Maldives Review: Your Guide to Paradise on a Budget! 🇲🇻
💁🏻♂️ Loads of pics with captions!
💁🏻♂️ Quick Recap: Only $800 - $900 USD gets you 6-7 days in this island paradise!
Heard about the Maldives? Think luxury resorts in the middle of the Indian Ocean costing upwards of $4,000 a night, with full board and three meals? Or maybe seaplanes, lobster dinners, and Alaskan crab?
Well, get ready for a different side of the Maldives! This little nation embraces both high-end getaways and down-to-earth local experiences. And I gotta say, I'm loving their approach to tourism.
🏝️ Getting to Know the Maldives
The Maldives is a small country smack-dab in the Indian Ocean, with no land borders. But it's close to southern India and Sri Lanka. This island nation is split into atolls, like mini-archipelagos. The North Malé Atoll and South Malé Atoll are super popular choices, along with the private resort islands.
Maldivians speak their own language, but their English is on point, probably 'cause tourism is their bread and butter. But be warned, the Indian accent can be a little tricky. I feel like Maldives culture is closer to Sri Lanka than India.
They use Rufiyaa, but USD is widely accepted. So, no stress!
The Maldives is 2 hours behind Vietnam, so no crazy jet lag to worry about!
Things to Keep in Mind for Your Maldives Trip 🇲🇻
- ✅ Tax & service fees in the Maldives are at 18% (10% service, 8% tax). Menus might not include these, so double-check!
- ✅ The sun is BRUTAL from December to March (peak season). Seriously, even with a bit of wind, you'll get burned fast. Pack strong sunscreen and cover up!
- ✅ Expect a Green Tax from hotels – about $6 USD or 100 Rufiyaa per person per night. Hotel booking sites may not include it.
- ✅ Local restaurants can take FOREVER. Expect an hour wait, even if it's not packed. Chill vibes, I guess?
- ✅ Drinks, especially juices and milkshakes, are pricey on local islands. Think meal-price expensive! Stick to bottled drinks, coffee or tea if you want to save money.
- ✅ You can't wear a bikini on some local beaches. Look for signs, otherwise, bikinis are generally fine. Respect the rules!
- ✅ No Visa needed for Vietnamese citizens! Just show your hotel booking and return ticket. Stay up to 30 days!
- ✅ Only hotels registered with Maldives Immigration are allowed. So, skip the Airbnbs, or you might get turned away!
🏝️ Getting There
No direct flights to Malé (the capital, on Hulhumale Island) yet. From Vietnam, you'll have a layover in Malaysia, Thailand, or India. AirAsia or Batik Air via Kuala Lumpur (KL) usually have the best deals.
One-way flights from KL to Malé are often cheaper than the return. If you're on the hunt for good deals, tickets could be as low as 180-250 RM without checked baggage. Meanwhile, flights from Malé to KL usually cost around 600-850 RM one way without checked baggage.
A round-trip flight from SG (Vietnam) to Malé with a layover can cost around 1400 RM (around $350 USD) if you manage to snag the discounted airfare.
I found that for a 6-day trip, I didn't need checked baggage. But if you plan on traveling for longer, you might want to get some luggage space.
You'll land at Velana Airport on Hulhumale Island. From there, you can head straight to the local islands or pop over to Malé city. Here's how to get to Malé from the airport:
- 💁🏻♂️ Take the Local Ferry (about 10 mins from Arrival hall to the ferry terminal). Cost is 15 Rufiyaa (About $1 USD).
- 💁🏻♂️ Take a Taxi to Malé city center. Flat fare of 80-100 Rufiyaa.
Velana Airport is a bit chaotic, with seaplanes and domestic flights all in one place. I wouldn't recommend hanging around too long or arriving way too early.
Airport procedures are usually quick. Boarding from check-in to departure takes around an hour. Immigration takes about 15-20 mins.
🏝️ Phone SIM in Maldives
You used to be able to buy local SIMs, but now it's tourist-only. Digahroo and Ooredoo are your two options.
Their tourist SIM packages are pretty much the same:
- 💁🏻♂️ 40$ for 20 GB
- 💁🏻♂️ 80$ for 50 GB
Too pricey for me! Velana Airport has free SIM dispensers (one per passport). Digahroo gives you 500MB, Ooredoo gives you nothing.
Most hotels and restaurants have Wi-Fi, so I skipped the SIM. Download Maps.Me and grab the offline Maldives map.
I survived 6 days with no SIM and saved $40!
🏝️ Getting Around
Locals use boats to get around, because atolls are far apart.
In Malé, it's all about motorbikes (like Vietnam!) and taxis. The island's small, so a taxi from one end to the other is just 40-50 Rufiyaa (4-seater). Grab a cab!
Malé's motorbikes don't honk, so it's pretty quiet. They weave around you, so crossing the street is like Vietnam all over again.
From Malé, you can reach other islands by:
- 💁🏻♂️ Government Ferry - MTCC. Each atoll has its own schedule, usually one departure a day from and to Malé. Important: No ferries on Fridays. Plan your trip for Thursday or Saturday. It's cheap (20-50 Rufiyaa), but slow and has wooden seats. Find the schedule on the MTCC website.
- 💁🏻♂️ Speedboat - Private companies run speedboats all week, including Fridays. It's 10-20 times pricier than the MVCC ferry, but faster (4-5 departures a day), comfortable, and has luggage storage.
- 💁🏻♂️ Local Cargo Boats - I stumbled upon this one! A Bangladeshi guy told me about it. It's just 20 Rufiyaa more than the MTCC ferry, but has Wi-Fi, comfy seats, and a breeze. I'll review this separately for Thulusdhoo.
🏝️ Maldives Currency
Use USD or Rufiyaa, your call. But I prefer Rufiyaa. If you pay in USD, you'll get Rufiyaa back.
Rufiyaa exchange rate:
- 1 USD = 15 Rufiyaa (Maldives Bank) - 2/2025
- 1 USD = 16.5 Rufiyaa (Black Market)
- 💁🏻♂️ After landing at Velana Airport, head to the Maldives Bank counter and exchange 100 USD for Rufiyaa.
Important: Keep the receipt if you want to change Rufiyaa back to USD at the airport. Black markets don't usually exchange it back. The Maldivian currency is not widely traded.
Hotels have better rates, around 16.5 Rufiyaa (2/2025).
The 1000 Rufiyaa bill is popular with tourists 'cause it's gorgeous. Keep a 5 or 20 Rufiyaa bill as a souvenir.
🏝️ Weather
Peak season is November to April. Off-season is May onwards (stormy and rainy). Avoid Maldives during the Ramadan period (usually around February or March).
- 💁🏻♂️ Peak Season Perks: Sunny almost all month, stunning ocean colors, lots of services.
- 💁🏻♂️ Peak Season Drawbacks: Expensive hotels, Ramadan possible, intense sun, easy sunburn.
- 💁🏻♂️ Off Season Perks: CHEAP! Everything's cheaper. Less crowded. Milder weather. Cheaper flights.
- 💁🏻♂️ Off Season Drawbacks: Rain! Potentially bad weather. Snorkeling tours canceled. Bad photos. Messy islands in the rain.
🏝️ Maldives Food
Fish is king! Tuna is the national food. Tuna is everywhere!
Expect fried rice, noodles, Kottu (chopped chapati stir-fry - also in Sri Lanka), burgers, sandwiches, and pizza. Every restaurant has the same menu. Western places are pricier.
Maldivians love Thai food, but it's more expensive. Malé has tons of Thai restaurants.
Local island dishes (Huraa, Thulusdhoo) range from 50 Rufiyaa (3.5$) to 120 Rufiyaa (8.5$). Western dishes are 150-300 Rufiyaa.
Drinks are weirdly expensive, especially juices (same price as meals, 50-60 Rufiyaa).
- 💁🏻♂️ Restaurant Recommendations
📍 Malé
- Som Tam Thai - Small Thai restaurant, 100-250 Rufiyaa per dish. Great Somtam!
- Secret Recipe - Malaysian, surprisingly in Maldives, 50-100 Rufiyaa (drinks), 100-150 Rufiyaa (food)
- Biscuit Cafe - Affordable local place, 70-100 Rufiyaa
📍Thulusdhoo
- Aqua Bean - Local Maldives place, slow service, 50-85 Rufiyaa. Try the Fried Rice or Sweet and Sour Fish
- Clam Shell - My fav! Slow service but delicious, affordable, 50-80 Rufiyaa. Fried Rice, Fried Noodles, Spaghetti Seafood, Maldivian Breakfast are good
- Byoni Cafe - Normal local place, 60-90 Rufiyaa
- Surf View Restaurant - Italian on Bikini Beach. Nice views, but overpriced. 150-200 Rufiyaa per dish
📍Huraa
- Bake with me - Super slow local place, decent food, 55-80 Rufiyaa (across from my hotel)
- Lusfiya (Bar 2000) - Pricey but decent, 65-130 Rufiyaa, try the Flan
🏝️ Hotels
📍 Malé
Hotels are scarce and pricey. I stayed at The Park Hotel (180 RM - $45 USD), includes breakfast and dinner. Continental breakfast and local dinner (fried rice, noodles).
Friendly and helpful staff! It's close to the Maldives Museum, fish market, and ferry terminal (5-10 min walk).
📍 Thulusdhoo
Lots of Italian and Spanish hotels, mostly near Bikini Beach.
I chose Keyla Inn ($28 USD/day), cheap, so it's a bit old and dusty. No hairdryer, mini fridge, and the room is dark.
BUT the Bangladeshi Manager is SO NICE! Takes care of everything. I tipped him because he was super helpful. Picked us up from the ferry, showed us the Sunset beach.
Bike rental is expensive (250 Rufiyaa per day). It's quiet because there are few guests. Clothes drying area and reading chairs on the 2nd floor.
Keyla Inn has Mahi Excursions (decent prices). More on Excursions later.
📍 Huraa
Silver Oasis was the best hotel!
It's 200m from the pier. They take luggage for you!
Early check-in (8 am), adjusted breakfast time. (Leaving to Male early tomorrow)
Continental or Maldivian breakfast is good!
Room has everything including a hair dryer. Free bike rentals! The receptionist is helpful and points out places to see.
I highly recommend Silver Oasis in terms of location, service and price.
🏝️ Excursions
Snorkeling trips are called Excursions. Each island has different Excursion tours available
- Fulidhoo - stingrays
- Mafushii - lots of Nurse Sharks
- Thulusdhoo - Surfing or dolphins and turtles
- Huraa - near Sandbank and Resort
Some Excursion tours:
- Full Day Tour (lunch) - Snorkel Stingray, Nurse Shark, Coral
- Short Day Tour - Sandbank
- Short Day Tour - Fishing, dolphin watching
- Tours combining 3-4 animals like Nurse Shark, Stingray, dolphin, turtle
Prices calculated per person. The more people, the cheaper. Need at least 4 to make the tour run. If not, you can join another group's tour
- Sandbank - $20-40, based on distance
- Nurse Shark - $50-70, based on location
- Stingray and Turtles - same price range
- Full Day Tour - $120-150
These tours only take USD! I'd set aside some dollars for this purpose. Snorkel guide available if you don't know how. Life jacket, fins and free Go Pro service provided. (Bali, Malayai, Thailand should learn this). Flycam costs extra $10-15/video.
One interesting fact about Excursion tours in Maldives, at least with the Mahi Excursion, is that you get to speak with Mahi about Maldives's point of view on tourists and their environment
He also mentioned that there's a way to make sure whether an excursion tour is good based on weather conditions like wind speed and tide level. For example,
- You can't see sandbank if it's high tide
- You can't swim with the turtles at Lagoon because the waves will be too strong
- How to prevent Nurse Sharks from biting you (even though they are harmless) or get stung by Stingray
Also apart from Snorkel, you have the option to scuba dive with or without a Padi license
So many options! I suggest heading to where you'd like to go, then book the Excursion!
🏝️ What to Do in Maldives
I spent 1 1/2 days in Malé, 2 1/2 days in Thulusdhoo and 1 day in Huraa. So I'll review based on the places I went.
📍 Malé - Maldives Capital 🇲🇻
People don't stay in Malé long because most people find it boring, with just local houses and no nice beaches. Personally, I find it's worth a visit, although I don't suggest staying for more than 1 day
The streets are super narrow, almost like Saigon. The locals also ride motorbikes like in Vietnam.
- Malé Fish Market
The Fish Market is my favorite spot. It's right next to the park and local ferry terminal
As the name suggests, they mostly sell fish and vegetables. Also dried tuna
What I find most attractive is that from 4-5 pm, Stingrays are the most active. Head to the back of the fish market and you can see dozens of Stingrays swimming freely without paying anything! The place is a bit dirty and some people are fishing here. So it can get a bit packed.
- Walk around Malé
Malé has a lot of cafes and restaurant, so walking around and chilling out at a cafe is also a great idea. Or you can visit the supermarkets to buy water and food before visiting the Local island where everything is more expensive than the capital. A supermarket that I recommend that is also close to the ferry terminal is STO - People Choice, where you can find everything
- Visit Villingili Island
Ferry from the West side of Malé island takes only 10 minutes and costs 3.5 Rufiyaa/person. It's a small island, similar to Vũng Tàu or Côn Đảo. Small streets with free buses driving around
Lover Beach is the most beautiful one, if you go in the morning, from 8-11. Otherise, Villingili Beach next to the ferry terminal is the most convenient and beautiful from 12 - 3 pm.
📍 Thulusdhoo
People usually visit Maafushi, but it's too famous and not that pretty. So I chose Thulusdhoo.
I stayed at Thulusdhoo for the longest and it has the prettiest beach I've ever been to. There's a lot of Italian and local restaurants here.
- You can go to Thulusdhoo from Malé in 3 ways
- MTCC Ferry takes 1 hour and 30 mins from Jetty #6 (Malé has 7 Jetties). Cost is 22 Rufiyaa - leaves at 2:30 pm every day (except Fridays)
- Speedboat takes 45 mins and costs $30 USD
- Local cargo boat from Malé Fish Market (40 Rufiyaa) - Thoraka 2 👌🏻. I chose this because it's not too expensive and really peaceful. You can stand at the tip of the boat to view the Resorts along the way, or take pictures freely. Leaves at 3 pm every day (except Fridays)
Once you arrive at Thulusdhoo, make sure to inform the hotel 1 day in advance so they can come pick you up
Similarly to Huraa, the trick is to learn which beach has sunlight facing away from you to capture great photos. Which beach is crowded, and which one is not. If you can grasp this point, the photos will be amazing! Below are the places to visit in Thulusdhoo in 2 1/2 days
📍 Sunset Beach
As the name suggests, it's the place to see sunsets, and it's gorgeous
It's amazing! The water is crystal clear because it's all sand beneath. If the tide is low, you can see a really long Sandbank without spending any money
It's beautiful any time of the day. If you go in the morning, you should go from 8 am to 12 am. Sunset Beach is usually quiet. But if you go to see the sunset, there's usually more people but still beautiful
There's no tree to block the sunlight here, so it's super hot if you visit in the morning. I got sunburned here, but it was totally worth it
📍 Dream Beach
Best time is from 9 am - 1 pm when the water color is just right!
This is my favorite beach in Thulusdhoo because it's so pretty, with transparent water and white sand because there's no corals. It's exactly how I've always pictured the Maldives to be
The sea water gets colder as you walk away from the beach. Also there are no waves, so it's suitable for people who cannot swim. The beach stretches all the way to Sunset Beach but it's more shallow so it's more suitable to swim
There are sun shade sheds here. I see western tourists visiting here a lot instead of Bikini Beach.
Bikini is in fact not allowed on Dream Beach. But since there's no local people, so it's fine
📍Bikini Beach
Best time is from 1 pm - 4 pm, because it's facing the East!
The most famous beach in Thulusdhoo, also the "front face" of the hotels here.
Because it's the beach that the hotels is located at, the water here isn't as pretty although it's still clear. Kind of like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia
It's also crowded, with all sorts of tourists. You can step into the hotel after swimming. There's also a restaurant here
📍 Mangover Pond
Best time is from 5:30 am to 6:30 to see the sunrise. Or 4:30 to 5:30 in the evening to swim at the stream
Next to Bikini Beach is a small mangrove forest that connect to Thulusdhoo with a 100m long wooden bridge.
It's the place where the 2 streams meet from both sides of the islands, so the waves will weave in each other.
I really like this small island because you can see the sunrise at 360 degree view
Next to this island is a small natural stream created from the sea water flowing into it. I enjoy chilling here because it's cold and there's no strong waves. Be careful to go to the center of the stream to prevent getting pushed. The sand here is corals so it can get hurtful, but it's clean
📍Old Jetty
Best time is either 8-10 am or 8-9 pm
It's the old pier of Thulusdhoo. It's a nice place to take photos and see the stars at night. You can also see Nurse Shark and Stingray at night.
Every night there's at least 2-3 Nurse Sharks swimming around. You'll have to use the flashlight to see them!
In the morning, you can only see a few small stingrays
📍 Chamgapari Island - Excursion
This is where I booked the Excursion with Mahi, the Kayela Inn staff
This island is far from Thulusdhoo. It takes 45 minutes via speedboat
Here you can Snorkel with Nurse Shark and other types of fishes. You will at least see 3-4 Nurse Sharks, but you may find more depending on your luck
Snorkel with Nurse Shark is pretty easy, but the waves are strong. You won't have to worry about getting bit as long as you don't touch the sharks
Mahi also took a video of me with his Go Pro free of charge
📍 Thulusdhoo Lagoon
After Champagari, we visited the Lagoon to see the turtles and dolphins!
Turtles appear often at Lagoon, but you have to be really careful when looking. You will definitely see one, as Mahi said. And we did see 1.
What I enjoyed the most is how the ship was driving slowly, allowing me to see how the 2 streams had very different colors. If there's any place that can be ranked after Dream Beach, it has to be this Lagoon!
We also happened to see the dolphins. On the way to Champagari, we saw 2 groups of dolphins. According to Mahi, we were lucky to see them.
📍 Huraa
Huraa is closer to Malé than Thulusdhoo, but there's MVCC Ferry to both islands
- You can get to Huraa
- via Speedboat from Malé ($10) with 4 departures
- via MVCC Ferry from Malé at 2:30 pm or via MVCC Ferry from Thulusdhoo at 7:15 am (except Friday)
Huraa is so small that it takes only 1 day to finish. The main reason why I visited Huraa is Bikini Beach.
Eating and drinking at Huraa is more expensive than Thulusdhoo. But the service is better
Huraa is very close to Four Season Resort (5 mins). You can visit the resort's bar if you want
📍Bikini Beach
Best time is from 11 am to 3:30 pm
You can see a nice view of the Resort Club Med Fihnolu from the Bikini Beach
This beach isn't as pretty as Dream Beach because of the corals, but it's still worth a visit because the view of the resort and the coconut trees make the photos really aesthetic
There are also sun bathing chairs and sun shades. So don't worry about getting too tanned
The sand is corals so it can hurt a bit. But there's lots of seashells here for anyone who enjoys picking up seashells
This beach is 10 mins away from Silver Oasis, where I'm staying. Driving to the beach while looking at the sea is also really pretty, although it can get hard to drive because of the sand
Overall I'm quite fond of this Bikini Beach because it has a pretty view and sun shades
You can also see the sunset from the Huraa pier. Grab a high seat table at Blue Terrace to enjoy the sunset
That's all the information about my trip in Maldives at 3 islands Malé, Thulusdhoo and Huraa in 6 days and 5 nights! Hope you find it helpful!
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