How To Plan A Budget All Inclusive Maldives Honeymoon
Hey there young couples and new marries! Want an all-inclusive Maldives honeymoon without breaking the bank?
You are at the right place!
Picture yourselves strolling hand in hand along the pristine white-sand beaches, immersing yourselves in the crystal-clear turquoise waters, indulging in luxurious accommodations and multiple adventures without worrying about constantly reaching for your wallet. In this guide, we’ll show you how to plan the perfect all-inclusive Maldives honeymoon without sacrificing an ounce of romance or fun.
Are Maldives Expensive?
Yes or No. Yes, it could be very pricy costing you over USD 1,000 for a single night of resort accommodation. But, no you could also have a similar if not the same Maldivian experience for less than USD 1,100 (USD 550 per person). And this is my intention to provide you with a plan for building your all inclusive Maldives honeymoon economically.
By following our practice, you could enjoy visiting Maldivian icons, and luxury resorts, having Maldivian dishes, and experiencing different excursions. As a plus, you would even have a left-over budget for some Maldivian souvenirs for less than USD 1,100. This is the total Maldives trip cost for couple excluding flights and travel insurance.
I traveled to Maldives with my wife for 5 days. During these 5 days, we had one of the best experiences in our life. We totally loved the life-changing experience relative to the economical price.
Step 1 : Go For Resort Day Tour And No Need To Stay Over
Maldives is most famous for its world-class resorts that offer unparalleled opulence and indulgence. It is famous for its paradise setting like the sandy offshores, the ocean view, and the crystal-clear waters with bungalows. It is also very famous for its high price.
However, if you are good with taking photos with the water bungalow, chilling on the sun deck near the resort beach and unlimited food & drinks. Then you could just purchase the day tour package to some of those luxury Maldives resorts.
The only difference is you would not be sleeping there overnight. However, you would enjoy the same scenes, most of the same amenities, and even extra cocktails and Maldivian food. Why?
Most of the basic accommodation packages of the Maldives would include a buffet breakfast. Other options such as lunch, dinner, spa, and other excursions would require extra cost. Although, you could structure you all inclusive Maldives honeymoon by paying the full package including all the items, your budget will also skyrocket. I talked to several tourists who purchased the resort package. Most of them would start to get bored of the same heaven-like scene on day two or three.
On the other hand, most of the day tour Maldives resort packages would provide unlimited drinks , snacks, and a lunch buffet. And the price actually is ONLY around USD 100 pp !
To me, the best resort in Maldives for couples is to take the day tour instead. I don’t think I would want to spend another USD 900 or more for a couple of hours to sleep in the resort. Thus, I recommend you acquire the Maldives resort experience by doing the same.
Step 2 : Maldives Excursions Via Local Operator The Maafushi Island
Maafushi Island, located in the South Male Atoll of the Maldives, is one of the most populated island in Maldives. More importantly, it is a very good base for you to structure your all-inclusive Maldives honeymoon trip. On the island, there are multiple local tour operators such as Sunrise Beach, Triton, Seadrop, Salt Beach and ICom.
You can find all the must-go excursions such as snorkeling with nurse sharks, whale sharks, stingrays manta rays, and stingray corners there. On top of the marine life encounter, it also has trips for remote island visits, diving, and other water sports. You can also purchase the day tour to Maldives luxury resorts mentioned in Step 1 here.
I started our all inclusive Maldives honeymoon each day with at least a local tour. I highly recommend the shark tour to you which also includes other activities such as coral reef snorkeling, lunch at sandbanks, and lucky dolphins. The tour guide will help you to take photos with high quality GoPro under the water. Also, the sandbanks are the best for Maldives couple photos You may look into our post for the best Maldives excursions for detailed features of each tour.
The Maldives trip costs for couples in dollars here are more or less the same regardless of operators. The nurse shark trip is usually around USD 50, the whale shark (with manta) around USD 100, and the stingray one around USD 55. The trips would usually cover multiple activities, underwater photos, and a last stop at a sandbank for you to take Maldives couple photos.
That means it is very easy to plan your day with these budget-friendly Maldives trips.
Step 3 : Choose The Right Place To Stay For Your All Inclusive Maldives Honeymoon
Luxury resorts are not the only available options for your all inclusive Maldives honeymoon. There is a wide range of guesthouses, inns, and hotels available. For example, the cheapest price for a night in an inn would cost around USD 30 in Male the capital of Maldives. If you choose to stay on the Maafushi, the cost could be as long as USD 40 per night. Just make a quick search on Booking.com and you would see all the options avaialble.
Usually, you could have an offer from a very nice inn or hotel with buffet breakfast included for around USD 50 per night. I chose to stay in iCom Marina Sea View for around USD 260 for 4 nights with my wife. A slightly pricier hotel on the island with sea view and 3 minutes’ walk to the pier for all excursions. Particularly, the hotel is also very responsive on my inquiries on booking.com before my trip. Furthermore, it offers free breakfast and also offers various tours package at a cheap price. You could check out their excursions via the public website.
In general, Maafushi is a very small island which you could round the island in an hour. Most of the accommodations are within reasonable price range and very comfortable. Combining these with the resort day tour and Maldives excursions, you could easily structure your own all inclusive Maldives honeymoon.
Regardless of whether you choose guesthouse or hotel, staying on Maafushi Island allows you to experience the local Maldivian life. This is something available only available for budget travellers like us.
Step 4: Make Use of Public Transportations
To get from Male to Maafushi, there are several transportation options available. Here are some ways you can make the journey:
- Seaplane: The most expensive way to get to Maafushi. It would usually cost you around USD 300 per ride per person and is only available during that time. While it is the fastest option with around 25 minutes duration, I would not recommend it.
- Private Speedboat: It takes around 30 minutes the same as the scheduled speedboat. The only difference is it runs almost 24 hours a day. Although it costs around USD 150, it could be an emergency option for flight catch-up.
- Scheduled speedboat: Regular speedboats, by different local operators on Maafushi, it cost USD 25 per person. It is still far more expensive than a public ferry but could be the optimal option for short-stay budget travelers.
- Public Ferry: The most economical option is to take the public ferry from Male to Maafushi.. The ferry schedule is usually once per day from Male to Maafushi at 3 PM with an extra ferry on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 10 AM. For the return ride, it would be 7:30 AM with an extra ferry at 12:30 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Furthermore, the cost per ride is only around USD 1.5 per person. But remember, there is no public ferry on Friday. The ride duration is around 90 minutes.
My Recommendations
To squeeze the budget for other Maldives tourist activities, a public ferry is the best option. Yet, I would also recommend you use the scheduled speedboat for higher flexibility. For example, I chose to take the public ferry on my way to Maafushi and scheduled a speedboat back. In that way, I could have time for another Maldivian local tour even on my last day.
Step 5: What To Eat In Your All Inclusive Maldives Honeymoon
Your accommodation would usually include breakfast, while the local tour would offer a complimentary lunch. In that, most of the time you only need to pick for your dinner. Well, a lot of Maldivian dishes are available on Maafushi Island at a wallet-friendly price.
As a Country surrounded by the Ocean, seafood especially tuna is a must-eat Maldivian cuisine. You could easily find an offer of tuna steak and reef fish steak at around USD 10 with sides at Maafushi. Additionally, I would also recommend you try a mixed seafood platter for around USD 23 for two persons.
For à la carte menu, I recommend you to go to “Mr. Octopus” which is 5 minutes walk from the pier. The restaurant provides a romantic settings and various options of Maldivian food at a good price. I and my wife had a hearty seafood platter, tuna steak, and octopus for USD 36.
Alternatively, you could also go for a dinner buffet on the island. There are a range of options on the island from USD 8 to USD 18 per person. Even the cheapest dinner buffet would include a Maldivian grilled fish. So it is a value-for-money option.
Extra Ingredient For Your All Inclusive Maldives Honeymoon: Male & Hulhumale
Adding more variety to your honeymoon, you should also spend half a day visiting Male (visit here for the detailed attractions). Most of the icons in the capital city of Maldives are within 30 minutes walking distance from the pier. Remember the public ferry schedules I mentioned?
You could easily pay a short visit to the Maldivian icons like Male Local Market, the Fish Market, and Old Friday Mosque in 2 hours.
If you can spare another 2 hours before your departure flight, you could also take a taxi to Hulhumale. Hulhumale is one of the most modern reclaimed islands near the Male. A taxi ride from the airport to Hulhumale is just USD 5 (or 80 MYR). Hulhumale offers a distinct experience with a more contemporary setting and multiple economical local restaurants.
Wrapping Up The All Inclusive Maldives Honeymoon
In conclusion, planning a budget all-inclusive Maldives honeymoon is absolutely possible without compromising on romance and fun. You will also be able to experience Maldivian culture in this way.
You may find the summarized steps plus a cost table for your reference.
All The Steps In A Nutshell
Firstly, consider opting for a resort day tour instead of staying overnight. This allows you to enjoy the same breathtaking views, amenities, and even extra cocktails and Maldivian food, all without the hefty price tag of a full resort stay.
Next, explore the various excursions offered by local operators on Maafushi Island. From snorkeling with nurse sharks and whale sharks to visiting remote islands and engaging in water sports, there are plenty of budget-friendly options to choose from. These tours often include multiple activities, underwater photos, and a stop at a sandbank for those perfect Maldives couple photos.
When it comes to accommodation, consider staying in guesthouses or hotels on Maafushi Island. These options offer comfortable rooms at reasonable prices with buffet breakfast.
To save money on transportation, utilize public options such as the public ferry from Male to Maafushi. While seaplanes and private speedboats may be faster, they come with a higher price tag. The public ferry is the most economical choice, costing only around USD 1.5 per person and offering a unique experience.
As for dining, take advantage of the complimentary breakfast provided by your accommodation and the complimentary lunch offered during local tours. For dinner, explore the local restaurants on Maafushi Island, where you can enjoy delicious Maldivian cuisine at affordable prices. Seafood, particularly tuna, is a must-try, and places like “Mr. Octopus” offer a range of options at reasonable prices. You can also opt for dinner buffets on the island, which provide value-for-money options. During your stay
For added variety, consider spending half a day visiting Male, the capital city of Maldives. Explore iconic sites such as the Male Local Market, the Fish Market, and the Old Friday Mosque. If you have time before your departure flight, take a taxi to Hulhumale, a modern reclaimed island near Male, where you can experience a more contemporary setting and enjoy economical local restaurants.
Lastly, remember to adhere to the dress code in the Maldives, which generally requires modest clothing i.e. long sleeves, trousers and face cover (for female), especially when visiting religious sites. However, you can wear a bikini at bikini beaches and resorts.
With proper planning and smart choices, you can create an unforgettable all-inclusive Maldives honeymoon that fits your budget. So go ahead and embark on this romantic adventure without breaking the bank!
Cost Summary Table For Your Reference
| Expenditures For My All Inclusive Maldives Honeymoon | ||
| Items | USD | Remarks |
| Accommodations | 264 | 4 Nights at iCom Marina Sea View including breakfast |
| Maldivian Excursions | 650 | Including the below excursions for two persons: Whale Shark & Manta Ray Nurse Sharks Stingray Corner Resort Day Tour Sunset Fishing |
| Dinner & Other Food | 110 | Including: 5 dinners & 2 lunches |
| Transportations | 67 | Including: Public Ferry Airport <-> Male Public Ferry Male ->Maafushi Regular Speed Boat Maafushi -> Male Taxi Airport <-> Hulhumale |
| Total | 1,091 | |
What goes beyond Maafushi?
If you are have already had fun in Maafushi and looking for exploring other islands next time. There are other options like Kandima that you may want to check out.
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