“The Maldives is only for honeymooners.  The Maldives is only for high end travelers”.  Everyone has the misconception that the Maldives is a rich man's paradise but there's more to the country than meets the eye. Don’t limit yourself to an overpriced suite - explore beyond the resorts to discover hidden gems & unique Maldivian culture.

Thanks to local islands it’s possible to travel the Maldives affordably, and if you really need to, even on a budget.  We were on the remote island of Fuildhoo for the majority of our stay and it cost us a quarter of what we spent on our last night in an overwater bungalow.  Fulidhoo allowed us to experience the unspoiled magic of the Maldives, meet locals, and still afford a luxury stay on our last night.  Here’s how we made our dream Maldives vacation come true with our kool-aid money.

FUlidhoo

Fulidhoo is a deserted island you wouldn’t mind being trapped in. With a population of more or less 300 people,  there are no cars on Fulidhoo while most locals stroll barefoot. Before 2009, visitors were only allowed on resort islands. Once the Maldivian government opened foreign access to all islands, guesthouses were built on uninhabited islands allowing travelers to roam independently while locals were able to grow small businesses. Fulidhoo is a different type of island paradise - no luxury amenities or piña coladas, just traditional net hammocks and daily fishermen’s catch.

How to get to Fulidhoo?

Speedboat
+ Cost: $40 one way
+ Time: 1 hour
+ Schedule: Organize w/ guesthouse

Ferry
+ Cost: $4 one way
+ Time: 3 hours
+ Schedule: Male to Fulidhoo - 10am Sunday, Tuesday, & Thursday. Fulidhoo to Male - 11am Monday, Wednesday, & Saturday

The international airport is located in the mainland of Male.  Most resorts are only accessible by boat or seaplane through their private services.  From Male airport, resorts normally charge a mandatory fee of $100-300 round trip depending on where the resort is located.  

As for the local islands, you have the option to take a ferry ($4) or a speedboat ($40).  The ferry only runs a few times a day and the journey is slow (but it’s worth it if you have no time constraints).  Make sure to check the ferry schedule before booking your flight -  the Maldives is a Muslim country so there are no ferries running on Fridays.

Male to Fulidhoo by speedboat is the best option.  For about $40 the speedboat will take you to Fulidhoo in 1 hour.  Be sure to strategize speedboat pickup with your arriving flight.  If you miss your speedboat and it’s too late in the day, you’ll have to book a private speedboat for almost $200 per person.  We booked a public speedboat in advance with our guesthouse but unfortunately missed it due to flight delays.  Thankfully we found a speedboat company in the Male terminal who had one more departing trip to Fulidhoo (talk about luck!).

Where to Stay in Fulidhoo?

Sancia Lodge Guesthouse
+ $50 per night (cash only)
+ Food: Average $8 per meal
+ Snorkeling trip: $30 per person

Most budget travelers stay in Maafushi since it’s easier to get to, and there are more hotels, restaurants, and bars on the island.  But we chose Fulidhoo since travelers reviewed it as more remote with prettier beaches. Happy we trusted the internet -Fulidhoo was exactly what we were looking for and the price tag was on par!

The only options for lodging in Fulidhoo are guesthouses.  Guesthouses are basic but comfortable accommodations ran by Maldivian locals. The same guesthouses are listed on booking.com and airbnb, or you can book directly on some of their websites.  

We stayed at Sancia Lodge, located oceanfront with a small restaurant on site.  Our room had all the necessary amenities -  bed, bathroom, and space to store luggage.  The employees were very friendly and always took time to chat and give us recommendations.  One employee, Phaintey, walked us around when we first arrived and even introduced us to his family. 

The total for our 3 night stay in Fulidhoo cost a quarter of what we spent on a 1 night stay in a resort.  By cutting down the costs for accommodations, we were able to splurge on our dream overwater bungalow for at at least 1 night.

$50/per night via booking.com

What to do in Fulidhoo?

Bikini Beach

Since the Maldives is a Muslim country there are bathing suit restrictions for women (but only outside of resort islands).  On all the local islands, women can only wear bathing suits on the designated “Bikini Beach”.  Outside of Bikini Beach, women have to cover up with t-shirts, gym shorts, or sarongs.

Bikini Beach is paradise on earth.  An unspoiled beach with hammock net swings hovering above the clear-turquoise water.  We borrowed snorkeling gear from our guesthouse and saw so much fish - the water’s visibility is incredible even by the shore.  

Walk Around Fulidhoo

Fulidhoo is so small that it takes 20 minutes to walk around the entire island.  There’s a main street with a few grocery stores and restaurants, and several guesthouses with restaurants and dive centers by the dock. At every corner and crevice you’ll find another beautiful beach.

Fulidhoo’s streets are bursting with color.  At the end of the main drag there is a bright green mosque, and creative murals surrounding the street.

Snorkeling Day Trip

Our guesthouse owner organizes daily snorkeling trips around Fulidhoo and its nearby islands.  It was only $30 so we decided to join and it was the best snorkeling trip we’ve ever been on (even better than most of our scuba trips).

He took us to several snorkeling spots where we saw turtles, dolphins, a variety of fish, and even sharks!  It was Finding Nemo come to life.  In addition, we stopped by a sand bar in the middle of the Indian Ocean and spotted dolphins behind the beautiful Maldivian sunset on our way back.

$30/ per person via Sancia Lodge

Boduberu Cultural Dance

We never thought of the Maldives as a “culture” trip, and to be honest, all I knew about the Maldives were luxury resorts.  We were invited to a boduberu dance circle that a few of the employees at Sancia Lodge were performing at.  Both locals and travelers gathered in town for the evening occasion.

Music is a huge part of the Maldivian culture.  The most popular tradition is boduberu - meaning bodu (big) and beru (drums).  Boduberu is performed by a group of mostly men playing traditional drums made of coconut wood.  Boduberu was initially a tribal dance performed on festive occasions such as Eid, but now widespread to a variety of occasions (including Friday nights). The energetic music sounds similar to beats from African regions.  Boduberu is so fun to watch and dance to - you’ll catch island fever!

Useful Tips for Fulidhoo

• ATMs: Withdraw or exchange Maldivian cash at the airport. There are no ATMs in Fulidhoo and most guesthouses don’t accept credit cards.

• Dress code: Outside of Bikini Beach, cover up. Ladies, bring thin scarves or sarongs alongside waterproof shorts and shirts for swimming. Guys, bring short sleeves shirts to cover shoulders.

• Food options: Most guesthouses serve local and foreign dishes such as American breakfast, fried fish, curries, or chapati. The best food on the island is definitely the fresh seafood. In grocery stores, you can purchase ice cream, fruits, bottled waters, and soft drinks. FYI: Maldives is a dry country so no alcohol is available on the local islands.

• Internet: Most guesthouses offer wifi, but the internet is weak. If you’re up for it, it’s a nice opportunity to truly disconnect!

The Maldives doesn’t have to be a "once in a lifetime" honeymoon destination that will deplete your life’s savings.  If you want to visit the Maldives on a budget, visit one of the many local islands.  If you ask us, choose Fulidhoo!

How was your time in Fulidhoo? What other budget islands in the Maldives do you recommend?

As much as we loved the local islands, an overwater bungalow stay is a must in the Maldives. With the money you’ll save in Fulidhoo, treat yourself for at least 1 night.

Click here for our overwater bungalow stay!