two meals helped to pass the time. The average flight time is 9 hours.
Fear 2: hotel booking
We did not rely on all sorts of online booking systems like Booking, but booked the hotel directly from the site of the hotel itself. Special knowledge of English is not required for this. Everything is quite clear and accessible: I'm sure anyone can choose dates, type of room, number of people living and type of food. The fear was different: what if something went wrong in their system and our booking was lost? We will arrive on the island, but they are not waiting for us there. This is not Europe, where I went to the next street and rented another hotel. In the Maldives, one island - one hotel, so there is nowhere from a submarine. But here everything was clear both from the side of the hotel (they sent a booking confirmation, a reminder a week before check-in by e-mail), and we, for our part, did not let them forget about us and periodically wrote different letters to the hotel for 2 months before check-in, such as thanks for the booking, information about the postponement of the return flight, questions about the weather. Here, of course, knowledge of a foreign language will come in handy, although I think that it will not be shameful to use an online translator.
The only thing you need to keep in mind and be mentally prepared when booking a hotel on your own is the very strict cancellation conditions. Almost all the hotels in the Maldives that we reviewed, and the one that was eventually booked, charge 100% of the entire amount of the stay from your credit card at least a month before arrival. This is not Europe, where if you do not check into a hotel, you will lose the maximum cost of the first night of your stay. Here, if you don’t show up, you are unlikely to get anything back, and even if you cancel your reservation less than a month in advance, you still lose most of the amount. Therefore, it is not enough just to have a rather impressive credit limit on the card. Of course, it is also advisable to insure yourself in case your trip suddenly for some reason does not take place. Otherwise, it may cost you dearly. You can protect yourself by purchasing travel insurance. Travel agencies will not issue you such insurance if you do not buy a tour from them. In Moscow, at least I learned that it can be bought by a private person in insurance companies. The price of the question in the insurance company, where I found out the conditions, were as follows: with a maximum amount of coverage of 3 thousand dollars per person, the cost of insurance is 170 dollars per person. (visa-free country). When reimbursed for 2 and 1 thousand dollars, insurance certainly costs less. Insured events are standard: if you are in the hospital, you must appear in court, if property damage has occurred, and so on. To obtain insurance, only the original passports of those leaving are needed, and this is done at least 10 days before departure. To be honest, we thought for a long time whether to take out insurance or not, but in the end we regretted the money for it and relied on luck, although because of this we had to be nervous until the very departure.
There is a 100% payment for the hotel and a positive point. This is that there is absolutely no need to think about money directly on the island. Those. you can forget to take them with you in principle, lose or something else, but you know for sure that your accommodation and meals (if you are all inclusive, of course) have already been paid. In fact, from the money that we took with us, we spent almost nothing, only $ 400 for 2 excursions (5-hour individual fishing in the open ocean and a trip to a neighboring island) and $ 100 for tips for staff (room boy, waiter in a restaurant, a bartender, a boat team that took them fishing). Another 300 dollars spent on the way back to duty free in Male. In general, in combination with “all inclusive”, during the rest we absolutely abstracted from everything material: we didn’t sign checks, we didn’t carry cash with us, the cards were immediately put into the safe, we didn’t count the amount we ate and drank per day. Having signed once and entirely for one amount and morally resigned to it a month before the trip, you are already just enjoying your vacation and don’t think about anything else. It turned out so wonderful!
Fear 3: transfer
Of course, everyone knows that it is not enough to fly from Moscow to Male, you still need to get to your island-hotel. In the case of buying a tour through an agency, this is not your headache. As it turned out, in the case of self-booking - too. If you make a hotel reservation from the site of the hotel itself, then you will always be offered a transfer option: by boat or seaplane (or one or the other depending on the distance). The transfer amount is immediately added to the amount of accommodation for the hotel and debited from your card along with the rest of the amount one month before arrival. The hotel then sends you a voucher confirming your round trip transfer. In our case, it was a seaplane and the cost was $400 for a round-trip flight for one adult (total $1,200 for three). Apparently, this price depends on the duration of the flight, because we saw hotels where this cost was $ 250 per person, and somewhere it was all 600.
Of course, we had some worries about how we would find these seaplanes at Male airport, but in reality everything turned out to be very well organized. Upon arrival, after collecting your luggage, you exit the arrivals area and immediately to the right (still under the roof of the airport itself) you will see the air taxi check-in desk. It is enough for the employee at the counter to give your last name and the hotel to which you are flying. He will collect your luggage, give you boarding passes and tell you what time your flight is. Then it shows you the bus stop, which you take and go to your terminal (there are three of them: A, I and C, so pay attention to the number of the terminal on your boarding). It takes approximately 10 minutes to drive from the arrivals terminal. The seaplane terminal has a cafe, a toilet, so you can pass the time quite comfortably. Flights are announced (the flight number will be in your boarding pass), there is also a departure board and special employees who collect passengers. In general, there were no problems at this stage, we were afraid in vain!
Fear 4: the weather in early November
Naturally, when planning a trip for November, we looked at different sites for information about the weather in the Maldives in November. Everywhere it was written that the season in the Maldives is not from May to October, but the season is from December to April. Everywhere in November it was said that the weather was good there. Our fear began about a month before the trip, when, after looking at the weather forecast for a month ahead, we saw that daily heavy rains were falling in the Maldives and they were not going to stop by our arrival. Several Internet resources were found, where a picture was transmitted from webcams on some islands, but it was difficult to get an idea of ​​​​the weather from them. Experienced and unseen acquaintances in the Maldives convinced that it rains there for 20 minutes, and then the sun shines, but all sites stubbornly showed rains at night, in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening for the period of our stay in the Maldives, as well as before him. We have already become discouraged and even come to terms with the idea that, having paid a large amount for us for the rest, it may happen that we will sit out all this week in the rain. Books were prepared to take with us and films were uploaded to the Ipad.
I am glad to say that in fact everything was not as bad as we feared, but the weather was not great either. Arriving in the Maldives on Saturday November 2, we were greeted by a bright sun, blue sky, and all our fears were quickly forgotten. It turned out in vain. On Sunday afternoon, the sky was overcast with low leaden clouds and it began to rain. And he went until Monday afternoon. To be honest, we were disappointed at first. All our fears were immediately remembered, and we decided that this is the weather and will be until the end of the week. We watched two parts of The Godfather under the sound of rain. Then the rain somehow became less frequent, and although there were still leaden clouds, the temperature of the water and air did not actually change, it was just as warm as without rain, so we went swimming and snorkeling. In general, what can I say: I would characterize the weather in early November (the first week) as unstable and capricious. It rained every night, sometimes all night, sometimes capturing a couple of hours in the morning. Once a torrential tropical rain happened during the day, but quickly ended. Clouds of varying degrees of density were constantly in the sky. In general, after all, in the Maldives, great weather probably begins in late November-December. And in early November - it's as lucky. Although to be honest, no vagaries of the weather spoiled our holiday. Managed to swim and tan. One time the rain nearly ruined our fishing plans. it rained all morning on the day planned for fishing. But fishing was promptly postponed to the next day and here the weather did not stop us.
All other fears
Well, what else were they afraid of in the Maldives? First, all living creatures. I'm a squeamish person and I'm scared to death of all sorts of spider bugs. Here my fears were unfounded. No special nasty living creatures and insects were noticed in the Maldives: no mosquitoes, no flies, horseflies, butterflies, caterpillars, cockroaches and other filth. There were small harmless ants in the bathroom and on the sun loungers on the beach. Nothing more. Well, of course, geckos ran along the walls of the houses (outside) and trees, crabs on the sand, flying foxes flew, but this living creature did not cause anxiety and negative emotions. The ocean is also calm: no one bit, no pinched. Along the coast, where they simply swam in the azure water, only small and harmless reef sharks defiled and once they saw stingrays in the shallows. All other living creatures were found in large quantities on the reef around the island, which was observed with masks.
The sun, despite the clouds and even clouds, is still hot and hard, it is necessary to protect yourself with creams. And it's better to snorkel in a T-shirt.
Take ear drops with you. Many people in the Maldives get inflamed ears. As the local doctor said, this is due to some plankton in the sea. We took a small branch of the pharmacy with us, but we didn’t think about ear drops, because such a problem had never arisen in all our trips. This time the inflammation happened to my husband and just on the day of the excursion to the neighboring island. We were rescued by a couple of Britons who had the drops with them.
Well, as always, I scribbled a bunch of text! Sorry. I hope that someone was able to master it to the end, or this information will be useful to someone when deciding whether to go to the Maldives on their own or through an agency. We made an unambiguous conclusion for ourselves: only on our own! You have a much wider choice of hotels (only plan and book in advance) and some money savings. Actually, there are no objective difficulties. Well, surprises can happen on any trip.

The Maldives has recently become a popular tourist resort. The first resort hotel was built in the Maldives in 1973.

But a few years ago, cheap guesthouses opened, and we were among the first to organize our own holidays in the Maldives cheap, and ceased to be a pipe dream for us.

Good to know:

However, until now, many budget travelers do not know that it has become possible to travel to the Maldives inexpensively. For some reason, it is believed that holidays in the Maldives are available only to the rich and the stars, and that the prices for tours are insanely high, but this is far from the case now! Today everyone can go without the help of a travel agency, though you need to prepare a little.

Related article:

I would like to dispel the rumors that the Maldives is boring and there is nothing to do. This is not true, since even in local there is a large selection of different ones for vacationers. And even despite the strict rules inherent in a Muslim country, it seemed to both of us that the majority of the inhabitants of the Maldives are quite friendly, welcoming and happy to talk a little with foreigners in English (with the exception of family women).

Now I will tell you in detail how to relax in the Maldives cheaply!

Cheap hotels in the Maldives

The first thing to note is that there are no super cheap accommodation options in the Maldives. You won't find hostels here for $5 (as in) or bamboo bungalows for $10 (as in). Coming with a tent is also not an option, since there are no campsites in the Maldives, unlike. And coachsurfing is practically not developed here. So there are only inexpensive, but very cozy guesthouses, the choice of which is quite large, and almost all of them have the status of a 3-star hotel.

For only $45-70 per night you will get a clean, modern and spacious room with comfortable furniture, air conditioning, hot shower, free breakfast, snorkeling mask and fins, cold drinking water, daily housekeeping and fairly fast Wi-Fi internet up to 10 MB /With. Almost all guesthouses on different islands are quite good, and their friendly owners are doing everything possible to make your stay in the Maldives interesting and memorable for guests.

Related article:

More than 50 islands in the Maldives offer affordable accommodation options, and each of these islands is unique and different from all the others. So if you hear somewhere that all the islands there are the same, do not believe in any way. It is better to visit several islands, stopping at each for a few days, and make sure that they are all very beautiful and unique.

One of the very first guesthouses in the Maldives - Summer Villa

Here are 5 cheap hotels in the Maldives that we recommend for a beach holiday:

1. Cheap hotel on the island of Ukulhas, for a relaxing holiday (price from $55 ) — Coral Reef View Inn
2. The best hotel on the island of Guli, half an hour from Male (from $70 ) — tropical tree
3. Highly rated budget hotel on Dhiffushi Island (from $60 ) — Rashu Hiyaa
4. Cozy guesthouse on the huge island-plantation Thoddoo (from $50 ) — Thoddoo Retreat
5. The newest hotel on the island of Dhigurah farthest from Male (from $60 ) — Dhiguveli

Helpful advice: If you have a very small budget, then we advise you to book a hotel in the Maldives cheaply on those islands where a public ferry runs. This is the cheapest form of public transport in the Maldives (it only costs a few dollars, or even less than $1, like a ferry). But the islands on distant atolls can only be reached by plane or seaplane, the flight on which will cost 300-700 dollars.

Read our descriptions of nearby islands in the Maldives and how to get there from the airport:

It is important to know: all public transport in the Maldives does not run on Fridays, so plan yours with this factor in mind so as not to stay in for an extra day. However, if this cannot be avoided in any way, then keep in mind that you can spend an inexpensive night near the airport on the island for only 50-60 dollars (breakfast and transfer are usually included in the price).

Pro taxes and fees on Mallive you need to know in advance in order to correctly calculate your budget and not be in an awkward position. When you book a hotel, be sure to pay attention to how much you will have to pay in addition to the listed price:

• 12% VAT
• Environmental fee for each resident per night - $ 3-5
• 10% service charge
• Transfer fee per person

That is, if you find a cheap room in a guesthouse for $50-60, then you will have to pay an additional $20-25 per day for two, plus a transfer.

Examples of hotel prices in the Maldives:

You can find the cheapest food in the Maldives in grocery stores that are on every local island. Buying various fruits, cereals, groceries, snacks and other products there, you can cook on your own, keeping within 5-7 dollars per person per day. You can have a bite to eat in a cafe-restaurant for locals for 3-5 dollars. A lunch and dinner in a guesthouse will cost an average of 10-15 dollars.

In hotels and guesthouses, food is usually tasty and varied, although you will not find a single pork dish here.

• Breakfast is usually offered to choose from: continental, American and traditional Maldivian.
• Lunch and dinner - on the menu or they prepare a buffet for all guests, based on boiled rice and vegetable curry.
• The main hit is fried or baked fish, which, depending on the size, is divided among several people.
• Often there are very tasty snacks based on tuna, many fish dishes.
• There are quite a few vegetarian options such as fried rice with vegetables, spicy curries and roshi, fried or stewed vegetables and fresh fruit.

The rule is: the smaller the size of the island on which you are going to relax, the more expensive the food will be there due to the lack of competition. By the way, if you don't like the food in your hotel, you can always go to your neighbors for lunch or dinner, paying extra for it.

Most vacationers in the Maldives participate in sea excursions and go in for snorkeling or scuba diving. Budget travelers are no exception. But when it comes to cheap Maldives, a lot depends on the cost of entertainment and how much you are willing to spend on them from your budget. .

Related article:

The easiest way to go on a sea excursion is to book it at your guesthouse or hotel. The same goes for . However, before making a decision, ask about prices in other places, including in neighboring hotels, because it can be more convenient and cheaper there! Be sure to find out about its duration and what is included in its price (and in the case of diving, how many spots you will visit and how many dives will be), and then determine for yourself whether you want to pay extra for any special conditions, as well as lunch and water, or you can limit yourself to a minimum set of services.

• Read about how we went to watch dolphins in the sea.

Sea excursions are one of the most interesting things to do in the Maldives.

Good to know: each guesthouse offers special types of excursions in the Maldives: spend the whole day alone on a desert island in the middle of the sea, go to a picnic island or take an excursion to (resort excursion), where for only 10% of the cost of living on it you can sunbathe on its beaches and swim with other vacationers, as well as take many beautiful photos for memory. We have tried each of them and we recommend that you definitely use them so that you have even more impressions from your trip to the Maldives.

Most often, tourists in the Maldives pay for all services when leaving in dollars, but this is not profitable due to the exchange rate difference, reaching 5-10%. Moreover, when paying by card, the amount will increase by another 3-5% due to non-cash payment and conversion, so better to pay in cash. Paying for the ferry, as well as buying souvenirs and food in shops and paying in restaurants on local islands is also cheaper with local currency -.

Therefore, take cash dollars with you to the Maldives, and if you change them in advance for rufiyaa in banks in Male immediately after arrival (there are usually no banks on the islands, and the exchange rate is unfavorable), then as a result, paying for food and services will be cheaper for you up to 10%. However, it should be borne in mind that it can be quite difficult to exchange the rufiyaa left after the rest for dollars when flying home from the Maldives, since not all banks agree to do this.

During the year in the Maldives, due to the monsoons, two seasons are pronounced: low and high. They mainly differ in weather, although recently, due to climate changes around the planet, it is quite difficult to predict in advance what it will be like during your trip. And it's beautiful all year round!

However, the cheapest time to relax in the Maldives is in late spring, summer and early autumn, when hotel prices fall one and a half to two times compared to winter. At this time, despite short rains, there are still more sunny days than cloudy ones, it is warm outside and a refreshing breeze blows. But in hotels there are few guests and it is quiet, the beaches are free, and excursions and entertainment will not go anywhere from you.

And such - in the midst of the tourist season

Each of us strives to spend as little as possible on vacation and get as much as possible. It's okay, everyone does it. If we talk about Southeast Asia (Thailand, India, Indonesia, etc.), then we know that now you can have a very inexpensive vacation there. The availability of housing and relatively low prices for entertainment make this region a very attractive place for tourists from all over the world!

This statement did not apply until recently to the Maldives. Leaving aside, the islands were considered a paradise for tourists with big wallets. Just about 5 years ago, this changed, and now there is an opportunity relatively budget holidays in the Maldives. The so-called Budget Maldives appeared.

Why relatively? Because after all, the whole trip will cost, in general, more expensive than in other regions of Asia, and there are many reasons for that. However, there are ways to save money in the Maldives. I will tell about them.

Flight

A direct flight to Male, the capital of the Maldives, takes about 9 hours and is operated by Aeroflot. It costs about $400 round trip! Not so much, I would say. Tickets can be purchased from one of the aggregators or directly from the carrier. The flight is carried out 3 times a week:

Moscow — Male: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. Departure at 22.50 from Sheremetyevo, arrival at 9.35 (local time) at the International Airport. Ibrahim Nazira on the island of Hulhumale (near Male).
Male — Moscow: Thursday, Saturday, Sunday. Departure at 11.15 (local time) from the International Airport. Ibrahim Nazir on the island of Hulhumale, arrival at Sheremetyevo at 18.30.

If possible, choose seats by the window. From the height you have a wonderful view of the islands!

Accommodation

A budget vacation in the Maldives does not include accommodation in "star" hotels, but in guest houses. In fact, these are the same hotels, but smaller in size, cost and lack of official stars. Here you do not overpay for the brand. The cost depends on the location of both the guest house itself and the remoteness of the island from the capital.

How to choose a guest?

The choice of a guesthouse begins after choosing a suitable island.

You can read about how to choose the right local island and not be disappointed in the post

When choosing a guest, you need to consider the following:

- the island on which it is located, and the number of guest houses on it. Different islands have different taxes. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that 20-22% of the original amount will need to be added to the final cost. Prices and taxes in the Maldives are a separate issue. More details can be read.

Reviews on Tripadvisor, Booking, Agoda. The most adequate and complete ones are on Tripadvisor, and pay attention, first of all, to the negative ones.

The date the guest was placed on Booking or Tripadvisor. Newer guesthouses that don't yet have reviews or ratings usually have lower rates than those that already have a certain reputation. But in this case, there is, albeit a small, chance to stumble upon the inadequacy of the staff. However, I have not heard of such cases.

The cost of living varies from $50 to $200 per day. You can try to find options for $20-30 on AirBnB, but without a separate shower, air conditioning, and perhaps even without a separate room. Don't expect housing prices to drop dramatically in the next couple of years.

"Why so expensive?" - you ask, because in Thailand you can find housing for $ 20-40 per day. There are many reasons for that. The main ones are:

- high cost of electricity. It is generated by a diesel generator that provides the entire island with electricity. Diesel still needs to be bought somewhere and delivered to the island.

- high cost of building materials, which are necessary for the construction of the guest house. It is clear that the owners are trying to recapture the cost of construction as quickly as possible.

- high cost of drinking water. All the water that flows in the taps on the islands is rainwater, so it is scarce and not cheap. By the way, it is not advisable to drink it, it is better to buy bottled

- tourism taxes. Another cost item for guest house owners, which affects the cost and cannot be avoided. And from October 2016, a new Green Tax is introduced, which is $ 3 per person per day.

- competition among guesthouses. It is clear that the more competition on the island, the lower the prices. On many local islands there are only 3-5 guesthouses, so they set prices as they want. With the development of the transport network between the islands, this will change over time.

Where to book a guesthouse?

It would seem that the answer is obvious - through Booking, Agoda, etc. There are often discounts and it is more profitable to book there. All this is true, but other rules apply for guest houses in the Maldives (at least for the most advanced ones).

All of the above aggregator sites charge their own percentage of bookings on these sites (about 15%). Therefore, in order to get an additional discount, find out the cost of excursions, etc., it is better to contact the guest house directly.

Another important point. On booking, you can only book accommodation, and pay for excursions and meals on the spot. Therefore, some guest houses offer to buy a package of services from them right away. It includes accommodation, excursions, meals and transfers. It is very profitable, you can save up to $400! If the guest on the site does not have information about the package, feel free to ask them.

The lowest prices for accommodation - May-September, the highest - December-March.

Nutrition

The Maldives is not a cheap country, I think you have already seen this. Along with housing, food is one of the main items of expenditure. The country imports almost everything, so the cost of products is quite high.

Each guesthouse has its own mini-restaurant with local and continental cuisine. If you say when booking that you also need food (lunch or dinner), then it will cost $ 10-15 per person. In the case of payment on the spot - depending on what you order, but usually more than the amount indicated above.

For children from 2 to 11-12 years old, there is usually a discount on food in the guesthouse, check this point with the manager.

You can also catch crabs, which are just teeming on the beach after sunset, and ask to cook them on the grill. The locals themselves do not eat this for religious reasons.

Almost every island has cafes for locals where you can taste Maldivian cuisine at quite reasonable prices. For example, the main course and fresh will cost $ 7-12. The only negative is that all dishes are very spicy. You can read about the dishes.

Activities

Everyone chooses for himself the type of vacation on the islands: active or beach. The second, of course, is cheaper, but at the same time you will not be able to fully enjoy all the beauty of the Maldives. But this is not only a snow-white beach, bright sun and turquoise water.

The amazing underwater world will leave an unforgettable impression of the Maldives!

In general, the list of activities, depending on the island, changes little. Does it mean that, for example, diving on one island is better than on another? - No. Each island and its surroundings are unique in their own way, so it makes no sense to compare.

Consider the main activities on the islands:

- Fishing. There are several types of fishing: morning(from $20), daytime(from $20), evening(from $35), night(from $35), big game fishing(“hunting for big fish” from $100). All of them differ in cost and in what kind of fish you are going to catch. Evening and night fishing are the most expensive. at this time, the chance to pull out a large fish increases markedly!

Caught fish can be cooked in the kitchen of your guesthouse (cooked). And it won't cost you anything! But first agree with the manager so that there are no problems.

- Snorkeling. The most popular and easiest type of activity, which in many cases will cost you for free. Why? Because next to the islands there is a house reef where you can swim at any time. However, the most interesting points are located outside the house reefs, and you need to get there by boat. The cost of such a trip starts from $20 and includes a visit to at least 4 different points. The trip itself lasts 3 hours. This time is more than enough, believe me.

I went on a similar trip to Rasdhoo. That day there was a noticeable wave of the ocean, but everything was calm under the water, and the water itself was as clear as on ordinary days. We were taken out to the outer side of the reef, and there you can really feel the current! I recommend this activity for those who have chosen exclusively a beach holiday without unnecessary gestures.

On different islands, depending on the season, you may also be offered snorkeling with manta rays, turtles or whale sharks. The cost is about the same.

- Diving. Thousands of divers from all over the world visit the Maldives every year to enjoy the unique underwater life. The clean, clear and warm water of this place makes diving accessible to everyone. Almost every island has one or more dive centers. The cost of services there differs little from each other, but it will be cheaper in the one to which your guest is attached, but this is not an axiom.

If you do not have any experience or certificate, then you will be offered to take a beginner's course. You will dive with an instructor. The cost of such a dive starts from $ 70 (the cost depends on the island). For more experienced divers with a certificate, the cost of diving starts from $ 30 (the price includes a guide, boat and equipment), in groups it is cheaper.

- picnic island. Near many local islands there are tiny uninhabited islands where tourists are taken daily. Usually for the whole day. The cost starts from $30. This includes boat transfer, barbecue and refreshments.

Some islands offer a Robinson Crusoe service. The bottom line is that you are taken to a desert island and left there alone for the night. Issue price - $300 (including tent and dinner). I've only seen this on .

- Visiting resorts. There are resorts near many local islands. But not all of them can be visited with a tour. It has to do with the rules on them. However, for a fee (starting from $25, but the usual cost is around $100) you can visit this luxurious place. The price includes transfer, food and drinks, alcohol. Overnight stays or spa treatments are available for an additional fee.

On some islands, for example, it is possible to order a day trip to 3 different resorts and it will cost $ 150-200.

- Walk with dolphins and romantic dinner for two. The cost of the first one starts from $ 30, this includes a boat and drinks. The trip itself is usually in the evening, at sunset.

A romantic dinner can be either on the beach or on the territory of the guesthouse, or on a desert island (if there is one nearby). Such a dinner will cost you from $90. You can ask the manager to take a picture of you, this will not affect the cost.

I have highlighted only the main activities and excursions, in addition to this, you can also offer water skiing, jet ski rental, kayak rental (a great opportunity to see the whole island), a sailing catamaran trip, etc. Upon request, a price list with all these services will be sent to you.

The cost of activities depends heavily on the island and on the guest, while there is no single standard and everyone offers something of their own to the best of their ability. Maldivians love to haggle, so feel free to ask for discounts!

Transfer

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to the development of local tourism is the transfer between the islands. Although he is regular, he does not go often. The situation is gradually changing, but it is still far from perfect.

In this regard, the cost for this service varies greatly depending on the type of transport you choose. Consider the possible options.

— Private or public ferry. The cheapest but slowest type of transfer. Its cost is from 3 to 10$. Travel time from 1.5 hours to 10 hours. Not in a hurry at all, right? At the moment, not all islands can be reached by ferry, the only way to remote ones is local airlines, which will be discussed further.

Another advantage of this transport is that within the same atoll you can go to neighboring local islands in the morning and return back in the evening.

— speed boat. Runs between the islands on schedule. At the moment there are not many routes between the capital and the local islands. Over time, of course, there will be more of them. Such a transfer costs $40-120, depending on the island. Travel time is no more than 2 hours. Such a walk with the breeze. Some routes can be viewed on this site. The presence of others is better to check with the guest houses.

— Hydroplane. Fast, but not at all cheap transfer. Usually it is provided to those who are planning their trip to the resort. Its cost starts from $ 250 per person, while there are certain limits on luggage. Travel time is 20-40 minutes. Another advantage is that from a small height you can enjoy the magnificent views of the Maldives! This transfer is available upon request and only operates during daylight hours in normal weather.

— Local airlines. Now 11 airports (7 local and 4 international) have been built in the Maldives. There is a permanent air connection between them. Some outlying islands, such as Gan or, can only be reached by local airlines. The cost of the transfer depends on where you book your ticket. If through a guest, then it will come out cheaper, because. they have an agreement with air carriers. Such a flight will cost $200-400 round trip.

— Private boat. Each guesthouse provides a speedboat upon request. The cost of the trip starts from $500 per boat. This type of transfer is beneficial if you are a group and do not want to wait for the ferry.

In general, now you can get to almost any Maldivian island using one or more types of transfer. The only question is the price.

Also, do not forget that Fridays neither ferries nor speed boats (but not to all islands) go. If it so happened that you arrived on this day, then the easiest and cheapest solution would be to stay overnight in Male.

Other expenses

This includes souvenirs, products in stores, mobile communications and the Internet.

- Souvenirs. How to visit the Maldives and not buy some trinket? If you choose a souvenir shop in Male or on the local islands, then I give preference to the latter. There are several such places on each local island. Souvenirs there are very different, mostly made of wood, coconut with elements of fish bones and shark teeth. A simple magnet will cost $ 1-2. Many souvenirs are made by shop owners themselves.

In one of them, I asked the owner to paint a T-shirt for me, and he happily agreed! It did not take anything from above. They are willing to make contact and, at your request, can make an individual souvenir. Well, do not forget that you need to ask for a discount.

- Products in stores. There are usually several grocery and hardware stores on the islands. In the first, you can buy fruits, juices, sweets, etc. Prices are quite normal and on average correspond to ours (in dollar terms). The assortment is also pleasantly surprising, don't be put off by the slightly chaotic arrangement of goods, for them this is the norm.

They accept both rufiyaa and dollars. Exchange rate 1$ = 15 rufiyaa.

- Mobile communication and Internet. In most cases, the Internet on the territory of the guesthouses is free, but the speed leaves much to be desired. It is enough for messengers, but there may be problems with Skype. Alternatively, you can purchase a SIM card from one of the three Maldivian operators. 2 GB of Internet will cost $20-30. Another option is to rent a modem from one of the Internet providers, the cost is about the same.

This issue is best resolved immediately upon arrival, because. not every island has offices of operators and providers.

Conclusion

So, from all that has been said, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. The cheapest and fastest way is to fly with Aeroflot.
2. Book your guest directly. If possible, buy a package, it will be cheaper.
3. The cheapest accommodation is during the low season from May to September.
4. Alternate food in the guest house and in local cafes.
5. When ordering several excursions, ask for a discount.
6. The cheapest but slowest transfer between the islands is by ferry.
7. It is better to buy souvenirs on the local islands, and not in Male. You can negotiate a discount.
8. The total cost of a budget holiday in the Maldives starts from $2,000 for two.

Budget holidays in the Maldives. How to save?

5 5 votes

How much does a budget holiday in the Maldives cost in 2019: prices for food, hotels, transport, tickets, entertainment. We give advice on how to cheaply relax in Paradise. Dream come true!

In the Maldives you can not relax cheaply!

You need to go to the Maldives only to expensive resorts, only there is paradise, everything else sucks.

Fanatics of resort holidays in the Maldives bombarded me with such statements when I announced in to your VK group that I'm flying to the Maldives to experience a budget vacation on the paradise islands. Well, let the fanatics be indignant and rage. In the meantime, I have fulfilled my goal and now I am ready to tell you how to relax in the Maldives inexpensively. So, let's go debunk the myths!

I sail across the Indian Ocean on a ferry from one island to another.

I flew to the Maldives in April 2019 and experienced a few things firsthand:

1. In the Maldives you can relax cheaply. Not for three kopecks, of course, but only a little more expensive than in Thailand. It is realistic to spend no more than $ 700 for two for the entire vacation (without tickets). Budget calculation - at the end of the review.
2. Budget holidays in the Maldives does not yield luxury holidays in expensive resorts. The azure sea, crystal clear water, white powdery sand and rich underwater world - all this is the same on any island.
3. Economy vacation brings a number of disadvantages and inconveniences. I'll be honest about everyone. But if the Maldives is your dream, you can forgive them for these shortcomings.

Exchange rate: 1 Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR) ≈ 4 RUB.

Rasdhoo island, Maldives. The water is amazing! By the way, right on the course - an expensive resort, but the water there is the same. If there is no difference, why pay more?

Visa to the Maldives

For Russians, a visa to the Maldives is not needed if the trip does not exceed 30 days. If you need to stay more than a month, you need to apply for a tourist visa. Upon entry, they may require a return ticket, hotel reservation or travel voucher, as well as a bank statement (at least $ 50 per person per day). They did not check anything with us, they just asked where we would rest.

The uninhabited island of Madivaru. Just look at the color of the water and this sand! I didn't do any photo editing. And everyone can enjoy such views, it is not necessary to buy a tour to an expensive resort.

When is the cheapest time to visit the Maldives?

In many countries, you can save money by coming to rest in the low season. For a budget holiday in the Maldives, this scheme does not work. The off-season is here in the summer, but the prices for hotels at this time do not decrease, for food and excursions, too. At the same time, the sea will be cloudy and rainy. It makes no sense to go in the summer.

But rest on tours at resorts from June to August costs 20% cheaper than interest. Expensive hotels still make a discount for the low season.

An excellent beach on Thoddoo island, the perfect place for a pleasant and budget holiday in the Maldives.

1. How to fly cheap

I have two news for you: good and bad.

I'll start with the bad. You can't fly to the Maldives especially cheaply. Low-cost airlines do not fly there, and independent connections through neighboring countries do not allow you to bring down the price. A flight to the Maldives from Sri Lanka or Malaysia costs from 9,000 rubles per person, but tickets to these countries from Russia cost the same as to the Maldives. Save will not work. The only thing you can get out of this is to visit the Maldives as part of a big trip to Asia. For example, we first spent a month in Sri Lanka, then flew to the Maldives for a vacation, after which we flew to Malaysia and Indonesia. It is cheaper than flying from Russia to each country separately, but few people do that.

And now the good news! You will fly to the paradise islands on board the coolest, most comfortable and pleasant airlines in the world - Etihad, Emirates or Qatar. This is what they call 5 stars! Oddly enough, they always have the cheapest tickets from Russia to the Maldives. So forget about the absence of low-cost airlines and enjoy the flight.

How much are air tickets to the Maldives in 2019 (round trip):

• From Moscow with transfers in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi: the normal price is 30,000 ₽, you can catch a promotion for 25,000 ₽.
• From Moscow by direct Aeroflot flight - from 37,000 ₽.
• From St. Petersburg - from 33,000 ₽.
• From Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Krasnodar, Novosibirsk, Samara, Sochi, Rostov-on-Don, Mineralnye Vody - from 37,000 ₽.

Our ticket costs: 18000 ₽ - from Colombo to Male (Emirates), 18000 ₽ - from Male to Penang (Air Asia).

Tips on how to save money on tickets: Follow airline promotions, compare prices of all airlines on Skyscanner, adjust your vacation to dates with the lowest ticket prices.

How much do tours cost? The cheapest tours to the Maldives in 2019 that I found cost from 100 thousand rubles for two. But these are tours to local islands, vouchers for resorts cost from 150 thousand per week of rest. Hot tours search on services and - they will find the best deals among different tour operators. Want to save? Explore ours.

Clear azure water in the Maldives.

2. Choose an island where it is cheap to relax

There are three types of islands in the Maldives:

1. Resorts. These are island-hotels, completely dedicated to the needs of tourists. Rest is expensive.
2. uninhabited islands. Nobody lives here, there are no buildings, often there is not even vegetation. You can come here for a tour.
3. local islands. The locals themselves live here, there are schools, banks, shops, a hospital, cafes - in general, civilization. These are the islands we need!

So, to have a cheap vacation in the Maldives, come to. All of them differ from each other in size, remoteness from the capital and the airport, infrastructure development. The cheapest way to relax is on the islands that are not far from the capital, because they can be inexpensively and easily reached. But there will be many tourists. If you want the most secluded vacation, choose distant islands.

Beach on Ukulas Island. All the tourist beaches of the local islands have sunbeds. Each hotel has its own, but there are so many sunbeds that you can choose any - no one will drive you away.

I vacationed on three islands: Thoddoo, Rasdhoo, Ukulas.

Thoddoo. Cool, nice island! Russians love it very much - 90% of all vacationers are here, so we dubbed the island "Maldive Anapa". Thoddoo is a fruit plantation that feeds the whole country. You can get to the island by ferry for about $10 (4-6 hours) or by speedboat for $35 (1.5 hours). Hotels cost from $50 per night, there are many of them. There are cafes, shops, a bank. There are two excellent tourist beaches on the island, both are clean and pleasant, and you can snorkel right off the coast. I recommend!

Rasdhoo. So-so place: the tourist beach is mediocre, outside it there is a lot of garbage, a lot of broken glass. There is a waste incinerator right next to the beach: the smell and noise will not let you have a pleasant rest. Only diving enthusiasts or those wishing to visit the uninhabited islands of Madivaru, which are just one km from Rasdhoo, should come here. For a beach holiday - do not recommend.

Ukulas. Nice island with a huge wide bikini beach. There are shops, cafes, many guest houses. Good snorkeling right off the coast, I saw a shark - cool! Hotels cost from $37. Ferries run rarely, only 2-3 times a week. The speedboat to the airport costs $50, I bargained for $40 (on the way - 1.5 hours). I recommend!

Thoddoo Island is one big farm where fruits and vegetables are grown. There is a lot of greenery around and it is pleasant to walk around the island. The photo shows plantations and a new tourist beach.
Ukulas Island is much smaller than Thoddoo, but the beach is very long and wide.

Available in the Maldives and other local islands where you can have a cheap vacation. I was not there, but I found out everything during the preparation. There are dozens of local islands, I will tell you about the popular ones.

Maafushi. The most famous and popular island for a budget holiday. It is easy to get from the airport, there are a lot of hotels and other tourist infrastructure. But there are also a lot of vacationers. Another drawback is that new hotels are being built everywhere. However, the beach and snorkeling on the island are praised. At first I included Maafushi in the itinerary, but then I decided not to go. If crowding does not scare you and you want to get the most developed infrastructure, come here. Hotels - from $45.

hulhumale. The most convenient island in terms of accessibility. The only island where you do not need to swim, but you can get from the airport directly by bus. One of the most inexpensive hotels in the Maldives here - from $44. The disadvantage is that there is no bikini beach, that is, you can swim only in clothes.

Guraydo. Cheap hotels (from $ 37), convenient to get from Male. The bikini beach is located on a neighboring island, to which you need to walk along the bridge - however, this is not a problem. The problem is different - the beach is not suitable for swimming due to dead corals and shallow water.

Himmafushi. Hotels are inexpensive, but officially there is still no bikini beach. The island is more suitable for surfers, there are spots for divers.

conclusions. There are many islands for a budget holiday in the Maldives. Choose an island based on your interests: beach holidays, active, snorkeling, diving. The closer the island is to the capital, the cheaper and easier it will be to get there. The more guest houses on the island, the higher the competition between them and the lower the prices. But there are many tourists on such islands.

Bikini Beach on Maafushi Island - the most popular island for a budget holiday in the Maldives. Photo © Scalino / flickr.com.

3. Looking for cheap hotels

All prices in the examples are for double rooms per night.

The average price of living in a resort in the Maldives is $300-1000. Expensive? Certainly! Guest houses on local islands are 10 times cheaper. I remind you that the sea, sand and fish will be the same everywhere - no matter how much you paid for the hotel.

Powdery sand on the beach of Ukulas Island.

Verified Budget Hotels in which we rested in the Maldives (all have a rating above 9 points):

. .
• Ukulas Island: .

Cheap hotels on popular islands:

• Maafushi: Island Cottage for 45$ per day
• Vashafaru: Vashafaru Inn for 30$ per day

Large (old) bikini beach on Thoddoo.

4. Food prices in the Maldives in 2019

So, friends, we have come to the most painful issue - to public catering. Food in the Maldives is a real disaster! Worse than the country in terms of food, I have not yet met. Prices for food are high, they cook very poorly, the choice of establishments is meager.

I have not read any reviews about food in the Maldives! What drama, what emotions! Some tourists even firmly decided that next time they would fly to the Maldives with a suitcase of food.

Everything is simple at the resorts: you pay a hundred or two greenbacks and you get decent lunches or dinners. On the local islands, a budget traveler will have to work hard to find a place where they cook decently and food prices are not too high.

Even pizza in the Maldives does not save! The stuffing is delicious, but the dough...

My advice on how to relax in the Maldives cheaply and not get a stomach ulcer:

1. Book a hotel with breakfast- they are almost always good and satisfying. I especially liked the traditional local breakfast in the form of grated tuna and coconut with tortilla. This is the best thing I have eaten in these paradise islands. I recommend! If you do not like it, then any hotel offers continental breakfasts. Some tourists said that such hearty breakfasts easily allow you to stretch until dinner, so there is no need for lunch. We didn't have enough, but I'm still happy.
2. Buy fruits - papaya and bananas. There is no abundance of fruits here, almost all of them are imported. But the local papaya, like in Sri Lanka, is especially tasty, better than in Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia.
3. Eat at the hotel. Read reviews of lunches and dinners at your guest house. If people praise, feel free to eat at the hotel and don’t even look for any other cafes - it’s cheaper, tastier and more convenient, because food can be ordered by a certain hour.
4. Choose for relaxation popular islands- there is more choice of cafes, and because of competition, food prices are lower.
5. Read also our reviews of trusted cafes on the islands of Thoddoo and Ukulas.

In general, do not count on a belly feast as part of a budget holiday in the Maldives: food prices here are like in Europe, but the taste and quality are like in a seedy Soviet factory canteen from the times of stagnation. You will have to eat modestly, you will not taste interesting exotic dishes. However, this will not be a problem if you successfully choose a restaurant or guesthouse with meals.

Traditional Maldivian breakfast, hearty and delicious!

Prices in the Maldives for food in a cafe in 2019:

• Juices - $2.
• Milkshakes - $3-4.
• Rice / noodles - $ 4-10.
• Curry - $5-10
• Salads - $ 4-9.
• Soups - $ 4-6.
• Lobster - $30-60 (depending on size).
• Fried shrimp - $10.
• Grilled seafood plate - $50.
• A plate of fruit - $6.
• Ice cream - $3.

Our dinner at the guesthouse looked like this: grilled tuna and reef fish, rice, vegetables and a drink - $ 20 for two.

There are supermarkets on each local island where you can buy fruits, drinks, cookies, snacks, chocolate, canned food, pasta, rice and other products.

Prices in the Maldives for groceries in stores - 2019:

• instant noodles - $1;
• milk - about $2;
• a loaf of bread - about $ 1.5;
• jam - $1;
• eggs (10 pcs) - $2;
• cheese (1 kg) - up to $5-10;
• drinking water (1.5 l) - $ 1 (but almost all hotels give water for free);
• bananas (kg) - 3$
• apples (kg) - $4;
• oranges (kg) - about $4;
• potatoes (kg) - about $ 1.5.

Coconuts in the Maldives are very expensive - $ 3-5 apiece. You can't find it everywhere.

On Maldivian beaches, you can often find swings and hammocks, and sunbeds are always available for free.

5. Save on entertainment

Entertainment and excursions in the Maldives are expensive. Even on local islands, they cost $30-100 per person, however, in resorts, prices for the same excursions are several times higher.

There are few excursions and entertainment here. For us, almost all of them seemed uninteresting, because we love more active and educational programs. The only interesting thing is diving, but for the first time, snorkeling was enough for us.

Here are the prices for excursions and activities on Ukulas Island in 2019:

• Swimming with manta rays - $ 150 for two for 90 minutes.
• Romantic dinner on the beach - $70.
• Fishing for big fish (Big Game) - $75 per hour.
• Fishing regular - $ 50.
• Snorkeling - $70.
• Diving - $70.
• Water skiing - $25 for 15 minutes.
• A trip to a picnic island - $ 90.
• Canoe rental - $ 15 per hour for two.
• Windsurfing - $ 20 per hour, training - $ 45.
• Water bike - $ 35 for 15 minutes, 1 hour - $ 100.
• Banana ride - $15 for 15 minutes.
• A trip to the sandbar - $ 150 for 90 minutes for two.

On Maafushi and Thoddoo, prices are slightly lower.

Always bargain in the Maldives! You can easily knock down 20% of the cost of the excursion, hotel and transfer.

We didn't spend anything on the tour. Considering that I had my first snorkeling experience, and I visited four different beaches on three islands, these impressions were more than enough for me. In a few days I saw dozens of tropical fish of various colors and shapes, corals, swam with a turtle and a shark, shot manta rays off the coast on a drone. And all this right on the house reef near the shore. We do not know how to dive, and fishing, banana rides and jet skis are not interesting to us.

How to cheaply get to a desert island. Instead of buying an excursion, find a fisherman - they will charge 2-3 times less for throwing back and forth. We were going to swim for a couple of hours to the uninhabited islands of Madivaru with Rasdhoo. I met a local cop whose father is a fisherman, and I discussed this scheme with him. But then I didn’t agree on anything specific with him, but just asked him. In the morning, after all, we decided to drive to the island, but we failed to find a fisherman - the Maldivians are lazy, at 6 in the morning everyone was sleeping, and then it was too late for us. So agree on everything in advance, repeat ten times and take a phone number - then everything will work out.

Beautiful Malagash night shark! I was lucky enough to meet one on the island of Ukulas and admire enough during her hunt. Photo: fishx6 / commons.wikimedia.org.
The uninhabited islands of Madivaru, 1 km from Rasdhoo. You can come here for a tour. From one island to another you can walk right across the ocean (500 meters). We did not get to the island, but I flew there on a drone.
Right next to the island is a blue lagoon of amazing beauty. Great place for snorkeling.

6. How to save on transport

The main transport in the Maldives is water. Taxis are available only in Male and Hulhumale, they are surprisingly cheap - $ 1-2 per trip.

There are two types of water transport.

State ferries. The ticket price depends on the distance: from $0.7 to $10. All you need is to know the schedule (see) and adjust to it. But it often changes, and ferries are sometimes canceled due to bad weather. Ferries run to some islands every day, to others several times a week. The farther the island is from the capital, the more difficult it is to get to it by ferry. There are almost no ferries between the provincial islands; you need to change in the capital. There are no ferries on Fridays.

Speedboat, speedboat. Most tourists use them: you can get to the island 3-4 times faster, and private boats run more often than ferries. The cost of a one-way trip: $ 25 - to Maafushi, $ 35 - to Thoddoo, $ 40-50 - to Ukulas. The further the island, the more expensive. Bargain! For example, we reduced the price of a boat from Ukulas to the airport by $20 for two. Attention: if the sea is rough, almost everyone in the boat gets motion sick. You can arrange a speedboat with the owner of your guest house.

You can get to Thoddoo Island by a special boat - (read my report on the link). Convenient for those who arrive late in the evening and do not want to spend the night in the capital. Save both time and money on a hotel.

How to save. For a holiday in the Maldives, choose islands close to the capital and get to them on a cheap ferry. A speedboat trip costs as much as 1-2 nights in a hotel, which is unreasonably expensive. The main thing - when buying air tickets, adjust to the ferry schedule to the island you need, so as not to lose a day or even more in the capital. Be sure to check the schedule with the hotel owner - it changes often.

Ferry transfer from the airport in Male it costs 10 rufiyaas ($ 0.7), travel time is 10 minutes. Communication between the capital and the airport is regular and daily, dhoni runs every 15 minutes during the day, and every half an hour at night.

Ferry to Maafushi. Departs from Villingili Ferry Terminal on Male. You can get there from the ferry pier, where the boat arrives from the airport, on foot (30 minutes - 1 hour) or by taxi. The ferry to Maafushi from Male costs 30 rufiyaas ($ 2), the ferry runs once a day - at 15:00. There is also an additional flight on Monday, Wednesday and Friday - at 10 am. The ferry departs back to Male at 7:30 am daily, except Friday. Come early to get a seat.

Quiet time on the local ferry - the locals are sleeping, and we are photographing them and the ocean.
During our holiday in the Maldives, the weather was unique and even, as the locals put it, extreme weather. For more than a week there was absolute calm. The Indian Ocean was as calm as a lake on a windless day.

7. How profitable it is to change money

It is best to go to the Maldives with a pack of beautiful brand new dollars - this is the favorite currency of the locals, even more beloved than their own. Local rufiyaas are, of course, in use, but hoteliers and sellers of excursions prefer to make payments in dollars. The rufiyaa exchange rate is pegged to the dollar and does not change.

It is unprofitable to withdraw money from ATMs in the Maldives - the commission is $ 7-10 for any amount. You can only rent in rufiyaa. This is not only a bad idea because of the commission: if you have rufiyaa left, you will not be able to exchange them for dollars before departure (more on that below).

Exchange on arrival only $20-50 for ferries and snacks. The rate at the airport is not very profitable - 15 rufiyaa per dollar. During your vacation, change money at the guest house, in shops or cafes. Look for a place with a heading of 15.42. Change small amounts so that by the end of your vacation you don't have any rufiyaa left. The problem is that no bank will exchange rufiyaa for dollars if you do not have a receipt that you previously bought rufiyaa from this particular bank. Here is such idiocy! I had planned all the expenses well, and I had only a few rufiyaa bills left for the collection. Do the same.

Sunset in the Maldives.

I love to travel and try to travel to new countries several times a year. So that the passion for travel does not greatly ruin the family budget, I plan my vacation myself, save on hotels and tickets.

This year I decided to visit the Maldives. Organizing a trip to the paradise islands is more difficult than seeing the Eiffel Tower or the Vatican. Tours are expensive, and the idea of ​​creating your own itinerary seemed too complicated. But then I realized that the logistics of a trip to the Maldives is no different from planning a European vacation, the main thing is not to oversleep the transfer to the island.

I'll tell you how I went to the Maldives for 1900 €, about 134000 ₽ for two. A tour through an agency would have cost us $4,000 or 227,000 ₽.

Tickets: 900 €

I started planning my trip by looking for cheap tickets. For several hours I studied and compared ticket prices through various aggregator sites and found a budget option. Qatar Airways offered tickets from Berlin to Hulhumale for 450 € per ticket, approximately 32,000 ₽.

You could still look and find a cheaper option, but then you would have to spend more than a day on the road. I do not like long transfers, so I settled on the option from Qatar Airways. I paid 900 € for two tickets, approximately 63315 ₽ - the main part of the expenses.

Airport transfer: 7 €

There are over 1200 islands in the Maldives. 4 are suitable for a budget holiday: Hulhumale, Male, Maafushi and Thoddoo. The rest of the islands are uninhabited or have expensive hotels with private beaches.

I chose Maafushi: there are many inexpensive hotels, you can walk around the entire island in an hour, and the capital Male is only 27 km away.

On the ferry sailed to the island of Male to spend the night and go to Maafushi. We got from Male to Maafushi in 2 hours on the state ferry. Ferry tickets cost 7 €, about 500 ₽, and a night in a hotel - 70 €, or 5000 ₽.

Sailing to our island

8 nights in Maafushi: 370 €

At 11 o'clock we boarded the local ferry and at about 13:00 we sailed to the island, where multi-colored lanterns were hung on the palm trees, and the locals met us with cocktails and flower garlands.

I booked the Water Breeze hotel on Maafushi - 7 nights cost 300 € or 21,000 ₽. I decided to stay on the island for another day and booked the Kaani Beach hotel for 70 € or 5000 ₽ per night.

The hotels are located almost on the beach and a 10-minute walk from the center of Maafushi. The rooms are not very big, but cozy and with free wi-fi.

In both hotels we were fed breakfast, and Kaani Beach had a pool.

I compare fruit prices and walk around the hotel

Getting to know the island

Ferry from Male to Maafushi Island

Excursions: 485 €

A budget holiday in the Maldives does not involve deserted white sand beaches - there are a lot of people on the common beaches. I did not want to sunbathe in the crowd of locals and tourists, so I planned active entertainment.

We spent 6 out of 8 days traveling and having fun. All excursions were booked at a nearby hotel through local travel companies.

On the first day, we went fishing in the open ocean, and then they prepared a dinner for us from freshly caught fish with a side dish and vegetables. For the tour they paid 45 € or 3160 ₽.

The next day we went to look for 15-meter sharks with which we could swim and take photos. We did not find sharks, but we took pictures with turtles, fish and saw stingrays. Between dives we were invited to lunch with meat, rice and vegetable side dishes. The tour cost 160 € or 11217 ₽. Due to the fact that the sharks never arrived, we were given a discount on all other excursions.

On the third day we went to the island-resort Vadoo. At first we were engaged in snorkeling - we swam in fins, with a mask and a breathing tube. And then we went to the evening show, where we were shown feeding sharks and other marine life. We were fed 3 times with local dishes and were treated to cocktails. A day on the island cost 180 € or 12600 ₽ for two.

In the remaining 3 days on excursions, we watched fish, turtles, sea urchins, met sharks and dolphins. We went to a hotel with houses on the water and to a small island in the ocean, where we were fed lunch and offered refreshing drinks. We spent another 100 € or 7000 ₽ for two on these excursions.

Encounter with sharks, rays and dolphins

Snorkeling on the island and feeding the fish

The fish I caught while fishing and then ate with vegetables at dinner

While snorkeling, I saw a turtle and tropical fish - they can be photographed without a flash

Meals: 100 €

We practically did not go to restaurants for dinner, breakfast was included in the price of the hotel, so we spent 100 € or 7000 ₽ on food. There are grocery stores on the island - we bought fruits and food for dinner in them. In the Maldives, they love Asian noodles, so we sometimes brewed it too.

The menu of Maldivian cafes has many variations on Asian themes, European steaks and burgers, as well as local dishes: fried pies and tuna balls, caramelized fruits, rice cakes and coconut doughnuts. Tourists often order Tom Yum and egg noodles. Dinner at a restaurant will cost 40 € or 2809 ₽.