Maldives or Andamans - Where next?

Maldives:

The Republic of Maldives is an island state with 26 atolls*, with Islam being the state religion and Dhivehi being the national language. Dhivehi is primarily derived from the Sinhala language of Sri Lanka but is influenced by various languages like Arabic, French, Portuguese, and others.

The national currency is called Maldivian Rufiyaa. But, due to it being a large international tourist destination, English is widely spoken and US dollars are widely accepted as an alternate currency.

Atolls*: For island-newbies, Maldivian atolls are usually a series of islands surrounding a lagoon.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

Andaman &  Nicobar Islands is a union territory of India with around 572 islands, of which 38 are inhabited. The primary language in use is Andaman Creole Hindi* and the currency in use is the Indian rupee. Most islands are inhabited by settlers from all over India and in addition, the islands are home to 5 indigenous tribes.

Andaman Creole Hindi*: It is a dialect of Hindi derived primarily from the mainstream Hindustani Bengali and Tamil languages.

Maldives:

For an Indian traveler, a free visa-on-arrival makes the Maldives a super-friendly international destination. All you’ll need is a passport with 6 months of validity, a return ticket, and your itinerary with accommodation details to get rolling.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

For the Andamans, you’ll need no visa if you’re an Indian Citizen. In fact, you don’t need a passport to travel to the Andamans, if you’re Indian.

All you’ll need is an acceptable government ID such as your Aadhar Card, Driver’s license, or Voter’s ID.

Maldives:

You can fly to the Maldives from most metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore for as little as Rs. 20,000 (275 USD) both ways.

Within the Maldives, seaplanes are the most popular mode of traveling from island to island. TransMaldivian Airlines operates several flights daily to and fro from all the atolls. You could book your tickets directly with them or through your resort and travel agents.

Our experience has shown that booking with the resorts can be more expensive than booking with a travel agent or booking directly.

Ferries are also available for inter-island travel.

The prices for sea-planes and ferries vary greatly from atoll to atoll.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

It should cost you Rs. 10,000 – Rs. 15,000 per ticket on average to fly to the Andamans, both ways.

It’s well-connected with most metro cities in Mainland India. Within the islands, ferries are the easiest way to get around.

There are several reputable cruise lines such as Makruzz, Sealink, and Green Ocean. It should cost you around 1.3k one way per person.

You can book them here.

A bit of a tricky one, but we’re going to try and break it down for you.

Maldives:

While the Maldives is touted to be an ultra-luxury, water-villa and pool breakfast type-a destination, it also has a tonne of options for mid-range travellers.

While the former can cost you an average of 1000 – 1500 USD per night for an all-inclusive stay, you can get budget-friendly spaces for as low as 70 – 120 USD per night (may not necessarily be all-inclusive).

The best places for mid-range travellers are Male, Maafushi Island, Thulusdhoo and Bodufolhudoo where you’ll find economic options aplenty.

Having said this, Maldives has primarily promoted itself as a luxury destination and it is a delight for the luxury vacationer.

We recommend going all-inclusive since most of them are island resorts (meaning one island houses only one resort), so you won’t have access to out-of-house restaurants and entertainment. All-inclusive will usually include unlimited alcohol, access to all the resort’s restaurants and cafes, a replenishable mini-bar and may include spa treatments and oceanic excursions.

Most island resorts have spas, sometimes treatment is included in an all-inclusive package. You’ll have to check for spa offers before you pick a particular resort. Most resorts offer a discount if you book the treatments prior to arrival. Treatments can range anywhere between 70 – 500 USD on average and will mostly depend on the type of resort you decide to pick.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

The Andamans is primarily a budget to mid-range destination peppered with a few luxe options. Most resorts are spread around three popular islands: Havelock, Neil and Port Blair.

You can expect to spend anywhere between Rs. 4000 to Rs. 7000 (50 – 100 USD) on average per room night inclusive of breakfast.

For this range, you can expect an air-conditioned cottage room close to the beach. Most resorts have various meal plans on offer wherein you can avail yourself lunch and dinner at a nominal additional charge of Rs. 400 – Rs. 800 per meal (5 – 10 USD).

Your luxury options include your classic Taj, we have a Taj Exotica that is sure to blow your holiday hat away, and it’s right on Radhanagar beach at that. We have Jalakara, a niche boutique resort with an infinity pool looking straight into lush tropics and with all-inclusive packages. We also have a newly built Tilar Siro, courtesy of CGH Earth. Finally, Barefoot Resort at Radhanagar beach, known at one point for the swimming elephant Rajan, is one of the oldest, longest-standing and most exquisite of resorts. It has built its reputation over the years and is a crowd favourite for good reason. All of these range between Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 35,000 on average (200 – 2400 USD).

Most resorts are equipped with an in-house bar where cocktails and spirits will almost surely cost you less than you’re used to paying in Mainland India. This is thanks to the A & N Islands’ Union Territory status. You have access to all the restaurants and entertainment on a given island, so you can restaurant and bar hop to your heart’s content.

Expect to pay anywhere between Rs. 2000 to Rs. 5000 (30 – 70 USD) per meal inclusive of alcohol.

Maldives:

The Maldivian cuisine is very similar to the Southern-Indian and Sri Lankan cuisines in that it’s a mish-mash of warm spices, curries, and surprisingly, savory pastries. The cuisine makes judicious use of coconuts and fresh seafood which are available perennially.

Most resorts, however, serve a global audience and the food and restaurants are largely reflective of that. You can expect to see Italian, Mediterranean, Asian, and a lot of grills in most resorts.

At best, some resorts will have a Maldivian-themed night but it’d be hard to find a resort that only serves Maldivian food. On average, an island resort can be expected to have 2-3 restaurants and choice is limited to that.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

The cuisine in the Andamans is very regional and you can expect most resorts to serve Indian, Indo-Chinese, and some International food like Italian and grills.

Fresh Seafood is available year-round and is a literal must-have. Andamans gives you the option of trying different restaurants and cafes all across your island of stay.

There are several stand-alone and in-resort options on Havelock Island, Neil Island, and Port Blair.

Maldives:

On most island resorts, in the Maldives, you won’t have to spend any money on non-motorized activities like surfing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, and snorkelling.

However, motorized activities like jet-skiing &  banana boats, dive courses, fun dives, and ocean excursions will cost you extra, ranging between 100 – 150 USD on average per person.

For the budget traveler, most guesthouses and resorts will be able to guide you to the nearest available dive or adventure shop.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

In the Andamans, on all three tourist-friendly islands, you’ll have access to water sports activities and dive/snorkeling shops run by independent owners.

It can cost you anywhere between Rs. 2500 to Rs. 5000 (40 – 60 USD) per activity.

More on this here.

Maldives:

Since most, although not all, resorts on the Maldives are island resorts, it does restrict movement in a large way. Beach and entertainment options are usually restricted to the resort of stay.

So, if you’re looking for an activity-packed vacation, this may not be the best option for you.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

Andamans, on the other hand, gives you access to all the beaches and sightseeing on your island of stay. There is no limit to the amount of adventure and activity you can pack into your day.

It’s ideal for the complete spectrum: travelers looking for non-stop adventure to travelers looking for complete relaxation.