After completing the tabulation of my spending breakdown while travelling in the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the numbers were surprising. Especially when I combined it with my spending breakdown while travelling in Nepal, one thing was made clear. The war between Ukraine and Russia is affecting travellers. The biggest expense on my trip to Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal are flights. Even when using points, the carrier surcharge has never been higher.
This is disturbing to see because using points and miles is supposed to significantly reduce the cost of flights. And compared to the general population, you can argue that I didn’t spend nearly as much as they would have. Especially since I went to three countries. This is true. Perhaps this is the new normal in the travel industry and tourists will have to deal with it moving forward.
My 7 days spending breakdown while travelling in the Maldives
- Seaplane from Male to Le Meridien resort – $188.10 USD per person ($243.40 CAD – it’s supposed to be $420 USD per person but I used my Scotia Scene+ points to reduce the cost significantly)
- Flight from Sri Lanka to the Maldives – $149.44 USD per person ($193.38 CAD) + 20,000 Asia Miles
- 4 days half-board meal plan – $296.96 USD ($381.80 CAD)
- Lobster dinner surcharge – $73.92 USD ($95.65 CAD)
- Somerset hotel – $86.83 USD per person ($111.76 CAD)
- Dinner at Somerset hotel – $16.87 USD per person ($21.72 CAD)
Total cost of travelling in the Maldives with flights
- $812.12 USD ($1,050.90 CAD)
The average daily cost of travelling in the Maldives with flights
- $116 USD per day ($150.11 CAD)
Total cost of travelling in the Maldives without international flights
- $662.68 USD ($857.52 CAD)
The average daily cost of travelling in the Maldives without international flights
- $94.67 USD ($122.51 CAD)
Total points and miles spent while travelling in the Maldives
- 140,000 Marriott points, 20,000 Asia Miles
After completing my spending breakdown for Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, I find it laughable that my trip to the Maldives was the cheapest. Are you kidding me? The expensive bucket list luxury destination, the Maldives, is where I spent the least amount of money?
What has the world come down to.
Of course, this is only because there are more international flight expenses going to Sri Lanka. If you take a closer look, the amount I spent is comparably similar on both countries.
My 4 days spending breakdown while travelling in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka E-Visa – 13,129.53 LKR ($47.18 CAD, $36.46 USD)
- Good Wood Hotel Sri Lanka (2 nights) – 20,707 LKR ($74.41 CAD – $148.81 CAD or $115 USD for two people)
- Transit hotel – 14,086 LKR ($50.62 CAD, $37.50 USD per person)
- Sigiriya accommodation – 8,104 LKR ($29.12, $22.50 USD)
- Hostel near the airport – 8,207 LKR ($29.49 CAD, $23 USD)
- Dambulla Cave – 7,202 LKR ($25.88 CAD, $20 USD)
- Shoes storage fee – 100 LKR ($0.36 CAD)
- Sri Lanka guide – 27,007 LKR ($97.05 CAD, $75 USD per person – $150 USD for two)
- Asian elephant safari – 10,803 LKR ($38.82 CAD, $30 USD)
- Village tour – 7,202 LKR ($25.88 CAD, $20 USD)
- Passport photo – 1,200 LKR ($4.31 CAD)
- Taxis – 2,500 LKR ($8.98 CAD)
- Food and beverage – 13,600 LKR ($48.87 CAD)
- Tips – 1,100 LKR ($3.95 CAD)
- Qatar Airways flight from Seattle to Doha to Colombo – 101,268 LKR ($363.90 CAD) + 64,500 Avios
Total cost of travelling in Sri Lanka with flights
- 236,214 LKR ($848.82 CAD)
The average daily cost of travelling in Sri Lanka with flights
- 59, 055 LKR ($212.21 CAD)
Total cost of travelling in Sri Lanka without flights
- 134,946 LKR ($484.92 CAD)
The average daily cost of travelling in Sri Lanka without flights
- 33,736 LKR ($121.23 CAD)
Total points and miles spent while travelling in Sri Lanka
- 64,500 British Airways Avios
Sri Lanka was more expensive than I thought which is shocking. Travelling in Sri Lanka is supposed to be cheap. And normally, it should be cheap. Especially if you travel there as a backpacker. I guess Karen and I decided not to do it the backpacker route since we were short on time. We ended up hiring a guide to speed up our trip to our country so we can see more in a short period of time.
The airport hotels were also not cheap. Also, because of an Air Canada blunder, we were supposed to have a transit hotel in Sri Lanka on our way to Nepal. The problem is, this hotel was non-refundable so we lost our money booking this. Regardless, I have no regrets, Sri Lanka was a pleasant surprise as far as a travel destination goes.
Conclusion
My recent trip is hands down the most expensive trip I have taken in a long time. It is only second to my big one-year around-the-world trip. However, I did get to tick off many of my extremely important bucket list travel destinations. I got to complete the Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal and I got to stay in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives.
My trip to Nepal was memorable and I absolutely loved the Maldives. I need to save up money because one day, I want to go back again.
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