Where to Stay in The Maldives for All Budgets

The Maldives is synonymous with paradise in my imagination so arriving there for the first time didn’t feel real. I almost didn’t believe it was happening until I first stepped in that impossibly perfect silky white sand and unreal clear turquoise water. The Maldives traditionally has been a luxury splurge destination and while this is still true, now there are many different lodging options and I’m here to help you decide where to stay in the Maldives!

How to Get to the Maldives?

The Maldives is a country made up of 1200 islands, more specifically atolls, coral reefs and low-lying coral islands. Only 200 islands are inhabited. The country is actually 99% water which is simply wild. Officially called the Republic of Maldives, these islands are in the Indian Ocean just southwest of Sri Lanka and India.

No matter how you get here, unless you live in a neighboring country, just count on the fact that it will take a long time and will not be cheap. The largest airport in the Maldives is Velana International Airport in the capital of Male. Although there are other international airports, this is the one you will most likely use. The airport has 3 terminals – one international, one domestic and another water dome for seaplane operations. The highest number of seaplane operations in the world happen to be from this airport in Maldives! The airport is not actually on Male Island but on Hulhule Island in the North Male Atoll.

From most big cities in the United States, you are looking at at least one stop and it will take over a day to arrive. In some cases, it will be two stops and take 2 days. Ths cost will be anywhere from $1200 to $1700, depending on the season and when you book. I suggest using Google Flights to start your search but as an alternative to just searching from your city to Male, try looking at flights from your city to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or Doha, particularly if you live on the East Coast and then a separate flight from Dubai to Male. Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways are some of the best and you can always break up the trip and spend a day or two in one of those cities. I have started to use Dubai as a hub for regional travel and it’s been convenient. Also, consider using your points! That is beyond the scope of this post but Chase Ultimate Points now transfer to Emirates, both Amex and Marriott Points transfer to almost any airline and American Airline Advantage Points can be used for Cathay Pacific or Qatar Airways. All of which can help get you to the Maldives.

Getting Around The Maldives

As of August 2019 there is the Sinamale bridge connecting the airport on Hulhule island to Male so you can take a taxi and be in Male in about 15 minutes. Many hotels in Male will offer you a pick-up. Looking into the price of transport ahead of time is wise and will help inform your choice of lodging. You can choose islands closer to Male to spend less time traveling and of course, less money.

Your options to get to your island of choice from Male are:

• Local ferry (the slowest but cheapest and don’t leave directly from the airport, only from Male)
• Speedboat (faster and more expensive)
• Seaplane. This is the fastest and most expensive option. You can get to almost any place in the Maldives in 15-60 ming. Note that seaplanes only fly during the day and to resorts. Sometimes you have to also take a speedboat to the smaller islands once landing. This is usually covered by the resort. The cost of a seaplane is around $500 per person round trip.
• Domestic Flight. You can book your own flight from Male to an island closer to your resort and then take a speedboat. There are 4 international airports and 7 domestic in the Maldives. These flights cost around $150.

Where to Stay in the Maldives

Many factors will go into this decision but the most obvious is price. You have to factor in the cost of speedboat or seaplane. Also, the distance from Male may be a time factor for you so definitely research that. You may want a smaller more secluded type of place or maybe you want a more social vibe-y resort. If activities are your thing you need to make sure the resort you choose has plenty of options. Some have great diving and snorkeling available and some do not. The types of restaurants available are also something to consider. You have to consider that with many Maldives resort islands, you cannot just go out to eat like you would in a village or town. You are limited to what is on that island. Also, as of 2009, visitors can now go to local islands, not just the resorts. This has opened Maldives up to more authentic experiences for people who don’t want to spend big resort kind of cash.

There are places to stay in the Maldives for all budgets! Here are some options. Share on X

Kandolhu

This is what you call a splurge but well worth it for a one-of-a-kind luxury experience. Kandolhu is luxurious without being obnoxious. It still feels casual and trendy but the service is top-notch and 5 star all the way. Located 70 kilometers southwest of Male in North Ari Atoll, Kandolhu can be reached in 25 minutes by seaplane. There are only 30 villas here so it is on the “exclusive” side.

I spent 4 nights here splitting my time between the least expensive option, the Beach Bungalow, and the most expensive, the Overwater Pool Villa. They have four types of rooms Beach Villa with or without a pool and Water Villa with or without a pool. I wanted to experience both and honestly, I enjoyed both in different ways.

The Beach Villas are, as the name implies, right on the beach. You have a decent amount of privacy here thanks to a well designed “backyard” and adequate spacing between Villas. The Beach Villas are also closer walking distance to the various restaurants. Ours happened to be right next to the taco join which was almost too convenient.

There are 5 excellent restaurants on the property including seafood, Italian, Mexican and Japanese Hibachi. Kandolhu has seriously excellent food and lots of variety.

The service is amazing with staff providing filtered fresh cold water in your room twice a day, cleaning twice a day and bringing a little treat like a piece of cake every evening. We were overly excited about the cake delivery. There is also a minibar in every room. If you are a big eater and drinker you can check out the inclusion option to prepay and have unlimited food and beverage.

Book Kandolhu here!

The W Maldives

The W Hotels are famous for hipness and modern design that often attracts a younger crowd. The W is also part of the Marriott family although a category 8 for rewards so it takes beaucoup Marriott points to get a room here. It is on Fesdu Island in the North Ari Atoll which requires a seaplane transfer from Velana International. There are 73 rooms here and 4 suites.

Fesdu Island has a great “house reef” which means snorkeling and diving are essentially on the property and you don’t need to take a long boat ride. The activity options here are extensive. They have a massive fitness center, offer sunset boxing (romantic fighting, eh?), kickboxing, a game room, sunset cruises, jet skiing, parasailing, They can even arrange for you to have a private secluded island experience on nearby Gaathafushi island. You can book a half-day, full-day, dinner, cocktails or overnight. Anything is possible here. For a price of course.

There are three restaurants and two bars, all with modern playful design and including a Beach BBQ and Seafood restaurant.

Book the W Maldives here!

The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort

The Sheraton is also a member of the Marriott group, a rewards category 6. This is a less expensive option than the previous two and one that can be easily booked with Marriott points. It is less luxurious and a bigger resort, closer to Male but it is still a 5 star hotel on a private island surrounded by gorgeous blue sea. It is only 15 minutes away from Velana International Airport. There are 176 hotel rooms, beach bungalows and overwater villas, many with private pools. They have a kids center, outdoor pools and water sports including snorkeling, diving and water skiing. There is a full-service spa and several restaurants.

Book The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort here

Summer Island

In my efforts to save a little money after a splurge at Kandolhu I looked for places closer to Male where I could arrive by speedboat. Summer Island is in North Male Atoll and is 45 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport. Summer Island looked to be a beautiful private island that fit the bill. While this was approximately half the price of Kandolhu, it wasn’t cheap whatsoever, just budget “for the Maldives”. The whole budget thing tends to get altered in the Maldives.

I really liked Summer Island. It was not as small and exclusive as the more luxurious resorts (there are 156 rooms here) but it doesn’t seem overly large and rowdy and it was a really lush gorgeous island with stunning beaches. They have 6 different types of rooms to choose from including garden villas, beach bungalows and overwater villas. They provide free wifi, beach towels and beach chairs for every room and all the rooms are just steps from the ocean.

The property has 2 restaurants and 3 bars. One had loungers overlooking the sunset on the water which was divine. There is a dive center and free snorkeling trips. They also have a library and a cute boutique gift shop.

Book Summer Island here!

Paradise Island

Paradise Island sounds like the place to be, right? It is in North Male Atoll and is another option not far from the airport, only 20 minutes by speedboat from Male. Considered upper-middle-range, the 282-room resort is one of the largest in the Maldives. There’s definitely more of a social scene here and it is less secluded and private than some other resorts. I’ve read reviews that have been critical for inconsistent service, dated decor in some rooms, and extra fees for snorkel gear and Wi-Fi, however, the beaches are gorgeous with perfect white sand and that’s likely the reason you came to the Maldives, right? You can stay here for as low as $125 per night for a basic beach bungalow. Water villas are as low as $300 per night and have updated rooms with better service. It’s hard to find overwater villas in the Maldives at this price!

There are 5 restaurants, 2 bars and a coffee shop. Dining choices include the Italian Ristorante al Tramonto, a Japanese restaurant Fukuya Teppanyaki, a seafood restaurant Farumathi, and the main restaurant Bageecha, which caters to many dietary requirements such as Jain meals. There are tons of activities available including diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, canoeing, fishing, tennis, racquetball, ping-pong, and pool. They do themed dinners, have live music, a nightclub, and karaoke, They have swimming pools, hot tubs,a fitness center and spa. Whew, sounds like everything you could ever need in a holiday, eh?

Book Paradise Island here!

I obviously did not stay at every one of these properties (I wish). I stayed at two and the others were either places that I researched heavily and almost stayed at, or had trusted friends stay at who gave me the low down. I wanted to have more than 2 options to present here.

Other luxury resorts that have been recommended to me and where I would love to stay sometime include the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa and the Park Hyatt Hadahaa. The Taj looked so amazing that I nearly booked it.

For more info, read this great review of the Park Hyatt Hadahaa, by my good friends World Travel Adventurers who stayed here twice! You can use Hyatt points to stay here if you got em!

Local Islands

Maafushi

Maafushi is a large and popular local island close to Male and is a great base for staying on a budget and doing day trips. I visited as a day trip from a liveaboard but many tourists stay here for a taste of authentic Maldivian life complete with beautiful beaches, snorkeling, diving trips and all sorts of other water activities. There are a wide range of lodging options here as well from hotels with spas to quaint guesthouses, even a floating hotel boat. Prices range from $40-$100 per night. Check out this Maafushi island guide for more info!

Dhiffushi

Dhiffushi is a local island that is easy to get to from Male and tiny with a population of about 1000 locals. It is less than 45 minutes by speedboat which costs $20-25 USD or for under $2 you can take the much longer (close to 3 hour trip) public ferry. Remember that you are going to a remote island and you will have to be prepared with cash. There are no ATMs but cards accepted at most hotels. If you pay with US dollars, you’ll likely receive change in Maldivian Rufiyaas. Dhiffushi has a few “bikini beaches” to choose from as well as water sports such as snorkeling, scuba, kayaking, stand up paddlebording or fishing trips. Prices to stay here in guesthouses and smaller hotels range from $50 to $200 per night. Read more about why Dhiffushi is a great destination on a budget.

Male

Male is a place most visitors to the Maldives skip but sometimes it is easier to spend a night here coming or going because of flight times and connections. Personally I wanted to see this country’s capital because it is a slice of real life for many Maldivian citizens. There isn’t a ton to do here but I enjoyed walking around and getting a feel for the life of locals and I did have an excellent fish curry at a random restaurant called Symphony that I still think about. I have stayed here twice and I liked both hotels. Both included airport transfers and breakfast.

Hotel Octave

This was a nice basic hotel in the center of Male City and walking distance to many restaurants and shops. The staff were super friendly.

Samann Grand

The Samann Grand is a bit more expensive and slightly fancier than the Octave. It is a newer hotel with a nice roof terrace and restaurant. Everyone here was very friendly as well (kind of the baseline in the Maldives) and it is on the eastern end of Male City, not in the center but close to the Hulhumale Ferry Terminal.

What you should know about the Maldives

Language

Dhivehi is the official language of the Maldives but English is spoken widely.

Currency

MVR the Maldivian Rufiyaa 100 MVR = $6.47 USD $1 USD = 15.46 MVR

USD is also accepted. I suggest having small cash on hand for tipping or shopping in Male or any other local island. Exchanging money or using the ATM at the airport or in Male city is your best bet before heading to smaller islands where this will be more challenging. You will need to have new crisp bills and expect change in MVR if you pay in USD. You can use major credit cards at hotels and resorts.

Religion

The Maldives is a 100% Muslim nation. This affects tourists in a few ways.

Dress Code

Although tourists are definitely given a wide berth of acceptance, please keep in mind that outside of your resort, be respectful of the local culture. This means no swimwear except on the beach and keeping shoulders and legs mostly covered. Also pay attention to the rules if you are NOT on a resort island and visiting a local island. There may be different rules at different beaches. Whilst the law restricts the wearing of bikinis on local islands, many guesthouses now provide dedicated tourist beaches or private gardens and sunbathing terraces.

Alcohol

The Maldives is a dry country which means that you can only purchase alcohol at private resorts or liveaboards, although with a steep markup. Bringing alcohol into the country is not permitted.

Fridays are the Muslim holy day and the local ferry does not run. Keep this in mind for planning!

I hope this helps a bit with the planning! Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments. Stay tuned because next I’ll tell what it’s like to do a Maldives Diving Liveaboard!!!