How A lot Does An Overwater Bungalow Value?

The place we’re at: I’m recapping my journey to The Maldives in March 2022. 

Because you all indulged me with my nostalgia-filled Maldives travelogues, I believed I owed you one thing in return — an in depth reply to the query I feel on everybody’s thoughts once they see dreamy images of overwater bungalows gracing their feeds. How a lot did that price?

I’ve been blessed. I’ve slept over the turquoise sea in Jamaica, in Indonesia, in French Polynesia (but to be blogged) and now within the Maldives. Plus, if you happen to rely it, a creaky previous overwater hostel in Panama. Really, each is exclusive and particular. Is it price it although? Solely you’ll be able to reply that!

Right here’s each Maldivian Rufiyaa — okay positive, it’s all in USD — we spent on our 5 days in paradise. Plus, some main cash saving suggestions! I’ll be curious to listen to if it’s greater than, lower than, or precisely what you anticipated!

Lodging: $1,420

We stayed at The Commonplace for a lot of causes, one among them being the relative accessibility of the overwater bungalow pricing. 

At The Commonplace, each single room has a personal pool, which is enjoyable. Nevertheless, you’ll have to select between seashore villas or overwater villas, between one or two bedrooms, after which between lagoon and ocean view. The primary two will most likely be straightforward to reply relying in your journey circumstances and wishes, however you could be stumped on the final one!

The place of an overwater bungalow really does matter and whereas we paid a bit of extra for the “ocean” versus “lagoon” bungalow since lagoon was offered out, ultimately I used to be blissful we did as a result of we had a bit of extra of that castaway really feel; staring out on the ocean versus again on the resort. Additionally take into consideration if it’s extra vital to you to look at sundown or dawn out of your room — I really like sneaking out and watching dawn from the quiet of my very own deck, however liked doing sundown on the resort bars and swimming pools.

We seen whereas planning this journey that The Commonplace does gross sales so much! Join their mailing listing and hold a watch out, if in case you have the time and adaptability. We paid $1,420 every together with all taxes and costs for our 5 evening keep, which labored out to $284 every per evening.

For an overwater bungalow in Maldives, that’s really a terrific fee! Whereas the rooms didn’t really feel like probably the most dripping-in-luxury place I’d ever stayed, they felt enjoyable and tropical and funky, and that’s precisely what we had been in search of on this journey.

Transport: $705

Okay, this one hurts. That’s simply the transportation to and from Malé — worldwide flight not included! Our spherical journey seaplane rides had been $555 every, and had been the only option to succeed in the resort. On high of that, I ended up having to pay a surprising $150 in baggage overages, which damage me! Ensure you learn the load necessities very fastidiously on your seaplane trip as they weight each bag, purses included, and the overage prices are wild. 

Wowza! Should you’re on a funds — or have a concern of flying — a resort that may be reached by way of boat from Malé is definitely not a nasty concept. In truth, it was my authentic concept, although the spherical journey speedboat costs can get into the triple digits as properly.

All that apart, I have to say the seaplane trip itself was fairly enjoyable, which took a few of the sting out of the loopy price ticket. Additionally, The Commonplace is constructing their very own lounge on the Malé Airport which can make the wait there much more enjoyable.

Meals + Drinks: $420

So, that is the place I really feel like we majorly hacked the system. The Commonplace, together with most Maldives resorts, presents an array of meal plans that appear like they’d be the logical selection when there’s no off-resort eating out there. They vary from the bottom stage which solely contains breakfast to the very best which incorporates meals, drinks, and even some excursions.

I had a hunch that the packages weren’t price it, and once we did the maths after the actual fact, we had been majorly proper. For instance, had we booked the breakfast, lunch and dinner package deal, we might have every spent $550 on our meals, plus needed to have each meal on the buffet, plus needed to spend additional on alcohol. As a substitute, we spent $420 every on meals and booze and ate and drank wherever we needed!

Had we finished the “all inclusive” we might have spent $800 on meals and booze — once more, versus the $420 we paid a la carte — and nonetheless had massively much less choice. And even with the “all inclusive” packages, just some dishes are included. Therefore my citation marks. 

We actually liked our freedom. One afternoon we had been feeling a bit of nibbly so simply ordered a fruit plate, I requested a cheese board and acquired one, and a bottle of white wine. It was one among our greatest afternoons and it price $67 every. Our most costly lunch, but additionally our most enjoyable — and one we wouldn’t have gotten to have on any meal plan.

Now, consider the Maldives simply doesn’t have the identical boozy all-inclusive tradition you may consider in say, Mexico. Not less than at The Commonplace (and with some exceptions, just about in all places within the Maldives) there’s no swim-up bar, or large ingesting vibe amongst friends. It’s primarily some wine at dinner or a sundown cocktail right here or there. We did hop the blissful hours, which additionally helped our funds for positive.

So, retaining that in thoughts, except you know you’re an enormous eater and drinker (wherein case, occasion on), I’d choose in opposition to the meal plan for probably the most flexibility and for higher charges. And once more, 5 days was the proper candy spot the place we acquired to strive all of the eating places however didn’t get bored. We met some European {couples} staying for 2 weeks! We each agreed we may do perhaps yet another evening or two, however after that we’d need to break up the keep into two resorts.

Spa: $300

Katie and I are each huge spa lovers, and so it’s really solely shocking that our invoice wasn’t even greater than this! We took benefit of some enjoyable public spa occasions just like the hammam day and the sound bathtub which had been a wildly cheap $25 every, plus handled ourselves to massages on our final day.

Sadly, I additionally paid an exorbitant worth to have my gel nails finished however it was legally required (okay, by my very own legislation reasonably than worldwide one.) Not one thing I’d ever choose to do at a resort like this the place it’s dearer and fewer specialised than in a salon however… once you’re dwelling on the street for months like this, generally you gotta do what you gotta do!

Leisure: $0

My favourite class, ha! As we opted to benefit from the resort’s free facilities and actions, we spent nothing on entertaining ourselves (exterior of our spa appointments, in fact.) We liked the free wine tastings, film nights, kayak and paddle board and snorkel provide leases, biking across the island, utilizing the fitness center, and simply lounging round studying and luxuriating. 

In fact, if you happen to didn’t simply come off an unimaginable action-packed liveaboard like we did, you may rack up a invoice right here on some excursions having fun with the unimaginable aquatic adventures the Maldives have on supply like diving, boat journeys, and past. I’ll say that The Commonplace’s tour boat didn’t seem like something too particular; we had been very glad to have had all these experiences onboard the ScubaSpa.

Should you had an extended keep, you additionally may really feel a bit of stressed to do some excursions off the island. Nevertheless, with 5 days, we had loads to maintain us entertained on-resort.

The Backside Line: $2845

So in complete, we spent $569 per particular person per evening for 5 nights in paradise. A discount? Completely not. However, contemplating lots of the well-known overwater bungalows you see on Instagram within the Maldives run two grand an evening — and, I child you not, I noticed on the market an eighty greenback bottle of sunscreen — we felt we acquired a good deal. Even having stayed in some tremendous luxe overwater bungalows earlier than, I simply couldn’t put a worth on this time with Katie.

(By the best way. Run out of sunscreen at a Maldives resort? Attempt the dive store reasonably than the present store. We seen there’s was a 3rd of the value!)

Is an overwater bungalow in your bucket listing? Should you’ve finished it already, was it definitely worth the splurge?