Our Honeymoon in the Maldives
slice of paradise
If you're like me and despise the cold weather, the Maldives is the perfect getaway during the frigid months! I am going to get straight to the point and say I know it seems like a once in a lifetime trip to a lot of people. I can tell you honestly, from the least high-maintenance girl you'll ever come across, that you can absolutely make this happen for yourself if you live within your means and plan far in advance! The deals are out there waiting for you to find them. Traveling far and wide on a budget is possible with a little hard work, persistence, and manifestation!
Drinks by the Indian Ocean
Post thunderstorm lighting
Furaveri beach villa
Be open to any time of year
In a perfect world (at least in mine) every Christmas would be spent on a tropical island! Unfortunately, limiting your travel dates to a specific month won't help your wallet. The "best" time to travel to the Maldives is said to be between December and March. Often times resorts lower their prices during slower months. Be open to purchasing the cheaper package during rainy season. Consistent rain is few and far between. Chances are it will only rain a few hours in the morning and then you're golden!
Opt to upgrade later
When booking the resort, you'll be given the optional upgrades and add-ons right then to chose from. Only book the bare minimum when initially reserving! You may think you want the all-inclusive package and full-body massage locked in, but you'll think again later. In most cases your resort will email you about 2 weeks prior to departure offering you "exclusive" last minute deals that are often 50% off or more! You can always chose to upgrade when you get to your resort. Book the room you want and let time do the rest!
room for activities
Yes, the jet skies and scuba lessons may look enticing, but there are many other budget friendly activities that wont leave you eating off the kids menu every night! Snorkeling gear cost $6 per person for the entirety of your trip. The ocean is DENSE with coral reef that you must see with your own eyes! Hours of mesmerizing entertainment is right below the waters surface. Bike rentals are $8 per day. Peddle from one side of the island to the other in minutes! You can also experience Maldivian style fishing for about $40 per person.
they say it's all about who you know
..and they are all wrong! I say it's all about who you meet along the way. We have never experienced kindness and hospitality quite like did at Furaveri Maldives. The warm smiles we were greeted with every day made our experience 10x better! We received the high quality service from the restaurant staff, bartenders, and reception. Even the guy who cleaned our room was such a ray of sunshine every time we met! We quickly became friends with the staff as it was impossible not to. Not only will you gain new friendships for life, you might also save a buck or two! Don't be afraid to ask questions and engage in conversations with locals and staff. They are probably just as curious to learn about your side of the world as you are to learn about theirs!
Soaking in paradise
Fruit bat amongst palm trees
View from our back yard
get pumped to fly
because you'll be in the air for QUITE some time depending on where you are flying out of. Our flight from Dallas to Qatar was a solid 15 hours! Once arriving at MLE Airport you will take a sea plane to your destination. After stepping off the sea plane resort staff will greet you with warm smiles, a refreshing wash cloth (because humidity) and a young coconut! Now, the sea plane price is impossible to get out of. You will likely end up paying $300 per person round trip. BUT the good news is you can price watch your airline tickets months in advance to find the cheapest deal! Pay special attention on days like Cyber Monday for the cheapest flights. Third party websites and subscriptions will send you the best deals at that time. There may be a small fee to subscribe, but it is worth every penny! We use a site called Next Vacay that is $25 per year. It scours the web to find the best flights near us and notifies us daily!
the experience is priceless
It is always in our best interest to save as much money as possible. While saving is totally achievable in the Maldives, the memories you take home are priceless in every sense. You may have to compromise and decide what is most important to you! Do you have to be on the water or could you rest in the Garden Villa? Would you rather do a water sport or rent snorkeling gear for the whole week? Let's face it, any way you experience this place will be incredible, Water Villa or not! Another fun idea is to upgrade to all-inclusive for your final night and live it up with one last hoo-rah!
Anyway, life is too short to stay in one place. Do some deal digging, do some super advanced planning. Envision your goal and claim your own little slice of paradise. I promise you won't regret a single second. <3
Questions?
Ask Away! We would love to answer any questions you have about our experience in the Maldives
