Just when I thought the Maldives couldn’t get any better, it did.  After staying on the local island of Fulidhoo, it was time for the Maldivian good life.  We love budget travel but we also have an affinity for luxury stays.  So we couldn’t leave the Maldives without experiencing an overwater bungalow.

When I think overwater bungalows, I instantly think of the Maldives. There are over 5,000 overwater bungalows around the world and about 2/3 of them are located in the Maldives.  

Staying in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives is not cheap. World class service normally comes with a hefty price tag.  Prices range from $400-$2,000 per night depending on what kind of bungalow you stay in. Options include 2 person villas to family suites - some with private pools and lagoons. On top of the price per night, resorts are only accessible by private boat or seaplane and charge a mandatory fee of $100-300 round trip depending on where the resort is located.

Affordability and convenience were the main priorities for our stay.  We weren’t too concerned with resort amenities, as long as we had a comfortable overwater bungalow that didn’t cost an arm and a leg.  Our departing flight wasn’t till 1am so we preferred a resort close to Male airport to maximize our time.  With the amount of money involved we were going to make every penny count!

Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives Resort

After extensive research, we chose Cinnamon Dhonveli.  Price per night was one of the cheapest we found (check!), and it was only 30 minutes away from Male airport (check!). There were other resorts with better rooms for the same price but were far from the airport. All we needed was a cozy overwater bungalow with stairs leading to a clear turquoise lagoon that was a short speedboat away from Male airport. Cinnamon Dhonveli was exactly what we were looking for.

How to get to Cinnamon Dhonveli?

Unlike the local islands, there are no ferries or public speedboats accessible to the resort. Round trip transport from Male airport is a mandatory fee of $150 per person.  Although the ride is expensive for 30 minutes, other resorts require seaplanes that are double the price. Each resort has a station located in the Male airport making pick up hassle-free. Such a different experience compared to our Fulidhoo experience. Resort life is so much easier than backpacker life!

Arriving at Cinnamon Dhonveli

“Welcome Miss Dela Pena and Mr. Kulik!” nothing like being welcomed with warm smiles and friendly handshakes.  Hospitality was incredible the moment we set foot on the resort’s boat dock.  Upon check in we were greeted with welcome drinks and refreshing face towels after our speedboat journey from Male airport.  Once we settled, a friendly staff member escorted us to our overwater bungalow, and life just went up from here.

Ocean views from the comfort of our bed and snorkeling in our backyard lagoon - I must be dreaming.  Even in the bathroom there are views of the natural turquoise hues and exotic marine life.  If only paradise was this accessible every day!

Surf in the Maldives?

We grabbed a quick drink at the sunset bar and Mikey discovered there was surf on the resort.  We had no clue that the Maldives (specifically this part of the island - North Male Atoll) is known for its world class surf.  Mikey was ecstatic and quickly booked a surf session for the following day.  It was like a kid meeting Mickey Mouse in Disney World for the first time.

Surfing in North Male Atoll is so exclusive that all surfers are required to pay a fee.  If you’re wondering the price is about $200 per day, but if you book a surf package in advance it’s a bit cheaper.  According to Mikey it was the best waves he’s ever surfed and it was worth all his kool-aid money.

Overwater Bungalow Bliss

Arrive early for check in to make the most out of your overwater bungalow stay.  There’s no need to leave your room once you’re settled in your fuzzy bathrobes and slippers. We were happily satisfied in bed so we ordered room service for dinner.  Listening to the waves and feeling the ocean breeze from our deck made it a night to remember.  We didn’t want to wake up from this perfect dream.

Last Day in Cinnamon Dhonveli

While Mikey surfed at sunrise, I slept in and enjoyed every corner of our overwater bungalow.  I practiced yoga on the bungalow deck then took numerous dips in our backyard lagoon.

After Mikey’s morning surf session, we took advantage of the complimentary breakfast buffet.  There was a variety of food from American continental breakfast to traditional Maldivian eats.  Safe to say we had about 5 plates each.

Mikey continued surfing for the majority of the day while I basked in the Maldivian sun hopping from beach hammocks to poolside chairs.  The possibilities are endless at resorts! We certainly took advantage after staying in budget guesthouses for the majority of our travels.

Mikey’s last surf session was during sunset over Pasta Point. I watched the sun go down and the surfers catch waves while sipping on piña coladas.  There was live music in the background and I chatted with other surf girlfriends/wives taking photos of their surfer bro-sweethearts.

We freshened up in the resort’s showers and had one last meal till our speedboat departed to Male airport.  Our overwater bungalow stay was the cherry on top of an amazing Maldives vacation. It’s hard to go back to reality after Mal-diving in perfection.

Believe the hype, overwater bungalows are a must in the Maldives.  If you’re living on kool-aid money like us, book at least one night and spend 2 full days on the resort grounds.  It’s worth every penny and you deserve to live the good life - treat yourself!

Where did you stay in the Maldives? How was your overwater bungalow stay?

$400 +/per night (not including round-trip transport)