Can you reach a Maldives resort by public ferry instead of paying for a hotel transfer?

For Ellaidhoo, the transfer must be arranged with the resort when booking; boat and seaplane options are available. Confirm the current price with the hotel or booking provider.

Even if a resort is located nearby, local boats and budget tour vessels do not dock there. Resorts are private islands, and no public transport serves them. The only way to arrive is via the resort's own arranged transfer.

Trying to save money by taking a local ferry won't work — public ferries run between inhabited local islands, not resort islands. The resort simply won't receive an unofficial vessel.

Public ferries in the Maldives are cheap but only connect inhabited local islands, not resort islands. If you want to save on transfers, the only realistic option is to stay at a guesthouse on a local island (such as Maafushi or Dhigurah), which public ferries actually serve.