The Maldives is a dream destination for many travelers, including honeymooners, wealthy families, and even budget explorers like me.
My goal for 2023 had been to only visit countries that didn't require a visa. By November, I had successfully made it to eight countries.
As a Philippines passport holder, it was a tall order. My passport currently only gets me into 69 countries without a visa, ranking 73rd on the Henley Passport Index — 66 positions behind the US, which has visa-free entry to 188 destinations.
So, when my sister and I were trying to plan a five-day trip for the end of the year, the Maldives was put on our list of ideas. The country in South Asia — made up of coral islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean — offers tourists of all nationalities a free 30-day visa on arrival.
I had a limited budget and wasn't sure how I would make it work, especially as the trip was being planned to take place during peak season, right between Christmas and New Year's — when prices are often the highest.
The plan was to spend five days in the Maldives and stick to a $1,000 budget — this had to include flights, accommodation, activities, and everything in between.
According to Expedia's booking site, all-inclusive resorts charge between $816 to $3,270 a night. Flights to the Maldives can be pricey, even when flying from Singapore, the city-state in Southeast Asia where I'm based.
Despite the modest budget, I felt like I still got to experience the Maldives.
Here are five things I did to save money and not break the bank: