A holiday in the Maldives with the kids. A taste of palm-tree fringed paradise in the Indian Ocean. Some of the world’s best coral reefs, warm island hospitality and white sand beaches galore.

The tiny island nation of the Maldives is the destination for thousands of honeymooners and celebrities each year.

But how could a family of four on a budget, who hate package holidays, possibly afford the trip of a lifetime to paradise?

We did and you can too! Aside from a little planning, it’s easy.

Here’s a step-by-step guide of how to plan your dream holiday to the Maldives with kids without remortgaging the house including our 1-week itinerary and family-friendly tips.

Finding cheap flights to the Maldives.

If you’ve ever been to SE Asia, you’ll have heard of Air Asia (the region’s most extensive budget airline). Frequent flights leave for the Maldives from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok most days. The flight only takes 4 hours. We flew from Kuala Lumpur (our current home city) for under £200 per person for return flights and including two checked bags.

Check out our top tips for visiting Bangkok with young kids and our insider tips for KL with kids.

If you’re flying directly from the UK, Australia or the USA and don’t want to break your journey up in SE Asia, try searching Skyscanner or Expedia to fly cheap flights connecting in the Middle East.

Occasionally you may be able to find spare seats of charter flights at cheap prices. It’s also possible to fly from India. Flights from Sri Lanka only take 1 and a half hours so are a great bolt-on options when travelling the region with young children. Flights from India and Sri Lanka may possibly land at one of the two smaller international airports.

Getting around the Maldives cheaply

Nearly all major flights arrive at Velana International Airport on Hulhule Island just across the new Chinese-Maldives Friendship Bridge from Male, the nation’s capital (and only) city. Although there are seaplanes and speedboats connecting the airport to Male and most other inhabited islands, the cheapest option is by public ferry.

As our time was short, we blew the budget twice travelling by speedboat. At US$25 per person (no children’s discount) this was an expensive option. The local ferries are a fraction of the price at around US$2.50 per passenger. They take longer but you get a flavour for local life as you travel next to friendly locals, crates of vegetables and goods that need to be shipped.

To start planning your route around the islands, check out this website. The timings of the ferries are often early morning or late afternoon so you will need to research and plan but it’s worth the effort and inconvenience for the savings. Note that publics ferries do not serve resorts. They’re primarily for locals travelling between inhabited islands, not tourists.

Keep reading for our 1-week family-friendly itinerary (ideal for young children with no journeys longer than 90 minutes!)

Where to stay cheaply in the Maldives

In one word: guesthouses. So what if you can’t muster up US$1000 per night for a plush resort! If you want a true island experience, to meet generous and friendly locals and eat the freshest fish ever stay at a locally-run guest house.

Our experiences at guest houses in the Maldives are truly some of the best accommodation experiences we’ve had in years of travelling with kids. We found all our guesthouses through Booking.com.

For information on the exact guest houses, we stayed in, scroll down to our 1 week Maldives itinerary with kids. We hear that Airbnb also has some great and affordable accommodation in the Maldives.

Guesthouses are usually small family-run houses. The staff will pick you up from the port (with wheelbarrows and hand carts for your luggage!).

The hospitality we received was just wonderful with generous owners arranging excursions for us, showing us around islands and even arranging a special birthday dinner with cake for Rhino.

How to eat cheaply in the Maldives

Eating out in the Maldives isn’t that expensive. But it’s not cheap either. There are no hawker stalls like in the rest of Asia but if you expect to pay European/ American prices you won’t be too shocked.

You can’t buy alcohol anywhere in the Maldives outside of the resorts and the airport hotel. It’s illegal to bring your own into the country. So not only will the adults save money on booze – you might lose a few pounds too!

Watch out for the price of soft drinks and juices though. A freshly squeezed juice can easily cost upwards of $6 in a simple beach café. For a family of 4 or 5, this will double the price of lunch.

Family-Friendly Tip: check that your guesthouse serves breakfast and that it’s included. The universal breakfast was a simple meal of white bread, jam, eggs and fresh fruit. A great hit with the kids!

Due to limited food sources on islands apart from fish, restaurants are very creative with the few ingredients they have. The fish and chips (US$5) are normally local tuna in breadcrumbs a great dish for sharing between the kids – especially if you add on a side of vegetables.

You can’t miss ordering grilled fish. A large fish (usually around $15) will easily feed a family of four with a side dish or two. We tried reef fish, fresh tuna and our favourite parrot fish. Maldivian fish curry with rotis (roshi) is another dish grown-ups can’t miss!

Eating in the Maldives during Ramadan

We visited the Maldives during Ramadan. All over the world, Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset for the month of Ramadan celebrating in the evening with a huge iftar feast as the sun sets. For non-Muslim independent travellers, this meant that it was tricky to get food during daylight hours as most restaurants were closed and others had very limited hours. Shops also close several times a day so that the owners can go to mosque. If you’re travelling to the Maldives with kids during Ramadan be prepared, be courteous (don’t eat in front of those fasting) and pack lots of snacks.

Budget activities in the Maldives with kids

Watersports, diving and boat trips aren’t particularly cheap in the Maldives. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s best to decide what you really want to do beforehand.

Most inhabited islands are quite small and will only have 1 or 2 dive/ watersport shops. Try to build up a relationship and ask for discounts.

Guesthouses will often have snorkelling gear that they will lend you (for a small fee or deposit). We took our Decathlon snorkel mask with us. It’s a brilliant way to introduce young children to the underwater world. The small/medium size fits our 5-year-old (and me) perfectly. Some islands have reef easily accessible from the shore.

In one week, we did two snorkelling/ sand bar trips which cost around US$50 each and Rhino did one night dive at US$50.

Most of your time will be spent at the ‘bikini beach’. A special beach area on each island put aside for foreigners (so locals aren’t offended by skimpy swimsuits). Please don’t wear swimsuits at other locations. Also, it’s polite to wear a long cover-up for women / T-shirt for men when walking to and from the bikini beach.

I packed a few cheap beach toys from dollar stores in our luggage as well as buckets and spades. The children happily spent many wonderful hours every day on the beach. At the beach, there are colourful fish, crabs, lizards and even wild hares (!!) to spot. Every evening, giant fruit bats emerge from the trees which the children found fascinating if a little creepy!

Maldivians love swing chairs to while away the hot hours in – and so do kids. Wander around inhabited islands, trying each new swinging chair out. There are also great children’s play areas on some of the islands.

The Maldives with kids: 1-week budget itinerary

There are so many fantastic beaches and reefs to explore in the Maldives with kids. Below is our 1-week budget itinerary for families. This itinerary worked perfectly for us. Short journey times meant lots of extra time to relax on the beach as well as a chance to explore the nation’s capital city.

The Maldives with Kids Day 1

After arriving at the international terminal, we took a speedboat straight to Gulhi Island from the terminal. To save money, you can catch a local ferry instead but this may involve lots of waiting.

We had a wonderful stay at Gurus Maldives. It’s a simple but unforgettable guesthouse on Gulhi Island. Check out their amazing reviews over at Booking.com.

We paid about £75 a night for 2 double bedrooms including breakfast and taxes. Gurus is moments from the bikini beach and its turquoise waters, beach cafe and water swing. The owners were incredibly welcoming and our children would happily have stayed there forever!

The Maldives with Kids Day 2:

We kicked off the holiday with a relaxing day at the bikini beach. Gulhi Beach has a swing and lots of shade. In the evening, we explored the island – on foot. There are no cars here!

The Maldives with Kids Day 3:

This was the day we splashed out on a snorkelling and sand trip. It cost around US$80 and included an hour and a half on a deserted sand island. A very cool experience! The kids aren’t into sunbathing (lol) so we spent most of the time swimming and having barefoot races around the tiny island!

The Maldives with Kids Day 4:

After another day relaxing on the amazing bikini beach at Gulhi, we hopped on the 4 pm ferry to Guraidhoo. We sailed past Maafushi Island (the Maldives independent-travel centre) but after reading negative reviews we decided not to stay there. Instead, we headed to a smaller, inhabited island called Guraidhoo.

In Guriadhoo, we stayed at the wonderful Kaafu Inn. With a gorgeous sandy courtyard, delicious grilled fish and clean and spacious rooms it was ideal for us. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. I highly recommend checking it out on Booking.com. 

The kids played in the sand whilst we relaxed with welcome drinks. There were plenty of other children around for them to play with as well. In non-peak season 2 double rooms cost us around £60 a night including breakfast.

The Maldives with Kids Day 5:

Another day, another snorkelling trip. This time we were likely enough to spot a turtle. Again we organised the trip through the guesthouse. It cost around US$50.

That night, Rhino went on a night dive (US$50) arranged through a local dive school. He even glimpsed a baby shark in the dark- lucky him!

The Maldives with Kids Day 6:

Rain! Yes, it rains in paradise. When the rain eventually turns to drizzle (after 5 long hours). A friendly local from the guesthouse took us on a tour of the island as well as to an uninhabited island linked by a small wooden bridge Under the bridge you can often see baby sharks and stingrays. I was chuffed to spot 3 stingrays!

We splashed out on the speedboat to Male on Day 6 instead of catching the 7am ferry… and it rained all day! Sod’s law!

But the journey to Hulhumale from Male was quick and convenient – a quick taxi ride. We stayed at the Huvan Beach Hotel at Hulhumale’ which is a convenient base if you have a flight or a boat the next day. Downstairs is a very child-friendly restaurant and the beach is across the street. Check it out on Booking.com.

The Maldives with Kids Day 7:

The morning we spent exploring Hulhumale Beach. This is a developed island connected to Male by road. The beach is nice with lots of cafes lining the shore (unfortunately they were all closed because of Ramadan). A few metres from the shore is an enclosed swimming area.

Shell Beans serves decent food and has a box of children’s beach toys outside. The Family Room has a small selection of toys inside and child-friendly atmosphere (as well as good coffee).

Mums, be aware that this area in front of the cafes is not a bikini beach so stay covered up. I managed a paddle but Rhino took the little ones into the sea. There is an unofficial bikini beach further along the beach if like me you don’t fancy swimming in a t-shirt and leggings!

In the afternoon, we caught a taxi $5 into central Male. We treated ourselves to a delicious Thai meal at Sala Thai, one of the capital’s finest restaurants. Not because we were treating ourselves but because it was the only place we could find that was open during Ramadan! The gorgeous and discreet courtyard setting made the pricer lunch spot well worth it.

Things to do in Male with kids

Rasrani Bageecha – this interesting green space in the middle of Male has a variety of fun activities for children including giant swings, fountains, canopy walks, hopscotch and a brilliant rope climbing frame. It can cost up to $5 for foreigners and expats to enter depending on the time and day of your visit. Children under 18 are free. It’s free for locals.

The fresh produce market might be crowded but it’s worth a few minutes to explore. The bunches of bananas, stacks of betel leaves and huge watermelons.

Our kids found it a little overwhelming. H flatly refused to visit the nearby fish market – I can’t really blame him! Perhaps keep the visit short by sending an adult to do the shopping!

Outside the market, walk over to the harbour wall where the fishermen are. Not only can you watch the fishermen and peek in their buckets to see today’s colourful catch but you also might see huge manta rays here nibbling at the fish waste. It’s not a dreamy location as there’s a lot of litter but the manta rays still manage to pull off a majestic look!

As well as meandering around the public areas, there are also a National Museum and National Art Gallery. Both are closed on Fridays (which was when we visited).

Central Male. Spot the giant flag pole!

Family-friendly Tips for visiting the Maldives independently with kids

Tip #1: I mention siestas all the time in our posts about hot countries. I really argue the case in our post about Bangkok with kids! Travelling with little kids, it’s so refreshing to take a midday nap in the heat of the day.

Tip #2: Related to siestas is the fact that the islands come to life in the late afternoon and early evening. It’s cooler and locals start coming outside to socialise with their friends. The playgrounds get busy, kids ride their bikes at the harbour and fishermen relax in the swinging chairs. It’s the perfect time to really experience island life and get to know locals.

*It’s not just human inhabitants either who come out at sunset. Keen eyes will spot hares and fruit bats too!

Tip #3: Local ferries tend to depart either early morning or late afternoon. The timetables work great for locals but aren’t geared towards tourist needs. Be adaptable, be flexible. You can always splash out on a speedboat ride if you’re in a hurry. All our guesthouses offered us late check-out (for free) when we asked. Keeping your rooms available might be more difficult in peak season.

Tip #4: Inhibited islands close for prayers several times a day. This means that shops and cafes may shut briefly. Be organised. Stock up on snacks and water when you see the shops are open – or you could have to wait a while!

Tip #5: Be respectful and stick to bikini beaches. Whilst we enjoyed strolling around islands, we always made sure that we were covered up. Only on the bikini beach did we wear swimming costumes. There are some tourists walking around in hot-pants (but don’t be one of them! Learn about and respect the local culture). It’s generous that locals have given a slice of their best beach to us foreigners so let’s be grateful!

*If there is no bikini beach sign, ask around or sail to a local uninhabited island for sunbathing.

Tip #6: We honestly wouldn’t have had such a relaxing time with a 3 and 5-year old without our Decathlon Snorkell mask and trusty old puddle jumper. These two bits of equipment made water play a breeze. H could watch fish and crabs under the water without a strange mouthpiece to struggle with. Z is much more confident in the sea in her puddle jumper (with her parents watching, of course!)

Tip #7: Go with the flow. Remember it’s ‘island time’ after all! Island time in the Maldives isn’t as laid-back as in Jamaica but it’s still relaxed compared to Switzerland!

It’s a man’s world in Male!

Walking around the crowded and narrow streets of Male, I couldn’t help but notice that most of the time I was the ONLY woman around. The markets and squares were dominated by men shopping, sitting around, working and socialising. On the islands, however, women really stood out as community figures. Running guesthouses, souvenir stands and be a lot more visible in the public spaces.

Do you love exploring islands and beaches with your kids? Check out our Caribbean posts on Jamaica with kids, Virgin Islands with kids and Puerto Rico with kids. If you’re staying in Europe, there’s some great beach holidays to be had in Sicily with toddlers, Cyprus with a toddler and Montenegro with a baby.