A Complete Guide to the Maldives
The Maldives boasts 1190 islands in the Indian Ocean. Only about 200 of these islands are uninhabited, which means there are an overwhelming amount of islands to choose from on your stay. Luckily for you, I researched the hell out of this trip since we were unable to travel for 6 months and was practically foaming at the mouth when we bought the flight. You might be saying, “Natalie, you’re crazy the Maldives is way too expensive!” And I would tell you to stop being so negative. Jk jk yes it can be ridiculously priced, but I have some tips in store that just mind change your mind! Let’s go!
Deciding Where to Stay
This is the hardest part, so let’s tackle it first! We decided to split our stay into 5 nights at a Guest House and 4 nights at a Resort. We did this for 2 reasons:
To make the holiday more affordable, while still being able to do the excursions we wanted
To experience more of the local vibes, rather than only spending time at a resort
Guest Houses
The Maldives is a place I thought only existed for millionaires and influencers. Overwater bungalows and champagne for the rich and famous. Enter: Local Islands. Before 2009, resort islands not only stole the show, but were your only option for a holiday in the Maldives. After 2009, local islands were allowed to operate guest houses, opening a new opportunity for the local people in the tourism sector, as well as a different and more affordable way to experience the white sand beaches and turquoise waters.
Kirulhiya Maldives Guest House
To make it easier in choosing the right guest house for us, I narrowed down the options by selecting our preferred area, or “Atoll”, which is a cluster of islands surrounded by coral reef. The South Ari Atoll was most desirable for us, considering it is the best place in the world to spot whale sharks year round. Here is all you need to know about the 26 different Atolls in the Maldives, as well as the top 20 local islands to visit in the Maldives.
Kirulhiya Maldives is a 5 room guesthouse on Omadhoo Island, and is operated by the friendliest staff! The rooms are nothing fancy, but really comfortable and clean, and they go out of their way to make it special. We ate outside on the beach every day and enjoyed getting to know them. This is also where we did the majority of our excursions to keep it cost effective, and they absolutely crushed it! We had the boat to ourselves the majority of the time, and the crew always made sure we were having the best experience possible. We miss them and of course continue to stalk them on the gram.
What to do
Sunset dinner on a private island
Swim with whale sharks, turtles, sting rays or dolphins
Explore other local islands
Sunset fishing (we caught about 1,000 fish then they cooked our dinner for us)
Lounge on a private island for the day
BBQ on the beach with the locals
So much more! And again, all of this was 50-60% the cost of what it would be at a resort
Resort Islands
Each resort is on its own island, (even the Holiday Inn!) and they are all beautiful in their own right. Not every resort island is the same of course, so it can be highly overwhelming to choose which is best for your holiday in the Maldives. Don’t let it stress you out! You’re planning a holiday to the most magical place on earth after all.
I will include some specific options below, but Booking.com is a great way to compare resorts and search visually on the map view - Lonely Planet also has a helpful article based on travel style here.
Constance Moofushi
Our friends from Kirulhiya transported us on the speedboat, making a snorkel pitstop along the way, to begin the second half of our adventure at Constance Moofushi Maldives.
Reasons we loved Constance Moofushi:
Our Sommelier best friends and the outstanding wine list (120 wines included in the all-inclusive package, and provided the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator 5 years running)
Free paddle board rentals
Enjoying a relaxing massage while watching the sea life below through a glass-bottom floor (until I fell asleep)
Diving off our water villa and snorkeling with no one else around
Beach parties with DJ Dylan (who later got us in touch with our Sri Lanka guide, but more on that coming soon)
The food! When I read “all inclusive”, I do not have high hopes for the cuisine, especially a buffet. We were both blown away by the quality and the creativity in the food, which was ever-changing and available at multiple bars and restaurants around the island. The chef actually created his own hot sauce blend for us then had it ready for us every day with a big smile
Our personal favorite: Cinefushi - a private movie showing on the beach with bubbles and snacks (we watched Casablanca, but they have quite an extensive list)
I curated a list of a few resort islands based on various blogs and comparisons on Booking.com, then narrowed it down based on budget value and google reviews. Here are a few others we were considering:
Getting There
The main airport is Velana International Airport (also named Ibrahim Nasir International Airport) in the capital city of the Maldives, Malé.
The majority of the resorts will require a sea plane to and from the Malé airport, which will be a significant added cost to your holiday, but it is SO worth it. Please do not go all the way to the Maldives and opt out of this bucket list experience. The cost will range from $250-$450 pp one way depending on the resort island. If the island is closer to Malé, they may have the option to take a speed boat. Because of the location of Kirulhiya Maldives, we were able to take a local commuter boat for a very low cost.
Bottom line: Whether you’re staying at a guest house or a resort, just ask them what your options are and they will arrange it for you.
What to Pack
SUNSCREEN
That’s it. Don’t even bring shoes. Well, ok, bring sandals because you can’t walk around the airport barefoot. That’s weird.
Oh, and ladies: Bring cute cover-ups and a hat because you will live in your swim suit.
Also, this Quicksilver SPF Tee saved Luke because it felt like we were vacationing on the sun.
General Tips
The Maldives is a Muslim country. If you are only staying on a resort island, you won’t even notice. If you are on a local island, there a few things to keep in mind: As a tourist, you are not expected to be fully covered (just be a respectful human) and you will have a beach dedicated to swim suits, which basically feels like a private beach. There will not be alcohol on the local islands, and do not try to buy any at the airport because it will be confiscated immediately after.
They do have their own currency, but USD and EUR are widely accepted. This is important to consider if you are visiting a local island, or would like to have cash on hand for tips. There won’t be ATMs easily accessible, so just bring the cash with you. The bills need to be in good condition so they can easily exchange them.
If you decide on a split stay, I would recommend to start your holiday at a guest house (go crazy with all of the activities at an affordable price and hang with the Maldivian people), then indulge and relax in a resort at the end. As wonderful as the guest house was, it would have been very difficult to go to the local island after staying in an extravagant water bungalow.
Now go book your flight!
Xx
