Would you rather spend a small fortune on a holiday that consists of seeing the same thing day in day out and experiencing what you can get world over, or go a little easy on the bank and choose a more exciting fun-filled vacation hopping on and off many islands and visiting a major area of the Maldivian islands and atolls? Read on to learn about your options at the Maldives.
Waves sigh upon the beaches of glittering coralline sand that’s dazzlingly white, as you rest on a mat spread on a sandy hummock, eyes closed to the whole universe and mind at the liminal shores of awareness. Life’s good in the Maldives, where the far flung islands are quite disconnected from the world, and one would experience a sensation akin to being inside a time capsule.
So it is no wonder that people want to spend all their time soaking up the inexhaustible supply of serenity here, yet, imagine, coming to a location as secretive and quiet as the Maldives and not delving into the immensely vivacious culture, history and lovely little nooks and crannies of the inhabited islands.
While some resorts do offer a trip to visit a few inhabited islands, you’ll soon find that you’ll have to have a very large bank account for that to work out. There are several cost effective ways to have a better vacation at a cheaper price, and you’ll actually get by without breaking the bank, with a few compromises.
So what are alternatives to resorts for a Maldives holiday ?
Liveaboards: Skim the Maldivians seas
These beautifully designed wooden safari vessels can accommodate 12 people in 6 cabins, to boats with about 12 cabins and beyond. Spending time with a group of friends, or just yourself and your beloved becomes simple and easy, as every room has got its own amenities like a hot and cold shower.
These boats usually have a preplanned itinerary that you can check on the internet, or by shooting off an email. Trips usually last a week or more, and takes tourists from one dive spot to another, with several stops at island communities and deserted islands.
This gives you a chance to see as much of the Maldives as is possible in a shorter duration, as well as visit some of the world famous dive spots like the Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll. Sometimes the vessel may stop right in the middle of the seas, if the crew sees a Whale Shark… then it’s time for everyone to don on a pair of fins and a snorkeling mask and tube and jump in to marvel at the beauty of the majestic marine mega fauna.
Not everyone likes to dive, some may prefer snorkeling, or even surfing. While the itineraries of some of the vessels include some of the more obscure surf points that have great swells and virtually no crowd, some people prefer to do their surfing from a base, which is still okay as there are plenty of Guesthouses scattered in the countryside.
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Guesthouse Life
Travelling to the Maldives without a plan may sound nerve wracking, but it really isn’t that much of a big deal. There are several guest houses in the capital city itself and in other local islands Guest houses have a lot of features. Some of the good ones boast of air conditioned rooms that keep the heat and mosquitos at bay, hot and cold showers and a selection of activities, in case it rains, or in the unlikely situation where you run out of ideas of staying entertained.
It goes without saying that life on these islands revolves around fishing and everything about the fisheries industry, like fish processing, boat building and so on. On a few islands, you’ll see farmers growing produce that will feed the growing population of the country.
Travelling to the Maldives has only a couple of restrictions, if you’re planning to stay at a guesthouse. Since the official religion of the Maldives is Islam, it is against the law to wear revealing clothes at the beach in the local island and Alcohol and pork is forbidden as well in these guest houses. However, the guest houses arrange day trips to desert islands and other activities where these restrictions are not applicable.
The cost involved can vary with the seasons. In the high season, when most of the resorts are full of people from every corner of the world seeking warmer climates, the prices tend to increase, so choosing the off season may be an option, though that would mean that you may face a couple of days where rain clouds race over islands drenching them in passing showers.
It still is worth it, as most of these guest houses have plenty of facilities that can entertain you if the weather turns dreary… although I do recommend you try getting wet in the warm rain of the equatorial weather systems. It is, after all, one of the most romantic places on Earth!
We have cherry picked the best guest houses in the local islands of the Maldives, offering you exclusive packages including private desert island/beach where the bikini restriction does not apply so you can take advantage of the best the Maldives has to offer. Discover the real Maldives ! Life style, tradition and pure nature by staying on a local island, experience traditional fishing, snorkeling, diving and exploring uninhabited Islands. An alternative budget holiday and an experience of a life time ! Find the best guest houses here
Maldives Holidays – An alternative to Resorts is a post from: Maldives Blog
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