The parts of the price
A Maldives resort price is built from six parts. Three are set by the resort; three are required by law.
| Part | What it is |
|---|---|
| Villa | The villa or room, for each night, by villa type and date |
| Meal plan | Breakfast only, half board, full board or all inclusive |
| Transfers | Speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight, there and back |
| Service charge | At least 10%, required by law |
| T-GST | The tourism goods and services tax: 17% |
| Green Tax | US$12 per person for each day of the stay |
Taxes and the service charge
A service charge of at least 10% is a legal requirement at resorts, hotels, guesthouses and tourist vessels, not a resort’s choice.
The tourism goods and services tax, T-GST, has been 17% since 1 July 2025.
The Green Tax has been US$12 per tourist for each day of the stay at resorts, tourist vessels and most hotels since 1 January 2025. Guesthouses and hotels on inhabited islands, with 50 rooms or fewer, charge US$6. Children under two on the day they check in pay none.
A price shown before tax and the service charge leaves out more than a fifth of the total, before the Green Tax. When you compare two prices, check that both include them.
Transfers
Getting to the island is priced on its own. Resorts closer to Malé are reached by speedboat; others by seaplane, or by a domestic flight and sometimes a short boat ride. Which one depends on the resort. A transfer is paid once for the stay, so it weighs more on a short trip than a long one.
On a seaplane, luggage over the limit is charged by the kilo. Seaplane or speedboat? explains the limits.
The extras people forget
- Drinks, if your meal plan does not include them.
- Meals outside your plan, such as a private dinner on the beach.
- Excursions, diving and spa treatments.
How our quotes show it
Every quote we send lists the villa, the meal plan, transfers, the service charge, T-GST and the Green Tax, each on its own line, in US dollars, and says how long the price holds. There is no deposit: you pay in full when you confirm, by bank transfer.