Are you planning a trip to the Maldives and don’t know where to stay? We’ve got you covered! We stayed in the Maldives for almost one month and of all the local islands we visited, we have listed here all the best hotels and guesthouses in the Maldives we personally like the most. They are all cozy, beautiful, with a good location and excellent rated. And the best part: all at an affordable price. If that’s what you’re searching for? Be sure to check them out!
Read also: Maldives on a budget: the ultimate travel itinerary + tips
Ps: we link to booking.com because of the good prices, they don’t charge a service fee and most importantly you can often cancel your reservation without any cost a few days before your check-in. Another option is to use this link to get a $45 discount on your first booking on Airbnb.
Best hotels in Malé/Hulhumalé (Kaafu Atoll)
When you travel to the Maldives, chances are very high that you will fly to Malé, which is also the capital of the Maldives. With its international airport and ferry terminal, it’s the main hub to discover all the different islands. Depending on when you arrive and if you still have a connection speedboat or flight, you stay here for a maximum of 1 night. We stayed in Hulhumalé, which is the neighbor island of Malé and connected by a bridge. Here you find the most hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants. Getting here is easy too, just grab a taxi, bus or boat at the arrival hall of the airport, it’s only a 20-minute ride away.
Check flight schedules and prices here
Find more accommodations in Malé/Hulhumale here
Best hotels in Maafushi (Kaafu Atoll)
Maafushi is one of the largest and most popular local islands in the Maldives, however not overcrowded yet. It is located in the Kaafu Atoll and just a 30-minute speedboat ride away from Malé, which makes it also one of the easiest islands to travel to. It has everything from beautiful beaches, budget-friendly guesthouses to trendy restaurants, and a wide variety of activities. If you only have a couple of days in the Maldives and want to make the most out of it, go definitely to Maafushi!
Find more accommodations in Maafushi here
Best hotels in Rashdoo (Ari Atoll)
Rasdhoo is a small island located in the North Ari Atoll and surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. There is a beautiful sandbar opposite the island, which is only a 5-minute boat ride away. The local people are super friendly, the accessible bikini beach is great, you have some nice restaurants and you can do a lot of activities such as dolphin watching and snorkeling with manta rays. The island itself is super relaxed and is very easy to reach by public ferry or speedboat that leaves directly from Male. It’s our favorite local island in the Maldives with wonderful local people and gives you a true paradise feeling!
Find more accommodations in Rasdhoo here
Best hotels in Mathiveri (Ari Atoll)
Mathiveri is another beautiful island in the North Ari Atoll, which is about a 45-minute speedboat ride from Rashdoo. The islands itself is super relaxed, has a few guesthouses, 3 restaurants, and a beautiful powdery white bikini beach. There is a stunning sandbank opposite the beach where you can swim to. It’s also a great place to snorkel with sharks/stingrays and at the nearby shipwreck.
Find more accommodations in Mathiveri here
Best hotels in Thoddoo (Ari Atoll)
Let’s start by saying that Thoddoo is a big island compared to the other islands Rasdhoo or Mathiveri. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful piece of paradise famous for its long white sandy beach and fruit plantations. Thoddoo is known as the largest producer оf watermelon, fruits, and vegetables іn the whole Maldives. The island has a small population which makes it super quiet and peaceful. You can easily reach Thoddoo by speedboat from Rasdhoo, which is only a 30-minute ride or directly from Malé. (in 1h15 minutes)
Find more accommodations in Thoddoo here
Best hotels in Fulidhoo (Vaavu Atoll)
Fulidhoo is the most northern island in the Vaavu Atoll and a true little gem. The Vaavu Atoll is renowned for its high populations of sharks and manta rays, which makes this island one of the best places to go diving. But even if you’re not into diving, it’s worth a visit. Fulidhoo is a beautiful small island with only 200 local residents, some shops and two restaurants. The beach is stunning, there are no cars and the atmosphere is super relaxed.
Find more accommodations in Fulidhoo here
Now you’ve seen all the best hotels & guesthouses in the Maldives, you might be ready to go. Following websites can help you plan the perfect trip:
- Skyscanner to book and find the best flights
- Booking.com to book your accommodation
- Lonely Planet to get a complete travel guide
- Tourradar to join one of the amazing adventure group tours
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