The Maldives, with its idyllic white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and luxurious accommodations, stands as a quintessential destination for travelers seeking a paradisiacal escape. A pivotal decision travelers often face when planning a Maldivian getaway is choosing between an all-inclusive package at a hotel or opting for an all-inclusive resort. This choice, while seemingly simple, can significantly impact the vacation experience. Let’s delve into the key differences between these options to help you make an informed decision.

The basics: what does all-inclusive mean?

In the most basic of terms, an all-inclusive vacation typically means travelers pre-pay for their vacation that will include their food, drinks (alcohol or non-alcoholic), activities and services. In theory, an all-inclusive vacation means you could leave your trip without spending additional money during your experience.

In reality, it can be a bit complicated.

All-inclusive resorts in the Maldives

An all-inclusive resort in the Maldives is a property where all aspects of a vacation are comprehensively covered in a single upfront payment. This includes accommodation, unlimited meals and drinks, a range of recreational activities, entertainment, and even some high-end amenities like spa treatments and excursions. You typically do not need to sign bills or wait for a check at any all inclusive property. There are essentially two different types of all-inclusive resorts in the Maldives: Premium All-Inclusives and “the rest”. You will find any 5-star All-Inclusive resort will be classified as a Premium All-Inclusive.

Premium All-Inclusive resorts feature not only a buffet, but several a la carte dining options for guests to enjoy. For example, OZEN Life Maadhoo is a true premium all-inclusive resort that offers guests 3 a la carte dining options for dinner as well as 3 outlets for lunch outside of the buffet option at the resort. They even include a meal in their underwater restaurant with a wine pairing free of charge for guests who stay 4+ nights. Considering most underwater dining in the Maldives will cost you around $800 for two people, this makes for an incredible value add on any vacation.

Similarly, premium all-inclusive properties typically include the standard non-motorized water activities, snorkeling gear and the like, but will go above and beyond by including a spa treatment and excursions for guests to experience throughout their stay. For example, Pullman Maldives provides guests with a set of vouchers upon check in to redeem complimentary activities such as jet skiing, spa treatments and sunset cruises.

One thing that is important to keep in mind is transfer costs. Transfer costs are not typically included for most resorts in the Maldives, but some all-inclusive resorts do wrap that into their pricing. For example, Atmosphere hotels does include transfers in their all inclusive package, saving you $500 per person on the transfer cost alone. It’s helpful to review the terms and conditions of any all inclusive plan before committing to a hotel.

All-inclusive packages at resorts in the Maldives

The other option is purchasing an all-inclusive package at a resort that is not an all-inclusive property for all guests. Due to the remote nature of the Maldives, many hotels do offer meal plans for guests to choose from. You will typically see options for bed & breakfast, half board, full board or all-inclusive. Check out this video if you’re wondering what the difference is between these packages. 

We do receive a lot of questions about booking full board versus all-inclusive and it’s important to remember that full board typically does not include any beverages. Even if you do not drink alcohol, you may want to look at the cost difference between full board and all-inclusive if you plan to have soda, juice, mocktails or even water at some resorts. There are, of course, exceptions to this. For example, Hard Rock Maldives does include water and sparkling water during meal times only.

That being said, all-inclusive packages at luxury resorts can be a great deal. Most all-inclusive packages at 5 star resorts operate in the same way. Guests will have access to a buffet or a la carte breakfast, a la carte lunch with an allocation of 1 appetizer, 1 entree, 1 dessert and dinner with 1 appetizer, 1 entree and 1 dessert. Alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages are typically included throughout the day, not just at mealtimes for luxury resorts. Alcoholic beverages are often available on a “all-inclusive” list within the menu. For example, Park Hyatt Haadahaa offers an extensive list of all-inclusive premium drinks, including a variety of champagne and wine options for all-inclusive guests.

All-inclusive packages at non-AI resorts also typically include your minibar as well as non-motorized water sports and snorkeling gear.

Even 5 star resorts will have a number of asterisks associated with their package. For example, you will likely find asterisks next to premium dishes like caviar, lobster, certain steak options and similar items. They will often offer you 50% off if you order the speciality items. Typically, 5 star resorts will offer discounts on specialty experiences such as the Cellar Dining Experience at JA Manafaru.

Be weary of any resort that offers all-inclusive packages that do not allow you to order beverages outside of mealtimes or only offer 1 wine by the glass in the reds, rosés and whites category. Many self-classified 5 star properties will also have a number of asterisks on their menus and some will even limit your dining options to the buffet. These are typically true 3-4 star properties masquerading as 5 star and you must read the terms and conditions of the meal plan before booking.

How do you know if the all-inclusive package is a good deal?

If you are booking a resort with an all-inclusive package, there are a few things to keep in mind when evaluating if the package is worth it.

1. What does the package pricing cover?

Allow me to be the first to complain that there is not enough transparency at the resorts about what’s included in the all-inclusive plan. It blows my mind that hotels will not be more transparent and help set guests expectations correctly. If you’re look for specific hotel info, feel free to reach out to us and we can find out the real deal. If you’re simply perusing, you will typically find an info sheet (if there is one) under their “dining” tab.

For example, Velassaru has an “indulgence” plan that they detail very well:

As you can see, the all-inclusive comes with 1 appetizer, 1 entree and 1 dessert as well as the buffet breakfast that is already included. With this, you are essentially paying for lunch and dinner because breakfast is included in the base rate. 

You also do have access to any beverages on their all-inclusive list at any time during the opening hours of the outlets and are not just limited to meal times. So if you want to have that aperol spritz at sunset, feel free!

Lastly, they include snorkeling gear and 2 hours of kayaking per day. The minibar is not included.

Overall, I’d call this a solid B/B+ on the all-inclusive front in terms of inclusions.

When you look at pricing for this package, as an example, it’s important to consider that paying for lunch or dinner will be a minimum of $150 or $200 per meal for two depending on what you order. If you order wine or drinks, add $20 per drink to that. So, our rule of thumb is that if the upgrade to all-inclusive is around $200-400 per day and you plan to have drinks or three square meals a day, it could be a great option to upgrade.

Which type of all-inclusive is right for you?

At the end of the day, it will come down to what you are looking for out of vacation. If you are considering an all-inclusive experience, it is likely because you are looking to have a pressure-free vacation without worrying about a massive bill at the end your trip. It’s also likely that you like a sunset cocktail, perhaps a snack between meals and want the freedom and flexibility to do what you want, when you want.

Of course, the ultimate flexibility will come with an all-inclusive hotel and may be the perfect fit for you. That being said, there are some amazing resorts that offer all-inclusive packages that are 100% worth considering even if that means you will have a bill at the end of the trip for activities or special add-ons.

If you need some guidance or are looking for help booking, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at team@voyagerguru.com.