Budget Hotels in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll

"We spent Christmas and New Year at Robinsons Maldives and it was the best holiday we have ever had. The resort is beautifully run, immaculate, and calm. Andreas deserves special praise — his leadership is evident in every detail, from the festive surprises to the overall atmosphere. The staff were exceptional. Harry “Pudding” created extraordinary desserts, explained with pride and worthy of a Michelin-level kitchen. Nazraan (Jordy) brought constant warmth and laughter, and Suma added elegance and insight through her talks on Maldivian life. Everyone was kind, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The food was outstanding — even after two weeks we never ate the same thing twice, and the vegetarian options were the best we’ve ever experienced. Christmas Eve dinner was unforgettable. Our beach bungalow was spacious with private access, calm seas, and incredible coral right outside. The Sundown Bar at sunset was stunning, entertainment varied nightly, and snorkelling was exceptional with vibrant coral, abundant marine life, and even a resident turtle. A truly special place — we can’t wait to return. Emma & Steve x"

"Ayada Maldives was honestly everything we hoped for and more. From the moment we arrived, the island felt peaceful, beautiful, and incredibly welcoming. The resort itself is stunning with clear blue water, soft white sand, and greenery everywhere. Our villa was spacious, spotless, and perfectly private, with views that never stopped impressing us. It felt like our own little piece of paradise. What truly made the experience special was the service, especially Mehrat, our concierge and butler. Mehrat was absolutely amazing. Attentive without ever being intrusive, always kind, and genuinely cared about making our stay perfect. Whether it was organizing plans, checking in on us, or handling small details before we even asked, Mehrat made everything effortless and stress free. Every staff member went above and beyond to make us feel cared for and valued. The food across the resort was excellent, with plenty of variety and consistently high quality. Every meal felt relaxed yet special, especially dining with those ocean views. Ayada offers the perfect balance between relaxation and things to do. Snorkeling, enjoying the beach, or simply slowing down and enjoying the calm. It is the kind of place that makes you forget about time altogether. This was a truly memorable stay, and a big part of that was the people who work here. We would absolutely return to Ayada Maldives and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful, peaceful, and well run resort."

"My wife and I visited in February and it felt like a dream! We loved our overwater villa. The water had so many colors. We loved the size of the resort. It felt intimate and quiet-which we loved because we live in a big city and we want to feel relaxed on vacation. The staff is wonderful. Yassir was our butler and he took care of us. The Raffles worker who greeted us at the airport (I believe his name was Ahmed) helped us tremendously. He got us all checked in for our domestic flight and showed us where to go. He even got us on an earlier flight to the resort which we so appreciated! The General Manager Tracey is fantastic and helpful. And we have wonderful things to say about the chef, Shane. My wife has dairy and gluten allergies and she can’t eat most meats. Shane did a great job catering a menu to my wife and he was so friendly! We miss the staff at Raffles, including the waiters. All of them made Raffles feel like home. Raffles is definitely a paradise island. Very unique. And if you are looking to go to the Maldives for the first time or visit a new place in the Maldives, we definitely recommend Raffles! You won’t regret it. Everything about Raffles was perfect. The house coral reef is excellent with lots of exotic fish. This was our first time in the Maldives. And we plan to visit Raffles Maldives again. We’ve stayed at nice resorts around the world in around 50 countries, including Four Seasons in Bora Bora. Raffles Maldives might be my favorite. "

"The property was clean and well maintained. The manager was very helpful and accommodating to see to it my stay was pleasant and that I was satisfied. He had excellent customer service. "