Hawaii or Maldives for Honeymoon? If you feel stuck in this dilemma, you are not alone. Many couples encounter this quandary while deciding on the perfect honeymoon spot.
Both of these places feature some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, making it difficult to decide which one to visit for a honeymoon, solo vacation, or family holiday. While each of these locations is an incredibly popular vacation spot, they are rather different.
In this article, I’ve compared both Hawaii and Maldives on a variety of critical aspects to help you decide which one to visit for your honeymoon or holiday.
If you are a beach lover who wants to spend an entire holiday on the beach or at a resort with a serene and romantic atmosphere, then Maldives is a better choice for your honeymoon than Hawaii. If the beach is not a priority for you and you want a little bit of culture, nightlife and numerous opportunities of adventure then pick Hawaii over Maldives.
Hawaii or Maldives for Honeymoon?
Table of Contents
Flight Price
The first prominent parameter that has a significant impact on our travel expenses is flight price.
A trip’s cost is determined by a variety of factors, including the distance between your travel destinations, the point of departure, and the airline ticket purchased.
For instance, in this circumstance, a flight ticket to the Maldives will be more expensive for Americans than a flight to Hawaii, due to the distance between the Maldives and the USA.
The table below highlights the typical cost of flying to Maldives and Hawaii from major cities worldwide.
| City | Travel class | Average travel cost | Hawaii | Maldives |
| New York | Economy Premium economy Business | 1170$ | 460$ 1000$ 2050$ | 520$ 1200$ 2800$ |
| Los Angeles | Economy Premium economy Business | 686$ | 270$ 640$ 1150$ | 530$ 1350$ 3150$ |
| Chicago | Economy Premium economy Business | 925$ | 300$ 1020$ 1450$ | 750$ 1600$ 2450$ |
| London | Economy Premium economy Business | 3155$ | 1200$ 2300$ 6000$ | 625$ 1300$ 2500$ |
| Berlin | Economy Premium economy Business | 2555$ | 1107$ 2160$ 4400$ | 480$ 950$ 2200$ |
| Paris | Economy Premium economy Business | 2800$ | 1200$ 2100$ 5100$ | 640$ 925$ 2100$ |
| Moscow | Economy Premium economy Business | 2340$ | 820$ 2400$ 3800$ | 290$ 750$ 2100$ |
| Melbourne | Economy Premium economy Business | 1475$ | 625$ 1300$ 2500$ | 580$ 970$ 3500$ |
| New Delhi | Economy Premium economy Business | 2600$ | 1300$ 2200$ 4300$ | 185$ 2355$ 650$ |
Winner: Tie, the cost of traveling to both these places depend relatively on the place you visit from and the travel class you book.
Accommodation
Another significant expense is lodging, which has a huge impact on your trip expenditures. Sometimes, lodging consumes the biggest chunk of our trip budget, and it is, therefore, vital to conduct research on lodging expenses before selecting a destination.
The expense of accommodation becomes even more crucial when planning a honeymoon trip to one of the world’s most expensive destinations, such as the Maldives or Hawaii. Because honeymoon couples frequently opt to stay in luxurious hotels.
The following table summarises the average cost of lodging in the Maldives and Hawaii.
| Places | Budget | Mid-range hotel | Villas/Luxury rooms |
| Maldives | $62 | $207 | $657 |
| Hawaii | $59 | $102 | $495 |
As expected, Maldives has expensive accommodation than Hawaii.
The Maldives is unique in that they have adopted the “one island, one resort” concept. This means that the Maldives’ islands are mostly privately owned and have only one resort. Water villas and overwater bungalows are among the world-famous accommodations available in the Maldives. As a result, the Maldives islands offer the ultimate in privacy, elegance, and serenity. The Maldives, on the other hand, lacks the variety of lodging options found in Hawaii.
When it comes to Hawaii, apart from water villas and overwater bungalows, Hawaii offers almost all kinds of accommodation options. So, Hawaii has a wide range of accommodation options than Maldives. From dorm rooms, motels to ultra-luxurious hotels, Hawaii offers all kinds of accommodation options anyone might desire!!
Even though Hawaii offers cheaper accommodation, it is still far expensive in comparison to other popular honeymoon destinations worldwide. In Hawaii, the average lodging cost is $165 per person. Even on Hilo, Hawaii’s cheapest island, it’s difficult to locate accommodations for less than $60.
Winner: Hawaii. Hawaii offers a cheaper and a wide range of accommodation options as compared to Maldives
Beaches: Which are better?
Both of these locations are home to some of the world’s most stunning beaches. They are, nevertheless, quite distinct from one another and provide completely unique experiences.
When it comes to beaches, the most apparent feature of Hawaii is its diversity. It makes no difference if you choose a red beach, a black beach, a green beach, or a white beach; Hawaii offers them all!! While the majority of the beaches on Hawaii’s main islands are typically livelier and more packed with tourists, there are still numerous beaches in Hawaii for peace and solitude seekers.
Hawaii excels not only in the variety of beaches but also in water sports activities. Hawaii is home to all kinds of water sports activities. From surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, whale watching to submarine tours, Hawaii is haven for adventure lovers.
Maldives may lack red, black, and green colored beaches, but in terms of beauty, no destination on earth can rival with Maldives (except Bora Bora). With its turquoise-blue lagoons and white sand beaches, the Maldives has some of the world’s most gorgeous beaches. The Maldives has a natural romantic aura.
Another distinguishing feature of the Maldives is that the majority of the islands are privately owned and only have one resort. Therefore, if you travel to Maldives, anticipate the ultimate in luxury, romance, and privacy.
Additionally, Maldives offers some unique fairy tale housing alternatives such as water villas and overwater bungalows that are not available in Hawaii. On the negative side, your honeymoon or vacation in Maldives will be restricted to a single resort on an island. As a result, unlike in Hawaii, you will not have the opportunity to explore multiple islands and beaches easily.
Winner: Tie, if you’re looking for adventure and want to explore different beaches, Hawaii is the place for you. If you’re seeking an unforgettable private romantic trip that combines the ultimate in luxury, solitude, and romance, look no further than the Maldives.
Culture
Maldives is not known for its culture. In fact, apart from the ocean, there is nothing much to explore in Maldives. Most of the couples who come to Maldives head directly to their resort and spend their entire honeymoon in a resort or on the beach. In other words, Maldives is a great place for romance and luxury but when it comes to exploring culture, it has little to offer.
Unlike Maldives, Hawaii offers numerous opportunities to immerse oneself in its culture. Hawaii’s history is fascinating. Hawaii was first settled by people who arrived in Hawaii around 5 AD from Polynesia and have developed their own distinct culture there since then.
Unlike Maldives, there are many interesting things to explore in Hawaii for culture lovers. You can explore Hawaii’s traditional dances and music, temples, beliefs, cultural parks, traditional food, and festivals.
Winner: Hawaii
Food
Hawaii’s food is heavily influenced by Polynesian, American, and European cultures. Fish, pork, chicken, coconut, and local vegetables are the main ingredients in Hawaii’s cuisine. Hawaii offers a diverse range of dishes, from exotic seafood to more traditional fare like fish and pig steak burgers. Poi, Laulau, and particularly the slow-cooked delicate Kalua pig are some of the best traditional Hawaiian foods that will leave you craving for more.
As a part of America, Hawaii also offers a variety of authentic American cuisines such as loco moco, bagel and lox, sausage gravy, and a variety of other dishes that will make you feel at home, particularly if you are an American.
As with lodging, eateries in Hawaii are more expensive than in other places of the world, including the Maldives.
Maldives cuisine is influenced by Indian cuisine. Its primary ingredients include fish, coconut, rice, and a variety of veggies. However, unlike Hawaii’s cuisine, Maldives cuisine is devoid of variety.
Comparison of Average Cost of food per day
| Places | Hawaii | Maldives |
| Meal for Two (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $30 | $12.32 |
| Meal for Two (Mid-range Restaurant) | $60 | $34.56 |
| Beer | $6.50 | $4.83 |
| Cappuccino | $5.67 | $2.78 |
| The average cost of food per day | $75 | $62 |
Winner: Hawaii
Safety
Hawaii is well-known for its safety as a tourism destination. Indeed, it is regarded as one of the safest neighborhoods in the United States. In Hawaii, violent crimes are quite rare. Volcanic eruptions are the sole significant threat in Hawaii, but they are also extremely rare.
Like Hawaii, Maldives is also a quiet safe honeymoon destination. Couples typically spend their whole stay in the Maldives on private islands. As a result, not only violent crimes but also minor offenses such as stealing and pickpocketing are rare in the Maldives.
Winner: Tie, both these tropical paradises are one of the safest when it comes to tourism.
Nightlife
Maldives has close to no nightlife. Maldives is not a party destination like Bali and Thailand. Most of the islands in Maldives are privately owned and have only one resort. Due to this fact, Maldives doesn’t have any big night pubs and bars. As a result, Maldives nightlife is quite relaxed.
Hawai is not a big party destination like Bali and Thailand. But it still has better nightlife than Maldives. You won’t find big nightclubs or DJs in Hawaii but you can go to various restaurants and bars to enjoy cocktails, live music, and dance programs. The island of Oahu is Hawaii’s nightlife hotspot. There are many local bars and wild dance clubs in Oahu for party animals.
Winner: Hawaii
Maldives or Hawaii for Honeymoon: Which is better?
Maldives is a far better honeymoon destination than Hawaii. Indeed, 84% of Maldives visitors come for a honeymoon. Maldives is known as one of the best romantic gateways in the world. Its spectacular beaches and breathtaking beauty set it apart from other parts of the world.
Maldives provides honeymooners with the ultimate in seclusion, romance, and serenity. Additionally, because of the Maldives’ popularity with honeymooners, its tourism industry and resorts are especially focused on the needs of honeymoon couples.
But, if a beach is not a priority for you and you want a little bit of culture and numerous adventure opportunities then Hawaii is a better place than Maldives. Hawaii has breathtaking landscapes, a lively atmosphere, and better nightlife as compared to Maldives. From lush-green forests, volcanos, to waterfalls, Hawaii offers a wide range of adventure opportunities for couples.
Winner: Maldives
Suggested Read: Bora Bora vs. Greece: Which is better for Honeymoon?
Suggested Read: Maldives vs. Greece: Which is better for Honeymoon?
Maldives or Hawaii for Family vacation: Which is better?
Hawaii is a more suitable destination for family vacations than the Maldives. Maldives is one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world, but it is not suited for a family vacation. Additionally, there is little to do in Maldives for your family other than the beach and resort. On the other hand, Hawaii is one of the world’s top family vacation destinations. Hawaii is fairly safe, has numerous family-friendly beaches, and offers a range of family-friendly activities.
Winner: Hawaii
Maldives or Hawaii for solo travelers: Which is better?
Hawaii is a much better alternative than the Maldives for solo travelers. Hawaii is an incredible location for solo travelers due to its breathtaking scenery and adventure options. You can tour the lush-green forests, volcanoes, colorful beaches, and waterfalls of Hawaii. Additionally, Hawaii boasts a more lively atmosphere and a more vibrant nightlife than the Maldives. Malidves is, once again, not an ideal destination for solo travelers. While you can go island hopping in the Maldives, the country does not offer much else.
Winner: Hawaii
Best Time to visit
From November to April is the best time to visit the Maldives. But also, this is the busiest and most expensive time of year to visit Maldives. Due to the mild and sunny climate, this time of year is great for vacation in Maldives.
March to September is the ideal period to visit Hawaii due to the little rainfall. Due to Hawaii’s year-round mild climate, any time of year is an excellent time to visit. If you want to save money on flights, June to September is the greatest time to go because airline tickets are the cheapest at this time of year.
Winner: Tie
