Maldives holidays promise perennial bliss; albeit at a higher price for flights and accommodation. The article discusses how, those on a relatively lower budget, can plan a holiday to the Maldives and weave indelible memories at the world’s most stunning island destination.
For a destination which is gorgeously adorned with pristine beaches, turquoise waters and proliferating marine wonders, Maldives surely poses as a sought-after destination in a traveller’s wish-list. However, being essentially a high end luxury holiday destinations, it is thronged primarily by extravagant travellers. The luxury beach destination seemingly lacks an abundance of affordable alternatives for flights, accommodation and transfers thereby making budget holidaymakers think twice before booking flights for holidays to Maldives. Yet, experts believe that a Maldives holiday can be planned without splurging or overdrawing one’s bank account. Here are some tips for those who wish to purchase tickets for a glorious trip to Maldives without burning a hole in their pockets.
Savings on flights to Maldives: Maldives is a long haul destination and as a rule holidays to long haul destinations are more expensive, mainly due to the spend on flight tickets. As a result, holidaymakers are left with less money to spend at the destination. But there are ways to reduce the cost of flights to Maldives.
Plan and Book in Advance: Ticket prices rise with the departure date drawing closer. It is sensible to book flights to Maldives way in advance; not weeks but months in advance.
Prefer multi-stop flights: Booking tickets aboard connecting flights often results in saving some money. Budget holidaymakers to Maldives are likely to spend less by booking connecting flights; better still, by booking multi-stop flights with less premium airlines. However, travellers must heed the entry requirements for the stopover destinations.
Low Cost Airlines: Booking tickets with low cost carriers (LCCs) is a sure fire way to save money. Many popular UK airports are well connected with rest of the Europe and some parts of Mid East with a network of many low cost carriers. However, there are no long-haul low cost carriers connecting UK with such farther destinations as the Maldives. A multi-stop itinerary with departure from UK aboard LCCs flying to European, Middle East and Indian destinations and connecting further to Maldives is nonetheless possible. Ryanair, easyjet, Flybe, FlyDubai, Air Arabia, Air India Express, SpiceJet etc are some of the LCCs from Europe, Middle East and the Indian Sub Continent. Note that the baggage allowance may be limited aboard flights with LCCs, so pack accordingly.
Smaller Departure Airports: Smaller UK airports may have lower taxes and fees, and booking tickets for departure from these may save a bit of your travel money.
When and Where to Go: While Maldives is a year round destination, there are seasons which feature relatively cheaper prices for air tickets as well as accommodation. South West and North East monsoon determine the best time to visit Maldives. A careful research can identify less touristy seasons when there are abundant deals and offers from hotel, resorts as well as airlines and travel agents. Shoulder season (period between off and low season) is often preferred by many who want to save money without compromising completely on the essential draws of the destination.
Savings on Accommodation: Maldives features a vast number of island resorts; usually one on each tourist island. Factors like type of accommodation (water villa, beach bungalow, pool or garden view rooms), board basis, type and quality of water sports, quality of resort’s house reef and marine life inhabiting it, as well as the proximity to healthy reefs for snorkelling and dive sites are important factors that determine the cost of stay in Maldives’ resorts. Quite obviously, selecting resorts with ‘best’ of these choices will push the holiday cost through the roof. Hence, budget travellers booking tickets for holidays in Maldives would do well to settle for ‘fairly good’ and ‘average’ when it comes to choices.
Choice of Location: Considering you are not travelling on a tight budget, there are a number of islands that feature resorts cheaper than the ‘best’ of Maldives’ high end resorts. Although, these may rank a few notches lower in terms of above parameters; perhaps quality of accommodation and services and facilities offered too. But staying here would mean you do not burn a hole in your pocket and at the same time do not miss on the quintessential charm of Maldives staying at an Island resort!
Local Island Accommodation: For those on a tight budget, guesthouses on the local islands inhabited by the natives come for a fraction of the money spent on a resort. However, mind the lower levels of comfort and luxury as well as limitations due to local customs and Islamic conventions on these islands. Swimsuits, revealing clothes and alcohol are not allowed; you may not have access to the well maintained beaches and house reef, quality snorkelling and diving as well as the equipments, PADI certified diving instructors, etc. However, the benefit of staying here is that you may get to experience Maldives’ true flavour, its culture, cuisine, customs and traditions first hand. It is wise to book guest house that offers trips to uninhabited desert islands where you can swim freely in swimsuits, sunbathe and snorkel.
Water Sports: Water sports, scuba diving and particularly snorkelling, are Maldives’ main claim to fame. The quality and the health of the house reef and water activities place a resort higher or lower on the hit list. If you are looking at the best, be ready to spend a fortune. Resorts without a good house reef usually take guests out on trips to other sites and charge you for the transfers. A resort with access to house reef from the beach can save the additional cost. However, such resorts may be more expensive for providing such a facility.
Transfers: The resorts on the tourist islands use sea-plane flights and speed boat transfers to and from the airport, between the islands, and to and from various snorkelling and dive sites. If not included in the package price, transfers invariably incur high additional costs. Transfer options are limited and these may be unavoidable if you stay at a resort and want to hop around. However, those staying at local island guesthouses, which usually facilitate transfers aboard small and slow-speed boats, may save considerably; but be ready to spend considerable amount of time.
Book a Package Deal: Booking flights tickets, accommodation and transfers as a package is a great way to save money. A package can save up to forty percent of one’s holiday cost as compared to do-it-yourself holidays where flights and hotels are booked separately and it is true in case of Maldives too. Besides, it is sensible to go for all-inclusive package that include flights, stay, transfers, tour, and food and drinks in the package price.
