The Maldives 

Without a Huge Price Tag

No judgement against resort-goers. This is just why I chose something different…

Now when I think of the Maldives, what comes to mind is expensive, picture-perfect overwater villas, private islands and turquoise waters you can’t believe is really that colour. But what if I told you that you could do a wonderful trip, more budget-friendly and authentic? My mind was thinking something a little more local, still with different things to experience.

So after spending 7 days on a liveaboard, I settled on the island of Thulusdhoo, purely out of convenience as the island is only about a 30-minute speedboat ride from Malé airport (approx 25 USD each way).

But, I'll be honest… I didn't really like it when I first arrived.

The island is in desperate need of repair in places, and after coming straight off a pristine, modern liveaboard, it was a bit of a shock. But once the tiredness wore off, my fondness for the place grew.

🏝️ What is a local island really like?

Unlike the private resort islands, Thulusdhoo is a proper inhabited Maldivian island, with around 1,500–1,900 people living there. It's small enough to walk around, and you’ll see local homes, cafés, shops, the mosque and businesses alongside the guesthouses.

So yes, that does mean it looks very different from the polished resort version of the Maldives. There are areas that could definitely do with some TLC, but without sounding preachy, I think that's part of understanding what you're choosing when you stay on a local island. You're staying somewhere people actually live, rather than on a private island built entirely around tourism.

💰 And this is where you can save

Staying on a local island is significantly cheaper than staying at a private resort. You can find accommodation, local restaurants and activities for a fraction of what you'd spend at a luxury resort, while still getting the things you probably came to the Maldives for in the first place: white, powdery sand, crystal water, swimming, snorkelling, diving and beautiful sunsets.

My hotel was over €100 per night and it was beautiful but just okay, especially for the bigger price tag. I wouldn’t recommend it to be honest, given it had a very damp smell, quite some damage in the room. Having said that, we had a fantastic NYE pre-celebration with some of the guests, and the breakfast each morning was alright.

I didn't set out to find the cheapest possible Maldives. I just didn't want to spend thousands of pounds to stay somewhere that felt completely removed from the place I'd travelled all that way to see.

So if you think the Maldives is completely out of your budget, I'd really encourage you to look at local islands before writing it off.

🌊 What is there to do?

There are some watersports and excursions available, although don't expect a never-ending list of activities. Thulusdhoo is actually well known for surfing, with the famous Cokes break right off the island and Chickens just across the channel. There are also surf lessons and boards available if you're interested.

You can also arrange:

  • Daily bike rental

  • Snorkelling trips

  • Diving

  • Sandbank trips

  • Fishing

  • Island-hopping / boat excursions

  • Kayaking

  • Paddleboarding

  • Other watersports

Personally, after seven days of diving, I wasn't exactly desperate to add another 14 activities to my itinerary. I was quite happy to swim, walk around, eat, sit on the beach and do very little.

🏖️ Bikini beaches & local etiquette

One thing that's important to know is that Thulusdhoo is a Muslim local island, so you can't walk around the village in your bikini or swimwear like you could on a private resort island.

There are designated bikini beaches where tourists can swim and sunbathe, but elsewhere you'll want to cover up a little more and be respectful of local customs. Alcohol also isn't permitted on inhabited local islands.

Also, maybe a breaking point for some… alcohol also isn't permitted on local islands.

🥤 Random, but Coca-Cola

I absolutely didn't expect to find something like this in the Maldives, of all places… but Thulusdhoo is home to the only Coca-Cola factory in the world that uses desalinated seawater. The factory was built in the 1980s and is actually where the nearby surf break Cokes gets its name.

You can apparently visit the factory on certain days, although I'd check locally or ask your accommodation about the current tour times before turning up.

🐚 Would I recommend a local island?

For me, yes! The resorts feel like entrapment, like you're stuck. They’re overly expensive and don’t seem authentic to me. Rather, they’re mostly for the money and perfect snapshots for social media feeds.

Now what I personally crave is to learn about the locals and gain this appreciation & understanding for their way of life. I love to immerse myself, while still being able to relax in the same way a resort can offer. Though I know that isn't what everyone wants and perhaps a calm, relaxing resort is exactly what you're after: that's totally fine! This isn't aimed at bashing anyone.

It's just another option.

And one that means you don't have to look at the Maldives and immediately think “I'll never be able to afford that.”

Because you can. You might just need to skip the overwater villa.