Location is where Maldives resort planning starts. It shapes your transfer cost, travel time, lagoon conditions, and even which marine life you are likely to see. When you compare Maldives resorts, first decide how far you are happy to travel from Malé.

• Speedboat resorts – usually 10 to 45 minutes from Malé, with more affordable transfers and no domestic flights. Perfect if you want convenience or arrive late.
• Seaplane resorts – incredible views and access to remote atolls, with daytime flights and baggage limits. A true Maldives bucket list experience.
• Domestic flight + boat – common for far south or far north atolls and often used for excellent diving and snorkeling islands.

Different atolls offer different experiences. For example, parts of Ari Atoll and Baa Atoll are famous for mantas and whale sharks, while some North and South Malé Atoll islands are all about quick speedboat access. Explore our Resorts in Maldives collection to see the full map of options.

A Maldives holiday is not just about the room rate. A realistic budget should include accommodation, meal plan, transfers, taxes, and the activities you care about most.

• Taxes and service charges usually add about 22 percent to every bill.
• You eat and drink almost exclusively on your resort island.
• Transfers are often charged separately and can be significant.

Common Maldives meal plans:

• Breakfast only – good for light eaters and very budget focused trips.
• Half board – breakfast plus dinner for a nice balance.
• Full board – three meals daily, drinks usually extra.
• All inclusive – meals and drinks included, often the best value overall.

If you care about costs, ask for sample à la carte menus before you confirm. You can also test different scenarios with our Maldives Resort Price Calculator and see how changes in nights, meal plan, and resort category affect your budget.

Your villa choice decides your level of privacy, how your mornings feel, and how quickly you can step into the water. It is one of the most important parts of the Maldives experience.

• Beach villas – direct sand access, more shade, and often the safer option for families with younger children. Islands like Meeru Maldives Resort Island and Kuramathi Maldives are classic beach villa choices.
• Overwater villas – iconic Maldives picture, perfect for honeymoons and couples. Always check lagoon depth, current, and whether you can snorkel from your terrace. Good examples include Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort or Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa.
• Private pool villas – ideal if you love quiet pool time, extra privacy, and Instagram ready scenes. Many luxury islands like Vakkaru Maldives and Soneva Jani offer both beach and overwater pool options.

A popular idea is a split stay: start in a beach villa and finish in an overwater villa for the full Maldives experience. For more inspiration, take a look at our Maldives Luxury Travel Guide.

In the Maldives your resort controls all food and drinks, so dining is a key part of any resort comparison. You want the right mix of variety, quality, and dietary comfort.

• Number and style of restaurants on the island.
• Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and allergy friendly options.
• Balance between buffet, à la carte, fine dining and casual spots.
• Real guest reviews about food quality and service.

If food is important for you, avoid very small islands with only one main restaurant. For ideas on how to eat well and still control your budget, read Maldives on a Budget: Complete Travel Guide .

Not every island has a strong house reef. Some are built around wide sandy lagoons, others have dramatic drop offs and coral walls just a short swim from the beach. If underwater life is important for you, treat reef quality as a non-negotiable filter.

• Look for a good house reef that you can reach from shore or jetty.
• Check if the best snorkeling is from the beach or by short boat trip.
• Read about typical marine life: turtles, reef sharks, rays and schools of fish.
• Consider atoll and season if you want mantas or whale sharks.

For more detail on top dive spots, seasons and rough costs, explore our Maldives Diving Guide: Best Spots, Seasons, Prices . Resorts like LUX* South Ari Atoll and Six Senses Laamu are often chosen by divers and keen snorkelers.

Two similar resorts on paper can feel completely different once you arrive. Some islands are quiet, barefoot and intimate. Others are more social with music, events and a livelier pool scene. Decide how you want your days and evenings to feel.

• Romantic and quiet – best for honeymoons, anniversaries and couples.
• Family friendly – more activities, kids around and a relaxed vibe.
• Lively and social – DJs, beach bars and evening entertainment.
• Wellness focused – spa, yoga and nature driven design.

If you are not sure what fits you, let our Maldives Trip Planner Wizard suggest the right mix of island size, vibe and activities for your dates.

The Maldives can be amazing for families if you choose the right island. Beyond price, focus on lagoon safety, kids club quality and room layout.

• Minimum age rules for water villas and adults only zones.
• Kids club age limits, opening hours and activity variety.
• Shallow, calm lagoon entries for young children.
• Family villas or two bedroom units instead of two separate rooms.
• Child friendly menus, high chairs and baby equipment on request.

Some family favourites with our guests include Sun Siyam Iru Fushi and Villa Park Sun Island Resort. For a deeper breakdown, see our Maldives for Families Guide .

Service can turn a nice holiday into an unforgettable one. When we compare Maldives resorts for our guests, we look carefully at:

• Recent reviews across more than one platform.
• Service culture, response time and attention to detail.
• Staff to guest ratio and language support.
• How well the resort looks after families, couples and solo guests.

You can feel a resort’s personality from the photos and videos on each resort page and from our main HolidayVibe Maldives homepage.

The Maldives is a year round destination, but conditions change with the monsoon. If you know what to expect, you can match your dates to the experiences you care about.

• November to April – drier weather, calmer seas and better visibility.
• May to October – more chance of showers, greener scenery and often better value.
• January to April – excellent time for diving and clear water photography.

Before you confirm your dates, quickly check expected conditions with our Maldives Weather and Season Checker .