Premanku had just returned from the USA two days prior when I tip-toed around him with the itinerary of our next trip to the Maldives, planned for that same week. We took advantage of an impromptu long weekend and booked flights to this tropical paradise.
Let’s admit it—trips to the Maldives can be expensive. However, we managed a budget trip and I’m here to share the details. Despite booking flights and hotels just three days before departure, our entire trip costed around INR 52,000 (approximately USD 615) per person. Curious how we did it? Keep reading for all the tips and tricks from our 3-night, 4-day budget trip to the Maldives.
I enjoy planning our trips because it allows for more freedom of choice. After getting suggestions from my friend, Soham, I started planning the trip. Given that Premanku was still jet-lagged, we wanted a relaxing trip. Detailed tips are provided in the “Points to Note” section at the end of this post.
Day 1: We drove from Pune to Mumbai, arriving around 3:30 am. Our flight was at 9:30 am, giving us six hours to rest at the Mumbai International Airport Lounge. The flight to Male took about 2 hours and 45 minutes. All airport processes, from check-in to security and immigration, were smooth. We filled out the IMUGA forms 24 hours before departure. We landed in Male around 11:45 am local time and completed immigration and luggage collection within 30 minutes.
Outside the main airport area, numerous hotel, resort, and trip organizer counters are visible. We were directed to contact counter C-13. As it was Friday, the next shared speed ferry boat from the airport to Maafushi (the island in Maldives we were staying in) was at 3 pm, which we had booked through the hotel a day earlier. We spent the next two hours having lunch at the airport and taking photos. The ferry ride to Maafushi took about 40-45 minutes, and our luggage was handled by the hotel staff. Kaani Grand Seaview Hotel welcomed us with a hot towel and cold beverage. In Maafushi, not all beaches are accessible to tourists, and bikinis are only allowed at Bikini Beach, besides which our hotel was located. We booked a Deluxe Double Room with a Balcony and Sea View but were upgraded to the only King Suite on the island, featuring a private jacuzzi. We spent the rest of the day enjoying the sunset, booking activities for the next day, relaxing on the beach, and dining at Hiyala Cafe.
Day 2: After breakfast at the hotel, we embarked on a day trip to Rannalhi Island. To save money, we opted for a day pass from iCom Tours rather than staying on a private island. The 9-hour activity started at 8 am from the iCom Tour office and took 25 minutes to reach Rannalhi Island from Maafushi. We enjoyed welcome drinks, free Wi-Fi, unlimited beverages (non-alcoholic and limited alcoholic drinks), breakfast, an international buffet lunch, and snacks. Activities included water aerobics and beach Zumba. We explored the island, enjoyed a free head and neck massage, and returned to Maafushi around 5:30 pm. This is a cost-effective way to experience a private island, though it can be skipped if not interested. After returning to Maafushi, we got freshened up and roamed around the island and had Indian Food at Aveli, the restaurant at Kani Grand Seaview Hotel.
Day 3: Day 3 was the highlight of the trip. It was dedicated to water activities. We chose the Shipwreck Activity from iCom Services, starting at 8 am. Our first stop was dolphin spotting in the Indian Ocean, where we were lucky to see a pod up close. Next, we visited Fulidhoo for stingray watching, spent 30 minutes with the stingrays, and took photos. Then, we snorkelled with nurse sharks, a thrilling first-time experience. We were instructed to wear paddle fins, snorkelling equipment, and life jackets for non-swimmers before entering the sea with sharks. We were advised to keep our fingers clenched into fists, as nurse sharks, though generally friendly, might sometimes suck or bite on fingers. The final activity was snorkelling at a shipwreck site. After lunch at a sandbank, we returned to Maafushi by 3 pm and spent the rest of the day at Bikini Beach.
Day 4: Our day started at 6 am with a tour around the 1.2 km long island, spotting schools, mosques, a jail, and a hospital. We left Maafushi by shared speed ferry boat at 9:30 am, arriving at Male Airport. In 30 minutes, we completed check-in, security, and immigration. Our flight departed Maldives at 12:50 pm, and we landed in Mumbai around 4:05 pm IST. Due to turbulence, we were diverted to Mopa Airport, Goa, but couldn’t de-board as it was an international flight. Finally, we reached Mumbai past 9 pm and arrived home in Pune by 2 am.
Points to Note:
1. Documents Needed: Valid passport and filled IMUGA form (before leaving India and the Maldives). URL for IMUGA Form: https://travel.immigration.gov.mv/
We also had travel insurance from Acko for INR 477 for both of us. Although we carried flight tickets and hotel booking details, no one asked for them.
2. Currency: USD is widely accepted, so we exchanged INR to USD in India at a rate of 84.65.
3. Timing: We planned our trip for the second week of May, benefiting from off-season rates for flights, hotels, and activities, and returning before the monsoon season. The temperature was around 30°C.
4. Island Choice: Opting for a public island over a private one saved us a lot of money. Maafushi, part of Kaafu Atoll, is one of the cheapest islands in the Maldives.
5. Flights: We booked round-trip flights from Mumbai to Male on Vistara at a discounted rate of INR 31,558 from flightnetwork.com. Vistara offers wireless in-flight entertainment, food, beverages, blankets, and pillows.
6. Hotel: We booked Deluxe Double Room with Balcony and Sea View of Kaani Grand Seaview Hotel on Agoda.com for INR 23,723 for 3 nights and 4 days, including breakfast. We were upgraded to a King Suite for free.
7. Negotiation: When booking activities in person, ask for discounts.
8. Ferry: The shared speed ferry boat from Male to Maafushi cost USD 25 per person each way. It can be booked through the hotel, trip organizers or apps like Klook or Viator. A public ferry service is cheaper at USD 3 per person each way but takes 1.5 hours.
9. Tourist Tax: Tourists must pay USD 6 per person per day in the Maldives as Green Tax.
10. Food Costs: We spent around INR 9,546 on food. Hiyala Cafe is recommended for affordable local cuisine. There are also many Indian and Bengali restaurants on the island. The food at Kaani Grand Seaview Hotel was also good.
11. Activities: We booked a private island day pass (Adaaran Club Rannalhi Resort) for USD 100 per person and the Shipwreck Activity for USD 60 per person from iCom Tours. We received a USD 5 discount per person on the second booking.
12. Souvenirs: We bought souvenirs from local Bangladeshi shops at discounted prices.
13. Total Expense: The total expense for two was INR 103,903, which amounts to INR 51,951 per person.
14. Whenever I travel abroad, I try to download and save the google map of the place offline.
15. I download the local language of the place in Google Translator.
Anna&Avrish Destination