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If you landed after 4pm in Maldives and there is no more seaplane to go your resort than you definitely need a cheap hotels in Male where you can stay for 1 night. This city is beautiful and you will see local people kindness and delicious cheap food for sure.
Hi everyone my name is Bima and thank you for visiting my wedding photography blog. Through this blog I post hundred of beautiful marriage moments since the past 10 years and surely love my works as a wedding photographer, if this gonna be your 1st time to know me than you can see my works on portfolio.
First of all I wanna say thank you for keep in touch with me and read my review about hotels and accommodation. Following my story about Angsana Velavaru in Maldives now I would like to recommend you some cheap hotels in Male that you can use for transit before you going to your resort tomorrow.
Since Maldives has a unique geographic condition so not every resort allow their speedboat and seaplane to operate after 4 pm cause some storm, wind, and waves will be so dangerous for all transportation.
What I Bring in My Luggage Before Going to Maldives
When I receive my first Maldives pre wedding enquiry than I’m so excited to visit it, I try to do the best for my first trip in Maldives and wanna make this journey is unforgettable for me and my wife and for our couple for sure.
I bring 2 kind of luggage during my travel, first I need a sling bag where I can put my passport, pen (you definitely need this stuff to fill your immigration card), or even keep my EOS M camera so I can take a photo no matter where I am.
Second thing I also bring my big luggage to keep all the clothes, snorkel mask, and my swim fins. As you can read on any other travel blog than spend a time with snorkeling in a crystal clear sea water before your lunch time is the most favorite thing to do in Maldives, so make sure for don’t miss it!
Cheap Hotels in Male for Transit
In my first trip to Male, I found a really nice hotel that surrounded by delicious street food, hospital, local mosque, and some souvenirs store called Lucky Hiya.
Going to Lucky Hiya is pretty simple, once you walk out from the Airport terminal building you will find a small port where the Dhoni (Maldivian boat) standing by for 24 hours. Buy the ticket on the small counter for MDV10 or equal to USD1 than you can go to Male City within 10 minutes.
Don’t ever think to walk to Male City cause what you thinking about is just same with me cause you will be surprise that there is no road to Male City except the sea.
Yes the sea is standing by in outside of terminal building so the island where the airport built is juts only for Airport and navigation facilities and once we need to come to the city so the boat will be your ‘luxury yacht’ ever.
Honestly it is only 1 km far from the airport to Male City but having this unique experience of transportation is so awesome. You may walk around through the small street where some souvenir shops showing off their stuff, cafes, mosque, and small restaurants (cheap for sure, so don’t worry) than you can find the Lucky Hiya Hotel.
From the boat port in Male City you just need to walk about 15-20 minutes than you will find this hotel. Let me tell you my experiences tips about staying in this such tiny hotel.
Just Book It Online and Pay with Credit Card
Yes of course you can pay with US Dollar or Maldivian Rufiyaa but due to regulation in Maldives I think we will get easier to pay with credit card by pre booking before the arrival.
The hotel staff said I couldn’t pay with Maldivian Rufiyaa because I don’t have a working Visa in Maldives (in fact I don’t know why) but I stay here twice (pay in a Dollar and pay in credit card) and I found I got no trouble when I pay with credit card before the arrival. I used Agoda.com that give me a best rate to book this hotel.
Staffs are Friendly
Lucky Hiya’s staffs are so friendly, with a bit smile but they will serve as well. When you need some help about recommendation what time to go back to Ibrahim Nasir Airport, the city, and anything and yes they will help you as well.
Even on my second trip to Maldives and get sick cause of chicken pox they show me how to go to the nearest hospital in very clear
Don’t Ever Think about Fast WiFi
Yes Lucky Hiya provide you with a Wifi but speed is so slow and only applicable easily when you go down to the lobby and sitting down in the sofa near the breakfast room. Rather than open your facebook or instagram I suggest you to walk around and enjoying the Male City.
Don’t worry you still can access whatsapp or email to let your parents or family know that you landed in Maldives safely but I think that is the only things that you can do with the internet in this hotel.
Room is Tiny but Clean
You have to remember that you just stay in this hotel for 1 night transit so you don’t need any kind of space where you can run away in your room. Room is small, about 12-15m2 including the bathroom but they keep it in clean. Corridor also small so you need to move your body when there is somebody else walking through it.
Elevator also Small, 3 Pax Maximum..NO more!!
There is one elevator placed in the opposite of receptionist, truly it is only for 3 person including luggage and no more! Sometimes you also need to wait when somebody else or mechanic using it and bring a heavy stuff for repairing some broken part of this hotel.
Breakfast is Awesome
I think almost all the price in Lucky Hiya will compliment with breakfast, here I get a glass of fresh orange juice, tea/coffee, 2 slices of bread (cut into 4), 1 sausage, bean, jam and butter, just see my breakfast photo above!
It is good…..you can fulfill your hunger this morning and ready to go to your resort. Breakfast room also small but you still can talk for a while during your breakfast time
Last Words from Me
Overall this is my review about staying in Male City and for sure you still can find any recommendation of cheap hotels in Male but why wasting your time to browse in an hour just to find a nice place for 1 night stay cause Lucky Hiya is good and reliable for your need.
Just in case you need some other recommendation that let me share to you below: