Destinations · Maldives
The Maldives
One island, one resort, and nothing else to think about.
The Maldives is the most single-purpose destination on earth: you fly to Malé, take a seaplane or speedboat to one island, and stay there. There is no touring, no driving, no deciding. That is the appeal, and it is why it carries so many honeymoons. The thing most travellers do not know is how wide the price range actually is — guesthouses on local islands cost a fraction of the resorts and the same reef sits offshore, while the top overwater villas are among the most expensive rooms in the world. Both are the Maldives. We will tell you honestly which one your budget is.
What a week actually costs
Indicative shapes, not quotes — an advisor verifies real prices for your exact dates before anything is offered.
Under $2,500 for the week
Two people in a guesthouse on a local island such as Maafushi or Dhigurah, full board, snorkelling straight off the beach, whale sharks and mantas by local boat. The same ocean, a tenth of the money.
$12,000–30,000
A beach or overwater villa at a good resort, half board, a seaplane transfer, a house-reef dive package, a sandbank dinner, and a couple of nights in Dubai on the way.
$80,000+
A two-bedroom overwater residence with a butler and a private pool, or a small private-island buyout for a family, all-inclusive, private seaplane, and a yacht day.
What to watch for
- Transfers are a large separate cost and are often quoted late. A seaplane can add $500–800 per person return, and seaplanes do not fly after dark — a late arrival can mean an unplanned Malé hotel night. We price transfers up front, always.
- Resort islands are all-inclusive by economics whether or not by contract: there is nowhere else to eat. Check what a meal plan actually covers before you compare two prices.
- On local islands, alcohol is not served and modest dress applies away from designated beaches. That is the trade for the price, and plenty of travellers make it happily.
- A legal marriage here is possible at some resorts but most ceremonies are symbolic renewals. Lovely, and worth knowing which you are buying.