Any specific unit numbers on what to request/look for?
It's a trade off..
If you want to be close to the reception area, water sports, bridge and boat to the opposite island, gym, several restaurants including the least expensive/excellent buffet Atoll Market--choose low 100s (we were 103). The higher up you go--like 130--means a longer walk to the center--perhaps five to ten minutes (though you can call for a cart to drive you anywhere you want). If for any reason you want to be close to the spa and/or spa restaurant--the high numbers are an easy walk across a short bridge.
Thinking about the beach outside your room--I think having a low number such as we had can impede your ocean pleasure. Viewing the bridge across the island from your beach deck chairs or having to be sure you do not get in the way of the cross-island boat while swimming can be less than pleasurable--while high room numbers don't have this problem.
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AA EXP 2MM; UA 1K MM; Mariott Platinum; Hilton Diamond; Starwood Gold
I managed to secure a 7night reward stay at the Conrad Maldives from July 27th to August 3. Since the property has only recently become a Conrad I now have the following questions.
(1) What Diamond benefits can be expected? Upgrade / Breakfast / any other
(2) Is it possible to pay extra for meal plan HB or FB and is that recommendable (given the published high prices at the resort).
(3) how to arrange for the sea plan transfer?
Thanks,
Bastiaan
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KLM - Platinum
LH - SEN
BA - Silver
I managed to secure a 7night reward stay at the Conrad Maldives from July 27th to August 3. Since the property has only recently become a Conrad I now have the following questions.
(1) What Diamond benefits can be expected? Upgrade / Breakfast / any other
(2) Is it possible to pay extra for meal plan HB or FB and is that recommendable (given the published high prices at the resort).
(3) how to arrange for the sea plan transfer?
Thanks,
Bastiaan
1.) upgrade is very hard at this hotel especially when your staying on an award. Good luck with that. Breakfast is free for all guest every day. Make sure you have breakfast at Vilu, better atmosphere and least amount of people.
2.) Yes its possible, but I would just recommend not to do it. If your thier for so long you might as well try all restaurants, which im sure you'll do. Resever at least a week in advance because seating is limited at most of the restaurants.
3.) The sea plane is arranged by the hotel itself. Contact hotel through email and they will sort it out for you.
Breakfast is free for all guest every day. Make sure you have breakfast at Vilu, better atmosphere and least amount of people.
The sea plane is arranged by the hotel itself. Contact hotel through email and they will sort it out for you.
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1. We requested "complimentary diamond" breakfast in our room each day. tHousekeeping left a menu in our room which we checked off the night before--and ordered EVERYTHING. Cereal, fruit, eggs, smoked salmon--whatever your heart desires. Anything we could not finish went into our fridge for later consumption.
2. For seaplane and other arrangements, e-mail maldives@hilton.com, ATTN: Ahmed Zahir. He was very responsive making hotel arrangements in Male, seaplane etc. As an aside--check out what rates you can get at the recommended Hulhuwe Hotel close to Male airport yourself--it may be better than the $245 we paid for each of two rooms through the Conrad.
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AA EXP 2MM; UA 1K MM; Mariott Platinum; Hilton Diamond; Starwood Gold
...For seaplane and other arrangements, e-mail maldives@hilton.com, ATTN: Ahmed Zahir. He was very responsive making hotel arrangements in Male, seaplane etc.
Thanks for the email tip. I had other questions about my upcoming award stay. We were somehow booked into a smoking room, and when I called Hilton, I was told that no non-smoking rooms were available.
Ahmed Zahir replied to my email within 1 day and assured me that all of the rooms were considered to be non-smoking (which I can only hope is the case) and offered up his assistance in general. It's a great start to what I hope will be an amazing trip.
Programs: CO PLAT, DL GOLD, HYATT DIAMOND, IC RA, HILTON DIAMOND, STARWOOD PLATINUM, NATL EXEC
Posts: 307
Conrad Maldives Access To Smaller Island?
I am looking to plan a trip to the Conrad Maldives next year and I noticed that there are two islands connected by a walkway. I have read reviews about how different the "feeling" is between the two islands. One feeling more private, while the other alot busier. I was wondering if someone can inform me if people booked on the larger island can have access to the smaller island, or do they have to be booked in a water villa to gain access? thanks!
if people booked on the larger island can have access to the smaller island, or do they have to be booked in a water villa to gain access? thanks!
You have total access to either of the islands at any time. You're correct that there is the main island--all accomodations are adjacent to the beach.
Across the walkway to the more secluded (meaning quieter) island, the small land mass comprises a welcome area to those staying on that side and a restaurant plus some shops. All accomodations are in over-the-water structures.
There is a second walkway from the main island to the spa and spa villas (those who have paid for villas within the spa program) plus the spa restaurant--it is a man made "island" on stilts! And of course you can go there to the spa, spa restaurant, or just to walk around.
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AA EXP 2MM; UA 1K MM; Mariott Platinum; Hilton Diamond; Starwood Gold
There is a second walkway from the main island to the spa and spa villas (those who have paid for villas within the spa program) plus the spa restaurant--it is a man made "island" on stilts! And of course you can go there to the spa, spa restaurant, or just to walk around.
To avoid confusion, this is the Spa Retreat which is an "annex" to the main island and built entirely overwater. The spa here have "conventional" treatment rooms though they are built overwater.
There is another spa on the smaller island which features glass-floored treatment rooms. Prices for treatments are marginally higher here.
I was wondering if someone can inform me if people booked on the larger island can have access to the smaller island,
The two islands are called:
RANGALI FINOLHU (Main Island)
RANGALI ISLAND (Smaller island)
Rangali Island has only water villas (50 of them in five different categories); and Rangali Finolhu has 100 villas (35 Beach villas; 44 Deluxe Beach Villas; and 21 Spa Villas).
If you are using an award to visit the resort, most likely you will be upgraded to a Deluxe Beach Villa - which is very private and excellent in all respects.
Guests are free to use the facilities (including the restraurants) on both islands and in addition to the walkway, there is a also "ferry" which continually (almost on demand) connects both islands.
How far is the resort from the airport and what are the transport arrangements between the two? Also, are there tours offered by the Conrad off the islands, are there interesting excursions or do most people just vegetate or spa at the resort?
Are the standard Beach Villas (not the Deluxe ones) not actually detached? I read on TripAdvisor that they're a row of rooms like a normal motel/hotel, and hence have neighbour noise issues. Is this right? The website suggests that they are "Villas" and hence are detached residences.
The poster to Trip Advisor must have been confusing the Water Villas with the Beach villas. I have not seen one of the Beach Villas - but I did spend a couple on nights in a Deluxe Beach Villa before moving to a Spa Villa. My stay in the DBV was great and I have nothing but praise.
How far is the resort from the airport and what are the transport arrangements between the two? Also, are there tours offered by the Conrad off the islands, are there interesting excursions or do most people just vegetate or spa at the resort?
The resort is 90 miles from MLE and the Conrad will make arrangements for your outward and return flights with Maldivian Air Taxi. The fare is $300 and is charged to your bill.
There are lots and lots of things to do and you will only vegetate if you want to. On the passive side there are spa treatments, a library, a games room, TV etc. There is also tennis, a fitness center, a dive center offering qualification, various water sports.
There is also a daily schedule (different every day) of organized activities. Here is a sample for one of the Tuesdays during my recent stay:
0730-0830 Meditation
0900-1000 Introduction Yoga Class
1000-1500 Picnic on a Deserted Island
1400-1700 Snorkeling Safari
1430-1900 Dream Island
1730-2000 Luxury Sunset Cruise
2100-2300 Night Fishing
2130 Live Music
3. Hotel rewards are not subject to blackout dates or capacity controls. Hotel reward nights apply to standard rooms only, as defined by each hotel and subject to availability.
Unfortunately, seeing how popular it is and many people rush to book it, the hotel tried to perform a miracle of its own, by witholding the lowest room types and set them aside for the next 3 months, basically short-changing Hilton and its HHonors members as you can see the hotel selling those through a 3rd party aside from Hilton/Conrad and its website.
My speculation based on what I know and found is that it looks like that didn't fly very well with Hilton Corproate when it's exposed. How can you have the Beach Villas sold out / unavailable through Hilton when the hotel is still selling them through the like of www.hotelsmaldives.com ? That 3rd party, btw, even competes with Hilton.com for the lowest rate guarantee and carry all room types for Conrad Maldives as well.
Today, the hotel put those beach villas back into the Hilton inventory but are still not bookable as awards, which clearly go against the T&C quoted above, which make no exceptions for this hotel anymore. It has been confirmed and acknowledged by Hilton redemption desk today that if any standard room is available, they must be redeemable with points and they will report this non-compliance and ask for it to be investigated.
While in the short-term, we members may enjoy a greater access to this hotel, I'd say take advantage of it now while you still can because the economics of GLON, AXON which translates to about 30,000 points per night is not going to be sustainable in the long run at this location. I am thinking this hotel will go through another re-branding to make it more in line with Waldorf Asotria collection where its point cost is expected to skyrocket and differentiated by low and high season.
