Stuck Between Planning A Budget Trip or Going All-Inclusive? Here’re 4 Tips to Help You Out
Saturday 6th of March 2021
If asked about travel bucket lists, a very common answer will be ‘The Maldives’. No surprise there, since with beautiful weather all year round, white sandy shores and crystal-clear waters, not to mention the blissful ambiance and diversity of life in the underwater world, the destination appeals to many. It is the perfect mix of playfulness and romance with many experiences and moments that can eventually turn into eternal memories.
For ages, Maldives has been famed for being a luxurious destination for the elite. We have evolved over time to diversify into various categories of holiday segments that in the present day is not only limited to the elite. Surprisingly, there are a number of resorts that can be placed on a scale between budget-friendly and high-end, and still are exclusive and luxurious nevertheless.
While spontaneous travel can be fun, it can also be an expensive endeavour. Planning well in advance allows you to figure out what your budget is, and what options are available to you within that budget. Here are some tips for you to consider while planning for the dreamy holiday you and your loved ones deserve, without having to spend all your life-savings on it.
The Slumber
When choosing your villa, a range of choices are available from garden villas, beach villas all the way to expansive villas over water. Define your requirements and look for options that will best suit your group, and keep an eye out for room categories such as family rooms, suites and residences, that can fit a party without a hefty price tag.
Innahura Maldives is a budget-friendly resort that allows you to enjoy the quintessential Maldives experience. Starting at USD 250 a night on half-board basis, you can be sure of impeccable service at this 4-star, all beach bungalow resort. The endless ocean views, stunning restaurants, recreational facilities on the resort, everything is uncompromised to give you that royalty feeling of being in the Maldives.
On the high end, epitome of fine living at Kudadoo Private Island by Hurawalhi comes with USD 3000+ per night, offering the fully all-inclusive Anything. Anytime. Anywhere experience. This means that all your wishes come true in exquisite residences, and your very own butler!
If you are smart, you know you can manage the best of both worlds. Depending on the budget you have, you can mix things up and opt for a combination of beach and overwater villa during your stay, which can lead to added benefits that come with the room category at special rates.
The Experiences
From the moment your flight lands in the airport til your see-off at the resort, Maldives offers unique experiences at every corner. You can find resorts scattered all across the archipelago, some a hop on a boat away and some far enough to finally have the seaplane flight on the scenic route to the island.
Be it a family friendly resort or an adults-only resort, a number of activities are offered for you to pick from to add to your itinerary. While many fun experiences such as non-motorized water activities are free, more exclusive adventures such as sunset cruises and sandbank excursions can be planned depending on the cost you are comfortable with.
A friendly tip is to follow resorts on their social media pages to see almost a virtual glimpse of how your trip will be while in the dreamy Maldives. All resorts respond quickly to customer queries, and you can clarify and ask about anything you would like to know about the activities directly to resort staff. You can allocate a smart budget for planned itineraries and even keep a rough balance in case you decide to go with the flow and spend on it all.
The Maldives also serves as a great solution for small group travel such as friends, extended family travel and is trending as a cost-effective location for intimate destination weddings. From planning the smallest details to hosting your full guests-list, resorts offer planning services upon request.
The Everything
One of the best things about resorts in the Maldives is the availability of all-inclusive packages. Stay, dine, play, relax and party – all for a fixed price! Knowing your full package cost will ensure the freedom for you to experience a la carte dining and to splurge on activities, excursions and spa to pamper within your speculated budget. Opt for the peace of mind.
The Flexibility
With any booking, flexibility comes with added advantages. Save more and take advantage of booking early, or plan alongside festive season, when everything comes on sale! To mitigate travel uncertainties around the pandemic, resorts of the Crown and Champa collection offer special discounts with flexible cancellations of upto 3 days prior to arrival, rebooking and postponing without extra charges.
Photos: Crown and Champa Resorts