Maldives All-Inclusive 🍹 Budget Bliss Off-Season

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Maldives All-Inclusive 🏝️ Budget Bliss Off-Season

Maldives All-Inclusive 🍹 Budget Bliss Off-Season

Ever wanted to experience the Maldives without needing a second mortgage? Head there in the off-season, where reduced rates mean all-inclusive resorts with free-flowing alcohol.

Forget about the occasional rain shower – what better excuse to dive into another cocktail?

So grab your favorite tropical drink, enjoy the empty beaches, and let the off-season fun begin. Cheers to budget bliss! 🏝️🍹

Highlights

 

Escape the Crowd to Makunudu

Our last minute booking to Makunudu during the off-season was a stroke of luck. But opting for a less popular time to visit the Maldives proved to be the best decision we could have made.

Male-Makunudu transit by Speedboat

Getting there from Sri Lanka

Off-Season Advantages

When you imagine the Maldives, you probably think of crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches. In addition, visiting off-season offers a more relaxed and far less expensive experience. giving you more bang for your buck with an all-inclusive package.

Our Off-Season Costs

We booked our stay for 6 nights from October 24th-30th, bearing in mind that the high season begins on November 1st.

The price per person for this 6-night all-inclusive package was $1,288 – A considerable saving on the equivalent high-season rate of $1,669.

These prices don’t include the obligatory return speedboat transfer and Environment fee, which adds another $250 per person to the costs.

Our Cozy Island Haven

Our home for the week was a beach bungalow, just a stone’s throw from the ocean. These bungalows, designed with traditional Maldivian architecture, give a true sense of place. Each morning, we woke up to the soft glow of the sunrise casting a golden hue over the beach.

The staff were attentive without being intrusive, ensuring our stay was comfortable and enjoyable.

Wake up to this

Savings on Alcohol? Cheers to That!

One of the best parts of our all-inclusive package was the savings on alcohol. Makunudu’s selection of drinks ranged from tropical cocktails to quaffable house wines. Having everything included meant we didn’t have to worry about racking up a hefty bar tab.

Each sunset was celebrated with a toast, and each dinner was accompanied by (a few) glasses of wine, all without the stress of calculating costs.

What’s included in the All-Inclusive package?

Our primary reason for choosing the all-inclusive package was to ensure we could enjoy alcoholic beverages whenever we wanted, without having to calculate costs and keep an eagle eye on our expenditure.

For us, this included wine with our meals (lunch and dinner) and pre-dinner drinks and cocktails late afternoon/early evening.

The included alcoholic beverages comprises draught beer, gin, vodka, whisky, rum, brandy, selected cocktails and house wine by the glass (red, rosé and white).

Apart from selected alcoholic drinks, the all-inclusive package includes high quality breakfast, lunch and dinners. Every Tuesday is Maldivian night and every friday is a beach BBQ

Is the All-Inclusive package worth the cost?

This is a bit of a loaded question, and largely depends on your expectations and drink preferences.

But for the record – and because we enjoy drinking wine with our meals – we did the arithmetic.

If you don’t take the all-inclusive package, you will pay as you go and the price of each drink is loaded with combined taxes of 24%.

  • At the time of writing, a 33 cl glass of draft beer costs $7 (+24%) = $8.68
  • A glass of wine costs $6 (+24%) = $7.44
  • The cheapest cocktail starts at $12 (+24%) = $14.88

So, if each day you personally enjoy 1 cocktail, 2 glasses of beer and 3 glasses of wine (you’re on holiday, right?), you will pay $54.56.

Over 6 nights, your drinks bill (for 1 person) will amount to $327.68.

If you take the all-inclusive package, for the same period you will pay $265.50 per person. That makes a 38% saving if you’re on all-inclusive (and some evenings you may drink more 🥴).

Adventures at Sea

Makunudu may be serene, but there is no shortage of activities to keep you entertained. We snorkeled in the crystal-clear waters, exploring coral reefs and swimming alongside vibrant fish and black-tipped reef sharks.

We also tried our hand at night fishing, which was equal parts challenging and exhilarating.

On land, we participated in spa treatments that left us feeling rejuvenated and relaxed.

Sunset Fishing

At $75 per person, late afternoon/early evening fishing is one of the popular excursions offered at Makunudu.

Since this was an off-season trip, we had the luxury of the fishing boat just for ourselves.

And we were in luck! The fish were biting fast and furious.

The first catch of the day was a good (meal-sized) critter. We then pulled in plenty of smaller fish, which we threw back in.

Still, after 90 minutes we had a good haul of fish suitable for tomorrow night’s dinner.

The larger of the fish we caught were specially earmarked for our dinner table – a very nice touch.

1st catch of the day … & tomorrow’s dinner!

Snorkeling Excursions

Snorkeling excursions by boat were available almost every day. These cost $53 per person and all snorkeling gear is provided.

The trips last 2 to 3 hours and visit an assortment of reefs not too far from the island.

The coral itself has been sadly deteriorating over the past few decades, but we saw plenty of colorful fish, turtles and shark.

Visibility from the surface is good. In fact, you’re likely to see more snorkeling than you will diving, since the coral can be a little disappointing when you get up close.

Makunudu Snorkeling

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Diving

You can arrange an orientation dive from the beach for $141 per person including equipment. Boat dives cost a little more.

If you want to do a Padi diving course you will need at least 3 days and it costs between $500-$750.

If you’re really into learning to dive, then the Maldives is the best place to do it. Even in the high season, Makunudu isn’t crowded with divers.

Off-season we had the instructor and dive master just to ourselves. Luxury!

Maldives – Under the Reef

Dining: A Culinary Treat

One of the highlights of our all-inclusive package was the food. We indulged in a variety of cuisines, from fresh seafood to delectable Maldivian specialties. The chefs took great pride in their work, and it showed in every dish.

All-inclusive includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea & cake, and dinner. You can also help yourself to tasty snacks at any time during the day.

All great quality and beautifully presented.

The only problem you’ll have is the pounds you will inevitably put on 🙄

think I’ve seen that fish someplace before…

Makunudu ‘Repeaters’

Since we were return visitors to Makunudu, we were treated to some extra ‘repeater’ gifts, including:

  • a complimentary bottle of wine and fruit bowl on arrival
  • a handmade wooden door sign with our names on our bungalow
  • a special festive dinner setting on our final evening

Wildlife Encounters: The Residents of Makunudu

Our trip wouldn’t have been complete without some amazing wildlife encounters. Some of our most memorable moments were swimming with the sea turtles.

 

Environmental Awareness

One thing that stood out during our stay was Makunudu’s commitment to sustainable tourism. The resort has implemented several eco-friendly practices to minimize its impact on the environment.

From using solar energy to reducing plastic waste, it was clear that they cared about preserving the natural beauty of the island.

Check Prices in Bandos

Final Thoughts

As our trip came to an end, the off-season deal gave us a peaceful, uncrowded experience that we wouldn’t trade for anything.

Choosing Makunudu in the Maldives for an all-inclusive off-season trip is a decision you won’t regret. The unique blend of tranquility, adventure, and cost savings makes for an ideal getaway 🏝️

The place that first inspired our SandSpice journey

Book your Bungalow Now!


If you enjoyed Maldives Off-Season, take a look at our other Tropical Travel Plans. You may also like:

 

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