The article will not only provide a list of the best cheap hotels in the Maldives, but also links to find fresh reviews, descriptions, numerous photos, and up-to-date prices specifically for your vacation dates. The focus will be on affordable hotel-resorts. Hotels and guesthouses on local islands will not be covered in this article.
It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Maldives without these websites
Table of Contents
General information on cheap hotels in the Maldives
Firstly, it is important to clarify the definition of budget hotels in the Maldives. Hotels that cost $50 per room per day do not exist on resort islands. Anything cheaper than $200-300 per day is only available on local islands.
The most basic villas or overwater bungalows on resort islands start from $300-400 per day, and it is impossible to find a room on an island for less than $200 per day. However, for this price, you will not have your own personal pool and water slide into the ocean. Not everyone will agree to such a vacation 🙂
Another important point to consider is that resort islands often have multiple types of accommodation. The main building with hotel-style rooms on 1-2-3 floors is the most budget-friendly option, but even there, nothing will be cheaper than $200 per day. There are also secluded beach villas or overwater bungalows, which will be twice as expensive as the hotel-style rooms.
- This article will cover everything you need to know about travel cost to the Maldives, or how much money you need to spend for a paradise vacation.
List of affordable hotels in the Maldives
I recommend another list: Top 7 three-star resort hotels in the Maldives.
Below you will find a list of affordable hotels in the Maldives, and by clicking on each link, you can access complete information, including photos, reviews, prices, air tickets, and all the necessary details about the specific hotel.
About the table:
- Distance from Male – the distance in kilometers from the international airport to the hotel. The closer the hotel, the cheaper and faster the transfer will be. For hotels that are 150km from Male and beyond, transfers can cost up to $1000 for two people.
- Here you can read about the most optimal transfer in the Maldives between islands in terms of price/quality ratio – this is about speedboats.
- Room rate – the price is only for the room/villa for two people per night if you book only the hotel. Prices are in US dollars and are the minimum rates, excluding taxes and fees, for stays during the low season (typically from May to September). The links are clickable.
- You can choose and purchase vacation package through one of the most convenient and reliable services – CheapOair.
| Hotel | Distance from Male, km | Room rate, $ |
| Fihalhohi Island | 37 | from 120 |
| Equator Village | 455 | from 100 |
| Malahini Kuda Bandos | 9 | from 180 |
| Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon | 66 | from 170 |
| Villa Park Sun Island Resort | 110 | from 170 |
| Sandies Bathala | 65 | from 240 |
| Reethi Faru | 160 | from 125 |
| Barefoot Eco Hotel | 300 | from 80 |
| South Palm Resort Maldives | 430 | from 110 |
Travel tips
All of the hotels in this list are excellent and you’ll have a fairy-tale vacation at any of them. I have two pieces of advice to offer. The first you already know – it’s the distance from Male. Since all tourists, including yourself, will fly to the Maldives and land at the airport in the capital, it’s important to understand how you’ll be traveling to your hotel and how much it will cost.
For example, one of the cheapest hotels in this ranking is the Barefoot Eco Hotel on a resort island, with rooms starting at $80per night for two people, but they offer transfers to the hotel for $800 for two. The long distance from Male not only means expensive transfers, but also time – in some hotels, like Equator Village, it can take an additional day to reach your destination if you miss your domestic flight.
The second piece of advice I give to all tourists heading to a resort in the Maldives, even in 5-star hotels, is important to keep in mind.
Important note:
The prices in the list above were for “bed and breakfast” meal plans, mostly. “All-inclusive” usually costs significantly more. It’s important to understand that on resort islands, there are no shops or cheap restaurants – all infrastructure is hotel-owned and the prices there are set by the hotels without any competition. You won’t be able to have dinner for $50, it’s usually much more expensive. As a rule, a purchased all-inclusive package ends up being more cost-effective.
For those who are considering a budget vacation, I suggest considering the option of staying on the local island of Rasdhoo. It is one of the most popular islands, where you can definitely find mantas, turtles, sharks, and bioluminescent plankton. And finding a comfortable hotel for $50-100 per day with breakfast included is easy. Check out this comprehensive review of Rasdhoo Island.
In conclusion, the list of inexpensive hotels in the Maldives should have helped you understand the price range, so you can realistically assess your budget. The Maldives are very different from other world resorts, as there is affordable accommodation, but not in the resort hotels. Even the cheapest hotel with meals in a resort will cost you around $300 per day. With that budget, you can live like a king in Southeast Asian countries 🙂
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to the Maldives
- Flight tickets and the best deals
- Vacation packages (from budget to luxury): CheapOair
- Hotels and guesthouses on any island:
- TripAdvisor compares prices among a dozen other services and platforms and offers to choose the best one.
- Trip.com – the most popular service for booking accommodation.
- 12go is the largest Asian ferry and speedboat reservation service. It gathers all Maldivian carriers, even the small ones that operate between local islands.
- Tours and excursions: GetYourGuide and Viator – a limited selection of excursions, but convenient and reliable.
- Comprehensive insurance: EKTA
- eSIM at the same price as in telecom office in Male airport.