Are you longing to visit the picture-perfect paradise Maldives but having second thoughts?; Here’s my experience and tips for you
I visited Maafushi island in the last week of December 2021 with my bestie. When I said I was planning to visit the Maldives, here’s what I heard.
“What is there to see other than the sea?”
“It is just a luxury honeymoon destination.”
“You must stay in an overwater villa to experience the Maldives.”
“Maldives is insanely expensive!!!”
You should not get confused about those misconceptions and plan your trip to this tropical paradise. Here’s why:
Don’t have deep pockets? Don’t worry!
The Maldives is made up of about 1200 small islands scattered over the Indian Ocean. Finding accommodation in the Maldives can be overwhelming since options vary from ultra-luxurious resorts to small guesthouses. If you look into the rates of resorts on private islands, they are pretty expensive, especially in the peak tourist season from November to April. There are inhabited islands where Maldivians live, but welcoming tourists, and Maafushi is one such island. You can have an affordable holiday in these inhabited islands while experiencing the local culture.
The cost of your holiday may depend significantly on the season. You may be able to grab some best deals during the off-season.
Food and Accommodation:
Using Booking.com, you can find excellent accommodation in Maafushi or anywhere in the Maldives.
We stayed at a Deluxe Double Room City View at Kaani Palm Beach and a Deluxe Twin Room Sea View at Triton Prestige Seaview and Spa on a B&B basis. If I rate these two hotels out of 10, I will give 9/10 to Kaani Palm Beach and 8/10 to Triton Prestige Seaview and Spa. Both hotels had roof-top infinity pools with fascinating views and incredibly friendly staff.
We had to split our stay into two hotels since we made reservations at the last moment and couldn’t find availability for 3 nights straight within our requirements and budget. We had a list of requirements, including a pool with a sea view, balcony, buffet breakfast, and 7+ ratings on Booking.com.
There were plenty of multi-cuisine restaurants in Maafushi. We loved the homemade ice cream at Mr. Octopus. Their food was good and reasonably priced.
If your budget allows staying at a resort, consider booking an all-inclusive stay and at least a one-night stay in an over-water villa.
Transportation:
Depending on the distance and how much you are willing to spend, you can use a public ferry, speedboat service, or a seaplane to travel between the islands. These transfer options may not be available at times you wish, so plan ahead to avoid any disappointments of waiting time.
From the Velena International Airport to Maafushi, we used the Kaani speedboat service, and from Maafushi to the airport, we used Maafushi Tours speedboat service. The cost of both speedboat services was 20 USD per pax one way.
Pro tip: The longer the distance from the airport, the more the cost will be. To some resorts, seaplane transfer can be the only option.
Wonder what the activities you can do in the Maldives are? Here’s what
Is your adrenaline looking for adventure? Do you enjoy the underwater world? Are you a photography maniac? Excursions available in the Maldives are there for you all!
We did parasailing and jet-skiing through Kaani Water Sports. We made the reservations through the hotel and didn’t do any pre-bookings. On a separate note, I am afraid of heights, and I cannot swim. The parasailing experience is a huge victory to me.
Alright, let’s get back to the topic! There are multiple tour operators based in Maafushi. They are open till late at night, where you can compare and book excursions that suit you and your budget. They arrange day trips to resorts, including buffet lunch, alcoholic beverages, and some packages include day use rooms. If you dream of visiting a heavenly resort island, this is a good option because these day tours are not that pricey. That was in our plan, but unfortunately, we couldn’t do that.
We chose a half-day trip from Salt Beach Tours, which included snorkeling at two points, dolphin watching, lunch at a sandbank, and GoPro shots for just 25 USD per pax.
If you want to relax and swim in the sea, you have Maafushi bikini beach without any price.
Pro tip: Some tour operators don’t work on Friday.
Would you love to take some Insta-worthy pictures? Here’s how
Photography is the least you have to worry about if you visit the Maldives. The perfectly bright sun, turquoise lagoons, and snow-white sandy beaches — what else do you need for a perfect photoshoot?
All the tour operators based in Maafushi provided photography and videography services, including drone shots and underwater pictures. It might be included in your tour package, or that can come for a very affordable price.
We cannot express in words how much we love the drone videos of our parasailing experience.
What else should you know before your first trip to the Maldives? Here are four things you should know to do the Maldives right
Before planning my trip, I had no idea of the Maldives other than the photos I had seen of beautiful overwater villas in turquoise lagoons.
- Almost no alcohol
The Maldives is a Muslim country. Alcohol is prohibited for the locals. You cannot find alcohol sold in inhabited islands, including the capital city Male and the Maafushi island.
This doesn’t apply to resorts and liveaboards.
Not staying at a resort and wanting some booze? Head over to Maafushi! Yes, I know I said alcohol selling and consumption is banned in Maafushi. That said they have some yachts anchored in the sea near Maasfushi, which serve alcohol.
2. You can use USD, or in some cases, you must
Even in Maafushi, some tour operators and hotels accept USD only, not Maldivian Rufiyaa. Credit/ Debit cards are accepted almost everywhere. I suggest using cards wherever possible during your stay, so you don’t have to worry about currency exchange.
3. Respect the locals, their culture, and religion
If you choose to visit a local island or the capital city of Male, remember the Maldives is an Islamic nation, so there are some rules you need to be aware of. Leave the pork products, tobacco products without a health warning printed on them, and religious books at home to avoid any hassle at the airport.
Bikini is not allowed everywhere, but tourists have their own beach
You are not allowed to wear bikinis on the public beaches in the inhabited islands. On these islands, you can find a dedicated bikini beach for tourists.
In Maafushi, the Bikini beach is right next to the Kaani Palm Beach hotel.
On the resort islands, local cultural restrictions do not apply. Tourists can consume alcohol, pork and wear any type of clothing. Public display of affection is also not prohibited outside of local islands.
4. Don’t forget the sunscreen and aloe vera gel
Protecting your skin from being damaged while enjoying your holiday is essential.
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Keep in mind you don’t have to stay in luxury overwater villas to enjoy the Maldives. I am sure it would be an incredible experience, though. We truly enjoyed the stay at Maafushi.
The Maldives is just a one-hour flight away from Sri Lanka with a visa on arrival. I cannot wait to visit this as pretty as a picture paradise again!
Happy travels!
