Short answer: In the Maldives, every resort is its own private island, so “all-inclusive” means choosing an island and a meal plan together. The easiest all-inclusives to reach are in North and South Malé Atoll (Kaafu), a speedboat ride from the airport, and they suit short stays, families and first-timers; Ari Atoll, Raa, Noonu and Lhaviyani are a seaplane flight away and suit couples, divers and longer stays. Most resorts sell several meal plans, from bed and breakfast to full board, and a smaller group sells all-inclusive or premium all-inclusive as the main way to stay, so always check what your plan covers before you compare prices.
Alcohol is served only at resorts and on licensed boats in the Maldives, and you will eat every meal on your resort island unless you pay for an excursion, which is why all-inclusive is so popular here. This guide explains how the plans work, which atolls suit whom, and a short list of all-inclusive resorts by type, as of October 2026. For the full picture of what a trip costs, see How Much Does a Trip to the Maldives Cost?
How all-inclusive works in the Maldives
Maldives resorts usually quote rooms on one of these meal plans. The names are standard, but what sits inside each one changes from resort to resort:
- BB (bed and breakfast): breakfast only; every other meal and drink is charged.
- HB (half board): breakfast and dinner; lunch and drinks extra.
- FB (full board): three meals a day; drinks are usually extra, sometimes with water or soft drinks at meals.
- AI (all-inclusive): meals plus a list of house drinks, often at set bars and hours, and some non-motorized activities.
- Premium AI: resorts give it their own names (Platinum, Premium All Inclusive, 24/7, WOW). It typically adds premium spirits and wines, more restaurants, 24-hour service, and sometimes a set number of excursions, dives or spa minutes.
Usually not included, even on AI: premium bottles of wine and champagne, some à la carte or signature restaurants (often with a supplement), spa treatments, scuba diving, motorized water sports such as jet skis, private excursions and sandbank dinners, and in-villa dining. Read the plan’s PDF on the resort’s site; the line “not included” is where the differences are.
Taxes and charges: Maldives rates are usually quoted before tax. Most resorts add a 10% service charge, then the tourism goods and services tax (T-GST) of 17% (since 1 July 2025) is charged on top, so the two together add about 29% to the quoted rate. On top of that comes the green tax: US$12 per person per night at resorts since 1 January 2025, with children under 2 exempt. Check whether the price you are shown is “plus taxes” or “inclusive”; booking sites and resorts do both.
Transfers: every resort guest needs a boat or plane from Velana International Airport near Malé. Resorts in North and South Malé Atoll use speedboats; resorts in the outer atolls use seaplanes or a domestic flight plus a speedboat. Transfers are booked and charged by the resort and are usually not part of the meal plan, though some resorts run offers that include them. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so a late-evening international arrival can mean a night near the airport before the transfer.
Where to stay: the main resort areas
North and South Malé Atoll (Kaafu)
The resort islands around the capital are the closest to the airport, from about 15 minutes to an hour or so by speedboat, so you lose no time on transfers and avoid seaplane costs. They suit short stays, families with small children, surfers (the best-known breaks are in North Malé) and anyone arriving late. The sea between islands can be choppy on windy days, but house reefs and lagoons are on your doorstep. See our Kaafu Atoll guide.
Ari Atoll
West of Malé, Ari is reached by seaplane in roughly half an hour, or by domestic flight to Maamigili plus a boat for the south. It suits divers and snorkelers: the South Ari Marine Protected Area is known for whale sharks all year. Expect calm lagoons inside the atoll and stronger currents on the channels. See our Ari Atoll guide.
Baa and Raa Atolls
North of Malé, Baa and its neighbor Raa are about 45 minutes by seaplane, or a domestic flight to Dharavandhoo plus a boat. Baa is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and home to Hanifaru Bay, where manta rays gather to feed from about June to October. These atolls suit couples, honeymooners and snorkelers who want a quieter island. See our Baa Atoll guide.
Noonu and Lhaviyani Atolls
Further north, these atolls are a seaplane flight of roughly 30 to 45 minutes. Some of the country’s largest all-inclusive islands are here, with long beaches, many restaurants and plenty of activities, so they suit families and groups who want variety over a week or more, as well as divers.
All-inclusive resorts by type
These resorts all sell an all-inclusive or premium all-inclusive plan, according to their own websites or Visit Maldives. Details are as the resorts describe them in October 2026; plans, venues and transfer times change, so check before you book. TravelerCenter is not paid by any resort for these listings; we chose them by area and type.
Adults-only
Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives (North Malé Atoll). Adults only: the resort accepts guests over 18. It sells an all-inclusive plan and has beach and overwater villas, some with swirl pools and sunset-facing decks. Dining includes Oceans (international), Al Khaimah (Middle Eastern), Suan Bua (Thai) and La Brezza (Italian), plus three bars, among them a pool bar. Suits couples who want a short speedboat transfer.
You & Me Maldives (Raa Atoll). An adults-only island for couples, friends and solo travelers, about 45 minutes by seaplane from the airport. Its Premium All-Inclusive plan uses a “dine around” system: lunch and dinner at the à la carte restaurants, including teppanyaki, Italian and a beachfront grill. The one exception is H2O, a fully submerged underwater restaurant that is not part of the dine-around. A distinctive touch: waterslides that drop you straight into the lagoon. Villas come with private pools.
Family-friendly
Club Med Kani (North Malé Atoll). Built for families, about 25 minutes by boat from the airport, with the boat transfer arranged by the resort. Club Med’s all-inclusive covers meals and snacks, open-bar drinks, non-motorized water sports, fitness classes and evening entertainment; premium excursions, spa and overwater suite upgrades cost extra. Kids’ clubs cover every age from babies to 17, in separate groups. The island has a two-kilometer private beach and, unusually, a flying trapeze.
Siyam World (Noonu Atoll). A big, activity-packed island about 45 minutes by seaplane, sold on a “24/7 WOW All Inclusive” plan. It lists a kids’ club, family accommodation including multi-bedroom beach residences and overwater villas with slides, more than 20 dining venues, and an adults-only pool bar. Distinctive features: what it calls the Maldives’ largest floating water park and the country’s first in-resort horse ranch. Suits families with older children and groups.
Kuredu Island Resort & Spa (Lhaviyani Atoll). A large island reached by seaplane, with an all-inclusive package, about 3.5 km of beach, 389 rooms, several buffet and à la carte restaurants (including the 5.8 Undersea Restaurant) and nine bars. It is split by age: the main area is for all ages, O Resort is for guests 12 and over and Sangu for 15 and over, so families and couples each get their own corner. It also has a six-hole golf course and an on-site dive center with 60-plus dive sites. Suits families and divers.
Luxury and premium all-inclusive
Lily Beach Resort & Spa (Huvahendhoo, South Ari Atoll). About 25 minutes by seaplane, sold on its “All-Inclusive Platinum Plan”, which includes unlimited premium drinks from all outlets and three excursions per person per stay. Villas run from beach villas to overwater and family villas, and dining includes buffets, Asian fusion and teppanyaki. It also has the Turtle Kids’ Club, so it suits both couples and families who want a higher-end plan near South Ari’s whale shark area.
Sun Siyam Olhuveli (South Malé Atoll). About 45 minutes by speedboat, spread across three connected islands with 438 rooms and villas and more than 20 dining and drinking venues, sold on a 24/7 All Inclusive package. The resort describes its pool as the longest in the Maldives, and its dive center has more than 50 sites to explore. Suits couples and families who want premium all-inclusive without a seaplane.
Good value and easy transfers
A speedboat transfer generally costs less than a seaplane, so all-inclusives in Kaafu Atoll help keep the total down. Two long-standing options:
Meeru Maldives Resort Island (Meerufenfushi, North Malé Atoll). About 55 minutes by speedboat, on a large island (about 1,200 by 350 meters) with 282 rooms, an “All Inclusive Plus” option, four restaurants, several bars, two pools including a children’s pool, a kids’ club and an overwater spa. Suits families and couples who like a big island with room to walk.
Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi (Lhohifushi, Kaafu Atoll). Reached by speedboat from the airport, with a Premium All Inclusive package that the resort says gives 24-hour access to dining, drinks, activities and excursions. The island is known for its giant banyan trees, and villas range from garden to beachfront and overwater. The resort describes itself as a family island.
When to go
December to April, the dry northeast monsoon, brings sunny days, calm seas and the clearest water; February is the driest month. It is also peak season, and Christmas, New Year and February are the most expensive weeks. May to November, the southwest monsoon, is wetter and windier but cheaper, and the best resort deals usually come in June, September and October. That season also brings the manta rays to Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll and the best surf around Malé. There is no bad month for whale sharks in South Ari. For a month-by-month guide, see the best time to visit the Maldives, and check the forecast for your dates with our Destination weather tool.
All-inclusive or not?
On a resort island there is no restaurant next door, so the usual “eat out to save money” logic does not apply. All-inclusive makes sense if you drink alcohol or soft drinks through the day, if you are traveling with children who snack, or if you simply want a fixed budget with no bill at checkout. Premium plans that bundle excursions can be good if you would book those trips anyway.
Half or full board is often better value if you drink little, plan to spend days on paid excursions or diving, or stay at a resort with only one or two restaurants, where a plan offers little variety. Staying on a local island guesthouse is another route: meals cost far less in local cafés, but there is no alcohol on inhabited islands, and you can buy a resort day pass for a taste of resort life.
Plan your trip: see the top places to visit in the Maldives to choose your atoll, our Maldives itinerary for splitting a stay between two islands, compare hotel prices for your dates, and let our AI trip planner build the days around your resort. Our packing list tool helps with the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Are there adults-only all-inclusive resorts in the Maldives?
Yes. Examples include Centara Ras Fushi in North Malé Atoll, which accepts guests over 18 and is a short speedboat ride away, and You & Me Maldives in Raa Atoll, about 45 minutes by seaplane. Some large family resorts, such as Kuredu, also have separate areas with age limits.
Is all-inclusive worth it in the Maldives?
Often, yes, because you cannot eat anywhere except your resort, and drinks are charged at resort prices plus service charge and T-GST. It is less worth it if you drink little or plan to be out diving and on excursions most days; then half or full board can cost less.
Do all-inclusives in the Maldives include tips and taxes?
Check the quote. Most resorts add a 10% service charge and 17% T-GST to the rate, plus a green tax of US$12 per person per night. Some prices are shown “inclusive” and some “plus taxes.” Because of the service charge, extra tipping is optional, though many guests leave something for their room host or dive guide.
Are seaplane transfers included in all-inclusive packages?
Usually not. Transfers are booked through the resort and charged separately, though some resorts run offers that include them for longer stays. Seaplanes fly only in daylight, so check your arrival time before choosing an outer-atoll resort.
Which area is best for families?
North and South Malé Atoll, for the short speedboat transfer, which matters with small children and late flights; Club Med Kani and Meeru are two examples with kids’ clubs. Families with older children who want lots to do may prefer the big activity islands of Noonu and Lhaviyani, such as Siyam World and Kuredu.
Can you drink alcohol at Maldives resorts?
Yes. Alcohol is served at resorts and on licensed boats, but not on inhabited local islands. That is one reason all-inclusive plans with drinks are popular here.