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If you dream of a holiday at Maldives, but you don't have thousands and thousands of euros available, there is an island that's right for you: it is Abbreviate, part of Kaafu Atoll.
Not everyone knows: the low-cost Maldives exist. Or, rather, there are islands that are cheaper than others and types of accommodation capable of offering splendid stays to those who cannot afford to stay in luxurious resorts or in the much famous pied dans l'eau villas. One of these is precisely Dhiffushi, a 37 kilometers of Male and near Meerufenfusi.
It is the perfect place, Dhiffushi, for a holiday in the Maldives that is authentic, accessible and even a little wild (although there are many types of accommodation, some of which are decidedly chic). First of all, reaching this island is simple and cheap: you can get there in 45 minutes by fast ferry, at a price of 18 – 22 euros (attention: it is best to book the transfer in advance, through your hotel or by contacting specialized companies such as Express Altec or Dhiffushi Water Sports). Alternatively, for just over a euro, you can take advantage of the public ferry (but in that case the journey will last 3 hours).
Once you arrive in Dhiffushi, you will find yourself in a very small paradise (one kilometer long and two hundred meters wide) populated by a thousand locals and mostly European tourists. There are no ATMs here. And, although cards are accepted by many of the businesses here, it's best to have some cash before you arrive (when you pay, although you sometimes pay in dollars, you'll probably get the rest in local currency) . There aren't even cars, to be honest: at most you can rent a moped.
Source: Facebook
Fonte: Facebook (Araamu Holidays & Spa)
What is in Dhiffushi? A school, a mosque, a medical center, a stadium, a handful of cafés and several hotels. There is no police office on the island, for the simple reason that crime doesn't exist here. What makes it a low cost destination, however, is above all the fact that its beaches – white, deserted and dotted with palm trees – they are all free, whether they are hidden or in front of a hotel. Only one of the "bikini beaches" (beaches where you can wear a swimsuit in complete tranquility), the one overlooking the nearby Meeru Island Resort, requires the payment of a very small daily fee for the use of sunbeds, umbrellas and sports equipment aquatic; on the other two you can use deckchairs, umbrellas and hammocks without spending a single euro.
But also activities here are decidedly cheaper than in the rest of the Maldives: from diving to snorkeling, from kite-surfing to stand-up paddling, we are talking about very little money. For example, a kayak excursion around the island doesn't even cost 15 euros per couple. And the food? Su mainly eat curry and tuna-based specialities, and you rarely spend more than 5 euros each.
Until 2001, there was only one guesthouse on the island of Dhiffushi: the only and first tourist accommodation built up to that point. Today, there are a dozen choices (although there are several structures under construction): you can choose guesthouses as well as four-star hotels, forgetting about giant hotels and inaccessible resorts.
Prices? They range from 45 euros per night of Bibee Maldives (directly on the beach) to 181 in the most luxurious suite of the Araamu Holidays & Spa hotel. In short, the low cost Maldives are closer than you might think.
Source: Facebook
Source: Facebook)
