I worked in Maldives for years - there's one hidden gem island that's perfect for holidaying here on a budget
A Maldivian woman who spent almost 10 years working in the tourism sector at the hugely popular holiday destination has shared her hidden gems and budget tips.
The mother-of-one had worked tirelessly behind the scenes, including long hours while raising her 7-month-old daughter in the process.
Now 32, the native is happily married and has quit the tourism industry to launch a freelancer app that aims to 'connect Maldivians across the islands'.
She has also shared her top tips with keen travellers - including one hidden gem island that is perfect for those travelling on a budget.
Taking to web forum Reddit, in reply to another user's question about 'tricks for a budget trip', she explained: 'Travel to a local island and stay at a guesthouse.
'Some larger islands, like my home island Feydhoo in Addu City, are surrounded by beautiful, uninhabited islets perfect for day trips or even camping under the stars.
'You can walk to several of these nearby islands through the shallow sea ..it's peaceful, scenic, and completely unique.'
She added: 'Just search Feydhoo, Addu City on Google Maps and explore the surroundings.'
The mother-of-one spent the majority of her 20s working tirelessly behind-the-scenes in tourism at the hugely popular holiday destination
Feydhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Aaddu Atoll, which is formerly known as Seenu Atoll.
There is six districts of Addu City in total, the others being Hithadhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo.
The poster was flooded with questions from users who quizzed her on day-to-day life in the Maldives, including transport and education.
She explained: 'Most Maldivians don't work directly in tourism , they live on local islands, separate from resort islands, where daily life is a mix of school runs, agricultural work, small businesses, community work, and friends or family gatherings.
'A typical day might start with morning tea and catching the news, followed by school or work, and evenings are often spent by the sea or at coffee shops, chatting with neighbours or playing sports (soccer and volleyball are pretty popular).'
When it comes to transport, the islands are served by flights and boats: 'Getting around between islands is by boat or domestic flights, depending on distance.
'On the islands themselves, people usually walk or use motorcycles (cars and pick ups on bigger islands).
'Schools are present on almost every inhabited island .. from preschool up to secondary. For higher education, many move to the capital, Malé, or even abroad.'
If the Maldives seems to be beyond budget, there's a European destination where you could get a similar feel for far less money.
TikTokers @theresortcouple recently posted a video where they say tourists will 'find the European Maldives in the cheapest country'.
They recommend Ksamil, an enchanting seaside village in Albania, as a budget alternative to the Maldives.
A holiday in Ksamil will cost a lot less than travelling to the Maldives.
According to Wise, the average cost of a meal at an inexpensive restaurant in Albania is just 1,000 lek/£8.50.
Meanwhile, a pint of domestic beer costs just 249 lek/2.13 and a cappuccino comes in at just 164 lek/£1.40.
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