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Is it possible budgetary travel in Maldives?

Is it possible budgetary travel in Maldives?

Old Dec 25th, 2012, 10:38 AM
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Is it possible budgetary travel in Maldives?

I heard about cheap rest in Maldives? Is it real possible?
I have a big wish but not too much money ...
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Old Dec 25th, 2012, 12:23 PM
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There is nothing I would call "cheap" in the Maldives. What is your hotel budget per night?
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Old Dec 26th, 2012, 01:17 AM
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Those that are available are usually only frequented by the locals and don't have airco. They can also be loud and dirty. See: http://wikitravel.org/en/Male#Sleep

You'd be better off going to Thailand.
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Old Dec 26th, 2012, 06:47 AM
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I was in the last month in the Maldives with my family and incredibly cool rested, saved money when compared to conventional tours to the islands hotels. Perhaps my experience will come in handy for you.
It is a pleasant fact our holiday was cheap. The correlation of price and quality at 100%. And we brought home not only unforgettable impressions but also the money which we saved owing to discounts and low prices. Thank you staff of the hotel.
We found the local island. Is is Maafushi island. The island is located in South Male’ Kaafu Atoll, just 30 minutes from the airport if you go on a speed boat. Also to the island can be reached by regular ferry coming from Male’ from 10 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. all days except Friday. Cost one way for one person is 2.5 - 3 $ and it takes 1.5 hours of time.
Maafushi is really nice local island! It is not resort but it is great place for those who want to immerse in the atmosphere of the local life of Maldives and Resort of Maldives at the same time and save money.
There are some guest houses. We have read a lot of reviews about them and chose to Summer Villa Guest House. It was the best hotel experience I have ever had! Hotel is cosy, service is very attentive and personal. Rooms are lovely and the food served is top class and affordable. Management is knowledgable and give good tips for excursions and dining.
We are a family of three and our rooms were huge with views to the garden. Breakfast was excellent. The host were always there for help. It was decided to make a barbecue one evening and the host asked each guest if they wanted to take part - very informal - and made us feel at home.
Maafushi is a perfect place for relaxing with beautiful Indian ocean, also a great base for your trips to explore this island and neighbour islands. Hotel Summer villa is a unique experience of style and comfort. We appreciated the friendly service and attention. Even though we are always looking for new experiences, this is a place we certainly would like to return to.
All in all it was a wonderful 5 days at a peaceful hotel where you can just relax or if you want a lots of activities any kind. So it is a great choice for the tourists that want "budget holidays". Resort rest (15$ all day with lunch), the snorkeling, fishing from boat, swimming with manta ray and dolphins , a picnic on a deserted island, rest on a small beach in the middle of the ocean (a small island, where nothing except sand), a concert of national culture and etc.
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Old Dec 26th, 2012, 10:06 AM
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Wow guys! Thanks so much for all info you gave me.
Helena, you had really good experience and I like it. You hooked me your story and I want to repeat your trip. But I need more details about the prices at the guest house and other costs to calculate the budget for my trip, please. Thanks in advance
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Old Dec 27th, 2012, 07:46 AM
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About the hotel. Hotel Summer villa guest house is a cozy place. Rooms were spacious and furnished with a large soft bed and bedside tables, a large wardrobe with a wooden safe inside, a dressing table with bench, fridge, powerful AC, fans, etc. Every room had a private toilet and shower with hot water. Soap and shampoo were a kind of pleasant surprise for guests.
Room price was about 50 dollars per night double room + Bed Tax $ 8 per person per day + 6% per room per night service charge + 10% tax. Total 50+8+8+4.5+2.7 = 91.2 dollars. All taxes are required for the entire Maldives, and the same everywhere.

Dinner was $ 7 per person buffet. With the dessert. Every night they making candlelight. Very romantic! Breakfast is included in the price (also buffet). Lunch on request. You can buy at the store on their own products at low prices and in the kitchen for tourists to eat. This added convenience for me there. There is hot water kettle, toaster, tea and coffee free, dishes. You can do everything that you want. Complete freedom, just like at home. You can eat at other hotels or cafes. But it is not safe. All experienced myself. Tourists from another hotels comes to eat in Summer villa.

Resort rest (15$ all day with lunch), the snorkeling, fishing from boat, swimming with manta ray and dolphins , a picnic on a deserted island, rest on a small beach in the middle of the ocean (a small island, where nothing except sand), a concert of national culture and etc. I can write in more detail later. Everything is different, depending on the situation. On average, the basic tour cost 10-20 dollars per person, there's something for free. All in different ways. Above all, there are a lot of competition, and prices fell.
Maafushi it is a small island two kilometers on one and a half kilometers, so you can see the ocean from any place on the island. There are no proper beaches and reefs, hotels, all common use.
During all your holiday you stay in one cheap hotel but cozy with family-like atmosphere. Every day you can spend on Resort islands South Male' Atoll: Anantara Veli Maldives, Biyadhoo Island Resort, Cocoa Island and other. And you can go on islands without people. There are some island where you can stay all day absolutely alone. The staff from the hotel brings you on this island and can arrange for you picnic with barbecue. And every evening I returned back on Maafushi island in Summer Villa Guest house. It is not expensive excursions. I can for example to calculate the day of rest in this way. Day in Summer villa hotel costs about $ 90 for two with Breakfast. After Breakfast you on a speed boat will go to Biyadhoo Island Resort and resting the whole day there, enjoying all the amenities as guests of the Biyadhoo Island (restaurant, toilet, shower, sun beds, beaches, Spa-salon etc. The Spa and the food in the restaurant as guests of the Biyadhoo Island you pay extra). The hotel give you lunch with you and in the evening they take you on a high-speed boat back to the Maafushi. It costs 15 dollars. The price includes riding on a speed boat twice, lunch, rest on the island. And dinner in the Summer villa guest house was cost usd 7 per person. Total all day for 2 pesron on 2 islands will cost about USD 150.

More details about excursions.
1. Dolphin Watching Trips (about 20 $).
It is a cruise specially designed for watching dolphins. You can see how they dancing, jumping and playing with each other. Also you can touch someone from the boat. It is a surprisingly unforgettable impression! 

2. Trip to Picnic islands (about 65$ with barbecue and with transfer in two sides).
Picnic islands are small uninhabited islands that have equal natural beauty and setup. A picnic island is more natural than resorts and has more privacy. However, picnic islands have all the required facilities such as toilets, bar, rooms, eating and dining facilities. You can spend the whole day in the clear waters of these islands, swimming, snorkeling, Beach games and experience a barbecue on the beach. And you will be alone on this island.

3. Excursion on Resort (from 15$ till 150$).

4. Dhivehi Cultural Music and Dance – BODU BERU (from 0$ - 10$).
This is show Maldives songs, playing drums and dancing.

5. Fishing.
Fishing can be an adventure. You can catch such as sailfish, swordfish, marlin, wahoo, barracuda, yellowfin tuna and other game. You can enjoy excellent fishing from aboard Maldivian dhonee. Day and Night fishing using the traditional local style fishing with fishing line and weights. Everybody will catch some or many fishes and after that for you will be cooked your catch on barbecue.

6. Malé Excursion.
And many other excursions.
This is some of the information. You can ask if this is not enough.
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Old Dec 27th, 2012, 08:00 AM
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I've fished in the Maldives a couple of times and have studied the catch results from other deep sea anglers. Yes you can catch sailfish and black marlin, small ones, but no swordfish have been caught there recreationally. Catch rate for the black marlins are not that impressive either plus you will pretty much need a game boat to chase after these pelagic fish and not a resort bottom feeding boat.

From a hotel bottom fishing boat using hand line expect to catch sand fish, groupers etc. definitely no marlins or yellowfin tunas!
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Old Dec 29th, 2012, 08:53 AM
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So it looks really budgetary trip! And entertainment program is very diverse and interesting. Night fishing, I was particularly intrigued, Hanuman. This is more than I had hoped and with such money is not a question of. Helena62, thanks so much! I'm starting to prepare for the trip under your plan so that if something can help it would be not bad.
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Old Apr 13th, 2013, 08:20 PM
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try to book them in off season in May to August. most of the resorts are reducing there price.
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Old Apr 15th, 2013, 09:09 PM
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Hey guys. I'm very interested in talking to people who have been to the Maldives. I write blogs about the more treacherous spots on the globe for company websites. I wrote something about how climate change is effecting the Maldives. Did you see any evidence of it? Did the government ask you for donations via the "tourism tax"? I'm very interested in what it is like over there. Any info would be useful.

Thanks a bunch,

Ian
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Old Sep 20th, 2013, 11:45 PM
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Maybe you already know but an El Neeno bleached all the coral except that of the southern most island a few years ago. The coral is growing back but obviously slowly. The big islands have used some very interesting snapped cement construction pieces, tetrahedrons? to sorround the settlements and dissipate the strength of Tsunamis .... You may want to look these two topics up.
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