The smog here in Bangkok is killing me, and looking through old pictures of my favourite beach times made me want to share some with you Steemians!
There are plenty of resorts and hotels scattered all over the Maldives, and you can find amazing properties and white sandy beaches starting from only 3000 baht/100 USD. If you are on a low budget, these are more than good enough as the beaches are amazing anyways. You can also opt for something more expensive and more private like the island resorts. It hurts the wallet, and requires some saving up beforehand, but if you plan it in time, you could get a great deal. We stayed at Anantara Maldives with 3 days at Dhigu and 3 days at Veli, which was just a pontoon boat ride away from each other.
Dhigu is more suited for families, and you can have your very own bungalow on the beach, which is dreamy if you ask me. The bungalows are spacious with your own path, leading you straight to the beach where your very own little seating area is waiting for you under a straw hut. There’s a nice seating area just outside your bungalow too, and a beautiful outside bathroom with a large bathtub in the middle, surrounded with white sand. It’s everything you would imagine a beach paradise to be like. There’s more dining options at Dhigu and the island is much bigger and gives room for activities for the kids too.
For the lovers or friends who wants a bit more privacy the over water bungalow at Anantara Veli would be the better option. Kids are not allowed on this island during the evening, which feels quite nice if you want to chill by the pool where it’s nice and quiet. The pool bar at Dhigu has a much better view and more space, but it’s also crowded with people
The Maldives can be quite expensive and it does not really matter if you are staying in a cheap hotel or a private resort. Going on guided tours and snorkeling trips will cost you quite a bit. We went for a 2-hour excursion to look for dolphins, which costed 150 USD pr.person. In this price you get to jump into the water and search for them too. There were also cheaper options where you stay at the boat for around 75 USD pr. Person. If you think about what you get in return, being lost in the Indian sea cruising along the atoll’s of Maldives, WATCHING WILD DOLPHINS, it’s worth it! However, don’t compare it to the prices in Thailand… the difference is enormous.
Alcohol and food is expensive on the islands… we stayed at the Anantara and you can expect the prices to be the same as back home in Europe. I’m Norwegian and I found the prices in Maldives to be much higher than back home when it came to food. But drinks are somewhat the same. A beer is from 10 USD upwards and drinks and wine usually starts at 15 USD. A good trick is to wait for sunset; the pool bars have a great 2 for 1 happy hour deal and there’s tapas deals all day for snacks in Veli. You can also open a bottle of wine at the pool bar all day for only 45 USD! A decent meal ranges between 25-80 USD, where you can expect to pay 45 USD for a good meal to stay full. These are the dinner prices, but if you book a table at the pool par or during lunch times there’s a different menu and you can have simple dishes for as low as 20-25 USD. There are also buffets for 125 USD with a different theme to every day of the week.
There will be an added 22% in service charge and government taxes on top of anything you do there… SPA’s, massages, food, trips, you name it.
Another thing I highly recommend if you go to Anantara Dhigu is their massage. It was the most relaxing experience I’ve ever had at a SPA. The massage rooms are located above the water with a window looking down at the sea… and the staff are just perfect there. Actually, the staff are perfect at the whole hotel without even exaggerating. Book your appointment so you finish just in time for sunset. There’s a chilling area overlooking the sunset with sun beds and Jacuzzis and saunas for all the SPA’s guest.
Maldives is on my list of top destinations that I have visited. It’s so relaxing, so pristine there’s nothing quite like it. The beaches are white and the water is clearer than anything I have seen. No garbage in the sea, no pollution in the sky. We had to stop several times during our trip to gaze at the beautiful scenery reminding ourselves how crazy it was that we were there. There are so many places I’ve yet to see and new that I would love to go to, but Maldives was so special I would love to go again!
So to all my fellow travelling souls if you ever have the chance to go to Maldives, take it! You can save up and travel in luxury or you can go the budget route and opt for something cheaper, but whatever you do, GO! We are so lucky to live here in Thailand where a plane ticket costs only around 300 USD / 10000 baht!
Best time to travel is between December to late April. We went at the beginning of April as it was fully booked for the dates we wanted. So make sure you are early out. We were lucky and only encountered one day of rain.
Anyone been before? Or planning to go this year? Do share your plans!