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[maldivestagent]

All Inclusive in the Maldives is likely to be different to an all inclusive package you may have experienced anywhere else in the world. So research is important, as the inclusions and more importantly the exclusions may differ island to island within the Maldives.

A concept that is growing in popularity in the Maldive is the 'Gold' or 'Premium' all inclusive - but do understand this fully, and also ask how much the additional cost is for this facility. Yes, it will probably include, cocktails, the minibar, excursions, an a la carte restaurant, but find out how much these things would cost if you opted for the normal all inclusive. Are you receiving value for money, or, are you paying for the convenience of the facility, and how much are you likely to realistic use/need these extras?

Another factor to take into account is the exchange rate at the time, yes, this can change, so there is an element of risk with this. The islands in the Maldives use the USdollar to price services and facilities - so this will also help you in deciding if this is beneficial to you......

Most tour operators will also allow you to upgrade to the gold/premium all inclusive, generally upto about a week before departure, so don't rush into a decision - research and decide if its best for you.

[starlagurl]

Yep, I agree, you never know if you might be getting a better deal (and more flexibility) by traveling independently.

[maldivestagent]

It is always best to book through a tour operator/travel agent, as you then have the ATOL protection and also ABTA depending on where in the world you are.

But as mentioned before, people often think its best to book all inclusive, but it should really be an individual choice depending on their requirements. It is worth obtaining the all inclusive price and also the half board option price, and then you can decide which works out best for you.

Remember the Maldives uses US$dollars for their exchange rate, and again depending on where you are in the world, this can work out advantageous.