16 best affordable hotels in the Maldives to book in 2026
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Who isn’t dreaming of a Maldives holiday right about now? We sure are — which is why we’ve compiled the very best affordable hotels in the Maldives to help make your island dreams come true, as well as the insider tips to save you money on your dream Maldives holiday.
While the Maldives – with its stunning over-water villas, world-renowned marine life and dreamy white sand beaches – has a reputation for being rather expensive, not every resort in the Maldives will cost you an arm and a leg. Really.
I came for my honeymoon, and now I bring my family.
In fact, a new wave of reasonably-priced hotels across the archipelago are making the Maldives more accessible than ever. Millennial-targeted hospitality brands such as Avani + Fares and The Standard offer a Maldivian holiday experience that’s fun and dynamic with prices that are millennial-friendly, too. But all the hotels on our list – which mostly cost under £300 per night – are stylish, tropical paradises with different aesthetics that cater to all kinds of vibes, from thatched roof beach huts to stunning overwater bungalows.
To make your stay even more affordable, we've included our top, travel editor-approved tips to save even more money on your Maldives getaway...
How to have an affordable holiday in the Maldives
Staying on a bed and breakfast or even a half board rate in the Maldives can lead to an eye-watering bill on checkout because a lot of food and drink – especially branded items and alcohol – is imported. All-inclusive packages cover meals, drinks, and often snacks and basic activities, so you’re less likely to be hit with unexpected bills. So if you're someone who would like a glass of wine on the beach, or you want to eliminate the stress of calculating costs after every meal, then we'd recommend looking into all-inclusive packages.
In contrast to resort islands, local islands are home to local communities, so staying on one not only lets you experience authentic Maldivian culture, but saves you money. Guesthouses and small boutique hotels on local islands are far more affordable than luxury resorts, often including breakfast and excursions at a fraction of the price. Meals at local cafés are inexpensive, transfers are cheaper, and activities like snorkelling cost significantly less.
Some local islands are more established in terms of tourism than others, most notably Maafushi and Maalhos, for which we've included some options below (Kaani Beach Hotel and Manta Reserve Maldives).
It's important to note that alcohol is prohibited on local islands due to Maldivian law, but some guesthouses arrange trips to nearby 'floating bars' or resort islands. Similarly, outside of designated ‘bikini beaches’, modest dress is expected at all times.
The Maldives isn't just for couples.
Most resorts and hotels in the Maldives follow a seasonal pricing structure, so travelling outside of the high season of November to April delivers pretty good savings. In fact, you can often stay in higher-end accommodations for the same price you’d pay for a mid-range option in high season.
Low season (May to October) is often associated with rain due to the southwest monsoon, but showers are usually brief and tropical. You'll likely experience overcast days and choppier seas, but temperatures still hover in the high-20s. What you lack in constantly perfect weather, you'll make up for in savings and fewer crowds.
One of the best ways to save during your holiday in the Maldives is choosing an atoll, such as South Malé, North Malé and Vaavu, that can be accessed via speedboat from Malé Velana International Airport, as seaplane transfers often start from around $400 (around £300) to $800 (around £600) for the resorts furthest away. Speedboat transfers are typically half that. Check whether your hotel is accessible by speedboat instead, such as Velarassu Maldives, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa and Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa below.
Ahead, the 16 best affordable hotels in the Maldives, according to a travel writer…
Don't forget to save when you book with these Booking.com discount codes and Expedia discount codes at checkout.
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Kandima Maldives
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: A new kid on the block and huge by Maldivian standards – intertwined with two miles of natural jungle in the Dhaalu Atoll – Kandima is an affordable, soft-luxury lifestyle resort renowned for its rich offering for couples, families, groups and solos. Among the vast choice of wellness activities are a stunning spa, art classes, glass-bottomed kayaks and live music at sunset.
Kandima is also making inroads in ecosystem preservation and restoration – protecting the rare mangroves (which in turn reduce soil erosion with their intertwined roots), educating guests and staff on coral reef protection and being mindful of food miles, with a farm-to-fork approach.
Price per night: from £256.
NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: This upscale, eco-certified hotel located in the lush Fonimagoodhoo Island, near the famed Kihaadhuffary Island Beach and Hanifaru Bay known for its Manta Ray sightings, is a true gem in the Maldives. A perfect place to catch the rays, (both the Manta and UV kinds), you can choose from garden villas to sunset deluxe villas which have enough beds for up to four people, making this a great choice for your next getaway with your friends.
There are four on-site restaurants, a relaxing Coconut Spa, a gym and a fun array of water sports that include canoeing, water-skiing and even fishing. One look at these photos of Reethi Beach and the word ‘budget’ certainly wouldn’t come to mind.
Price per night: from £390.
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Nova Maldives
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: An all-inclusive five-star resort situated in the South Ari Atoll, the just-renovated Nova Maldives offers a relaxed, “soft luxury” vibe with 72 villas offering direct ocean views or right-outside-your-door sea access.
The water activities here are second to none, with the hotel's vibrant house reef right providing excellent snorkelling, alongside the South Ari Atoll’s reputation for year-round manta rays and whale shark encounters.
Price per night: from £303.
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Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: A scenic adults-only retreat in the North Malé Atoll, just a short speedboat ride from the airport, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa's rooms are a mix of beachfront and overwater villas with pretty lagoon views. There's seven restaurants offering everything from local dishes to Thai, Italian and South American cuisine, while the spa's ‘healing huts’ overlooking the ocean offer relaxing treatments inspired by Ayurvedic and Thai traditions.
Activities-wise, there's plenty to keep you entertained – particularly on the water. Book in for an island tour, semi-submarine experience, and excursions to see whale sharks, sea turtles, and dolphins.
Price per night: from £190.
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Kaani Beach Hotel
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: Situated on the local island of Maafushi and accessible via a 30-minute speedboat or 90-minute ferry from Malé, Kaani Beach Hotel is ideal for budget-friendly travellers looking for beach access, marine life excursions (such as dolphin cruises and snorkelling) without the resort price tags. There's a decent breakfast buffet, free Wi-Fi, direct access to a bikini beach (though modest dress is still recommended to respect local culture), and easy access to local cafés and shops, but don't expect the sprawling restaurant offering of resort islands.
Overall, this is one of the best hotel options if you're looking to save money by staying on a local island in the Maldives.
Price per night: from £70.
Sun Siyam Olhuveli
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: This all-inclusive in the South Malé Atoll is beloved affordable outpost for in-the-know Maldives travellers. Spread across three interconnected islands – Main, Dream, and the adults-only Romance – it caters to couples, families, and honeymooners alike. The beachfront and over-water villas are spacious and comfortable, many with panoramic ocean views and direct water access, while the island’s white sands and clear lagoons are ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
Price per night: from £285.
Manta Reserve Maldives
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: Found on the local island of Maalhos, Manta Reserve is perfect if you’re a budget traveller or backpacker. The hotel rooms are cute but simple and offer charming garden views. You can also expect a delicious continental breakfast. This charming guesthouse offers a range of activities from scuba diving to snorkelling to bike rides – and is the best place in the Maldives to really slow down.
Price per night: from £170.
Velarassu Maldives
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: Velarassu Maldives is just a 25-minute speedboat ride away from Malé International Airport, making it an ideal choice for first-time visitors. At first glance you wouldn’t think that Velarassu would be on any ‘best affordable hotels’ list with its stunning overwater bungalows, palm-tree lined outdoor spaces and breath-taking beachfront swimming pool with views overlooking the crystal clear waters of the South Indian Ocean.
There are 129 rooms at this resort that range from cute beach villas to luxury overwater bungalows complete with sundecks and private pools. Elsewhere, there is a cabana-lined infinity pool, a spa with incredible sea views and a majestic house reef that would impress even the most avid divers and snorkelling fanatics.
Price per night: from £250.
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Avani+ Fares Maldives
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: Sister property to the nearby Anantara Maldives, Avani+ Fares is part of the Minor Hotel Group’s younger Avani brand, which is geared towards younger, millennial and Gen Z luxury travellers. Opened in spring 2023 in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of the Baa Atoll, the resort has everything you need for the girl’s getaway of a lifetime. Expect lux beach and overwater villas, fun karaoke nights poolside, a lively nightlife scene, fire shows, relaxing spa treatments, Manta Ray excursions, sunset sailings, contemporary beach villas and overwater bungalows, and of course – fun and friendly service. With prices starting at £460 – we couldn’t think of a better destination for your next girls’ trip.
Price per night: from £120.
Bandos Maldives
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: Just eight kilometres away from Malé, the island capital of the Maldives, is Bandos; a gorgeous little hotel in the North Male Atoll that exudes coastal charm. Picture white-washed rooms with thatched roofs, a pool with swim up bar, and relaxing spa treatments at the in-house spa. There is also a Club House that offers a range of fitness classes for more active travellers and five restaurants offering Maldivian, Chinese and Japanese cuisines. At Bandos Maldives, you can get the full five-star Maldives experience at four star prices.
Price per night: from £160.
The Standard Huruvalhi Maldives
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: You know that a stay in The Standard Huruvalhi will deliver the hotel chain’s always effective formula of eclectic designer aesthetics, vibey tunes and an effortlessly cool ambiance, yet somehow The Standard Huruvalhi delivers that and more. Forget traditional tropical luxe villas and expect vibrant splashes of neon in your hotel rooms that are accented will all sorts of fun things from disco balls to ukuleles. If you like the beach clubs of Ibiza and the Côte d’Azur, then you’ll love that a live DJ transforms the pool into a vibey beach club in the afternoons and that Beru Bar transforms into a proper disco complete with glass floor. Looking for a more lowkey stay? The Standard Maldives adopts a more bespoke approach to wellness, with treatments like CBD oil massages and a floating aquatic assault course.
Price per night: from £290.
Amari Raaya
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: Part of the Amari Group of Hotels, this resort blends Thai hospitality with the richness of the Maldives’ natural surroundings. Meet Seb, the island’s resident artist, who will tell you his very own castaway story – and is probably one of the most interesting people you’ll meet in the atolls. The oriental-inspired rooms, which include beach suites and overwater bungalows, are light bright and airy and the three on-site restaurants offer everything from delectable Asian to Maldivian cuisines. We especially like the Spa at Amari Raaya which transport guests to a world of bliss with spa treatments such as reflexology to Thai massages. Book a treatment as soon as you arrive, your body will thank you for it later.
Price per night: from £280.
Kiha Beach Maldives
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: If you’re looking for laidback boutique hotel then the Kiha Beach in Dharavandhoo is just the place for you. A quick 20-minute flight away from Malé and surrounded by the rich biodiversity of the Baa Atoll, this breezy boutique hotel has everything you need and more to truly embrace island life in the Maldives.
Price per night: from £120.
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: Surrounded by the turquoise waters, pristine white sand beaches and swaying palms Furanafushi Island, the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has everything you need and more for a dream vacation under the sun. The resort is only a 15-minute speedboat ride from Malé Velana International Airport and has 176 hotel rooms that cater to every budget from cosy cottages to sprawling overwater villas.
Of course, you can expect indulgent spa treatments, free wi-fi, a dazzling array of water sports and a stunning house reef. There are seven delectable restaurants from a buffet-style affair to another restaurant serving traditional dishes from Thailand. The Water Suite, which can accommodate up to five people is particularly good for families looking to reconnect.
Price per night: from £250.
Furaveri Island Resort
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: This five star hotel in Raa Atoll is a true hidden gem and has everything you need for a sunny and relaxing holiday in the Maldives. Furaveri Island is rich in marine life and covered in lush foliage perfect for nature lovers. The resort offers a variety of experiences from sandbank excursions, tennis and jet skis to Java Lulur Scrubs at the spa. The overwater villas and beach suites rival that of the most luxurious resorts in the Maldives but are a fraction of the price. Plus, the resort’s half-board and all-inclusive packages are pretty generous too. A win/win if we ever saw one.
Price per night: from £150.
SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why we love it: Situated in the picturesque Emboodhoo Lagoon is the SAii Lagoon Maldives. This stunning five-star hotel is just a 15-minute speedboat ride away from the jetty at Male and impresses from the moment you check-in. The SAii Lagoon Maldives is part of the Hilton hotel group’s Curio Collection, which are a collection of five-star boutique hotels around the world that celebrate local heritage with the Hilton touch. This specific resort is part of the Crossroads Marina Complex which means that guests can explore the neighbouring Hard Rock Hotel and public marina filled with local and international restaurants, shops and bars — is a rarity in the Maldives where most resorts occupy an entire island.
Price per night: from £160.
