Budget Maldives. Maafushi is the cheapest place for the best beach vacation
Replies: 33 - Last Post: Apr 15, 2013 9:11 PM Last Post By: Seyya
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15
Hello Jajka,about islands it is good to visit from Maafushi.
The guest house provides cheap excursions to several resort islands, Park Island, Sand Bank, Manta and Wale shark spots. They can arrange dolphin watching, fishing and snorkeling in very picturesque areas. All day on Byadhoo resort, the snorkeling near by Coco island 10 – 15 $. There are several more expensive resorts because entrance on island is expensive. You can go every day on Byadhoo resort and one time on expensive resorts. Not expensive Sand Bank about 20$. Everywhere you can swim in separate bathing suit but it’s very dangerous because the equator’s sun is very strong.
In my experience the first 5 days better to use leotards and tunic not to spoil all rest of how many people I have met there.
In fact, it is an extensive choice of trips to various Islands and excursions to the value and activities so it is difficult to single something out. Everything has its own charm and beauty.
But if you are interested in the details of any particular trips, then write about it, I detailed write about everything.
17
Dear Katerina,This is very useful information, many thanks. Please let me know how to get in touch with the owners (e.g. email) to organize for the booking. My wife and I have great expectations of Maldives just the way you experienced.
Best regards,
Slobodan
18
Dear Slobodan,Thank you very much for your remarkable words. :)
Glad that you and your wife decided to organize a such an unforgettable holiday in the Maldives. A great idea to make a booking directly at the hotel without intermediaries. I do it only this way. So gladly share contacts:
e-mail: reservation@summervillamaldives.com or mobile phone +9607773087 Mr. Abdulla Naseem.
Wish you happy and wonderful trip!
20
Hello Katrina!It was nice to read your nice reviews. Thought, we can also gain from your experience and knowledge.
Can you advice us to plan our Holiday in Maldives. We are confused whether to stay in a Resort or a Beach Villa. Are there also some cheap Holiday rentals available in Maldives? We are vegetarians, so will have to make our food ourselves in case Veg option is not available.
How should we plan our outings? Only one member is a swimmer, so we can only do some surface watersports which are not so daredevil.
Can you please also advise how much it will cost us to stay (in different options) and outdoor activity?
Thanks
Nitin
22
Hello Jajka,There is near the exit of the airport currency exchange office with a good rate. Here you can exchange different kinds of currencies including the US dollar. The course is better than in the island Maafushi. If you are going to go to the island directly from the airport by speed boat it is the only reasonable option for currency exchange.
In the Maafushi island exchange of the dollar it is possible to produce in the hotel but the course will be less profitable. In addition, it is not necessary to change a lot of US dollars on the rufiyaa Maldivian so far as in the Maafushi the rufiyaa Maldivian it makes sense to use only in the local shops to buy food, clothing and other goods in General use or equipment for snorkeling and other recreational activities. As well as rufiyaa Maldivian more profitable if you are going to get to Maafushi on the local ferry.
In all other cases in Maafushi more profitable to pay with dollars. For payment of accommodation in hotel, excursions, souvenir shops the best currency is the dollar.
There are in the capital Male ' branches of banks where you can also exchange currency. The dollar exchange rate will be the same as in the airport may be a little better. But to get to the Bank will require certain time and there they have a few breaks for prayer and lunch. Yes and there is no sense to make such a voyage to change a couple of hundred dollars. Of course, if you've spent the day in the Male' and you plan to shopping, visiting to the museums and cafe you can exchange dollars in banks of Male'.
Best regards, :)
23
Hello, NitinSorry for the late reply. I hope that it is not too late :) I am pleased that you liked my experience of a holiday in the Maldives.
About the main question of a vegetarian food.
If you plan to rest on Resorts I think you will find in menus of the buffet dishes of the vegetarian food. But I am not sure because I don't have experience to take a food in Resort Island.
If you plan to rest on Maafushi island I with pleasure recommend Summer villa guest house because they have very good Maldivian chef and Indian chef so I am sure he can cook for you vegetarian food how you like. :) When I was there in menus of the buffet were dishes of the vegetarian food also. And I saw tourists with the same preferences in food. In addition in the Summer villa guest house there is a special cuisine for tourists where you can cook whatever you want to own. In my opinion there is no more of hotels which provide the kitchen for the use of tourists.
About excursions.
I can tell only about the excursions which organized from Maafushi.
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. I wrote about trips where you can have fun absolutely no swimming in the water.
This is answers some of your questions.
It is difficult to calculate your vacation because I don't know where you are going to stay, what type of the rest you like and what you are interested in. If you will write in more detail about your trip then I will try to help calculate your travel budget.
Best regards, Katrina.
26
Hello Christine,Very pleased with your decision to relax on the Maafushi in "Summer Villa". And especially pleased you have decided to book a hotel directly without intermediaries. Each firm such as booking.com or agoda.com takes 25% in excess of the rooms. So much more profitable to book a room directly at the hotel.
So gladly share contacts:
e-mail: reservation@summervillamaldives.com or mobile phone (+960)7773087, (+960)7954445.
Good journey and all the best!
28
Katerina, I really want to thank you for your sterling advice.We are staying on Maafushi and want to do day trips. However what I find most curious about the Maldives is the lack of information about day trips and prices etc.
I have written to the guesthouse owner and nothing... the thing is for some of us having an idea of a budget before hand makes all the difference.
If you do have the time and could provide a bit more detail around the day trips aviable and the prices, would be much appreciated.
Thanks
N
