How to plan a vacation to the Maldives for under €1000? When is the best time to go? What about transportation, payments, internet, and other things? Keep reading. We bring you a unique summary of tips and tricks on how to travel smart and affordably in the Maldives.
Tip: Also read our detailed guides on the Maldives
How to plan a vacation to the Maldives for under 1000€?
- Flights – we bought a round-trip ticket from Bratislava to Male in a super deal with Flydubai for 376 EUR
- Accommodation directly – negotiate a better price for your accommodation directly with the guesthouse via email. You can find tips on guesthouses through booking.com, then contact them through Google or Facebook. Accommodation in guesthouses with full board can be obtained from 40€ / night / person, and as a bonus, you will experience authentic local life
- Accommodation through an agency – if you are afraid to negotiate accommodation directly, choose a low-cost agency that will cover your entire stay. We can recommend the agency Wild Maldives, which arranged everything from airport pick-up to optional excursions
When to go to the Maldives?
- The answer is anytime, we were there in June off-season, even during Ramadan and it was great, we had rain one morning
- The main season is November – April, but the most popular months are December – March
- Daylight is approximately 12 hours year-round from 6 am to 6 pm
- Time difference is +3 hours
- Ramadan has no restrictions for tourists, but locals can only eat and drink after sunset
How to choose the right island from over 200 islands?
- Definitely according to the reviews, plus you can get inspired by our selection of a pair of paradise islands Fulhadhoo and Fehendhoo (Goidhoo Baa Atoll), where we can provide direct contacts
Transport and transfers
- Don’t stress if you don’t have airport transfer, Maldivians have all the time in the world
- For overnight near the airport, it’s better to choose the island of Hulhumale, where there is also a bikini beach, rather than the overcrowded Male
- Ferries between the airport, Male, and Hulhumale operate every 10-15 minutes and cost 5-7 MVR
- Interactive ferry schedules are excellently presented on the Wild Maldives agency website
- Islands accessible by local boats from Male for a few dollars – Villingili, Rasdhoo, Ukulhas, Bodufolhudhoo, Mathiveri, Feridhoo, Maafushi
- On Fridays, hardly any boats operate, and in bad weather, boats may be delayed or canceled
- A taxi around Male with luggage costs 25-35 MVR
- Speedboats to Fulhadhoo or Fehendhoo operate only 3 times a week – Monday, Thursday, and Saturday at 9:00 AM
Internet and wifi
- You can buy a local SIM card for 2-3 USD, with a 2GB package valid for 30 days costing 13 USD through the Dhiraagu network
- Wifi internet is a standard feature in guesthouses
- Orange doesn’t have a data partner in the Maldives, so your mobile data won’t work at all
How to pay in the Maldives?
- You can practically pay everywhere in dollars (USD) or Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR).
- We recommend paying cash in dollars at guesthouses, as there is usually a standard 4% fee for card payments.
- The official exchange rate for the dollar to the Maldivian Rufiyaa is 1 USD = 15.42 MVR; typically rounded to 1:15, but in small shops, they may try to round it to 1:10, so it’s better to exchange at a guesthouse that gave us a fair 1:15 rate.
- There is a fee of 100 MVR (approximately €6) for ATM withdrawals.
General advice
- Vaccination is neither mandatory nor recommended
- You can buy mosquito repellent in local stores for 25-30 MVR
- Bring a plug adapter – three-pin British type
- Alcohol is strictly prohibited, but besides resorts, you can officially get alcohol at the Hulhule Island Hotel at the airport
- Women must cover their shoulders and knees, while for men it’s not as strict, shorts and t-shirts are enough
- Snorkeling is best at low tide, usually in the morning – find out the times from a local
- You may have trouble finding postcards and stamps in guesthouses, so it’s better to buy them at the airport at Post Shope or directly in Male
- Use sunscreen with a minimum factor of 25
- Sand from the beach is allowed in large luggage, corals and shells are prohibited
- The weekend days are Friday and Saturday, the workweek starts on Sunday
