A honeymoon in the Maldives can cost anywhere between INR 3 lakhs to INR 5 lakhs (or approx $5000) on the lower range for a week-long staycation. The upper limit is whatever you decide it to be. Some resorts, like Soneva Jani and Four Seasons, can cost ~ Rs.1,70,000 ($3000) for a one-night stay, so the total cost for a 7-day trip can easily reach 17 lakhs ($23,000). Others like Jumeirah Vittaveli, Dusit Thani, St.Regis, Six Senses Laamu, charge anywhere between Rs.60,000/- ($1000) to 1 lakh ($1500) for a one-night stay, bringing up the total for a 7-day Maldives honeymoon price to around 10 lakhs ($13,500).
There are some budget resorts that can offer an affordable Maldives honeymoon experience:
(Tariffs ranging from Rs.15,000 ($150) to Rs.30,000 ($300))
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Cocoon Maldives (Check current rate and reviews here)
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Kandima Maldives (Check current rate and reviews here)
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Taj Coral Reef Resort & Spa (Check current rate and reviews here)
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Sheraton Maldives (Check current rate and reviews here)
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Kurumba Maldives (Check current rate and reviews here)
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Centara Ras Fushi (Check current rate and reviews here)
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Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu (Check current rate and reviews here)
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Sun Siyam Vilu Reef (Check current rate and reviews here)
3 BIGGEST Hidden costs in a Maldives Honeymoon Package:
1. Seaplane or Boat-ride transfer
All those stories of people brooding over seaplane or boat-ride transfers costing them $$$ are true! Almost no Maldives honeymoon package includes the transfer from the airport to the private island resorts. And hotels don’t consider them in their stay amount. Private seaplane or speedboat ride can cost Rs.20,000 ($300) on average for a round trip for one person. The farther the hotel is, the more you’ll have to pay for these island transfers. Ask your hotel authorities or tour package provider about the cost beforehand and include them in your budget.
To see how you can save up on Maldives island transfers, refer to our next section on how to save on your Maldives trip!
2. Water Sports & Other Activities
Prepare to shell out anywhere between Rs.35,000/- ($500) to Rs.2,00,000 ($3000) for water sports and other leisure activities in the Maldives. Of course, the upper limit is whatever you decide it to be. In 2 lakhs, you can experience almost all the activities on the island – from diving, parasailing, kayaking, jet-skiing, kite surfing, fun tubing, wakeboarding, to relaxation activities like spa treatments, sandbank picnics, etc. Couples often forget to budget the activities in their Maldives honeymoon cost, thinking they don’t cost as much. For instance, a sandbank picnic can be priced at Rs.8,000/- ($110) for 6 hours. And the average cost for a couple’s spa in the Maldives is Rs.18,000 ($250). The water activities can be charged anywhere between Rs.5,000 ($70) and Rs.15,000 ($200) depending on the detailing, time range, and place where you’re planning to indulge in them.
3. Private Resort Dining
The problem with the Maldives is the lack of access to travel to other areas since the country is made of 1200 small islands and the only way to travel is by boat or seaplane. The majority of resorts are built on their own private island. Some are built-in clusters on the same island, but that’s very rare. Anyways, with movement restrictions, you only have an option to dine-in in the restaurants catered by the hotel authorities. Romantic, formal dining can cost you anywhere between Rs.2000/- ($30) to Rs.8000/- ($110). The more luxurious the resort, the more you’ll have to pay for dining. Many Maldives packages have breakfast and soft drinks included, so that’s a YAY.
Alcohol Cost in the Maldives:
Besides the food costs, you’ll want to take into consideration alcohol too, which can be a major hidden expense on your trip. When you’re on a vacation, you tend to drink more (it’s a part of relaxation after all!). Cocktails can be charged at around Rs.1500/- ($20) each and wines are priced at 3 to 5 times the price.
Don’t even think about bringing your own alcohol to the country. Being an Islamic nation, alcohol is banned. However, almost all resorts and boats have the permission to serve alcohol at a very steep markup price. So, there’s no option but to buy the alcohol from the property itself.
Courtesy: Angie
4 Tips To Save BIG on your Maldives Honeymoon Package:
1. Book A Beach Villa
Beach villas are just as good as the overwater villas. There, we said it. The way overwater villas are advertised and flaunted on Instagram is a bit much exaggeration of their amazingness. And that’s why their prices are almost 20% to 30% higher than the beach villas. We’re not saying you ditch the water villas completely. Instead, try to divide your time between them. Living by the beach is amazing, and white sands in your barefoot is a tangible luxury.
2. Choose Off-Season Trip Visit
This tip is probably a no-brainer to save on any of your excursions. May to August is the off or low season in the Maldives. There are high chances of rain during this season, and it’s best if you carry an umbrella at all times when you go out. During the low season, many luxury over-water villa resorts offer tariffs of almost 20% to 30% off the price of high-season (November to April) rates. The best ones to check out are Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Velassaru Maldives, COMO Cocoa Island, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, and Vakarufalhi Island Resort.
3. Pick A Resort Closer To Male
Your favorite resort can easily set you back Rs.60,000 ($900) (or much more!) for seaplane or speedboat travel. Some even take a 40-minute or an hour journey to reach the destination by seaplane and a higher-time by speedboat. Choosing a resort closer saves you bucks on traveling to your final destination. Find a list of best Maldives honeymoon resorts, in all budgets, closer to Male airport.
Budget Maldives Resorts Closer To Male Airport (Tariff between Rs.15,000 ($200) to Rs.25,000($350))
Kurumba Maldives (10-15 minutes speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Bandos Maldives (15 to 20 minutes boat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa (15-minute speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Paradise Island Resort & Spa (20-minute speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Thulhagiri Island Resort (20-minutes speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Velassaru Maldives (25-minute speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Mid-Budget Maldives Resorts Closer To Male (Tariff around Rs.50,000 ($700))
Adaaran Prestige Vadoo (15-minutes speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Baros Maldives (25-minute speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Luxury Maldives Resorts Closer To Male (Tariff around 1 lakh per night ($120))
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa (10-minutes speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Jumeirah Vittaveli (20-minute speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Gili Lankanfushi (20-minute speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
Four Season Kuda Huraa (25-minute speedboat ride) (Check current rate and reviews here)
4. Opt For A Combined Speedboat Transfer
A combined speedboat transfer means you’ll be traveling with other guests of the hotel in the speedboat. The average price of a combined speedboat transfer can be Rs.10,000 ($150) for a two-way trip for one person. As mentioned above, private speedboat transfers can set you back almost double or triple this amount, depending on how far away from your island is from the airport. Speedboats are much more affordable than seaplanes ANYDAY.
If you opt for a combined speedboat transfer, know that you might have to wait for 2 to 4 hours before the departure. Some resorts might provide lounge services for the waiting guests, while others don’t.
Another WAY to save BIG on a Maldives honeymoon package is to opt for local ferries. These ferries don’t drop you off at your chosen resort but at the island. Since many Maldives resorts (especially the luxury ones) have their own private island, public ferries might not take you there. The price of a local ferry ticket can range from Rs.300 ($5) to Rs.2000 ($30) for a one-way ticket for one person.
You can’t book public ferry tickets online. They can be booked in-person in Male, or you can take help from your hotel, who’d have employed local people, and they can book a ticket in advance for you. To see prices and timetables of the public ferries, check here.
With the extensive commercialization and unparalleled beauty, no experience would come in cheap in the Maldives. Planning and expertly curating a package can help with sticking to a budget though. Hopefully, our Maldives honeymoon cost blog helped you with making a more informed decision. Do check out more related honeymoon blogs here:
