Green tax
The Maldives imposes a $6 per person per night environmental tax on all tourist stays. It is mandatory, non-negotiable, and often omitted from the initial quote.
For a couple staying seven nights, that is $84. Not catastrophic, but not zero either.
Some agencies bundle it into the total. Others add it at the end. A few forget to mention it entirely.
Always ask: is the green tax included in this quote? The answer tells you more about the agency’s thoroughness than the amount tells you about your budget.
Service charge
Most resorts add a 10% service charge to the room rate, meals, and spa treatments. It is not a tip you control. It is a fixed levy that appears on your checkout bill.
A $400 nightly rate becomes $440 before you have ordered a drink. Over seven nights, that is $280 that was not in your quote.
Some quotes display rates as “plus taxes and service charge.” Others display inclusive pricing. The same resort can look $300 cheaper depending on how the agency formats the number. Always confirm whether the quote is net or gross.
Resort fee
A separate resort fee — distinct from service charge — covers “facilities and amenities.” This may include gym access, Wi-Fi, snorkelling equipment, or kayak rental.
The fee ranges from $15 to $50 per night depending on the resort tier. It is not universal, but it is common enough that you should ask explicitly.
The ambiguity is intentional. A quote that says “all facilities included” may mean the fee is bundled. Or it may mean the fee does not exist at that resort.
Clarify which.
Transfer adjustments
Your quote probably lists a transfer cost. What it may not list is a fuel surcharge adjustment, a weight excess fee, or a timing premium for off-schedule departures.
Seaplane operators add fuel surcharges when aviation fuel prices spike. Domestic airlines charge for baggage over 20kg. A speedboat charter outside standard hours may carry a 25% premium.
These are not scams. They are standard industry practice. But they are also not in your quote unless the agency has specifically accounted for them.
Meal plan upgrades and exceptions
You booked half-board. Then you discover that the resort’s signature restaurant is not included in the plan. Or that lobster night carries a $90 supplement per person.
Or that the “dining credit” your plan includes does not cover beverages, tax, or service charge.
The quote said half-board. It did not say which board, where, and under what restrictions.
Ask for a written list of meal plan inclusions and exclusions before you book. A professional agency produces this. A vague agency produces reassurance.
Spa, excursions, and photography
These are discretionary, so they do not belong in a mandatory invoice. But they appear on final bills with shocking regularity because travellers assume prices that do not match reality.
A 60-minute massage quoted at $120 becomes $158 after service charge and tax. A dolphin cruise listed at $85 per person becomes $187 for two after the same additions. A photography package advertised at $500 may not include digital files — only prints.
The quote is for the service. The invoice is for the service plus the resort’s standard levy structure. The gap between the two is where budget shock lives.
How to protect yourself
Ask your agency for a line-item estimate with all taxes and fees included.
The quote is a starting point. The invoice is the truth. Close the gap now.