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ILUXURYTRAVELS
Overwater residence and private pool above a Maldivian lagoon

Report No. 08 — Pricing & Rates

The Maldives Pricing Index

How the two monsoons, the atoll you choose and the transfer you cannot avoid move the nightly cost of a private residence.

September MMXXVI5 min read4 cited sources

Key figures

7-10 nights
Festive minimum on private residences Source
1.8-3x
Festive nightly rate against the same residence in the monsoon Source
9-12 months
Booking window for the festive block and February half-term Source
USD 500-900
Seaplane transfer, per person return to Baa or Ari Source

Seasonal bands

The north-east monsoon from December to April carries the rate; the south-west monsoon from May to November discounts it by a third and delivers the manta season in exchange. The festive fortnight is a market of its own, priced with a compulsory gala dinner on top of the nightly rate.

Indicative nightly bands, four-bedroom private residence with pool
SeasonNightly bandMinimum stay
Festive, 23 Dec - 3 JanUSD 9,000 - 20,0007-10 nights
Peak dry, Feb half-termUSD 6,500 - 13,0005-7 nights
High, Dec - AprUSD 5,000 - 10,0004-5 nights
Shoulder, May - Jun, SepUSD 3,500 - 7,0003 nights
Monsoon, Jul - NovUSD 3,000 - 6,0003 nights
Indicative nightly bands, four-bedroom private residence with pool

Atoll premiums

Rate follows transfer mode, water quality and how much of the island is yours. Seaplane atolls price above speedboat atolls not only for seclusion but because the transfer itself filters out short stays.

Rate position by atoll, against the South Male baseline
AtollPositionWhat drives it
Baa+20% to +50%Biosphere reserve, manta season, single-resort islands
AriLevel, wide spreadWhale sharks, large atoll, varied residence styles
South MaleBaseline25-45 minute speedboat, deep house reefs
North Male-10% to -20%Closest to the airport, busiest water
Rate position by atoll, against the South Male baseline

Transfers, board and staffing

On a single-island atoll there is no alternative restaurant and no road out, so board basis and transfers decide the real cost of a week more than the headline rate does.

  • Seaplane versus speedboat

    Seaplanes run daylight only, roughly 06:00 to 16:00, at USD 500 - 900 per person return; speedboats to North and South Male run around the clock at USD 150 - 400.

  • Board basis

    Where board is not included, assume USD 250 - 450 per person per day in the dry season and USD 350 - 600 across the festive weeks.

  • In-residence chef

    USD 300 - 700 a day standard, USD 500 - 1,000 over the festive block. A villa host and housekeeping are usually inside the rate.

  • New Year gala

    Compulsory and charged per adult and per child on most islands, whether or not you attend. Budget it as an extra night for a party of ten.

Methodology & limitations

Bands are read from live connected partner inventory for Maldives private residences of two bedrooms and above with a pool, compared against the same residences in the May to June shoulder. Ranges describe what the market asks, not a quote: live pricing for any specific residence is confirmed at the point of reservation through our partner network. Transfer and dining figures are indicative and exclusive of the green tax and service charge.

Where this shows up in live inventory

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