Best Place to Stay in Ukulhas, Maldives: West Sands (Discount Code Inside!)

Up until recently, even thinking along the lines of “affordable” and “budget” in the same breath as “Maldives” was unimaginable for me. Maldives is, after all, the epitome of luxury, of spending big bucks to travel in seaplanes, live in water villas, have floating breakfasts, and sip on margaritas in infinity pools…right? Well, not entirely. While this has largely been the image of Maldives for a very long time now, the masses are slowly opening up to the idea that you do not need a very deep pocket to experience Maldives. This is mainly thanks to the change in regulation in 2009 where affordable stays in Maldives were finally allowed on the local islands, instead of the ‘resorts on private islands’ only policy. Ever since, finding the best place stay in Ukulhas, Maldives especially on a budget has become an achievable dream.

That being said, there are 187 inhabited local islands in the Maldives. So how does one, then, choose the best local island in Maldives to visit, or the best places to stay in Maldives on a budget? I for one, love Ukulhas, and within a span of two months, I have already been here twice! It’s a great local island because of the best place to stay in Ukulhas, many restaurant options to choose from, beachside shacks to laze around and a lot of activities to do. This is unlike many other local islands which are made solely for scuba diving in Maldives purposes and don’t have facilities to cater to other tourists.

West Sands – Best Place to Stay in Ukulhas

On my second visit to the Maldives, I decided to stay at West Sands in Ukulhas. This is truly the best place to stay in Ukulhas and screams affordable luxury Maldives.

My journey with West Sands, the best place to stay in Ukulhas, began one late evening when my Ukulhas ferry arrived at the island later than usual because of a rainstorm and massive swells in the ocean. As it poured incessantly, the manager at West Sands, Hardy, came to pick me up at the ferry harbour in the hotel buggy. It was already dark and I couldn’t really see much of this Maldives hotel but one thing that I could register as I checked in at night was that the beach was right beside the hotel. I didn’t go around at all that evening, just peacefully slept to the sound of the ocean in my giant comfy room, preparing to explore the best place to stay in Ukulhas, Maldives

West Sands Ukulhas – Affordable Luxury Maldives

As I woke up the next morning, I finally got the chance to experience the room I was staying in, in all its glory. I was very generously put in the “Grand Jacuzzi Suite” at West Sands. It’s the only room of its kind at the hotel and I mean it when I say, it is to date, the best room I have ever stayed in.

I was awakened by the glorious sun flooding the room in its warm embrace – a beautiful memo that last night’s storm had finally passed. With a window above my king-size bed, and a massive balcony overlooking the Indian Ocean in front, it was quite the glamourous awakening, I must admit. West Sands is, after all, the best place to stay in Ukulhas – and not without reason!

I fixed myself a cup of coffee from the counter in my room and decided to step out into the balcony to get some morning sun. The balcony is beautifully done with wooden panels. What I loved was that even when out on the balcony, it felt like I was in my own private oasis because the massive palm and other trees completely hide you away from the rest of the world.

I finished my cup of coffee lounging on the swing set up on the balcony and made plans to prepare myself a bath in the jacuzzi after my snorkelling session at the beach located right across from the hotel – which was actually visible from my balcony!

Another reason why I call West Sands the best place to stay in Ukulhas is its open shower. Before I got dressed, I treated myself to a cold shower as I was warmed by the sun overhead. No roof, just the vast open sky and me.

Imagine having mornings like this every day on your vacation to the Maldives. It still feels unreal that I experienced all this and more, courtesy of West Sands, the best place to stay in Ukulhas.

Want the sweetest deal at the best place to stay in Ukulhas?
Book your stay at West Sands directly here and use my code AVANTIKA50 for a 50% discount on your booking!

West Sands Ukulhas – Fisherman’s Boat Restaurant

My quaint mornings at West Sands were followed by a lavish breakfast spread at their in-house restaurant, Fisherman’s Boat. The restaurant features a traditional Maldivian wooden fisherman boat which doubles as the buffet table where the food is laid out. They have the usual continental food for breakfast – toast, cereal, sausages, eggs, cake, coffee, juice and the like. But the showstopper used to be the traditional Maldivian breakfast dishes they served. This includes mas huni – or minced meat (most often tuna) prepared with onions, chili and shredded coconut. It is traditionally served with roshi – or roti/ flatbread and a bowl of dal and sometime tharukaaree riha – or vegetable curry consisting of pumpkin, potatoes, beans, carrot etc cooked in a coconut milk-based gravy.

I would devour this incredible breakfast each morning before heading to the beach located right across from the hotel for my daily snorkel session.

West Sands otherwise have a very extensive menu consisting of Italian, Thai, Maldivian and even Indian dishes. My favourite part of each meal, however, was the variety of desserts I was fed. A new dessert for each meal throughout my 5 days at the restaurant, would you believe it! The chef could whip up some serious decadent sweets. My absolute favourites were the semolina pudding, caramel pudding, coffee brulee, and the three-layer berry pudding. There’s a lot more of what I ate but this is a post about the best place to stay in Ukulhas and not the best desserts in Ukulhas. (I mean, it could be both!)

Another thing worth noting is the variety of soups they serve here, with so many vegetarian options as well. There were some that I had for the very first time and can’t wait to have more of. My top picks are carrot soup, potato soup and onion soup. Big props to the West Sands head chef!

Best Affordable Stay in Maldives: West Sands Activities

And while I slept like a baby and ate like a hog during my five days at West Sands, the best place to stay in Ukulhas, I did a lot more too. West Sands is the best place to stay in Ukulhas, Maldives. They have their own small speedboat that can take you far into the sea for a variety of activities. Here are my top picks:

Manta Ray Excursion

One reason to choose Ukulhas over other local islands is that a place called “Manta Point” is located just a 15-minute boat ride away from the island. The good folks at West Sands took me out one bright morning in hopes to spot these majestic ocean creatures. And we did. Not one, but three glorious manta rays dancing and twirling in front of me, feeding on plankton and just being their usual breathtaking selves.

It was my first time ever seeing manta rays and this experience is definitely one for the books. I had goosebumps at the first sight and my mask was flooded by my own tears as I watched their dance go on endlessly. Manta rays might as well be my favourite ocean creatures. You must not miss this one. Most definitely not!

Sand Bank Visit

Sandbanks are incredible phenomena that occur quite commonly all around the Maldives. These are random patches of sand appearing bang in the middle of the ocean. They are just the perfect spot to relax, have a picnic, sunbathe and snorkel.

The folks at the West Sands Ukulhas Guesthousepitched a beach umbrella in the middle of this sand island where I would come and rest every now and then after my endless swim sessions in the crystal clear blue waters that surrounded the sand bank.

What’s even better is that the boatman, Rifis, doubled as a photographer and took some wonderful shots of me here. So if you’re looking for some photo ops for your Maldivian getaway, book a sand bank trip with West Sands for sure!

Snorkel Safari

West Sand Ukulhas Guest House’s Snorkel Safari is the perfect way to get the most out of the ocean while visiting the best place to stay in Ukulhas. They take you to three different reefs – each better than the last – where you can jump in and admire the world that lives and thrives below the surface. It’s a magical experience honestly and you have the chance to spot some bright colourful reef fish, as well as bigger creatures like stingrays and sometimes even (harmless) sharks!

Snorkelling at Turtle Point

The turtle point is located right across from West Sands, the best place to stay in Ukulhas. As the name suggests, three resident turtles live here and are incredibly easy to spot. The best part is, this activity is DIY and free of cost – unless, of course, you decide to do a guided snorkel trip which West Sands can provide.

There are a bunch of other activities that West Sands

provide but I couldn’t experience them myself. But I think they are worth mentioning anyway:

• Whaleshark Expedition
• Desserted Island Picnic
• Sport Fishing

Quick Tips for Visiting the Best Affordable Stay in Maldives

• The speedboat from Male to Ukulhas Island costs 50 USD and takes 2 hours. Ask West Sands Ukulhas Guest House to book your tickets for the Ukulhas ferry from Male to Ukulhas!
• Maldives is an Islamic nation and all local islands are dry – meaning no alcohol allowed.
• West Sands is located on the Ukulhas tourist beach where you can wear a bikini. Anywhere else, on the public beaches, please be dressed modestly.
• There are a lot of general stores for snacks and souvenir shops for…well, souvenirs.
• US Dollars are excepted widely. The local currency is Maldivian Rufiyaa.

Book your stay at West Sands directly here and use my code AVANTIKA50 for an additional 50% discount on your booking!

Best Place to Stay in Ukulhas – FAQs

Is Ukulhas a good island?

Ukulhas is definitely one of the best local islands in Maldives. It has a beautiful house reef and some of the best hotels in the Maldives. West Sands is the best place to stay in Ukulhas, located right on the beach with affordable luxury Maldives amenities.

Is Ukulhas a local island?

Yes, Ukulhas is a local island. Local islands make for a far better and more affordable alternative to the expensive resort islands. Staying at local islands gives you access to cheap stays in the Maldives. West Sands is the best place to stay in Ukulhas. The best value for money in Maldives is West Sands Ukulhas Hotel. To get the cheapest possible deal, book with them directly here and use my code AVANTIKA50 for an additional 50% discount on your booking!

Where is Ukulhas located?

Ukulhas is located in the North Ari Atoll of the Maldives, about 75 kilometers away from the capital, Male.

What is the minimum budget for Maldives trip?

The minimum budget for a Maldives trip needs to be 600 USD (excluding flights) for a four-night vacation.

We love transparency! This trip to Ukulhas was sponsored by West Sands but the views are solely my own. I wholeheartedly recommend you to go and experience West Sands yourself <3

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