Maldives Honeymoons That Won’t Break The Bank
A wave of brand new, affordable hotels has opened in the Maldives, meaning that cheap Maldives holidays do exist and you can honeymoon there from just £120 a night. Yes, really (keep it under your sun hat…). And to make it even better, we've personally visited every single one of these five cheap Maldives holiday destinations - so that regardless of your budget, you can still honeymoon in style.
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Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, Gaafu Alifu Atoll
Mercure’s first foray into the Maldives, the idea behind this was to create a small, seriously bang-for-your-buck, contemporary retreat. This atoll is pleasingly unspoilt and known for its marine life, so dive enthusiasts will rejoice at the kaleidoscopic underwater world. Villas are a lovely mix of rustic vs modern, with thatched roofs and pristine decor: art deco-style rugs, plush sofas and gold-trimmed tables. All bedrooms have a retro map of the Maldives behind the king-sized bed, just in case you forget where you are (as if you could, with the lullaby of waves and the bright starlight dappling your terrace).
SAVVY-TRAVELLER TIP: Kayaking, snorkelling and even sailing (a real rarity) are free to guests (yippee!). No sneaky mask-hire cost.
GO: From £120pp on a bed-and-breakfast basis in a beach villa; mercure.com. For more information, go to visitmaldives.com -
Kandima, Dhaalu Atoll
Fancy wallowing in the largest pool in the Maldives? Well, Kandima can deliver: a 100m, bright blue infinity version. And that sums up this resort: large in scale, but suitably serenity-inducing for a honeymoon. It’s far from the main island of Malé (you need a 30-minute seaplane journey and a 20-minute boat ride to reach it), which is what you’ll be looking for – that feeling of seclusion. But be prepared for BIG when you arrive – there are a whopping 274 rooms, from studios to beach and water villas, and all have private terraces (tick), tropical or sea views (tick) and clever tech as standard (tick) – no more lost key cards: everything is loaded onto your own sleek wristband for your stay.
The design is fun and modern – think pops of pink, green and yellow against stark white. It’s more get-up-and-go than soothing, one for active couples who like a bit of a pepped-up atmosphere.
SAVVY-TRAVELLER TIP:
Go for the half-board option – it’s incredible value and food is seriously plentiful (that’ll be down to the 10 restaurants and bars). It’s likely to save you £££s.GO: From £160pp per night, based on two adults sharing on a half-board basis; kandima.com
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Hurawalhi, Lhaviyani Atoll
Yes, it may not be at the ‘cheap’ end of the affordable scale, but for a five-star property, its rates are genuinely brilliant value. So with that in mind, you can expect luxe touches everywhere, from the chic, Riviera-style blue-and-white-striped fluffy towels elegantly rolled into place on every sunlounger, to 24-hour afternoon tea, to the Champagne Pavilion, where, because it’s positioned on the resort’s westernmost spot, the sunsets are jaw-dropping and the dolphin-spotting radar is set to HIGH. There’s not a plethora of restaurants at your fingertips like on other, more buzzing islands: there are just the three, in fact, and if you’re on a budget, the main buffet-style one (Canneli) is where you’ll have every meal (food changes daily, so don’t panic).
But there’s also an undersea restaurant…yep, you’ll be dining on fresh ceviche whilst surrounded by an all-natural aquarium. Totally surreal, utterly magical. We’re not going to lie, this restaurant will cost you extra pennies – but really, it’s oh-so worth it, if only to try chef Bjoern’s take on a mini lobster roll (meringue being one of the main ingredients). Don’t expect to do too much here – as it’s adults-only, it’s all about soaking up the endless honey-hued sunshine in total quiet. Turns out silence really is golden.
SAVVY-TRAVELLER TIP:
The free, regularly scheduled assisted snorkelling trips are a real bonus. Book onto one when you first arrive and learn the best entry points onto the reef for fish and turtle spotting. Then you can go it alone for the rest of the trip. Ideal.GO: From £250pp per night for a beach villa; hurawalhi.com
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Drift Thelu Veliga Retreat, South Ari Atoll
This lo-fi retreat is the Maldives at its most simple and rustic – ideal for couples who yearn for the unhurried life. With zero televisions and a resort geared more towards adults (it’s not child-free, but Brides didn’t see any children during our stay), peaceful days are spent swimming around the house reef, spotting baby black-tip sharks and snoozing on sunbeds under egg-yolkyellow umbrellas.A path lined with banana trees and bougainvillea leads from the open-air thatched bar and restaurant on one side of the circular island to the intimate spa and the beach and overwater villas on the other (the best are numbers 22 and 31, at the end of the jetty, with 180º ocean views from the bath tub). Much of the furniture was sourced from Indonesia and drift wood is in evidence everywhere, from the bookshelves in the bar to the decorative sailboat on the beach.
There are snorkelling, fishing and picnic trips on offer, but a stay on this sandy speck is really all about disconnecting and kicking back (Drift is even on ‘island time’, one hour ahead of Malé, to make the most of the light). Wind down with sunset drinks followed by dinner: an all-you-can eat buffet (don’t expect Michelin-starred gourmet delights: it’s good, honest, down-to-earth grub), a Maldivian curry night or a beach barbecue under the vast, inky sky.
SAVVY-TRAVELLER TIP:
Go in shoulder season (start of April to end of May) to make the most of low-cost flights: they can start from just £500.GO: Angelfish Travel (angelfish.travel) offers a beach villa from £280 per night.
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Lux*, South Ari Atoll
You might remember this dazzling island as LUX* Maldives, and even back then, it was a gorgeous fly-and-flop marvel. But now it’s been rebuilt, refreshed and reborn, it has double the dazzle. 193 villas stand in a line over a crystal-clear lagoon, each with its own private infinity pool. No trad loungers here: expect a double sofa on your terrace and (the best bit) a wicker hanging pod full of pillows – you can spend hours holed up in it, gently swaying in the breeze and
staring out over the ocean.Another favourite addition is the Med-style bar, Beach Rouge. Think chilled beats by international DJs, rosé on tap and soft pink lighting – you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in Saint-Tropez, it’s that cool and classy. But that’s where the ‘scene’ factor ends – the rest of the resort is all about switching of and doing nothing… oh, except for calling home (for free) in the red British-style phone box, to gloat about where you are. That, you must do.
SAVVY-TRAVELLER TIP:
Find the roaming rickshaw (from 11am-12pm and 3.30pm-4.30pm every day) and you can eat as much ice cream as you like for free. It’s the little things, right?GO: Hayes & Jarvis (hayesandjarvis.co.uk) offers seven nights in a beach pavilion from £1,599pp. Includes seaplane transfers and return international flights from London Heathrow with Sri Lankan Airlines.
