The Maldives is a tropical paradise, famous for its super-rich celebrity guests such as Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Lionel Messi, and Taylor Swift. However, you don’t have to be super-rich to enjoy the Maldives because hoteliers have started to diversify to appeal to families, big groups, solo travelers, and those on a budget. Although it can be expensive to stay in the Maldives, travelers can still find deals for little more than they might pay to visit the Caribbean or Southeast Asia. There is also plenty of variety available, from far-flung escapes to wellness retreats, happening design-led islands, and back-to-nature escapes. This article inspired by TIMES Travel UK will explore six of the best affordable hotels in the Maldives, all of which are under £2,500 per person per week.

The Residence at Dhigurah is a coral-stone resort that takes a bit longer to reach from Malé International Airport. However, it is worth the journey as it is located in the barely developed Gaafu Alifu Atoll, where the islands are larger, longer, and more jungly than in the north. The Residence takes full advantage of these features, offering miles of shimmering white beach, shapeshifting sandbanks, and bicycle trails through coconut groves. The entry-level beach villas are spacious, simply styled, and extremely private, each with its own swimming pool. The Spa by Clarins is also available, sitting in lush gardens with a sea view. Visitors can stay at The Residence at Dhigurah for six nights with bed and breakfast from £2,431 per person, including flights and transfers.

Nova Maldives is a fresh-out-the-box resort with 78 beach and overwater villas, generously spaced apart on a beautiful big natural island in the serene South Ari Atoll. The design is clean and sunny, all bright whites, pale woods, mint greens, and lemons – the perfect foil to the Indian Ocean’s luminous blue. Visitors can explore the dazzling house reef, take advantage of the free non-motorized water sports, and search for whale sharks. The South Ari Atoll is one of the only places in the world where visitors can swim with them year-round. Visitors can stay at Nova Maldives for seven nights with full board from £2,386 per person, including flights and transfers.

Kandima Maldives is shaped like a 3km-long hockey stick, swinging through an untouched lagoon in the faraway Dhaalu Atoll, which can be reached on an affordable domestic flight from the capital. Unusually for the Maldives, the resort also has rooms, making a stay here less pricey than most. Visitors can enjoy activities such as kickboxing, art classes, and cookery lessons, as well as pool parties and movie nights under the stars. Visitors can stay at Kandima Maldives for seven nights with all-inclusive from £2,387 per person, including flights and transfers.

Meeru Island is tucked away on a large natural island in a quiet corner of the North Malé Atoll. Families can be parked on the beach within an hour of arriving at the airport jetty. The island is larger than most Maldivian islands, with a golf course, tennis courts, badminton courts, and a football pitch at the heart of the island. Visitors can also explore the dive center, two swimming pools, two spas, five restaurants, three bars, and 286 color-pop garden, beach, and water villas. Visitors can stay at Meeru Island for six nights with full board from £1,763 per person, including flights and transfers.

Among these, the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa stands out as one of the best. Located just a short 15-minute speedboat ride away from Velana International Airport, this resort offers a wide range of facilities to keep guests entertained throughout their stay. These include three pools, one of which has a beautiful waterfall, tennis courts, ping-pong tables, a water sports center, a kids’ club, and a holistic spa.

The entry-level rooms are charming and positioned right on the beach in blocks of four, with a balcony or a small terrace. Seven restaurants ensure that guests get the most out of their all-inclusive deal, with Thai and Indian cuisine being particularly delicious.

For those who want a more historic resort experience, Kurumba Maldives is another affordable option that has been around since 1972. The private island initially had only 30 modest rooms made from coral stone, coconut timber, and palm thatch, with limited electricity and brackish water for showers. However, it has since been transformed into a sophisticated escape with 180 rooms, suites, and villas, as well as eight restaurants, a spa, and friendly staff. The resort is just a ten-minute speedboat ride away from the airport, but some may feel that it does not feel as isolated as it once did.

Velassaru is an excellent choice for couples looking for a romantic and fashionable resort. The island feels uncluttered, surrounded by a broad band of pearly white sand that provides privacy for guests. The sleek villas are larger than average, with split-level living rooms and monochrome bathrooms decorated in pared-back taupes, dark woods, and zesty pops of color. After dark, guests can enjoy nibbling on meze and sipping blue curaçao cocktails between the Indian Ocean and an LED-studded infinity pool at the Fen Bar.

For those seeking a lively atmosphere, The Standard Huruvalhi Maldives is a great option. Located in the resplendent Raa Atoll, it takes a 40-minute seaplane ride from Malé to reach this resort, which offers designer good looks, on-trend bars and restaurants, and fantastic health and wellness facilities. The pale wooden villas are trimmed in neon pink, with ukuleles on the wall, disco balls above the bathtubs, and inflatable flamingos in the plunge pools. Guests can enjoy complimentary pilates and yoga classes, beach volleyball, swimming with manta rays, and sunset dolphin-spotting cruises.

Lux* South Ari Atoll is ideal for water babies who want to indulge in various aquatic activities such as sailing, surfing, diving, snorkeling, and swimming. The resort is situated on a private island in one of the Maldives’ most biodiverse atolls. Lux* boasts large whitewashed villas, complimentary yoga and bicycles, a fantastic overwater spa, and a different restaurant for every night of the week, making it an excellent choice for those who want to experience both the land and the sea.

Finally, Constance Halaveli is a top choice for those who want to stay in an overwater villa without having to pay a premium price. Located in the North Ari Atoll, a 30-minute seaplane journey from Malé, this resort is a peaceful and luxurious escape with excellent facilities, including a dive center, tennis courts, an infinity pool, and an overwater spa. The award-winning restaurants serve excellent wines, and the entry-level overwater villas are spacious, with private plunge pools and wooden steps leading straight into the sea.

Extracted from: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/maldives/best-affordable-hotels-in-the-maldives?_its=JTdCJTIydmlkJTIyJTNBJTIyMGZiZjViMzItZjJlNS00Nzc4LTg3ZDItMmE2NGVmZmUyNjY2JTIyJTJDJTIyc3RhdGUlMjIlM0ElMjJybHR%2BMTY4MDEzNzM3M35sYW5kfjJfNjg4MTNfdnJlZl81OGYwMDZmNWY0YWQ1ZmJlMWU3N2E1NDZkYmQxMTc0YyUyMiUyQyUyMnNpdGVJZCUyMiUzQTg0MDUlN0Q%3D