A Mid-Range Maldives Resort Experience: Asdu Sun Island

Luxurious water villas, sumptuous buffets and fancy hotel rooms may be your vision of The Maldives. This is not what I remember. I remember the Maldives for its raw beauty. I remember the chills down my spine as our plane approached one of the world’s most picturesque airports. I remember the stunning blue waters as our speedboat sliced through the waves (we even saw some dolphins on the way). I remember arriving at our mid-range Maldives resort – a tiny island surrounded by clear blue waters. I remember the first time I set foot on its pristine beach. I was ecstatic. White coral sand and awe-inspiring shades of water from turquoise to cobalt blue – my heart couldn’t contain how happy I was to be on one of the most incredible beaches I had seen in my lifetime.

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A Tiny Slice of Paradise in The Maldives

With 26 atolls and over a thousand little islands in the Indian Ocean, The Maldives is one of the world’s most sought after beach destinations. There are many luxury resorts in the Maldives but don’t despair if you are looking for something in the mid-range budget. After booking cheap flights to Male from Singapore, we did a bit of research to find a resort that best fit our mid-range budget. We found a little island resort, Asdu Sun Island, which suited what we wanted in our first Maldives getaway.

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Asdu Sun Island

Asdu Sun Island is one of the few locally owned resort islands in the Maldives and has been open since the 70s. Located on a small island 45 minutes by speed boat from the airport, Asdu Sun Island is a no frills resort which focuses on the beauty of the Maldivian island itself rather than its amenities. The island can easily be explored in a few minutes on foot or you can kayak around its perimeter. While simple, with only a handful of concrete bungalows and a restaurant, the facilities at Asdu Sun Island were in good condition and the resort was always kept tidy.

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We opted for the full board option which set us back $ 125 USD per person per day (during high season in March 2014, inclusive of taxes) and $ 170 USD per person for the round trip speed boat transfer. The buffet meals included grilled fish and vegetables, pasta and fruits.

Activities at Asdu Sun Island, a Mid-Range Maldives Resort

Diving and snorkeling trips were available at our mid-range Maldives resort, Asdu Sun Island, however we opted to spend our 5 day stay in full relaxation mode. In the mornings, when the tide was low, we visited the little sand bar close to the island. At noon, we sat by the beach or walked by the water to swim with schools of fish. Sometimes, we played badminton or table tennis. Late in the afternoon, we usually went around the island on a kayak and watched the sky change its colours during the sunset. There was no flat screen TV and no internet (apart from the computer at the reception which we used to check our emails) but it didn’t bother us at all. We had the simplest of pleasures and it was, at that time, enough.

If you’re looking to experience the Maldives without breaking the bank, check online deals, visit during low season or go for a mid-range resort. Another option is to stay at one of the local inhabited islands in the Maldives. There are many budget hotels there that offer island hopping, diving and snorkeling activities.

Drone Video of Asdu Sun Island

Video Credit: Jot Bernard

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Disclaimer: We did not receive any compensation for this post. The links to hotels in this post are affiliate links, meaning that if you book a hotel through any of these links, at NO extra cost to you, we will receive a small commission. This will help me in maintaining this travel blog. Thank you for your support.

Do you have plans to visit the Maldives? Have you been to the Maldives? Which resort did you stay at? Let us know.