“You might prove them wrong” – Del Amitri.
Forget all the preconceptions that Male and The Maldives is a haven for rich suitcasers, business capitalists and shrewd money bankers. I blew that into oblivion by spending less than £15 Northern Irish pounds (“UK” pounds) in my first 24 hours here!! (£10 hostel, £0.70 coffee, £0.80 ferry, £1.45 taxi, £2 dinner, snacks and iced coffee). I was here as part of my “Rainy Summertime Tour” in 2025.
Backpacking In The Maldives🇲🇻: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
I’ll also be reviewing a wild range of 4 different accommodation places – one hostel backpackers budget (this place – Wind Stay in Male), one mid range guesthouse/hotel (Chao Guest House, Maafushi), one richboy luxury resort (Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, private island) and one textbook “nap pod/sleeping pod” option (Nap Corner, Male) for those pre-flight or post-flight. First up, the brilliant budget friendly Wind Stay in the capital city, Male!
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
I especially loved my cheap single bedroom here at Wind Stay as it was better than all my expectations! This has to be booked for sheer budget backpacking at its most beautiful. I only stayed a night, but if you plan to stay in The Maldives for a week and island hop a different island 5 days out of the 7, this would also be a great option. It’s central, easy to find and cheap!
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
I checked into Wind Stay and was pleasantly surprised. I was welcomed with a smile and put into Room 8, upstairs. For £10 Northern Irish pounds, 55 Polish złotych or $12 US Dollars I had all of this –
1.A clean single room with a bed.
The room was cosy and simple, and had turquoise walls. I was in Room 8. The keys were two – one for the front door, a card swipe key and one for my room door, a metal key. It was a clean single room. It was all I needed, and more…
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
2.Fast Wi-Fi in my room.
I actually expected to be offline for a bit here, but no – the WiFi at Wind Stay was fast in both my bedroom and in the reception area! Even during my Rainy Summertime tour of torrential rain!
Blogging in the Maldives!
3.An 11 a.m. checkout.
I hate hostels and hotels that force you out at 9 or 10 a.m. so here at Wind Stay, the 11 a.m. checkout time is brilliant. You can waken up at 6 a.m. (sunrise), backpack ALL the main sights in Male by foot and then back to the hostel for 10.50 a.m. to checkout! Splendid.
Backpacking In Male, The Maldives
4.A bottle of water.
Again, I loved that. I hate buying water and I try to avoid it always. Usually when I travel, I have a water filter bottle or I keep a bottle and constantly refill it when free drinkable water is available.
For £10, there was no way I expected a free water here, but there it was!
Bottle of Water Included!
5.Coffee And A Kettle.
I don’t remember the last place I slept that was this cheap yet had both a sachet of coffee (with milk) and a kettle in the room. As a cheapskate budget whackpacker, that sachet was enough for two cups of coffee!
Coffee and a kettle!
6.A blogging desk!
My room was small of course but still had a desk. I blogged here for Don’t Stop Living and also wrote some of my book, Average Inhabitant.
Blogging in the Maldives!
7.An ensuite shower.
I had a small but fully function ensuite shower room. It’s all you need anyway. I don’t have time for bubblebathpacking on such extreme fast travel tours!
My ensuite shower room
My ensuite shower room
8.Central Location.
Located on Faashanaa Kilege Magu, Wind Stay is absolutely in the hart of Male! In fact, for me, I was so lucky as it was 5 minutes walk from the National Football Stadium, one of my key sights for backpacking Male! It’s easy to find and easy to walk to!
Central location of Wind Stay Hostel, Male, The Maldives
Central location of Wind Stay Hostel, Male, The Maldives
Central location of Wind Stay Hostel, Male, The Maldives
9.Backpacker’s Travel Advice
The place feels like a hostel, without a common room or shared dorm. The price, the vibe and the fact they can help with sights, maps and have information of things to see and do make it a backpacker friendly joint.
Backpacking Sights In Male
Here are a few more photos from my stay at the Wind Stay Hostel, Male, The Maldives.
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Direction to Mecca
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Backpacking In The Maldives: My Bargain £10 Stay At Wind Stay, Male
Here are the details for booking a stay at the Wind Stay Hostel, Male, The Maldives 🇲🇻:
Wind Stay, 5GF6+7C4, Faashanaa Kilege Magu, Malé, Malé Island, The Maldives
Wind Stay on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wind.stay/
Single Room
Double Room
Family Room
Free wifi
Water
Wardrobe.
Coffee
Towel etc..
For Booking pls contact :_ 7549100
Stay With Us Feel Like Home
Here are my videos from my stay at the Wind Stay Hostel, Male, The Maldives 🇲🇻:
I had to stay there because it was the only cheap hostel that was approved by the government. It was a moldy dump, though I managed to survive one night. Room 4 where I was originally supposed to stay, the air-con wasn’t working and the room reaked of mold and I was coughing within 30seconds. They then shifted me to room 5 that was better, with working aircon, but smelt sweet, and mouldy in the toilet. I then went to the capsule one, next day, that I had reserved online and this was nice with good air-con, no mold and good WiFi. It states on their reservation email that I could only use it for a short rest before going on to next accommodation as it wasn’t approved by the government, but they actually let me stay for a few days with no issue at all and the place was the cheapest (on booking.com) I met other travellers doing the same. It all comes down to luck of the draw with the immigration officer and whether they demand you show full booking for all your entire Maldives stay or not. I managed to say I was moving around and will make plans depending on weather/boat timing, then they just required 1 night proof of accomodation…phewww
Looking on booking.com now the prices are different to when I was there in late may. The wind stay was 40usd a night (reduced to 22usd for the night i was there) and the capsule (nap corner) was 20usd a night. The price is much lower than the others now including nap corner…it’s 6£ + 2£ taxes so about 11 usd…half what I paid 😲
Well now, who knew you could have your own room, Wi-Fi, a kettle and existential reflection time in the Maldives for the price of a fancy sandwich in London? As someone who once spent more on airport coffee than you did in 24 hours, I feel both inspired and slightly ashamed. Wind Stay sounds like the backpacker’s fever dream—minus the bunk-bed symphony of snorers. Curious though: did the rain enhance the charm or just make the flip-flops slippery?
Decent check-in time too. Hate those that have 3 or even 4 pm…
I agree Trevor, early check in loyal. If we pay for 24 hours, we should get it. Safe travels. Jonny
Hi Buckie, thanks for the comment. I didn’t have flip flops on that trip but for sure the floor was slippery, still a great place to stay. Safe travels. Jonny
Hi Roy, thanks for the comment and sorry to hear about the bad experience. I don’t like the Maldives government either – corruption and bribes on the border. Nuts time but at least was saw it and got the fuck out! Safe travels. Jonny
Hi Roy, thanks for the comment I also stayed in Nap Corner which was also pretty cheap and cosy. Safe travels. Jonny