How much does a honeymoon in the Maldives really cost?
The Maldives is home to some of the world’s best, most luxurious seven-star resorts, located on private islands – or atolls – surrounded by sparkling-aqua-blue waters and thriving underwater wildlife. With so much unworldly beauty to offer, it is a is a dream honeymoon destination that lives up to every hype. A honeymoon in the Maldives can be relaxing, rejuvenating, and a much-needed complete and total disconnect after all the stresses and exhaustion of wedding planning. But how much does a trip to the Maldives actually cost???
I just got back from my latest trip to the Maldives (the island-nation is open for tourism, with a negative PCR test within 96 hours of your flight, and a few other entry requirements for traveling to the Maldives that you can read about in this post), and if you guys have been following along on instagram, you know how incredible of a trip it was. I was so excited to tell you guys all about it and dish all the details of this swoon-worthy exotic destination, because, I don’t know about you but before I had ever been I had NO idea what to expect.
It helps to expect it to be expensive – because it definitely is. In fact, the Maldives may just be the most expensive destination in the world – at least if you’re staying at a luxury resort. There are some less expensive, more budget-travel ways to do the Maldives, but for the purposes of this guide, I’m going to give the prices for the hotels I’ve had experiences with and what friends of mine have experienced at similar 5-star hotels like Six Senses, Gili Lankanfushi, Kandolhu, St. Regis, or Fairmont – since most of you are planning on going to the Maldives on a trip of a lifetime, and I’m sure are wanting to splurge a bit on the hotel.
The actual cost of a honeymoon in the Maldives
Table of Contents
THE COST OF A LUXURY HOTEL IN THE MALDIVES:
You can expect to spend anywhere from $6400 – $21,000 on just your room rate alone for a one-week stay in the Maldives.
This means a room rate of around ~ $800-$3000 per night, depending on caliber of resort, the level of room (is a beach villa or an overwater bungalow more your style?) and the season you’re traveling in (the dry season is the high season in the Maldives, and it runs from November-March) You’ll find much less expensive rates in the off season (like half off!!)
JETSET TIP: You can save a ton on these hotels by using your travel credit card points
The cost of luxury resorts in the Maldives is very expensive. In fact, it’s probably the most expensive honeymoon destination in the world for most people (especially coming from the US, which is about as far as you can get!), but it is expensive for good reason. The Maldives is paradise on earth!! I personally think there is nowhere even close to it in the world. It is a dream.
THE COST OF FOOD AND DRINKS IN THE MALDIVES
$2000-$5000+
You can expect to spend about 250 per person per day in the Maldives, whether you are on a full-board meal plan or if you are paying a la carte. Most resorts in the Maldives offer a half-board or full-board meal option. At a resort like Six Senses, full board includes breakfast, lunch and dinner and costs $222 per adult and $111 per child, and the half board meal plan includes just breakfast and dinner, and is $148 per adult, $74 per child.
How much does alcohol cost in the Maldives?
On top of these food costs, you’ll want to budget some for alcohol (not included), which can be very expensive in the Maldives. Cocktails are around $25 each, and wine is marked up at least 4-5X. Since you’re on a private island, there is no option to go to a nearby town or store, nor are you able to bring any alcohol into the country of the Maldives (unlike, say, Bora Bora, where I packed 6 bottles of wine haha)
Should you do a full-board or all-inclusive meal plan in the Maldives?
Some resorts (like Kandolhu) include alcohol in their cost, which is a great option for an all-inclusive in the Maldives! If your resort’s full-board option doesn’t include alcohol, I would say it depends how much you plan on eating, and how much more relaxed you’ll be if you’ve already pre-paid and can order everything you’d like! There are definitely ways to save money on a trip to the Maldives if you are paying for meals a la carte (ordering room service one night, for example, or doing some meals more casual than others), and you wouldn’t have that ability if you pay the full-board. So it is totally up to you. I also have found half-board is more than enough for me, since I usually go big at the breakfast buffet and then skip lunch
Transportation: $200-$1600, depending on resort
Keep in mind that transportation costs are added onto your room rate in the Maldives. The cost of transportation in the Maldives can get very expensive if your resort has a seaplane or domestic transfer to get to it. They’ll charge you for this on top of the cost of your room, and it’s as much as $800 per person just to get to your resort!
If you’re looking to avoid a seaplane, check out Gili Lankanfushi, which only charges for the speedboat to get to the resort.
HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU TIP IN THE MALDIVES?
We tipped our butler about $20-25 a day, all paid in USD cash at the end of the stay, and about $5-10 per day for housekeeping.
HOW MUCH DO ACTIVITIES COST IN THE MALDIVES?
$800-$3000
It totally depends on what you decide to do on your vacation, and on which resort you are staying at as far as how much activities will cost when you get there! There are always activities available at the resorts, from surfing, jetskiing, and snorkeling trips and sunset cruises, to wine tasting dinners and private island experiences on sandbars (one of my favorite things I did at the Six Senses). For a sandbar day at the Six Senses, it is $200 per couple for 3 hours, or $600 for a lunch and beach picnic. At the St. Regis, however, the sand bank picnic will set you back $1600 per couple. I think it’s good to budget at least $800 for activities so you can feel like you can do some fun things on your trip, like a couple’s massage with these views!!
Flights: $3000, usually around $1500 from the states per person
It depends where you’re coming from, as it’s much easier to get to the Maldives from Europe, Asia and the UAE than it is from the United States. But, even if you’re coming from far away, if you have credit card points or can swing it, The Maldives is definitely worth the long flight! Just be aware of the jet lag both going there and coming home, and budget for a few extra days of your trip (you don’t want to get all the way there, spend the first few days jet-lagged, then have to turn right back around)
Check out these other blog posts
Jetset Christina Maldives Travel Guide
St. Regis vs. Six Senses Maldives
Staying at Six Senses Maldives
The Best Groomsmen Gifts; Groomsmen Gift Ideas They’ll Actually Use
The best luxury resorts in the world
How to plan the best bachelorette party
The best luxury honeymoon resorts to book for your honeymoon
Justin Haberthy
Good Morning,
My fiancée and I are planning a Honeymoon to Bali. She found and enjoyed your travel blog website and showed it to me.
I have two questions, the first question pertains to our Honeymoon trip and the second question pertains to a future (hypothetical) return trip.
#1: Honeymoon Trip: We booked a resort in Ubud for 9 nights, 10 days, valuing a stay-in-one-resort relaxing aspect so that we can avoid spending too much time in the car traveling all over.
With that being said, what is the recommendation for highlights to see in Bali, specifically in Central Bali (Ubud), as well as places in South or East Bali which don’t require too much driving?
How can we maximize our exploration in Bali on this trip without overwhelming ourselves by traveling too far or traveling more often than the exploring + relaxing?
#2: (Hypothetical) Return Trip: Assuming you have all the time in the world, want to focus mainly on exploring rather than relaxing, and do not mind spending the night in various hotels, resorts, etc as you travel around the island of Bali, what would be the recommendation for the minimum required days to see all the major highlights in all 6 regions of Bali? (without rushing too much)
(6 Regions of Bali referred to below):
North Bali, South Bali, East Bali, West Bali, Central Bali, Southeastern Islands
South Bali (Kuta, Bukit Peninsula, Canggu, Denpasar, Jimbaran, Legian, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Seminyak, Tanah Lot)
Central Bali (Ubud, Bedugul, Tabanan)
West Bali (Negara, Gilimanuk, Medewi Beach, Pemuteran, West Bali National Park)
North Bali (Lovina, Munduk, Singaraja)
East Bali (Amed, Besakih, Candidasa, Kintamani, Klungkung, Mount Agung, Padang Bai, Tirta Gangga)
Southeastern Islands (Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan)
Christina Vidal
Hi Justin! I’d love to help! Go ahead and email [email protected] for these questions! Thank you!