Back to Maldives All Inclusive Holidays | What’s included checklist
If you’re stuck between All Inclusive and Half Board, think about two things: your daily rhythm and your drinks bill. Half Board can be perfect if you plan excursions, dive days, or you prefer simple mornings and relaxed dinners. All Inclusive usually wins if you want a “stay on the island” holiday with snacks, drinks, and fewer surprise charges.
If you want to avoid surprises, confirm the “extras list” here: What’s included checklist.
Start with inclusions: What’s included in Maldives all inclusive.
Resorts use different wording, but the core difference is lunch and drinks. Half Board usually covers breakfast and dinner. All Inclusive usually adds lunch plus a defined drinks list, and sometimes snacks or minibar. The details matter, so always confirm what’s included in writing.
| Plan | Typically included | Typically extra | What to check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half Board | Breakfast + dinner (often main restaurant) | Lunch, most drinks, snacks, minibar, many specialty restaurants | Drink pricing and lunch options |
| All Inclusive | Meals + selected drinks (sometimes snacks/minibar/non-motorised sports) | Premium alcohol, some specialty dining, excursions, spa, diving | Drinks list, snack coverage, minibar rules |
If you want the quick checklist for drinks, minibar, snacks, and restaurant access: What’s included.
Half Board is underrated. In the Maldives, many people assume they “need” all inclusive, then realise they do not use it fully. Half Board can be a great match if you plan your days around activities, excursions, or diving.
If you plan a sandbank trip, dolphin cruise, fishing, or island hopping, you might miss lunch or return late. Paying for lunch only on the days you need it can keep costs sensible.
If you are not drinking much and you are not staying at the bar late, half board often feels enough. You can still enjoy a cocktail or two without paying for a full drinks package.
Non-drinkers guideFor 3 to 4 nights, half board can be a simple, easy plan. You get breakfast and dinner covered and keep flexibility for the rest.
If your plan is “beach, pool, lagoon, repeat”, you will eat and drink on the island all day. All inclusive feels smoother because you stop thinking about every bill.
Even if you are not a heavy drinker, a couple of cocktails plus soft drinks and snacks can become a daily habit. All inclusive becomes more attractive when those small spends are constant.
Check the drinks list rulesKids will want drinks and snacks between meals. When those are paid, the holiday feels less relaxing. A plan with snack coverage can be genuinely useful.
Use this quick test to see which plan is likely to suit you. You do not need exact prices, just your realistic habits.
If you rarely drink, you may also like: All inclusive for non-drinkers. If you want to compare Full Board too: AI vs Full Board.
These questions make the “hidden limits” obvious, especially around drinks, lunch options, and snack coverage.
1) Under Half Board, what lunch options are available and what are typical lunch prices?
2) Under Half Board, what drinks are included (if any)? What are typical drink prices on the island?
3) Under All Inclusive, which drinks are included (beer, wine, spirits, cocktails)? Which brands are excluded?
4) Are drinks included all day, or only at specific bars and specific hours?
5) Are snacks included between meals (afternoon tea, bar snacks, late-night options)?
6) Is minibar included? If yes, what items are included and how often is it refilled?
7) Which restaurants are included under each plan? Are specialty restaurants included via credits or set menus?
8) Are transfers included in either quote? If not, what is the exact transfer type and cost per person?
It can be, especially for short stays, activity-heavy trips, and light drinkers. Half board gives you breakfast and dinner covered and keeps flexibility for lunch and drinks.
All inclusive is usually better if you stay on the resort island most days, drink daily, and want snacks and fewer surprise charges. Check the real inclusions here: What’s included.
Usually no. Some resorts include limited drinks during meals, but most half board plans are meals only. Always confirm what is included and typical drink pricing.
No. Half board usually means breakfast and dinner. Lunch is paid unless your resort has a special variation.
Half board or full board can be better value depending on your lunch habits. If choosing all inclusive, focus on dining credits, snacks, minibar inclusions, and activities rather than alcohol value. See: Non-drinkers guide.
Checklist for drinks, minibar, snacks, restaurant access, and the questions to confirm.
Open the checklistBest if you want meals covered and you are unsure about drinks value.
Read the comparison