Yes, there are plenty of all-inclusive resorts spread throughout the 1,200 islands of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. All offer a no-hassle, all amenities included vacation with overwater bungalows, white sands, decadent amenities and that gorgeous, clear blue water you’re craving. What’s more, Maldivian resorts each have their own private island, so that secluded tropical hideaway you’ve been seeking – it’s here! Barefoot luxury, here you come.
Is it best to book an all-inclusive resort in the Maldives instead of a standard hotel?
If you have long dreamed of lazy, indulgent, sun-dappled days in the Maldives, then yes, an all-inclusive resort is the way to go. Be aware, however, that “all-inclusive” may still mean that you’re pulling out your wallet for certain extras, i.e. a scuba diving trip or tennis pro instruction. Do your research and see if your all-inclusive includes your accommodations, dining, beverages, nonmotorized watersports and some outings. The very best all-inclusive resorts in the Maldives will include additional items, like wish-fulfillment concierges, private pools, pillow menus, sunset cruises, personal butlers and even spa treatments. Choosing an all-inclusive means you won’t be nickel-and-dimed as much as you might be at a standard hotel and its certainly more hassle-free – and isn’t that why you’re here in the first place!
If you’d like to be near the airport, choose a resort near the capital of Male. It’s a nice area to get a feel for the island culture, with a history museum, an ornate mosque, plenty of dining options and a plethora of cruises, sails and dives you can do with local tour operators.
However, if you’re seeking total disconnection from the outside world, you’ll want to choose a more remote island resort. The skies brilliantly clear at night – no light pollution here! – and your closest neighbors will be the turtles, dolphins and vividly colored tropical fish that swim underneath your overwater bungalow.
What is the best month to visit the Maldives? What is the least expensive time to go to the Maldives?
The high season in the Maldives is between November and April. During this time, you can expect warm temperatures and very little rain. While it’s going to be more crowded at this time, since each resort has its own island, you won’t have throngs of tourists like at another resort destination, i.e, Hawaii or the Caribbean. The rainy season runs from May to October, with 5 to 10 inches of rain monthly, and strong winds. Surfers may enjoy this season more than the dry season for the big swells.
As for expense, prices stay consistently high year-round. So much depends on your chosen resort, but, on average, one week in the Maldives for two people costs about $3,500.
How long should I stay in the Maldives?
Plan on at least four days to thoroughly enjoy the Maldives, and if you have it, stay up to seven.
Can unmarried couples go to the Maldives?
While some resorts in the Maldives have frowned upon unmarried couples staying in a room together, nowadays most resorts will not ask for any documentation other than your passport.
Read on to learn more about some of the best all-inclusive resorts in Maldives..
The Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Maldives
Where: A 55-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport.
Stay: This 284-room resort offers modern guestrooms in five room categories, including on the beach and overwater bungalows. There are 77 Jacuzzi Water Villas, 27 Waterfront Villas, 83 Jacuzzi Beach Villas, 77 Beach Villas and 20 Garden Rooms. All accommodations offer tropical décor, a king-sized bed, a private, furnished porch, air conditioning, a partially open-air bathroom with a rainshower and more.
Always popular, the Jacuzzi Water Villas are perched over the lagoon, just a short walk along your own private jetty from the beach. Each villa boasts a larger bedroom than other accommodations, wood flooring, an espresso maker, a spacious bathroom, a private alfresco Jacuzzi and a sundeck with loungers and stairs to the sea.
Dine: Guests at Meeru choose from two all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants and two a la carte restaurants (Asian Wok, with Asian cuisine and Teppanyaki, and the Hot Rock Restaurant & Bar, with seafood, steak, chicken and more cooked at your table over volcanic rocks). There are four additional dining choices for day and evening, including extensive snacks at the bars and pools, room service, the Meeru Café near the Dhoni Bar Pool and beach dinners by candlelight. Theme nights at the buffet restaurants include Maldivian night on Friday, and a lovely Sunday brunch with complimentary sparkling wine.
Play: Spend your days at Meeru swimming or kayaking in the turquoise lagoon, snorkeling, diving, playing golf or tennis, riding a bike or heading out on an excursion in the Maldives. Short and long trips are available, over water and under it, on land and by air. Go deep-sea fishing, cruise to Turtle Reef, get dropped off on a remote island for the day, just the two of you, enjoy a sunset yacht cruise – the sky’s the limit.
Where: A 15-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport.
Stay: There are 50 elegantly appointed overwater villas at Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, making for a lovely, intimate ambience (particularly popular with honeymoon visitors). The villas are set amidst landscaped gardens, a huge sparkling swimming pool and extensive spa facilities. Your personal butler will attend to all of your whims, so settle in and relax in barefoot luxury. All 50 overwater villas feature teak floors, generously sized beds, sun decks and plunge pools with views of the vast Indian Ocean. The Honeymoon Villas are available as exclusive retreats offering extra services, amenities and benefits. Six of the 50 overwater bungalows reflect traditional Nihon principles, a Japanese design of elegant simplicity.
Dine: Adaaran Prestige Vadoo offers two upscale restaurants, the Farivalhu Restaurant and the Japanese Kithajima Restaurant (known for its incredibly fresh seafood). The resort’s main bar – a favorite gathering spot at day’s end – sits atop the water, like the villas, affording a dramatic sunset view. There’s an engaging beach bar as well, at the far side of the atoll.
The resort offers an all-inclusive, dine-around meal plan, served at the main restaurant, or with a set menu option at the Japanese restaurant (for dinner). There is also a snack menu option for lunch at the main bar, as opposed to taking lunch in the main restaurant. In addition, on this plan, tea, cookies and savory snacks will be served at the restaurant or in your villa at 5 PM daily.
Play: The staff at Adaaran Prestige Vadoo aims to make this the most hassle-free, enjoyable escape it can be, and have planned for a whole host of activities to take advantage of the tropical location. There are guided Maldives excursions, during which you can fish, snorkel, dive and visit nearby islands. There is a Whale Submarine Adventure, taking you deep under the water to view the kaleidoscope of marine life that lives underneath the surface of the Indian Ocean. Go parasailing or take a photo flight by seaplane, enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the magical Maldives. Set off on an early-morning deep-sea fishing adventure in a traditional dhoni boat, seeking out jack, little tuna, dolphin fish and barracuda. Or, visit the sandbanks and enjoy your own secluded beach for the day, complete with a private picnic – true bliss.
Where: A 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport.
Stay: Choose from 20 Sunset Jacuzzi Water Villas, 34 Jacuzzi Water Villas, 10 Water Villas, 16 Jacuzzi Beach Villas and 11 Beach Villas. Each is decorated to reflect the beach chic lifestyle of the Maldives, including a king-sized bed, a private, furnished porch, air conditioning, flat-screen television and open-air bathroom with a rain shower. The highly sought-after overwater bungalows feature a private, open-air Jacuzzi and the ability to take a dip in the warm ocean right from your own sundeck.
Dine: If you’d like to dine on your own with your loved one, by all means, ask the resort – they can set up private meals al fresco, at a spot on the beach of your choosing or in your overwater bungalow. Otherwise, try out the main restaurant, Dhonveli, with a rich variety of culintary tastes served buffet-stye, or the a la cart restaurant, Madivaru, where fine food is served alongside stunning lagoon views. A couple of excellent beach bars are set up, as well, for snacks and beverages throughout the day. Choose the all-inclusive package for a carefree stay, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages and snacks at the main restaurant and Thindu bar, a 20 percent discount at Madivaru restaurant, one dinner at Madivaru for every five-night stay, a 20 percent discount on selected spa treatments, a half-bottle of champagne, a sunset cruise, a half-hour snorkeling lesson and half-hour windsurfing lesson, use of the fitness center and tennis, use of kayaks and windsurfing equipment and a free yoga session.
Play: Sprinkle some fun into your leisurely Maldives vacation with a range of land- and water-based activities at Veligandu. Head out on a snorkeling trip to check out the marine life beyond the resort’s house reef. Go scuba diving at the renowned Rasdhoo atoll. Go sailing, take a sunset cruise, try line fishing or visit a local island to get a taste of Maldivian culture. And don’t miss the Duniye Spa, where you’ll find a universal approach to wellness based on ancient healing techniques.
Where: A 15-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport or a domestic flight from the airport to the domestic Maamigili Airport.
Stay: Stroll hand in hand along a timber walkway to your thatched-roof overwater bungalow at Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa. Your villa is spacious and airy, splashed here and there with bright colors that complement the white-sand beach and the blue lagoon. A variety of suites and villas are available, including beachfront suites with a mezzanine level and the ever-popular overwater villas with the option of a private plunge pool. Family rooms with bunk beds are also available. All accommodations are eligible for a Club upgrade, which offers guests a dedicated villa host to attend to all needs throughout their stay.
Dine: All meals, at all restaurants, are included at Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa. This includes lavish champagne breakfasts at Reef Restaurant and delectable lunches and dinners at Azuri Mare Italian Restaurant, the Suan Bua Thai restaurant and the Reef Restaurant. You’re entitled to selected beverages from 10 AM until midnight, as well as daily afternoon tea and sundowner parties.
Play: The Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives has been named the Maldives’ most family-friendly resort multiple times, so bring everyone. There are activities for all ages, from Camp Safari and the E-Zone for the little ones, to banana boat and tube rides, water sports, beach activities and more for the older kids. This is one of the Maldives’ top diving destinations, so whether you’re beginner, medium or expert, get underwater! Snorkelers can check out the house reef and lagoon with its turtles, whale sharks, manta rays, parrotfish and more. Half- and full-day excursions (including in the Ultimate All-Inclusive experience) include a visit to a nearby island, a sunset cruise, fishing, snorkeling and more.
Where: A 25-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport.
Stay: When you stay at this true all-inclusive resort, you’ll choose from a variety of impeccable accommodations. Contemporary Beach Suites are surrounded by lush vegetation and just steps from the Indian Ocean (upgrade to a Beach Suite with pool, if you’d like). Beach and Lagoon Villas are more spacious than the suites and again are tucked away in for a private feel, but still just a few minutes’ walk from the resort’s main area. For that quintessential overwater stay, choose a Deluxe Water Villa, with uninterrupted views of the vast ocean, a private deck and a Jacuzzi plunge pool. Sunset Water Suites also include 24-hour personal butler service if you’re staying more than four nights.
Dine: Lily Beach Resort & Spa offers three a la cart restaurants and two daytime snack stations. Plus, there are two pool bars (which turn into fun lounge spots in the evening) and a lobby bar. At Lily Maa, cuisine from around the world is served buffet style, complemented by an exclusive 80-bottle wine cellar. Lily Maa boasts a live lobster tank, so go ahead, indulge. Taste the flavors of Asia at Tamarind, where you’ll dine to the sound of the waves lapping beneath the deck, or try the food-meats-theater experience of teppanyaki at the AQVA Bar.
Play: The star of the Maldives is its crystal-clear waters, so much of your free time will be taking advantage of the ocean. Go snorkeling or diving and explore colorful marine life. Take a cruise on a traditional dhoni and visit a local island to meet the friendly Maldivians anxious to share their culture with you. Sink into a holistic treatment at the Tamara Spa, inspired by rejuvenating practices from around the world. Play a round of tennis, go paddleboarding or kayaking, go windsurfing or set out on a catamaran on the glistening waters. There are two pools – one “quiet” infinity pool with a hot tub and one family pool. Need a day to do nothing at all? Relax on one of the beach loungers and avail yourself of a cold beverage, provided in drink coolers along the beach.
Here are two more to consider. The LUX* South Ari Atoll on the postcard-perfect island of Dhidhoofinolhu. Choose from 193 private villas – either along the water’s edge on the beach or perched on stilts above the lagoon. There’s a five-star PADI dive center at the resort, two infinity pools, floodlit tennis courts, a fitness center, the LUX* Me Spa, eight eateries and five bars. Another fantastic resort choice when you’re vacationing in the Maldives.
