You’ve booked your Maldives resort and your flights. Now you can put your wallet away, right?
Probably not.
While you may have booked an incredible all-inclusive stay at your resort, there may still be some things you’ll need to pay for.
Even if you haven’t book an all-inclusive stay, it’s still nice to know what you may need to pay for in order to set your budget for your Maldives trip. It is really easy to spend in the Maldives, and we all know it’s not growing on trees.
Our family has traveled to the Maldives a few times and based on our time in the country, these are the hidden costs that can sneak up on you on a trip to the Maldives.
Before I list them, keep in mind:
- Some of these are optional (you don’t need a waterproof camera).
- All resorts are different. For example, you may be on an all-inclusive plan that includes all meals, plus daily mini bar restocks and a complimentary excursion. At another resort, the mini bar may not be included in the all-inclusive plan.
- Resorts sometimes change what’s included. This is sometimes seasonal, and sometimes the resort changes its policy.
Hidden Costs You May Find on Your Maldives Trip
Transfers from Malé to Your Resort
When you land in Malé, you’ll need to have transport to your island resort.
Depending on your resort’s location, your options may include:
- speedboat
- domestic flight + speedboat
- seaplane
Seaplane flights can be over $1000 roundtrip per person (luckily, kids 11 and under usually get a discount)!
Depending on how you booked your trip, your transport may be included in your total price. Or, you may need to book your transport directly with your resort.
Meals, Depending on Your Meal Plan
When you book your resort, you’ll typically book one of the following meal plans for your stay:
- B&B (bed and breakfast)
- Half-board (typically breakfast and dinner)
- Full-board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- All-inclusive, aka AI (typically breakfast, lunch, dinner, and beverages)
Good To Know: All-inclusive plans often include mini bars with daily restocks, excursions, or spa services.
If, for example, you book a resort stay with a B&B meal plan, you’ll need to purchase your other meals. To give you an idea of costs, while staying at Ayada as a group of 6, our buffet lunches were typically around $400 (we were on the all-inclusive plan but had to sign the bill at the end of the meal). Meals at these rates add up quickly! And, drinks are expensive too. Expect to spend ~$20 for a glass of wine and more for fancy cocktails.
Mini Bar Drinks & Snacks
Even if you’ve signed up for the all-inclusive plan at your resort, your mini bar drinks and snacks may not be included. Or, parts of the mini bar may not be included.
Tip: If you want to keep away from a not-included mini bar and its charges, bring a few snacks from home. You can’t just skip over to the convenience store if you’re having a craving.
Green Tax
Maldives resorts are required to collect a green tax that’s used for environmental and sustainability projects in the country.
The green tax is $12 per person, per day. Children under 2 are exempt.
Service Taxes & Fees
Your $100 massage will cost more than $100.
A 10% service charge will be added to the total. This charge will be divided amongst the staff at the resort.
A 17% tourism goods and services tax will be added to the total.
This will bring the massage total to $127.
Good To Know: These are the rates for the service charge and the goods and services taxes at the time of writing. They are subject to increases.
Sometimes resorts include the taxes in the total, but often they list the price with a ‘++.’ For example, the massage mentioned above would be listed as $100++.
Excursions & Water Sports
Examples of excursions in the Maldives:
- snorkeling or scuba diving in a nearby reef (or two!)
- sunset cruise
- dolphin search
- snorkeling with manta rays or turtles
- deserted island picnic
- local island visit
- traditional fishing
Sometimes an excursion or two is included in an all-inclusive stay. Often, you’ll need to pay for them.
Likewise for water sports. Non-motorized water sports like SUPs or kayaks may be available for free (double-check), while motorized water sports are typically chargeable.
Tip: If you want to take a diving course at your Maldives resort, check to see if the dive center will let you complete the theory sections online before you arrive. This will save you time and $.
Tips
Like everywhere in the world, tipping can be controversial.
Tipping in the Maldives is not required, but it is certainly appreciated.
There are a couple of ways to tip, if you decide to do so:
- tip after each service or meal when you sign the bill
- tip at the end of your stay
Remember: You are also paying a 10% service fee on your bill for meals, excursions, spa experiences, etc. This fee is divided amongst resort staff.
What We Do: Having worked in the tourism industry, I do tip. I typically tip for excursions or massages after the service when I sign the bill. For restaurants and individuals, I tip at the end of our stay.
Premium Alcohol & Premium Dishes
Even if you’ve booked all-inclusive, be on the lookout for ‘special’ dishes at restaurants or alcholic drinks that have a surcharge.
For example, a high-end champagne will likely cost more, or a lobster dish at a restaurant will include a surcharge. Make sure everyone in your group knows this and understands this (speaking from experience!).
You may also have the option to visit restaurants and receive a credit. For example, your all-inclusive plan may not include the Thai restaurant at your resort, but if you’d like to dine there, you’ll receive a $50 credit per person for your meal. This is also common for special dinners like weekly beach barbecues.
Holiday Celebration Meals
If you’ll be visiting over a holiday, you will most likely pay a mandatory supplement for the holiday celebration meal.
Here are a few examples of holidays that typically include a mandatory meal:
- Christmas
- New Year’s
- Easter
- Lunar New Year
The supplement could range from $150-400, or more.
Water
I’ve yet to face this ‘extra’ at a Maldives resort, and to be honest, it would probably put me off of booking a resort if I knew I’d be charged for water at meals or in the room.
But, it does happen, and they aren’t $1 bottles of water. In the toasty Maldives, you’ll be drinking plenty of water, so if you need to pay for water, it will add up!
Spa Treatments
Often, Maldives resorts will have a couple of free options if you want to experience the spa area:
- Complimentary treatments offered by the resort as part of an all-inclusive plan or a special booking package. We’ve been offered a spa facial for each adult at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi and a massage at Ayada Maldives.
- Free areas of the spa. Your resort may have a sauna or relaxation area open to all guests. My husband and I loved the free sauna and cold pool area at Emerald Faarufushi.
In-Room Dining
We haven’t used room service, but if you want a private dining experience in your room, you’ll need to pay for it.
This could be a dinner on your outdoor patio or the oft-photographed floating breakfast in your villa’s pool.
Extra Activities at the Kids Club
Each kids club we’ve used has had excellent activities for the kids, and they’ve been included.
However, there are sometimes activities that have a surcharge, like t-shirt painting, banana boat rides, or marine life courses.
Good To Know: So far, Ayada has been our favorite kids club for extra free activities. For example, our kids tried surfing, kayaking, mocktail making, for no additional charge. Those activities would have been chargeable at many Maldives kids clubs.
Traveling With a Baby or Toddler?: Some kids clubs charge a babysitting fee for the youngest guests.
Maldives-Specific Gear, Equipment, & Clothing
You may need or want to invest in the following before you arrive in the Maldives:
- Go-pro or underwater camera. If you want to document your shark, ray, and fish encounters in the Maldives, look into purchasing a camera that can go underwater. And, make sure you have all charging equipment and you know how it works before you get to the Maldives! We have a GoPro HERO 12 and it’s been fun for all of us. We also have ‘the handler,’ a floating grip. I’m definitely not a pro at underwater filming, but we love looking through the photos and videos.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, swim shirts / rash guards.
- Clothing you’ll want for your trip. We don’t make any additional clothing purchases, but we see plenty of elaborate, well-thought out outfits at dinners and around the resorts. If you want epic Maldives photos, your clothing may be an extra purchase.
Check Out: For more packing info, check out my Maldives Family Packing List.
Tips for Saving on Maldives Hidden Costs
- Consider all ways you can book your trip. Look at Maldives specialist travel agents, travel consolidators (give examples), and booking directly. I’ve used all three options and will continue to research all three each time we’re looking at going to the Maldives. You may find that if you book directly, you’ll get two excursions included. Or, if you book through an agent, your seaplane is included in the rate.
- Do the math. If your group doesn’t drink alcohol, you may be better off with an option like full-board over all-inclusive. Or, you may be fine having a hearty breakfast at the buffet and an early dinner (half-board plan) over the all-inclusive option.
- Remove temptation. If you know you’re a 3:00pm salty snacker, bring a few tubes of Pringles or some peanuts and ask the resort to remove the tempting items from your minibar.
- Take advantage of the free options. Kayaking in the Maldives is amazing and is a great substitute for pricey jet-skiing. The house reef at Ayada is incredible, and although I loved the snorkeling excursions I took while there, I would’ve been just as happy exploring the free house reef.
Be sure to check out all of my Maldives posts:
Maldives with Kids – How to Plan the Perfect Trip
7 Reasons to Book a Family Trip to the Maldives
6 Helpful Tips for Your First Visit to the Maldives with Kids
30+ Maldives Family-Friendly Resorts – Compared by a Mom (Includes Table & Notes)
How Many Days to Spend in the Maldives
Family Packing List for the Maldives
Maldives with a Baby – Yes or No?
Maldives with Teens
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Review – Family Paradise in the Maldives
Emerald Faarufushi Review – Our Experience
Where to Eat at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi with Kids
Overwater Villa or Beach Villa – Choosing One for Your Maldives Family Trip
Family-Specific Questions to Ask Your Maldives Resort – Before You Book
Taking a Seaplane in the Maldives
Tips for Taking a Seaplane with Kids
Hidden Costs of a Maldives Trip
Free Things to Do in the Maldives (at a Resort)
Maldives Regrets – From Resort Choices to Packing Mistakes
Books to Read Before Heading to the Maldives (for Kids)
What to Do on a Rainy Day in the Maldives
Reef-Safe Sunscreens for the Maldives
Maldives Resorts with Water Slides
Maldives Resort Back-Of-House-Tour Questions
