Maldives has been ranked amongst the best value travel destinations for 2019.
In the Best in Travel 2019 awards by Lonely Planet, the Maldives secured the fourth place amongst the 10 places made for affordable adventures.
The inclusion of Maldives, which is known world over for luxury tourism, in the Best Value category in the guidebook publisher’s annual Best in Travel awards was due to the growing popularity for independent travel in the Maldives as word gets out about a network of inexpensive places to stay on the islands.
“OK, we’re not talking Southeast Asia cheap, but an increasing number of inhabited, non-resort islands have their own locally run guesthouses, bypassing the expensive resort scene and bringing visitors close to what can be the otherwise elusive Maldivian culture,” the listing read.
“Costs are typically around US$90 per night and meals, diving and other activities can be arranged. Popular islands for independent travellers include Maafushi, Rasdhoo, Thoddoo and Dhigurah, but there are many more, contributing to a growing independent travel scene across the atolls.”
Maldives, known world over for its upmarket tourism industry, has resorts in the hundreds spread across the archipelago. The industry has in recent years expanded to introduce more affordable segments, including guesthouses and liveaboards.
Some 450 plus guesthouses have started operations over the past five years as the number of travellers that choose to stay in guesthouses rise.
Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel lists the top 10 countries, cities and regions alongside other travel experiences for the year ahead, ranked by the staff of Lonely Planet, including editors and contributors from around the world.
Germany is rated second in the countries list this year, with a nod to the centenary of Bauhaus next year, and Zimbabwe – where tourists are starting to return after the resignation of Robert Mugabe – comes in third. In fifth position is Kyrgyzstan, which has 2,700km of newly-marked trekking routes.
Copenhagen, Shenzhen in China and Nova Sad in Serbia were named as the best cities to travel to in 2019, while top trends include dark-skies tourism (with an increase in people stargazing and solar eclipse trips) and electric road trips, thanks to a rise in the number of car-rental companies offering alternatives to petrol and diesel vehicles.