Where to stay in the Maldives on a budget? Beautiful beaches, perfect island living, water sports, and a great range of marine life make the Maldives a well-liked holiday destination. Still, it is sometimes considered as a costly travel destination.
Many those who enjoy travel wish to see the Maldives. Finding cheap ways to get there will help you make this holiday dream come true without spending much money.
A new type of travel called “budget travel” is easier on the wallet and focuses on saving money over luxury. Your budget can go a long way in the Maldives, a tropical paradise, if you plan and take advantage of every chance to save money. We’ve compiled this guide to the Maldives and how to save money with cheap Maldives holiday packages on your trip with Low Cost Vibes.
Rates for each day in the Maldives
- Bed and Breakfast Room: £234 – £1560 per night
- All-Inclusive Room (approx.): Add at least 30% to the above rates
- One-Way Flight from Male: £195 – £312
- Domestic Trip (Male to US and back): £117 – £429
- Glass of Wine: £7.80
- One-Tank Dive: £78 – £156
- 4-Day PADI Course: £312 – £546
- Hotel on Nearby Island: £23.40 – £46.80 per night
- Dinner on Nearby Island: £5.46 – £15.60
Where to stay in Maldives on a budget
Even though the Maldives isn’t the cheapest place to go on holiday, you can save money if you plan and are willing to give in some places.
For instance, where to stay in Maldives on a budget? staying in an over-water villa (seriously overrated, by the way!) will cost more than staying in a beach villa. If you drink alcohol, you should skip the alcohol for the length of your stay to save some money. We’ve compiled this guide to help you see the Maldives on a budget.
The 11 best-budget islands provide all the Maldives has to offer for a reasonable price. Those who would rather spend money on breathtaking scenery and native way of life would find these tropical islands to be a fantastic choice. They are less expensive than posh resorts including water houses.
One of the best things about a cheap holiday in the Maldives is that the best islands are close to Male airport, have beautiful beaches, clean rooms, great food, fun activities, and great service. This list of 11 Maldives islands will lead you to many interesting finds, a taste of Maldivian culture, and an experience you will never forget. You can snorkel on the house reef, go on tours to see dolphins, and dive with Manta rays and Whale Sharks, among other things.
Maafushi, South Male Atoll
It offers several places to stay and is near Male Airport. There are also many tours, bars, and fun diving spots nearby.
Maafushi is a beautiful island that can be reached from Male in 35 minutes by speedboat or 1.5 hours by ship. It has beautiful coral reefs, world-class dive sites, white sand beaches, clear blue water, a wide range of cheap hotels and guest houses, and many fun things to do and see. Maafushi is currently the only inhabited island in the nation with the greatest number of guesthouses, with over 50 affordable motels. Some have referred to it as the “capital of low-cost tourism.”
Ukulhas, North Ari Atoll
A cheap holiday for couples, families, honeymooners, beachgoers, snorkelers, divers, and big game fisherman.
One of the inhabited islands of Alifu-Alifu atoll is Ukulhas. It has features unique to the Maldives, and it’s open to budget tourists with several guest houses and economy hotels on the island. Today, an affordable holiday on Ukulhas Island is one of the best ways to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea of paradise in Maldives without breaking the bank. The island is known for its good ecology, clean environment, and high marine biodiversity. If you stay here, you can become part of the local fishing community and feel like you’re in the Maldives.
Thoddoo, North Ari Atoll
Great beaches, a real Maldivian holiday for families and couples, snorkelling, diving, and fishing.
Thoddoo is an inhabited island in the Maldives’ North Ari lagoon. It has emerald-green water and golden sand. Thoddoo is a great place for a cheap barefoot holiday. It is 67 km from Male Airport and 20 km north of Thulusdhoo1. The beautiful island has more than 20 cheap hotels, guest houses, and warm blue waters with lots of marine life. It’s a great place for cheap snorkelling, diving, water sports, and island-hopping tours, and it has some beautiful sandbanks. There is also beautiful nature on Thoddoo Island, a lively underwater world, and a big white sand bikini beach for tourists.
Dharavandhoo, Baa Atoll
It is cheap, easy to get to by plane, great for families and couples, and you can snorkel with manta rays and whale sharks and dive.
The cheap beach experience on Dharavandhoo Island will blow your mind; the main thing to do in this part of the Maldives is not to miss the amazing water adventures, where every trip will be full of new and exciting experiences. A result? A trip you’ll never forget and moments that will last a lifetime. The beautiful Dharavandhoo Island is only 117 km from Male Airport. It is in the middle of the Maldives’ only UNESCO marine nature reserve and is in a great spot for everything the country offers. You must not miss the chance to swim with Manta rays in Hanifaru Bay.
Dhigurah, South Ari Atoll
Family holidays, romantic getaways, cheap trips to the beach, swimming with manta rays and whale sharks, snorkelling, and diving.
Dhigurah, which means “long island” in Dhivehi, is in the South Ari Atoll in the Maldives. One can reach it in 20 minutes by internal flight from Velana (Male) airport. An island with people is considered one of the biggest in the Maldives because it is 3 kilometres long and budgetary wide. Some of the best places to dive in the country are near Dhigurah. Some are Kuda Rah Thila, Manta Point, and Reethi Thila. You can also swim with whale sharks and manta rays off Dhigurah Island. So, if you want an adventure under the sea for your holiday, start planning your trip to this beautiful island.
Thulusdhoo, North Male Atoll
It’s close to Malé Airport and great for a cheap beach holiday with a partner or scuba diving.
A beautiful island called Thulusdhoo in North Male Atoll can be reached in 30 minutes by speedboat from Male airport. You don’t have to be a surfer to visit. Only 25 kilometres from Velana Airport, this beach has the same ocean, blue waters, white sand, big waves, palm trees, amazing sea life, and lots of fun. Thulusdhoo now is more than simply a surf. There is a beautiful beach on the island with fine white sand. One part of the beach is called “bikini” and is only for foreign tourists. There is a diving school in Thulusdhoo where you can snorkel, dive, do water sports, go fishing, or relax on the beach.
Omadhoo, North Ari atoll
Beach, house reef snorkelling, couples, families, swimming with whale sharks, diving, and the real Maldives.
Omadhoo is a cute fishing town near Ari Atoll on the well-kept and friendly Maldives Island of With Love. Maldives is a beautiful place with a quiet island life and traditional customs, unlike Omadhoo’s 5-star resorts. Like sharks and turtles, a beautiful house reef has healthy, colourful corals and amazing sea life. One can swim and dive here rather nicely. A PADI dive centre is on the island. Beginners can find many great places to dive near Omadhoo. A bikini beach with soft white sand and umbrellas can be found in the southwest of this island. There are only a few guest homes to choose from, but the food is great, and the overall experience will surprise you with its classy low cost!
Bodufolhudhoo, North Ari Atoll
For couples, peace and privacy on the beach, great value, house reef snorkelling.
This small island in the North Ari Atoll is a great choice for a cheap but fun holiday in the Maldives. The beautiful island is known for its amazing marine life and has a great house reef for snorkelling. Well-known locations like Nika Island Resort, Velidoo, and Gangehi surround it. The island goes under the moniker “great folhudhoo.” Fascinatingly, the smaller island of Kudafolhudhoo means “little folhudhoo,” and is below it. Besides the guest houses, Bodufolhudhoo now has two local bars, a big playground for kids, a PADI dive school, and a centre for water sports. Because the island is so small and the people there are so friendly, you can relax and enjoy your Maldives experience.
Dhiffushi, North Male Atoll
Beach excursions, sports, couples, families, groups, and solo travel.
Gorgeous Dhiffushi Island is in Kaafu Atoll, in the middle of the Maldives. It’s only 45 minutes by speedboat from Malé. The island’s beautiful crystal blue waves and white sands make it a tropical paradise and a great choice for a cheap Maldives holiday. One of the most authentic fishing villages in the island nation is on Dhiffushi Island. You should go there if you want to feel whatever it’s like to be in the Maldives!
Thinadhoo, Vaavu Atoll
Families, couples, beaches, things to do, scuba diving, snorkelling at house reefs, and deep sea fishing.
Thinadhoo is one of the inhabited islands in Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives. It is home to Plumeria Maldives. Thinadhoo is a great place for a holiday on any budget. It has beautiful sandy beaches, blue water, and a great house reef for snorkelling. People love to fish for big game, swim, and dive off the island of Thinadhoo these days. Thinadhoo is a cheap way to see the country, and we’re sure you’ll find your piece of happiness there.
Hanimaadhoo, Haa Dhaalu Atoll
The Maldives are easy to get to by air and offer cheap holidays with beaches, a wide range of tours, yoga, big game fishing, diving, and more.
Haa Dhaalu Atoll is in the untouched north of the Maldives. Hanimaadhoo is one of the islands there that people live on. Hanimaadhoo is easily reached from Male International Airport by several daily 45-minute flights. It has miles of white sand beaches, a turquoise lagoon, lush vegetation, and privacy in untouched nature, so budget travellers can experience the real Maldives while staying in modern facilities. Hanimadhoo is a real gateway to the Maldives, where you can be spoilt with warm Maldivian hospitality. It’s perfect for water sports and nature fans.
