The Maldives is a beautiful tropical paradise you should experience at least once in your lifetime. Nestled in the middle of the Indian Ocean, it consists of a thousand coral islands teeming with colorful ocean life.
Unfortunately, most travelers hesitate going here due to its reputation as being too expensive. But that is actually not the case. You can go and visit Maldives on a budget if you want to, without sacrificing the tropical experience its crystal blue waters are famous for. Here are some tips you should consider:
When booking you accommodation, avoid staying in luxury resorts. This goes without saying, since paying for your accommodation usually takes up half of your travel budget. Instead, try staying at budget hotels in the capital, or do it online through travel booking sites such as Agoda or Booking.com.
Airbnb also offers relatively cheap accommodation in beautiful guesthouses, so definitely check that out. Prince range for these types of accommodations usually starts from $30-60 a night, relatively cheaper than most luxury resorts.
Look for the cheapest restaurants. Since Maldives is a tropical country, you'll mostly see seafood-based dinners and lunches. The number of dining options is based on the size of the island, so the bigger the island, the more restaurants you'll see.
Try circling all the restaurants nearby and eat at the cheapest you can find. You would discover that for $5-10 a meal, you can gorge on delicious seafood and other local cuisine of Maldives. Guesthouses usually offer breakfast as well, so that's a big plus.
In getting the price for the water excursions, don't be afraid to haggle. You'll be surprised! Prices for their travel packages can actually still be lowered, just negotiate with the guesthouse you're staying for a more affordable price.
However, try inquiring on other guesthouses as well on how much they offer their activity packages, so that you could compare and get the best offer. Also keep in mind if they include lunch, scuba or diving gear and other local fees in their packages, so that it would be more convenient. For snorkeling trips, island hopping and fishing trips, they usually cost about $50 each.
So that's it! You don't have to spend thousands of dollars to relish in the beauty of Maldives. Bring your loved ones and have the best time of your life.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
