The Maldives is one of the most luxurious vacation destinations in the world. A typical destination for honeymoons, romantic getaways, and once-in-a-lifetime family trips, the islands have plenty to offer for sun, sea, and sand lovers. But for first-time visitors, the Maldives’ all-inclusive options can be confusing. With many resorts offering both premium and standard options, you’ll inevitably want to know which offers the best value for your money. So, are all-inclusive vacations in the Maldives’ island resorts worth it in 2026? I traveled to one of the Maldives’ popular resorts, Cinnamon Dhonveli, to provide a first-hand account of what’s on offer.
What do the Maldives’ all-inclusive resorts provide?
Booking the ‘standard’ all-inclusive option at a Maldives resort gives you free access to the menu, meaning you can order food and drinks at no additional cost. What’s offered on the menu will depend on the resort; you can expect alcohol, soft drinks, and food served from breakfast to dinner, though exactly what’s on offer will usually be unique to your resort. As such, you must check out your planned resort’s menu before you travel.
In Cinnamon Dhonveli’s case, the all-inclusive option provided three set meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — with snacks available in between, served from the various bars. These snacks ranged from packs of nuts to slider burgers. For drinks, Lion Lager was on draft across the various bars, while spirits were non-branded and wine was boxed. If you’re not going all-inclusive, you’ll pay for the above out of pocket.
What does ‘premium all-inclusive’ mean in the Maldives?
Premium all-inclusive packages are basically the luxury version of the ‘standard’ all-inclusive. They usually provide more varied drink options, some different food items on the menu, and discounts on experiences and expeditions. For example, the premium all-inclusive package in Cinnamon Dhonveli included some spa treatments, a romantic dinner for two on the beach at night, and other assorted offers on activities.
What you receive in your premium all-inclusive package will depend on your resort. Most resorts ask you to call ahead in order to check out their menu, and you can also usually book the premium all-inclusive while you’re there. The rate you pay while at the resort will likely differ from the rate you’d pay if you booked in advance.
Booking a premium all-inclusive package vs. a standard one depends on what you want from your vacation and your budget. I opted for the standard package, given that I’m primarily a beer/lager drinker, and the branded option available as part of the premium package was Carlsberg. Who wants to go on vacation and drink Carlsberg?
As far as I could tell from dining at the restaurants, the food options were no different on either package, as everyone had access to the buffet each night. Cocktails were different, but again, this didn’t really impact me. My Manhattan tasted just fine, and my second, third, and fourth Manhattans tasted even better.
Is all-inclusive worth it in the Maldives?
All-inclusive is the recommended choice when you’re traveling to the Maldives. Not booking an all-inclusive trip might make it cheaper initially, but those costs will stack up when you’re staying at your hotel. Premium all-inclusive likely won’t be worth it to most travelers, though your mileage may vary depending on what you want to do at your resort,
