Best Time of Year to Visit the Maldives
No matter what time of year you visit the Maldives, you will be sure to enjoy lovely warm temperatures. However, the Maldives has two distinct seasons: the dry and rainy seasons – otherwise known as high and low seasons. If you’re looking to save some money off your next Maldives vacation, you should book your holiday during the low season, which typically runs from around the end of April to the beginning of December. During this time, you can expect much higher levels of rainfall sometimes daily, but the rain is usually lovely and warm and tends to pass very quickly. Top Maldives resorts such as the One and Only Reethi Rah have many wet weather activities, classes, and excursions to keep you happy and entertained when the heavens are open. If you’re a sun-worshipper and have your heart set on going when the weather is at its best, then go in high season but avoid booking a vacation during holiday periods like Christmas, Easter, New Year, and Valentine’s Day. During these times, the resort rates skyrocket, and flight prices will be much higher too.
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There are now over 120 different resorts in the Maldives, each competing for new guests. This means that there are some pretty incredible deals on Maldives accommodation throughout the year, but you do need to be quick to snag them. Sign up for the newsletter of your favorite Maldives hotel, as they will often let subscribers know special offers before they are put out to the world. This also applies to social media, so be sure to follow your favorite Maldives resort on Instagram and like their Facebook pages.
Book your Maldives Hotel and Flight Separately
Package holidays are becoming increasingly popular in the Maldives, yet for the very best deals on your vacation, then we recommend booking your Maldives accommodation and your flights separately. This gives you a lot more freedom in the type of resort and meal package you can choose and flexibility with when you can fly. If you book a Maldives resort direct, you can often get special offers (and often freebies thrown in, too) which aren’t available when booking a package holiday.
Choose an All-Inclusive Maldives Resort
Another good way to get a great deal is to choose an all-inclusive hotel in the Maldives. The Maldives can be particularly expensive when you book a resort that doesn’t offer an all-inclusive or half board package. This is because of their remote location and how costly it is to import food and other Maldives resorts. On top of this, the Maldives has a very high import tax rate, hence why everything can be so pricey there. To get around this, you can choose to book an all-inclusive vacation. There are some incredible packages around that will save you hundreds if not thousands compared to purchasing all your meals, drinks, and snacks separately. Some of these packages are very generous and also include things like free massages, premium.
Alcoholic beverages, as well as free watersports, hire to make it worth your while. As always, make sure you check the small print of your all-inclusive package, so there are no surprises on checkout. If you’re looking for an exceptional value Maldives resort that offers an all-inclusive package, then check out Gili Lankafushi. If you are vegetarian or vegan and after incredible plant-based food and the best hand-crafted cocktails around, then you’re going to love the food on offer at Atmosphere Kanifushi which has all-inclusive options too. And if you need a little more inspiration on where to stay, check out this article where we list our favorite resorts in the Maldives.
Go For a Speedboat Over a Seaplane
Did you know that seaplane transfers can sometimes cost the same amount as your international flights to the Maldives? Yes, it can be quite a shock when you’re presented with the cost of your seaplane ride….but there is a way to get around this, and that is to choose a resort that can be accessed by speedboat. You may miss out on the beautiful views from the seaplane, but a speedboat transfer can be quite the adventure, too – it’s a fraction of the cost of flying. Look for Maldives resorts located much nearer to the main island of Hulhule, where your international flight will land. An alternative that offers speed boat transfers is the One and Only Reethi Rah.
Make it a Multi-Stop Vacation.
You may be able to save some extra money by choosing to book a multi-stop vacation. You can add a little extra spice and adventure to your getaway when you choose to make a pit-stop on the way to beautiful destinations like Dubai, Sri Lanka, India, and Bali. By splitting up your vacation into these different spots, you can save money on a more expensive Maldives getaway, plus you get to explore other cultures and continents too. This is a prevalent option for those on a honeymoon, as you can mix up a chilled beach getaway with a glamorous city break. Try Skyscanner’s search feature to look for multi-stop flights, which can cost less than direct flights to the Maldives.
Smart Maldives Flight Hacks
Flights can take up a considerable portion of your Maldives budget; Luckily, there are quite a few clever ways to save money off those airfares. We recommend using Skyscanner and being very flexible with your dates so that you can search for flights to the Maldives for over a month. This lets you scout out the very best deals on Maldives flights by looking at an easy-to-view fare calendar. You can also try looking for a stopover on the way (or searching for fuel dumping fares) and choose to book the two separate legs of the flight separately. For example, you can type in your starting point into Skyscanner and then type ‘everywhere.’
Into the destination box. Skyscanner will then present you with a list of options, and you may be able to find a very low-cost flight to a destination that’s pretty near the Maldives. From then, you can book your second flight and save money. Studies show that the lowest-priced flights depart on a Wednesday, so look at leaving midweek instead of the weekend. Airlines are pretty sneaky with how they market and advertise their flights, and they can push prices up based on the location you are searching from. You can use a VPN to disguise your location from the airline company and possibly receive a lower-priced flight option to get around this. You can also try searching on different third-party airline comparison sites located in India and Asia, as these often display lower prices for the same flights listed on the American and English versions.
Use a Cashback Site
Have you heard of Cashback sites? They are a smart way to save money off things you purchase online, including flights and accommodation. They’re free to sign up and very easy to use. How it works is that they give you the percentage of the cost of your purchase that would usually be given to an advertiser. This can be anywhere between 1% and 10% of your total purchase price – with flights typically lower at around 1% to 2% mark. This may not sound like a lot, but say you’re traveling with your family and your flights come to $3,000, that means that you will receive $60 cash back if the cashback rate is 2%. When you start using this for your online purchases, it can add up to a decent amount. We recommend using a reputable cashback site such as Top Cashback.
Use Points and Airmiles
Did you know that a couple got their Maldives holiday for free by using travel points? Pretty clever, right? You can check out the whole story here. While it may not be feasible for you to save enough points for a free vacation, you can certainly use your existing Airmiles and facts towards your Maldives holiday. Perhaps you want to upgrade from economy to business class so that you can travel in style to your Maldives resort. Many resorts also operate on a points scheme, such as the St. Regis Resort and W Maldives, where you can redeem points and use them to stay at these destinations. This is an excellent option if you stay in many hotels for business, as you can transfer your points to your holiday. Many people are pretty surprised that the amount of
Airmiles that they’ve logged up, so why not go to your account now and see how many points you have and if they can be used for your Maldives vacation (before they expire). The same applies to other issues aside from Airmiles. Did you know that your supermarket, gas station, and clothes shops probably have a rewards scheme, which can often be redeemed on hotels and flights? If you want to put in a little extra work to save some extra cash on your vacation, they look into what schemes are offered and how you can start collecting points when you shop both online and out and about.
Pack Like a Pro
And last, but by no means least, an essential factor that needs not be overlooked is that you have to pack wisely for a Maldives vacation. Many Maldives resorts will often have an island store or clothing boutique, but these will often have sky-high prices where you can pay over 500% more than what you would pay back home. This is again because of the import taxes and because Maldives resorts know that you have no other choice and there is nowhere else to shop. So be sure to pack carefully and make sure you have everything you need for your trip before you leave. If you need a little help with this, then check out our ultimate guide to packing for the Maldives to ensure that nothing gets left behind.
There you have it, ten simple yet powerful ways to save money on your Maldives vacation. Incorporate a few of the above tips into your Maldives booking plan, and you’ll be sure to see the savings roll in. These only take a few minutes and will save you some nice sums so you can spend more on Pina Coladas and tropical-print swimwear!
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