1. What is the exact board basis?

Ask for the precise definition of your meal plan: Does full board include snacks? Desserts? Filtered water, tea and coffee? Are there surcharges for certain dishes (for example, premium seafood)? How does the property handle dietary requirements — and is there any extra cost? In remote zones with limited supply, gluten‑free, vegan or allergy‑sensitive menus may require more advance notice; we nudge both sides to speak about this frankly.

2. What transfers are included — and from where?

Ask operators to specify: The exact airport or harbour included in the transfer. Whether the transfer is one way or return. How many guests are covered at that price. What happens if your flight is delayed beyond normal hours. A quote that simply says “airport transfer included” is not enough in a region with multiple airports and long coastlines.

3. How are boat trips and charters handled?

For Moyo, Saleh Bay and surf areas with reef passes reached by boat, you want this in writing: What boat use, if any, is included in the rate. Which trips are shared vs private charter. How fuel surcharges, conservation fees and crew costs are handled. What safety equipment is onboard and under what weather conditions trips are cancelled or rescheduled. We only pass you to partners who are willing to outline these details and whose vessels meet local safety norms.

4. What is the scope of included guiding?

“Guided” can mean very different things. In surf contexts, ask whether guiding means simple surf intel, physical accompaniment to the break, or in‑water coaching. For eco‑stays, clarify whether guided walks are private or in small groups, and how often they run. For wildlife or marine life focussed trips, ask how sightings are handled: are there responsible‑distance protocols; what happens if conditions are poor? No one can guarantee swell, visibility or wildlife. We discourage any operator language that leans toward guarantees and prefer those who speak in probabilities and back‑up plans.

5. What taxes, fees and service charges sit on top?

Ask three direct questions: Is service charge included in the quoted rate? Is government tax included, and at what percentage? Are there any conservation or park fees that will be added in cash on the day? We also suggest asking about typical on‑site spend per day (drinks, snacks, occasional activities) so you can budget beyond the main package.

Is Sumbawa all inclusive luxury actually a thing?

On Sumbawa, “all inclusive” usually means full board and some activities, not an unlimited, resort‑style inclusion of alcohol, spa and premium experiences. True all‑inclusive luxury in the broader sense is rare and, where it exists, still carries a list of extras like boat charters, high‑end drinks and specialist guiding. We treat any “all inclusive” claim as something to unpack line by line.

Are boat transfers to Moyo Island included in my stay?

Often they are not. Many Moyo Island stays quote room and board separately from the mainland–island boat transfer, which is priced per boat or per person depending on the operator. In your quote, we ask partners to state explicitly whether the boat is included, from which departure point, for how many guests and under what weather conditions.

Do surf camps in Sumbawa include coaching?

Most surf camps include daily surf guiding and logistics rather than formal coaching. That might mean transport to breaks, paddle‑out support and local intel. Dedicated coaching, video analysis and photo packages are usually extras you can add to a base package. We highlight this distinction in each surf camp profile and confirm it in your quote.

Are national park and conservation fees included?

Sometimes. For certain waterfalls, reefs or protected islands, park or conservation fees are either bundled into the activity price or collected separately in cash on the day. Because practices differ regionally, we ask operators to declare for each excursion whether such fees are included and, if not, what you should expect to pay on site as of your travel year.

Can I change what is included in my Sumbawa package?

Usually yes. Most partners treat their packages as starting points: you can shorten or extend stays, swap in different activities, add or remove transfers, and change board basis within the property’s normal rules. Our role is to help you request a version that matches how you travel, and to ensure the revised inclusions and exclusions are reflected clearly in the updated quote before you confirm.

The Line Between In and Extra

Rooms, most meals and ground transfers are usually in. Boats, guiding and anything private are usually not. The gap is where quotes surprise people.

Check My Quote

Simple in theory, and the detail is where a good week becomes an expensive one.

Remote properties bundle more than city hotels, because there is nowhere else to buy anything. That is a genuine benefit, and it makes comparing two quotes harder.

Read the second column before you compare prices. Two quotes a thousand dollars apart are often the same trip with the boats moved.

Nearly always in: Room, most meals, drinking water, house snorkel gear.
Often in: Airport transfer, guided walks, kayaks, basic first aid.
Rarely in: Boats, surf guiding, diving, alcohol, spa.
Never in: Flights, insurance, visa, anything chartered privately.
Ask always: Transfers both ways, and what happens if weather cancels a boat.

The Two Columns

Almost every surprise on a Sumbawa invoice sits on the right.

Usually included

Accommodation for the nights quoted
Half or full board, depending on the property
Drinking water, tea and coffee through the day
House snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards
Guided walks on or near the property
Airport transfer at the better places, one way or both

Usually extra

International and domestic flights
Boat transfers, and every private charter
Surf guiding, diving, fishing, whale-shark mornings
Alcohol, spa treatments, laundry
A driver on the days you leave the property
Travel and evacuation insurance

It Differs by Trip Type

The same words mean different things at a surf camp and on an island.

Surf Trip

Rooms and meals are cheap and clear. The cost lives in getting to waves.

Board: Half board
Watch: Guiding and boats
Extra: Ding repair, hire

Surf camps

Eco-Luxury

Most of the day is folded in. The extras are indulgences rather than logistics.

Board: Full board
Watch: Alcohol and spa
Usually in: Transfers

Resort guide

Snorkeller above an anemone and coral head

Moyo or Island

Nothing else is for sale, so nearly everything is included except the crossing.

Board: Full board
Watch: The boat, both ways
Risk: Weather delays

Moyo stays

Surf Trip

Rooms and meals are cheap and clear. The cost lives in getting to waves.

Board: Half board
Watch: Guiding and boats
Extra: Ding repair, hire

Surf camps

Eco-Luxury

Most of the day is folded in. The extras are indulgences rather than logistics.

Board: Full board
Watch: Alcohol and spa
Usually in: Transfers

Resort guide

Moyo or Island

Nothing else is for sale, so nearly everything is included except the crossing.

Board: Full board
Watch: The boat, both ways
Risk: Weather delays

Moyo stays

Five Questions Worth Asking

Are transfers both ways?

A quote that includes the arrival and not the departure is common, and the return leg from a remote property is the expensive one.
Which meals, exactly?

Half board can mean breakfast and dinner or breakfast and lunch. On a surf trip that difference decides whether you eat after the dawn session.
What happens if the boat cannot go?

Weather cancels crossings regularly. Ask whether you are refunded, rebooked, or simply out of pocket for the night you cannot reach.
Is guiding per day or per session?

Two sessions a day for a week is fourteen charges, not seven. The wording matters more than the rate.
What is the deposit and the cancellation?

Small properties often hold non-refundable deposits in peak weeks. Know the date the money stops being yours.

Before you write

Answered Plainly

Send Us the Quote

We will read it against what we know the property actually charges for, and tell you which lines are missing.

Check My Quote

Free, no obligation. We curate and arrange via a vetted partner — we do not own or operate the resorts.

The Line Between In and Extra

What is included on a Sumbawa trip

The Two Columns

Usually included

Usually extra

It Differs by Trip Type

Surf Trip

Eco-Luxury

Moyo or Island

Surf Trip

Eco-Luxury

Moyo or Island

Five Questions Worth Asking

Are transfers both ways?

Which meals, exactly?

What happens if the boat cannot go?

Is guiding per day or per session?

What is the deposit and the cancellation?

Answered Plainly

Why are two quotes so far apart?

Are meals really included?

Is alcohol ever included?

Do I need travel insurance?

Will you check a quote I already have?

Send Us the Quote