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by Erica Poyauan

Overnight Stay at UI Inn in Hulhamale, Maldives

In Airports, Uncategorized
September 15, 2019
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UInn Facade

My flight was supposed to arrive at around 8 PM at Velana International Airport (also known as Malé International Airport, previously known as Ibrahim Nasir International Airport) in the Maldives so I decided to book UInn, a (relatively) budget hotel near the airport. I thought it would be difficult to transfer by ferry at night or it wouldn’t be available (but I was wrong). 

I chose UInn (or UI Hotels on the website) as it is walking distance from the beach road bus stop and the photos from Agoda made it look comfortable for an overnight stay. I also considered the free breakfast that came with a cheap price. If you plan to travel to the Maldives on a budget, you might find this post helpful.

If you wonder where Hulhamale or this hotel is on the Maldives map, here, I took a screenshot from Google Maps:

Where is Hulhamale?

The red dot is the area around which (based on my estimate) my hotel is located. The elongated part on the left is the airport.

Below, I zoomed it so you can see better…

Maldives airport and hulhamale

I know I can walk to the hotel as I managed to walk 5 km in my father’s place a couple of years ago but I don’t think that the airport staff/ security would let me or anyone get through so yeah the only way to get to the “downtown” from the airport is by airport shuttle.

You can also take a taxi to the hotel that would cost 7-15 USD per person depending on your arrangement.

MTCC airport bus to Hulhamale

To get to Hulhumale from the Velana International Airport (also known as Male International Airport, previously known as Ibrahim Nasir International Airport), simply board the shuttle bus that departs every 30 minutes from the bus stop beside KFC. The fare costs MVR 20 or about 2USD.

Apparently, the Hulhamale shuttle bus runs 24/7 at a 30-minute interval. So, I don’t think it’s necessary to take a taxi.

You can see from the photo above, the shuttle is like a deluxe Fivestar bus in my country (minus the lavatory). But, yeah, if you prefer taking a taxi, then go for it!

Hulhamale Airport Shuttle Bus Schedule

UInn cost me Php2207.62 per night. The amount I paid via Agoda included 12% hotel tax and 10% service charge. Today, I CHECKED, THERE IS AN AWESOME DEAL IF YOU BOOK WITH AGODA: Php1,278 with free breakfast, also free cancellation!!!

Some photos I took from the hotel premise:

Entrance to UInn
UInn front desk
At the Groud floor lobby of UInn… this area is open for 24hrs and serves Western, Maldivian and Asian Cuisines. The coffee shop specialises in blended coffee, Soft-Drinks, Fresh Juices and Malt Drinks
My coffee for breakfast at UInn
I love this breakfast from UInn
Painting on the wall, UInn Hulhamale
Another painting here at UInn, Hulhamale
Lots of books to read… you can borrow any.. just tell the staff
Souvenirs you can buy from UInn Hulhamale
UInn’s Open-air terrace overviewing the Hulhamale beach 
You can also book beachfront hotels in Hulhamale.. the cost is, as you can expect, higher
This is a love rock or what? Look at the sand at Hulhamale beach
Me playing on Hulhamale beach

If you are planning to stay for a few days, UInn offers exciting excursions like day visit to 5star Resorts (like Club Med or Centara), Whale Submarine Dive, Island Picnic, Dolphin Cruise, Snorkeling, Diving, Night Fishing, Seaplane trips, local island-hopping etc..

At the hotel, you can also arrange for a romantic BBQ dinner at the UInn open-view terrace or even movie watching.

What I did during my short stay here was to snorkel and play on the beach.

UInn Tour Packages

You can check their complete tour package list here.

  • [message]
    • What I recommend:
      • Maldives Honeymoon Package (325USD/pax2 Night Stay
        1 Night in Luxury Resort Island
        Half-Board Meal
        Beach Candle Light Dinner
        Guided City Tour
        Honeymoon Bed Decoration
        All Transport

        Maldives Resort Trip Package (250USD/pax)3 Nights Stay
        Half Board Meal Plan
        Full-day Trip to Resort island With Lunch
        Resort Swimming Pool Access
        Resort Water villa Area Access
        Beach Candle Light Dinner
        All Transport

Parting Words

UI Inn lived up to expectation for its price. The room is clean. The bed is comfortable. There is a hot shower (thank God!!!). I could drink unlimited coffee at the pantry (thanks to the kind people at the reception)! The breakfast is not much but very tasty. The complimentary coffee drink for breakfast is interesting. The hotel staff are accommodating. It is accessible via Hulhamale Airport Shuttle. And it is a short walk to the beach. Overall, I am happy and satisfied. I recommend this hotel for those who want or need to stay in Hulhamale. Imagine if you could book this with almost a Php1000 (20USD) discount… It’ll be even better!

What do you think about this hotel? Do you want to stay here? Have you been to the Maldives? Do you know that you can travel around the Maldives on a budget? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Author

Erica Poyauan

Erica is a former PR pro turned entrepreneur. Her greatest joys are family, blogging, music, skin care and social justice. As a Muay Thai enthusiast, Erica prides herself on working with increased focus, humility and diligence. She believes in living a fit life doing everything with a flair of creativity and love! Stalk her social channels @thegirlwiththemujihat

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Gardens and backyards are some of the most underutilized spaces that we have. Far too many people neglect their use and there are a couple of reasons why. For starters, people have this idea that you have to invest a lot of time to make your garden look great. While it’s true that the more time you spend the better your garden will look, it doesn’t mean that you need to dedicate hours of your day every week just to make it look nice.

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Garden furniture

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Garden furniture doesn’t need to be simple and basic anymore. It can be incredibly comfortable, it can be colored to your liking, and it can look like proper furniture that you would find indoors.

Hardscaping additions

Hardscaping generally refers to any structure that is made specifically with landscaping in mind. For example, it could include the use of gravel and stones to make paths, it could be decking, it could be a patio; these are things that involve hard materials to shape the overall design and feel of your garden.

Hardscaping can be seen as an expensive investment, but it’s something that is well worth your money because of how it defines your garden. If you think of your garden as a very malleable environment with endless possibilities, hardscaping helps to literally define boundaries that you can work in. This makes your garden look much more organized and it adds a sense of luxury assuming you use the right materials.

Garden privacy

Privacy is essential for most families. Building a fence around your garden is usually enough, but the way the fence is presented can also make a difference to the overall look and feel of your garden. A fence with no thought put into it can look out of place and ruin the work that you’ve put into making your garden look nice, so consider the materials that you have available to you and also color options.

So if you want to protect your privacy but still have your garden look great, then take a look at more fencing options and make sure you maintain it as well. While a beautiful fence can look great for the first few weeks, it can quickly look run-down if you don’t keep up with maintenance.

Parting Words

If you are ready to give your garden a makeover, consider the valuable investments that we listed above. These garden investments will not only make your outdoor space look fantastic, they will enable you to spend more time enjoying your outdoor sanctuary as well!

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