Travel Challenge: The Maldives on a Budget
April 30, 2010 Travel Challenge
The Maldives don’t have to mean all-out luxury and honeymooners…
My friend and I have always wanted to go to the Maldives but there are two things stopping us. The first problem is price: it always seems so expensive. We can only afford to spend around £1200 each for a fortnight including spending money. Most of the hotels seem to be really luxurious and we really aren’t bothered about any frills – all we want to do is relax and soak up the scenery. We are completely flexible on dates and can travel at any time of the year. The other problem is honeymooners: as two single women we really don’t want to go on holiday and be surrounded by canoodling couples, but we know that the islands are very popular with newlyweds. Can you recommend a hotel for us?
Mention the Maldives to most and you’ll instantly conjure up images of opulent chalets, world-class spas and gourmet food. The Indian Ocean islands have become synonymous with luxury, so its easy to forget the barefoot charm that made them popular with the mass tourist market in the first place. Every Maldives island resort is about relaxation, but as such a true departure from the pressures of normality, the destination has found itself catering to the higher end of the market. Then there’s the honeymooners, willing to fork out a little more for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to stay in a glass-bottomed water chalet.
At Be Travel Savvy, we are often asked to find affordable trips to the Maldives. All that white sand, turquoise sea and abundant marine life is a bit of a unique product and tourism is the main industry in The Maldives, so it’s little wonder it doesn’t come cheap. The first advice we give anyone planning a trip to the Maldives on a budget is go all inclusive. Don’t be tempted to book a holiday on half or even ful board because it is a litytle cheaper. In the Maldives, every island is a hotel in itself; if you’re saying on one with extortionately priced drinks, you have got no choice but to pay for them. Going all inclusive will be considerably more expensive but you know in advance that there won’t be any nasty food or drink bill surprises at the end of your holiday.
If you can travel literally any time of the year, we recommend December (but not Christmas and New Year!) It’s a well known fact in the travel inustry that the fortnight before the festive period is one of the cheapest of the year when it comes to holiday deals, because people just aren’t thinking about leaving home. We reckon that with a bit of advance planning, it could be one of the best times of year to get away. Escape the bad weather and the bedlam of Christmas shopping and return relaxed, refreshed and armed with exotic gifts just in time for the big day. It’s also worth noting that December is one of the drier months in the Maldives.
There are a lot of hotels that are geared towards couples in the Maldives, but Club Faru isn’t one of them. It’s only got three stars, so it hasn’t got the five star price tag but it has got a great reputation and a brilliant all-inclusive package. Unlike some islands, which are a long way away from the capital Male, Club Faru is just a ten minute speeedboat ride from the airport! We couldn’t get you anything for less than £1200, but we did manage £1299 each. Considering that includes meals, drinks, snacks, use of caboes and kayaks and a tour of Male, it’s brilliant value. For extra charges, you can try scuba diving or have a relaxing treatment in the hotel spa. We found a deal travelling on 9th December, meaning you’ve got plenty of time to pay it off and you will arrive back in the UK just in time for Christmas!
14 nights All Inclusive at Club Faru, departing Gatwick 9th December 2010, bookable through Hays Travel Ltd. Two adults share for £1299 each, including in flight meals and transfers. Click here or call 0800 408 4131. Other departure dates / airports available for a supplement.
The warm turquoise seas of The Maldives have to be seen to be believed.
Comments (2)
If you are really willing to take a risk you can go during the “rainy” season which is June/July to Oct/Nov. Since this is the low-season in the Maldives (exclude August because of the Western hemisphere school holidays) so it’s usually cheaper but you will risk some clouds, rain and less visibility for snorkeling and diving, though the temperatures will still be in the 25 degree Celsius or above. Another factor is the airline fare included. Usually the charter flights with Monarch with a technical stopover in Bahrain are the cheapest but they offer the smallest legroom only 29″ and the least comfort of all airlines going to the Maldives. Remember it’s a long flight.
Other than that I would also agree with most of the advice and think early Dec is the best and most affordable period in the high-season period. You may also get away with half-board if you are not a big drinker and have something light and cheaper at lunch-time.
Some brilliant expert tips there Kaider – thanks! – Emily