The Maldives might not be the first destination that comes to mind for a budget holiday, but one travel enthusiast shows that it’s entirely possible
What comes to mind when thinking of a ‘budget holiday’? Perhaps it’s a bargain break at Butlin’s or a boozy weekend in Benidorm, while steering clear of long-haul flights.
Yet, one savvy influencer has claimed you can actually holiday in the Maldives without breaking the bank. The creator, dubbed @okay.kara.travels on TikTok, even claimed she spent under £50 on her first day.
At a time when a typical week-long stay in the Maldives can set you back around £1,700 per person, according to Travel Republic, thousands of people were keen to know how she managed it. So, in an Instagram post last year, she delved right into it.
She said: “We just landed in Mali because we’re attempting to travel the Maldives on a budget and already I’m so shocked with how affordable everything is… We’ve just flown from the UK to Male, it took us 24 hours to get here, so, it’s already been a very, very long travel day.
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“But we still need to get to our hotel which is on one of the local islands. Me and my friend Tasha found out that if you stay on the local islands in the Maldives instead of a resort island it is far, far more affordable.”
Nestled in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is an archipelago consisting of 1,192 islands, most of which are uninhabited. Tourist favourites like Milaidhoo, Komandoo, and Baros offer a range of luxury all-inclusive resorts.
However, Kara and Tasha decided to give the usual tourist trail a miss, choosing Thulusdhoo Island instead. A mere 26km from Male, the capital of the Maldives, this island offers a quieter escape with its lesser-known status.
Even still, it’s a treasure trove for surfers and snorkelers with its perfect waves and colourful coral reefs. “I did not think the Maldives was gonna be this affordable but already it’s shocked me,” Kara continued at the time.
“We got picked up from the ferry terminal by our hotel and we were taken to our beachfront hotel which is literally only £28 per person per night, which includes the Maldives tourist tax and breakfast every morning.”
It’s worth noting that Kara also smartly sidestepped hefty travel expenses. While many jet off from Male’s airport on ‘expensive’ seaplanes or splash out £25 on speedboats, she chose a more economical route.
She took two local ferries at a cost of just £1.97 each. Kara explained: “We did have to wait in Male for a couple of hours for the next ferry because there’s only one a day at 2pm.
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“Half two then came around and we jumped on our second ferry which took as to Thulusdhoo island. This does take quite a while, it takes two hours, whereas, the speedboat will take you half an hour.
“But whereas the speedboat is £25 minimum, this local ferry was just £1.20 per person. So, for all our transport today, it’s cost us less than £2 which blows my mind.”
Wrapping up her initial day, Kara dined at a local Maldivian eatery, choosing a curry, roti, shared rice and a couple of beverages. Astonishingly, the meal came to only £6.50, bringing her total spend for the day to a mere £41.67.
“Day 1 of budget travel in the Maldives has (thankfully) been a massive success,” she added.
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