I went on a budget holiday to the Maldives, here's how I did it

• Natasha Whitley, 28, went to the local islands where it is much cheaper to stay
• READ MORE: The cheapest and most expensive weeks to take a summer holiday 

A woman travelled to the Maldives on a budget and spent just £416 for a six-day holiday which included food, activities and a room overlooking the ocean.

Travel influencer Natasha Whitley, from Bournemouth, Dorset, had planned a trip to Sri Lanka and with the Maldives being just a 90-minute flight, she decided to make a stop there along the way.

Accommodation in the Maldives, which is known for its sandy beaches and turquoise water, can cost up to £1,300 per night.

But instead of staying in the resort islands, the 28-year-old decided to stay in the local islands and was able to book a room overlooking the ocean for just £25 a night.

The local islands, which only opened to tourists in 2009, are less popular with tourists because alcohol is banned and only certain beaches allow you to wear bikinis.

Natasha Whitley, from Bournemouth, Dorset, is pictured on Dhiffushi, a local island in the Maldives

The pharmacist enjoyed a stunning sunset during her budget trip to Thulusdhoo

Natasha thought she’d stop by the Maldives on her trip to Sri Lanka and is pictured enjoying a pretty sunset in Dhiffushi

Natasha and Kara enjoy a jet ski ride during their time in Dhiffushi where they only spent £416 on accommodation, food and activities

Natasha takes a stroll along the stunning beach in a bikini on Thulusdhoo, a local island in the Maldives

Natasha said: ‘It had always been high on my bucket list but I never thought I would be able to afford it.

COST BREAKDOWN PER PERSON

Flight to Sri Lanka via The Maldives: £905

Transport: £32 (four ferries and one speedboat)

Food: £95 (avg £7 per meal)

Swimming with sharks: £88

Deserted island trip: £28

Floating bar: £12

Miscellaneous: £28 (atm fees, souvenirs, airport storage)

Accommodation: £133

Total (without flights): £416 per person

‘Since I saw a TikTok about doing the Maldives on a budget, I googled it and looked at what hotels were costing and was shocked at how cheap it was.’

The pharmacist and her friend Kara Wildbur, 23, set off on their travels on April 1 and spent six days in the Maldives before heading to Sri Lanka, where they both are now.

They split their time between the islands of Thulusdhoo and Dhiffushi staying in two beautiful beach-front rooms at the Beach House by Sii Hotels and the Batutu Surf View Hotel.

Natasha said: ‘Rooms on Thulusdhoo and Dhiffushi islands were around £30 a night for a room per person.

‘Ferries and transport were also cheap so it was much more affordable than it looked.’

Natasha, who is also a content creator, and her friend took advantage of the cheaper prices and did lots of activities.

They went swimming with sharks for £88 and took a trip to a deserted island for £28, which both included jet ski rides.

They also paid a modest £12 each to take a trip to a floating bar, which is common on the local islands because they can’t serve alcohol on land.

Natasha said: ‘We went swimming with sharks and we got an excursion to visit a deserted island.

Natasha, sporting a summery yellow dress, smiles for a photo next to a fresh coconut stand in Dhiffushi

The view from where the two friends were staying in Thulusdhoo in the Maldives

The content creator overlooks where she is staying in Dhiffushi for just £25 a night

Natasha snapped beautiful palm trees, flowers and a turtle mural in Thulusdhoo

The view from Natasha and Kara’s room in Dhiffushi, where they stayed for just £25 a night

‘We also took a jet ski ride and spotted dolphins, manta rays, stingrays, turtles and flying fish.

‘There is no alcohol allowed due to religious reasons either, so we got a dinghy to a floating bar in the sea too.’

Food was also very affordable with a meal costing an average of £7 a day per person with breakfast included with their rooms.

The most expensive part of their trip were flights – from London to Malé and then Malé to Colombo – which came up to £905.

Natasha has also started running affordable group trips for solo travellers, and has trips planned to Iceland and Costa Rica.

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