Look, when you hear the word "Maldives", your brain instantly projects two things: unbelievable turquoise-blue water and a bill that would force you to sell a kidney on the black market.
Instagram is full of those wooden bungalows built over the water, where one night easily costs €1,500 and a plate of pasta won't drop below €40. If you thought this destination was reserved for billionaires' honeymoons and Premier League players, Martin has excellent news for you.
It is perfectly possible to go to the Maldives on a "middle-class" budget. The secret is to ditch the "Resorts" and embrace the country's real life. Get your fins ready, here's the low-cost guide to paradise:
1. The Golden Secret: The "Local Islands" 🏝️
Up until 2009, tourists could only stay on private resort islands. Today, you can stay on the islands where Maldivians actually live (the Local Islands, like Maafushi, Thulusdhoo or Dhigurah).
Instead of paying a fortune for a private villa, you stay in spotless guesthouses and small hotels for €50 to €80 a night. The sand is the same, the blue sea is exactly the same, and you save thousands of euros.
2. The "Bikini Beach" and the Alcohol Rule 👙
The Maldives are a strictly Islamic country. On local islands, you can't walk around in swimwear. But don't panic! Every island ready for tourism has a fenced-off, beautiful beach called "Bikini Beach", where tourists can wear bikinis and swim shorts to their heart's content.
Another detail: selling alcohol is forbidden on local islands. The solution? There are "bar boats" anchored just off the islands (like in Maafushi). You hop on a free 2-minute boat ride and drink your beer watching the sunset in the middle of the ocean.
3. Public Boat vs. Seaplane 🛥️
You land at Malé airport and want to head to your island. The luxury resorts force you to take a seaplane (which costs around €400 to €500 per person).
If you're heading to a local island, you can catch the Speedboat (fast boat) which costs around €25 to €30. If you're even more frugal and have time, the public ferries (traditional wooden boats) take you for a measly €2!
4. Swimming with Sharks at Bargain Prices 🦈
Going to the Maldives and not going snorkeling is almost a crime. At luxury resorts, an excursion to see manta rays or whale sharks costs over €200.
On local islands, the same excursions, going to the same coral reefs where the rich hotels' boats anchor, cost around €30 to €50, with lunch included!
Now That You've Saved a Fortune... Invest in Comfort at Departure!
Give yourself a round of applause. You've just figured out how to go to the Maldives for a fraction of the price. The flight is booked, the guesthouse reserved, and the suitcase packed with sunscreen.
But long trips demand a certain level of comfort, otherwise you arrive at your destination already needing a holiday from the holiday. The flight to the Maldives is tiring and long (usually with one or two stopovers in the Middle East).
Are you going to ruin your "peace of mind" right here in Portugal? Trying to catch public transport with heavy suitcases, or praying the Uber that accepted your dawn ride doesn't cancel in the next 5 minutes, is the opposite of the Maldives vibe.
Play it like a pro. What you saved on the hotel out there is enough to pay for our parking as many times as you like. Hop in your own car, drive calmly, and hand us the keys right at the airport Departures door.
Multipark's Valet Parking service takes care of moving your vehicle to a fenced-off, secure facility. You head straight to check-in and start dreaming about turquoise water. And when you come back, when you land exhausted and jet-lagged, your car will be waiting for you, warm and ready to roll home.
Luxury holiday, without the luxury budget. Run a quote and book your Valet Parking on the Multipark website and dive into paradise!
