You can stay in the Maldives ‘on a budget’ with island hotels from £24.50pp
The Maldives is one destination that most people would happily travel to if it wasn’t for the extreme cost.
The nation is made up of a series of islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean.
So, it’s filled with white sand beaches, coral reefs, bright turquoise ocean and the perfect conditions for scuba diving and snorkelling.
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You can even hop ion a boat and see playful dolphins flipping and swimming around you!
Unfortunately, even if you manage to save up for the long flights a stay on one of the luxury resorts can set you back thousands every night.
Meaning the Maldives is generally out of most peoples price point… except there is a way to stay in the country on a smaller budget.
There are a number of islands that aren't taken over by luxury resorts and overwater bungalows.
If you choose to stay on an island where locals live you'll far far less per night.
But, you'll still get to take advantage of the natural beauty of the areas white sand, blue water and sea life.
On Fulidhoo there’s plenty of fun to be had and you can stay at the Galaxy Sunrise Sea View hotel from £49 between two adults sharing.
That’s just £24.50 each for a night in paradise.
On Fulidhoo you can head to one of three beaches – one is a specific bikini beach for those who want to wear less modest clothing as on the other beaches you will have to cover up more.
There’s also a coral reef on the north of the island and there are excursions and fishing cruises offered on Fulidhoo.
Another great island to stay on is Maafushi.
Maafushi has lots of restaurants and bars to spend your days in eating fresh Maldivian seafood and fruits – but, it's important to note that alcohol is banned in the Maldives outside of resorts.
It’s close to Male and you can reach the capital by ferry for about £1.25.
You can book island hopping experiences and even snorkel with whale sharks and manta rays.
The cheapest hotel we found on Maafushi is the Ci-Ritorno View.
A stay costs from £31 a night for single travellers or £41 for a room between two.
Thoddoo is another local inhabited island where you can stay.
This island is where plenty of exotic fruits like bananas and watermelons are grown so the food is top notch.
As usual, the beaches are stunning and there’s also a bikini beach filled with fish and turtles.
There are mosques you can visit to take in the culture and you can hop on the speed boat ferries.
The cheapest stay we found on the island was at Athiriveli where a room will set you back from £40 a night.
Other inhabited islands in the Maldives include Rasdhoo and Gulhi.
If you manage do do this then you can spend far less on your Maldives holiday, but you’re probably still worrying about the cost of flights.
Thankfully, Wizz Air runs a service from Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, to Male with tickets from around 359AED (that’s just £79).
You can fly with them from Rome to Abu Dhabi for around £65.
Finally, you can get to Rome from the UK for £15 each way with Vueling.
So, while you might need to make a few stops and transfers you can get from the UK to Male for just £159.
*All prices were correct at the time of writing, but are subject to change at any time
Would you do a Maldives holiday on a budget? Tell us in the comments section…
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