Maldives on a Budget

Maldives on a budget? You got to be kidding me! It is a prime destination which is commonly associated with Hollywood celebrities and members of the royal families. Yet, believe it or not, it is possible now. Budget tourism in the Maldives has just been born and it is certainly the perfect time to go there. Although the word "budget" is a relative thing, there are definitely cheaper ways to visit this paradise without robbing the bank. Read on and we’ll blow all the misconceptions about one of the most expensive tropical places in the world.

Quick Facts

Time:	GMT+5hrs
Capital City:	Male’
Total islands:	1,190
Inhabited islands:	200
Resort islands:	105
Population:	Approx. 350,000
Lingua Franca:	Dhivehi
Major industries:	Tourism and Fishing
Currency:	Rufiyaa (USD 1 = MRF 15.50)
Electricity:	240 AC
Government Working hours:	8:00 am to 3:00 pm Sunday to Thursday
Bank hours:	9:00am to 03:00 pm Sunday to Thursdays
Official State Religion:	Islam

• 99% of the Maldives is water.
•  It has the lowest natural highest point in the world with 2.4 meters above sea level. By average of 1.5 meters, it is considered as the lowest country.
• Bikinis can only be worn in private island resorts. The country has a deeply rooted Islamic culture that calls for casual but modest clothing in public places – even in the beaches.
• The word atoll came from the Dhivehi word atholhu to refer to ring-like coral island surrounding a lagoon. It is the English word taken from the language.  
• It is the smallest country in Asia and the smallest Muslim country in the world.

Getting There

There are no direct flights from the Philippines to the Maldives. The next best thing to do is to book a flight to Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur and buy another ticket heading to Male. The cheapest suggestion could be MNL-KUL for approximately PHP9,000.00 (or less) round trip through AirAsia and MYR2,600.00 (PHP35,000.00) for KUL-MLE through Malaysian Airlines. This is the regular fare and you can always check low-cost carriers for cheaper flights. Overseas Filipino Workers in the Maldives say that the usual airfare they allot for a round trip ticket averages from USD800-USD1000 all in. Yes, the hardest part is getting there but once you’re done with saving for this one, it is easier to make the budget for everything else. As for me, I was lucky enough to get a hint from co-travelers about the last AirAsiaX flights in February of 2014 so I didn’t spend this much.

Going Around

Dhoni – Remember this word and you’ll be a certified Maldivian traveler in no time. It is easy to commute there since you’ll probably be going to one of the very few inhabited islands of the archipelago. That is, if you are not checking in to the luxurious resorts and hotels from which the island nation is more famous for. Traveling by Dhoni is easy and cheap. Just make sure you get there on time since most trips are on schedule basis.

Seaplane – If you have the dough, this is the fastest and the perhaps the most exciting way of visiting the islands. The cheapest deals start from USD100 depending on the distance and stopovers.

Walk – All the islands in the Maldives have a walking distance area. We stayed in Maafushi which I was able to stroll in fifteen minutes. Male City can be explored in 30 minutes by foot.

Cab – When you’re in Male Island, you can get a cab going to anywhere the 5.8 kilometer square city. In the short travel, just pay MRF25.00 (PHP375.00 as of February 2014) to the driver and any amount beyond that is a rip off.

Accommodation

The rumors are true. Maldivian accommodation is no joke. Some hotels charge as much as $2,000.00 per night. $200.00 - $500.00 is pretty much a reasonable price for mid-range. Still a bit pricey for your pocket? Try the guest houses in Maafushi Island and you can get as low as $75 per night and even less than that if you are being referred by someone. Try Rehendhi Inn andRestaurant. It’s the most affordable hotel in the island. And affordable doesn’t mean compromised service. Read my separate blog about it.

Food

Continental or Maldivian breakfast? Choose one of these and you’ll be starting the day right. Though honestly, after the seafood, noodle or rice meal, there is nothing more to Maldivian cuisine. Or am I missing something? The fact of being a Filipino perhaps gave me some biases on other cultures when it comes to satisfying the palate. Price: 5 USD is the usual.

Nightlife

Before going to the Maldives, know first that it is an Islamic country with a very conservative government and tradition. If you want to socialize with other travelers, go to private resorts. Maldives is all about nature and relaxation. Its very laidback mood will give you a sense of peace. So if you are into loud music and partying, this is not the place to go.

More detailed posts soon...

The Province of Cebu - A Quick Glance of my Three Day Tour

It's Ash Wednesday and my Lent has not started yet. For a quick glimpse on my first three days of backpacking, here are the places I went to. How much have I spent so far? Let me see.

First Day: Cebu City. The highlight? Search for a map. It was like an amazing race when I realized during the 1130AM Sunday mass at the Basilica, that I was making so much haste out of the airport and I forgot to get a map. I almost memorized Colon Street walking to and fro. It was Sunday so the city hall was closed as well as the other shops. I finally got one when I decided to go to a National Bookstore in Ayala Terraces, which is a great place by the way. I also visited The Taoist Temple, ate at Sunburst and went back to downtown to check in. One funny moment was when the jeepney stopped and all the guy passengers had to push it to start again. And what to say when they speak to you in Bisaya? "Tagalog please" And they'll say sorry. :-p

Amount spent for the day: P1441 (including food, cab and jeepney fares, a really nice tourist inn)

More details on this soon.

Second Day: Moalboal. Beer and chips by the beach. This was not originally on my itinerary but someone said it would be great to spend the night there. And it was one of the most wonderful night of my life. So after having my lunch at Larsian in midtown Cebu, I headed south of the province. As some of you know, I love to be alone. I should have come there earlier and rented a snorkeling set for the whole day. But I still had a great time being on the shoreline just before sunset. Through my goggles, I was able to watch really cool marine life since it was low tide and float on the water facing the sky with the seagrasses beneath my body. After the dinner and chatter with the lodge owner and other backpackers who checked in (who are all foreigners by the way), I bought a bottle of pale pilsen and a pack of chips, jumped on a ramp connected to someone else's room facing the beach and enjoyed the high tide a meter just below my feet. Ooh life. Then the room guest arrived after more than an hour or two so I went back to the dorm to take a cozy sleep inside the mosquito net.

Amount spent for the day: P525 (including the bus fare, food, and beer of course)

More details on this soon.

Day Three: Badian. Swimming at Kawasan Falls. While everyone else was still asleep, I left my locker keys at the reception area and headed to Badian, a 30 minute ride from Moalboal. I took the bus because motor guides was charging me P600 and I don't want to ride the motorcycle for 45 minutes in the highway. I went to Kawasan Falls on my own with the help prior googling and hints from other travelers at the lodge. And voila! the magnificent view of nature was in front me! I dared myself to swim at the falls with the help of life vest of course. I had a fantastic experience. That noon, I went back to Cebu City for some pasalubong and ukulele just before my flight to Davao. Another thing I enjoyed that day was my meal before heading to the airport.

Amount spent for the day: P1409.25 (including the food, bus fares, P300 groceries and P625 ukulele with bag)
More details on this soon.


Yes this is not really shoestring yet as some of you may see. But hey! The amount is still practical for a traveler. By the way, I did not include the P200 terminal fee in the airport. I will post all the details after this ten day trip. :)