Ultra All Inclusive:
Worth It or Not?

The Maldives is extraordinarily expensive once you are on the island. Food, drinks, excursions, spa treatments — every line item carries a resort premium that can turn a £5,000 holiday into a £9,000 one before you have noticed. Ultra All Inclusive exists to solve this problem. But it does not always deliver on its promise.

This is the question I am asked more than almost any other: is Ultra All Inclusive worth the premium? Having stayed on both board bases across multiple resorts, my answer is: it depends entirely on which resort you choose and how you holiday.

What Does Ultra All Inclusive Actually Include?

This varies significantly between resorts and is one of the most important things to check before booking. At its best, UAI includes all meals at all restaurants, all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages including premium spirits and wines, all non-motorised water sports, Wi-Fi, and selected excursions. At its worst, it includes meals at the buffet restaurant only, house wine and local beer, and nothing else.

The phrase “Ultra All Inclusive” is not a regulated term. Every resort defines it differently. Always request a detailed inclusions list before booking — do not rely on marketing language.

The Real Cost of Not Having UAI

To understand whether UAI is worth the premium, you need to understand what you would actually spend without it. Here is a realistic daily spend estimate for two people at a mid-to-upper range Maldives resort on a bed and breakfast basis:

Over a 7-night stay, that is £2,590–£4,270 on top of your accommodation cost. If UAI adds £400–£600 per person to the room rate — a common premium — the maths often works strongly in favour of UAI, particularly for couples who enjoy wine with dinner and cocktails by the pool.

When UAI Is Absolutely Worth It

Kudadoo Private Island

The gold standard of UAI in the Maldives. At Kudadoo, absolutely everything is included — every restaurant, every drink including premium champagne and spirits, every spa treatment, every excursion, every water sport, transfers, and even in-villa dining at any hour. The daily rate is significant, but guests consistently report that the peace of mind and the generosity of the inclusions justify every penny. There is no bill at check-out. Nothing. This is true all-inclusive in the purest sense.

Soneva Fushi

Soneva’s approach is different — they offer a “Soneva Inclusive” package that covers most food and beverages across their extraordinary collection of restaurants. Given that a dinner at Soneva can easily reach £200 per person for food alone, the inclusive package represents exceptional value for guests who eat and drink well.

When UAI Is Not Worth It

UAI adds limited value when the included restaurants are primarily buffet or limited choice, when premium spirits and wines require an upgrade surcharge on top of UAI, when the included excursions are of low quality or limited selection, or when you are a light eater and drinker who would naturally spend less than the UAI premium adds to the room rate.

I have stayed at resorts where the UAI premium was £350 per person per night, and the inclusions were a buffet breakfast and lunch, one set-menu dinner option, house wine, and local beer. For guests who would naturally drink cocktails and dine à la carte, this represents poor value — you are paying for things you do not want and not receiving what you do want.

The Questions to Ask Before Booking

Always ask your resort or travel agent these specific questions before booking UAI: Does it include all restaurants or just selected ones? Are premium spirits and champagne included or require an upgrade? Are excursions included and if so which ones? Is spa included? Are there any surcharges for à la carte menus? Can I see the full inclusions list in writing?

A resort that cannot or will not provide a detailed inclusions list in writing before you book is one to approach with caution.