Over water villa | Globe Guide

I couldn’t tell you when the infatuation started. It may have been when I first learned about a hotel suite on steroids: the famous overwater bungalow. Or maybe it was when I saw the heavenly images of perfect white sand complemented by swaying palm trees in blissful solitude. Whenever it was, I quickly decided that I would be spending my honeymoon in the tiny nation of the Maldives, a group of islands surrounded by the vast Indian Ocean. Now, I just had to find a husband.

Flash forward a decade or so, and I was happily engaged and planning a wedding—during the time I didn’t spend Googling photos of the Maldives, checking weather forecasts and praying that some super sale would present itself and we’d get to stay in that overwater villa. The Maldives’ sky-high prices coupled with how far away it is from everything may be a deterrent for some people, but I was determined to go and managed to find some easy ways to cut our bill without compromising on luxury. So in November 2012, off we went—and it was absolutely everything I dreamed of and more.

Water villas.

When you arrive

When you touch down at the airport in the capital of Male, the first thing you notice is how incredibly turquoise the water is. Everywhere. Also, how crazy close to the water Male is. The city is less than three meters above sea level, meaning it’s threatened by rising water levels.

An army of representatives from resorts and tour companies are waiting just outside the arrival gates, ready to whisk you off to your piece of paradise. Many hotels are accessible by speedboat which is great news after a long flight, while everyone else heads to a departure area to board a Maldavian Air Taxi. These float planes fit 19 passengers, and will treat you to a stunning, aerial view of the islands en route to your destination, which can be up to an hour away. Once you touch down at your resort, prepare to be pampered and extremely relaxed for the duration of your stay.

A Maldavian air taxi.

Luxury resorts

There are over 100 islands in the Maldives dedicated to single resorts, which can be made up of a combination of beach bungalows, lagoon villas and the picturesque overwater villas. Depending on what you book, the services of a private butler may be included, who will pack and unpack for you, arrange excursions, bring you breakfast in bed and take you to the doctor if you fall and crack your tailbone on the pool deck (woops). Tourism is the main industry in the Maldives, which means everyone at the resort takes their job seriously! You can expect to see the same staff members every day of your trip, for bartenders to remember your drink and your room to be clean before you even come back from breakfast. You’re paying a premium to be in the Maldives, but it’s worth every cent.

An aerial view of a resort in the Maldives.

Reef sharks

Excursions

Since the only way to get around the Maldives is by sea plane or boat, you will likely be sticking close to whichever resort you choose. Luckily, most resorts offer a number of excursions including snorkeling, diving, boat tours around the island and quick visits to nearby islands. A popular option for couples celebrating a special occasion (which is basically everyone) is to book a day on a secluded private island. A dhoni (Maldavian boat) picks the lovers up in the morning, drops them off at a private island with a picnic basket, umbrella and chairs, then leaves them be for a few hours. There’s nothing quite like walking on an untouched sandbank in the warm, blue waters, without seeing anything in the distance.

Many resorts also boast fantastic reefs, which are phenomenal for snorkelling. You can expect to see more tropical fish than you could ever name, turtles, sting rays, water snakes, manta rays and even sharks! The reef and nurse sharks are harmless—though the faint of heart still probably wouldn’t want to come face-to-face with one. A bonus for anyone who goes on a boat tour is the opportunity to see a pod of dolphins in their natural habitat—a truly special moment for anyone lucky enough to come across them.

WATCH: Reef sharks, dolphins and huge stingrays in the Maldives

A traditional dhoni.

The entrance to the main mosque in Male.

Saying Goodbye

The worst part of your vacation is when it’s time to head back to the airport. I mean, who wants to leave paradise? You can make the best of this depending on the timing of your flight home, by spending some time in Male before checking in. Bags can be stored at the airport (which is currently undergoing a major renovation) for about $5 each, and you can hop on a ferry for the five minute trip across the water, which will set you back a whole dollar. Male is very small, hence easily walkable, and tourists usually tour the mosque, presidential palace and take in and the stinky fish market before heading back. Another option is to pay for a room in a hotel and enjoy one last afternoon soaking in the sun.

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Where to find the Maldives

The Indian ocean.

Congratulations! If you are reading this, it means that you have made the fantastic decision of booking a dream vacation to the Maldives. Unfortunately, a celebrity-worthy getaway can also come with a high-roller price tag, which is why many travellers don’t think it’s realistic to visit this incredible group of islands.

This is something I quickly came to grips with when I began researching the Maldives for my honeymoon. Every time I opened an e-mail with a quote from a travel agent, it was like getting sucker punched. As wonderful as it is to live in Canada, it means we usually have to travel a great deal further to get anywhere, compared to our lucky friends in the U.K. For just flights, basic accommodation and half board, we were looking at over $10,000 for one week—ouch. But thanks to a little luck (travel points we’d saved up) and a lot of research, I managed to slash that price in half and stay in a stunning overwater villa on an all-inclusive plan. Here’s how.

Water villas in Raa Atoll.

Saving on flights

OK, I cheated. Yes, we got to cash in our long saved-up travel points and only pay a few hundred dollars in taxes for our airline tickets, versus the $1500+ fare we would have been forced to fork over. But if you don’t have that luxury, get creative with your itinerary. If travelling from anywhere outside of Europe or Asia, try booking a flight to a hub like London or Dubai, and then book a package vacation to the Maldives from there. Those based in the U.K. should also look at booking their flights through a tour operator, as extra costs like transfers may also be included.

Another big cost in the Maldives is actually getting to your island, so the closer you are to the capital of Male, the cheaper it can be. Hotels like the Sheraton Full Moon are just a 15 minute speed boat ride away, versus a hour-long flight on a pricey Maldavian Air Taxi. Those flights cost hundreds of dollars—though the stunning birds-eye view of white atolls surrounded by turquoise waters is well worth the price tag. If you can’t stomach the idea of paying for yet another flight, then stick to resorts that are accessible by boat like Kurumba, Meeru Island, Club Med or the Four Seasons.

A Maldavian air taxi.

Saving on accommodation

We booked our honeymoon through Purely Maldives, and although I’m not typically a huge fan of booking through travel agents, this was one of the best decisions we made. The U.K.-based agency specializes in travel to the country, and offers unbeatable packages to over 100 resorts. Through them, we got a fantastic rate to stay in an overwater bungalow (of course) at the Adaaran Meedhupparu Prestige Villas.

Personally, it seems sacrilege to go to the Maldives and not stay in an overwater villa, but let’s face it, it’s not cheap. So unless you are celebrating some major milestone like an anniversary or special birthday, an easy way to save money is by booking a more basic room on the beach. Resorts like Velassaru offer tasteful options for bungalows, while the Lagoon and Beach rooms at the Taj Exotica boast outdoor showers and private plunge pools. That’s a pretty good trade off!

Many villas feature easy access to the water below.

Saving on food

One place you’ll really be seeing dollar signs is when it comes time to eat or drink. Read: $30 for a burger, $16 for soup. Who wants to have to deal with that? A great workaround for this is to add a full board or all-inclusive meal plan to your booking. It’s important to keep these costs in mind when deciding on which resort to book, since you will not have an option to eat anywhere else once you get to your little piece of paradise. Resorts also vary widely on what is included in their packages. Adaaran’s all-inclusive gold plan includes all meals and drinks including alcohol and a mini-bar, along with experience perks like snorkelling equipment, massages, wi-fi and a special dinner on the beach.

Lily Beach Resort & Spa has really taken it up a notch with their Platinum Plan that gives guests access to premium brands of alcohol, including wines from around the globe. Vacationers can also take advantage of complimentary excursions and are even provided with a cooling box for the beach, so they don’t have to get up for drinks! However, many resorts don’t offer any type of meal plan, which can take a big bite out of your budget, so plan accordingly. You also aren’t allowed to bring any of your own alcohol into the Maldives, so don’t even try cutting corners that way.

Finally, there is one foolproof way to save money on your trip that works every single time: book a shorter trip. The great thing about the Maldives is that it’s not as much about sightseeing as it is about relaxing, so you can easily get away with a four day trip and explore your whole island, walk around the capital of Male and go on a couple of excursions. This also works well if you tack on a few days in the Maldives as an extension of your trip to nearby Sri Lanka, Dubai or India.

WATCH: Reef sharks, dolphins and huge stingrays in the Maldives

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