The Maldives are a slice of heaven on earth! For many, it is a once in a lifetime trip, which means that expectations are usually high! With that comes a lot of pressure of choosing the right place to stay. In this post I will guide you through the main things you should consider So keep reading to find out how to choose the perfect Maldives resort!!

1. DECIDE ON A BUDGET

Perhaps an obvious one, but definitely one of the most deciding factors. In the Maldives, you will find everything from simple B&B’s on the local islands, up to the most luxurious resorts that you can imagine, that for most regular people would cost them a year’s worth of salary… Hence, deciding on a price range early on is crucial.  

I do want to point out, that the Maldives in general are not a cheap place. While there are more affordable options on the local islands, if you’re looking for a secluded island resort getaway be prepared to drop some cash.

If you’re going to book your accommodation through a tool like booking.com, make sure to set your price range early on. This will help you too manage your expectations and not get too carried away.

Questions to ask yourself:
– How much am I willing to spend?

2. inform yourself about Hidden costs

This is veeeeeery important to know!!!! Since many of the resorts are quite secluded somewhere on a private island, you will need to pay extra for the transportation. That’s right, besides the room (and meals) you will need to pay separately for transportation. Depending on the location, this can be either a boat transfer, a Maldives air public flight, or a private seaplane flight. As you can imagine, the price for these kinds of transfers can range anywhere from 80 USD to up to 500 USD. This is definitely something to check before committing to a resort!!

Depending on the date you are visiting, there might be other compulsory additional charges. This is usually the case for Christmas and New Year’s, where the celebratory dinner needs to be paid in addition.

Questions to ask yourself:
– How much does transportation cost?
– Are there any other compulsory fees in the fine print?

3. CHECK OUT THE Restaurants

Different kinds of accommodations have different kind of meal plans. Some resorts have only one main restaurant on site (usually buffet style), where you will have all your meals. This doesn’t mean that the food will be the same all week, not at all! But still, you’ll be in the same space several times a day. Other resorts have up to 10 different restaurants and cuisines, which of course offers a lot more variety.

Questions to ask yourself:
– Am I fine with dining in the same restaurant all week or do I need more variety?

4. think about MEAL PLANS

While talking about food, I of course need to mention the all-inclusive options at many of the Maldives resorts. But cue the way I wrote that sentence? At many resorts, not all!! If all-inclusive is what you’re looking for, make sure to check that the resort you’re going to explicitly offers this. I’d also recommend to do some digging and figure out what is included in the all-inclusive package and what not. From experience, usually only local liquors (no brands) are included, and only a limited number of cocktails and sometimes even only at specific bars and timeframes during the day.

I do also want to point out, that even though it sounds awesome, all-inclusive is not worth it for everyone! My boyfriend and I opted for all-inclusive when we were there, but we didn’t even come close to “breaking even” with the amount of alcohol that we personally consumed.

Questions to ask yourself:
– Is an all-inclusive package financially speaking worth it for me?
– Am I fine with not having premium beverages included?
– Have I checked the resorts bar menu?
– Do I prefer having everything paid for and not think about money at all?

5. LOOK AT THE AESTHETIC

Once you start browsing and exploring all the different options, you’ll quickly realize that the resorts all have very different vibes. Some of them are suuuuper modern, very clean and white houses, lots of glass, etc… On the other hand, there are resorts that are more traditional with more woods, maybe even a little rustic. Some resorts are very large and even have multi-story buildings. You’ll also find resorts where all rooms are individual little huts, making the island feel like a little village. Some resorts are super casual, others offer restaurants with more formal attire.

When choosing your accommodation, make sure to look at all the pictures of the surroundings, but also of the room you are specifically interested in. The rooms are wildly different between resorts (some of them, IMO, really ugly!!)  

I think this is a very important choice to make, because the vibe of the resort of course in some way defines the atmosphere on the island. Each vibe attracts a different kind of crowd.

Questions to ask yourself:
– Do I prefer a super modern resort or do I want a more authentic experience?
– What kind of vibe am I looking for, and is this reflected in the resort images online?

6. look at the amenities

Besides the overall vibe, the amenities also vary greatly between resorts. Some resorts offer overwater villas, others don’t. Some have a pool (or even several, and also private pools!), others don’t have a pool at all. Which (if you ask me) also makes sense – if you have the sea, you don’t necessarily also need a pool, right? The spa offers also vary from resort to resort. You might also want to check out what kind of sports options there are, e.g. water sports equipment, gym, tennis courts, etc… If you’re a diver or want to get certified, definitely check out whether they have a diving school and what kind of tours and trips they offer!

Questions to ask yourself:
– What kind of amenities to I expect to use during my stay?
– Is there a PADI certified dive school and what kind of courses / trips do they offer?

7. Think about Entertainment

Depending on your personality and travel style, this might be another important one. For example, the resort that we were at offered very little entertainment. There was live music on some evenings, but some evenings were also just regular evenings. But as a couple, we really didn’t mind the peaceful, slow evenings. However, if you’re travelling with kids or love to party, you might want to look for resorts that offer more (evening) entertainment.

I know that there are some resorts that offer movie nights, for example. Or themed dinners.

Questions to ask yourself:
– Do I want to be entertained in the evenings, or am I content just hanging out?
– Is there any kids entertainment?

8. Look at the nature

This might not be that important to everyone, but I still think it’s important to consider. The different islands do have differences above and below water. Some islands are much lusher and greener than others, while some of them even have lakes on them. Some islands are quite large, others are very small.

The quality of the “house reefs” also varies greatly. You can usually figure out the quality of the house reef in the reviews.The resort that we were at had a very poor-quality house reef. This meant, that you had to take snorkeling trips in order to see some exciting underwater life. To be fair though, the snorkel trips are offered free of charge.

Questions to ask yourself:
– Is there a good house reef?
– Do I care about greenery on the island?

So where did we end up staying?

If you’re wondering what resort we opted for in the end… the Innahura Maldives Resort! We chose this because it was relatively affordable (we visited in April, which is the shoulder season). Transportation costs were reasonable. The vibe looked nice, not too modern. There is a dive school, but house reef was mediocre as already mentioned. All inclusive package was good, lots of cocktails to choose from. One main restaurant, two different beach bars to hang out. I would go there again in. heartbeat!!!

To conclude, I want to mention that while it seems overwhelming, you shouldn’t stress about choosing the right resort too much. This list gives you a good idea of what kinds of things you might want to consider, but ultimately you will have an unforgettable time no matter where you go!!

Don’t forget to check out my other practical travel tips here!