Location: AA EXP (1MM), AS MVPG, UA 2P, AMTK AGR SEL, SPG PLT, HH GLD
Posts: 1,345
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
I've been saving points for quite some time in order to specifically book a GLONP2 reward at the Hilton Rangali Island for my honeymoon in mid-December 2008.
After calling HHonors twice (in Oct. and Nov. 2007) I was told that I could only book this reward 365 days prior to the stay. I verified that the dates I'm looking at are not blacked-out. I wasn't too concerned about waiting, especially since I noticed the property was very good at always having a single reward room available at exactly 365 days out. It was also possible to see (though not reserve) availability on the 366th day prior. I started closely monitoring availability on Dec 1st, and true to form the hotel always had one room available per day.
After consulting HHonors, they suggested that I book six separate Cat-6 one night rewards (each exactly at midnight, 365 days prior), and then call them to have it reissued into a GLONP2. This would prevent me from loosing availability to someone else while waiting six days for everything to become bookable.
I put this plan into action and was able to successfully book two nights (December 16th and 17th), but once the property became a Conrad on Dec 18 2007, all new award inventory stopped being released. Since the 18th, not a single new day had been released.
I find this quite frustrating having been so committed to securing a reward week at this property for so long and, seemingly, having done everything possible to ensure I had the best chance to access the (understandably) limited inventory available.
I called HHonors to get their input, and they said there was really nothing that could be done. They couldn't verify any change in Conrad's assignment of reward inventory. Further, they even said that by using hhonors.com we have far better access to award availability when booking 365 days out because their system only gets loaded with the new advanced availability every Sunday. Having read every FT thread on this property, I've learned that the Maldives is the one place where even the Diamond Force doesn't work - so going that route isn’t really possible either.
So, I'm wondering if anyone has some suggestions (or similar experience dealing with finding availability at properties that recently changed brands)?
Is it possible that the Xmas/New Year period is a "period of extraordinary demand" and that no award space is available? Maybe it has nothinbg to do with the re-flaging as a Conrad.
I experienced a similar problem once with a different hotel. The short answer is that I had to wait to get award availability but luckily I was not trying to get a Maldives reservation. I might suggest calling the hotel directly. Or having the diamond desk try to arrange the award directly with the hotel management? I have no experience with this particular hotel but this situation certainly calls for a little creativity. Good luck!!
Location: AA EXP (1MM), AS MVPG, UA 2P, AMTK AGR SEL, SPG PLT, HH GLD
Posts: 1,345
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bondiboy
Is it possible that the Xmas/New Year period is a "period of extraordinary demand" and that no award space is available? Maybe it has nothinbg to do with the re-flaging as a Conrad.
Did you "tests" cover this same period last year?
Wouldn't a "period of extraordinary demand" be listed as a blackout date?
And no, my "tests" (if that's what you want to call it) didn't cover the same period last year. I simply think that the property's transition to the Conrad brand might have something to do with it.
Periods of Extraordinary Demand are almost never indicated as a blackout date. I don't think that is the issue here. Since you leave before Christmas, that isn't a hugely popular vacation time. Good luck!
Or having the diamond desk try to arrange the award directly with the hotel management?
I have no experience with this particular hotel but this situation certainly calls for a little creativity. Good luck!!
The above is not particularly good advice regarding the Maldives property.
I have an award reservation for mid-February and because of flight arrivals/departures I wanted to change the reservation to allow arrival one day earlier. I started with the Diamond Desk and despite escalation to a supervisor I was informed that the DD was unable to help. I then e-mailed/called the hotel and was informed that they were unable to help me change an award reservation.
I was not successful in getting my reservation changed so I am now spending an extra day in MLE and have cut my stay at the Conrad by one day.
Apart from the reluctance to even consider a change to my reservation, I found the reservation staff at the Maldives to be very helpful.
By the way .. the flight from MLE to the property is now $300 per person. The luggage allowance is 25kg per person plus 5kg of hand luggage. So plan accordingly
The above is not particularly good advice regarding the Maldives property.
I have an award reservation for mid-February and because of flight arrivals/departures I wanted to change the reservation to allow arrival one day earlier. I started with the Diamond Desk and despite escalation to a supervisor I was informed that the DD was unable to help. I then e-mailed/called the hotel and was informed that they were unable to help me change an award reservation.
I was not successful in getting my reservation changed so I am now spending an extra day in MLE and have cut my stay at the Conrad by one day.
Apart from the reluctance to even consider a change to my reservation, I found the reservation staff at the Maldives to be very helpful.
By the way .. the flight from MLE to the property is now $300 per person. The luggage allowance is 25kg per person plus 5kg of hand luggage. So plan accordingly
The thread on this property is long and has details concering trying to get awards (I beleive OP mentioned reading/reviewing already)
I have an award stay booked there at end of March/April, and it took many weeks of checking daily, amd a few emails with hotel to get there. I also am combining several awards of 1-2 nights, and a couple of revenue nights.
During my attempts at booking, I would look at the availability calendar a year out, and never saw six consecutive nights available.
The DD can not help at all with this property, and the management at the hotel are apologetically unable to bend at all wrt awards either.
The Hilton Maldives has recently been rebranded as a Conrad and it is probably time to start a new thread. For those interested in previous reviews and the problems of obtaining reward reservations I suggest a search under "Maldives"
As there are some aspects of visiting this property that are not discussed on the web-site, I am sharing the following e-mail recently received from the property regarding my upcoming stay.
Please note the cost of the Seaplane transfer, the early/late check-in comments and the luggage.
Quote:
Dear Bondiboy
Greetings from our Little Patch of Paradise in the Middle of Indian Ocean!
Thank you very much for choosing the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. We are delighted to confirm your seaplane transfer as follows.
Guest Name: Bondiboy
Arrival Date: ???? - Arriving from Nasandhura ( overnight arrangement done by own)
'''
Hilton Hhonors Diamond member we provides a bottle of champagne and fruit platter upon arrival in Villa, early check in and late check out subject to room availability upon arrival day and free upgrade to next room category subject to room availability upon arrival day only.
The road to paradise..just 90km from the Male airport on Hulhule Island, 30-minute seaplanes ride.A round trip seaplane trasfer cost US$ 300.00 per person. The breathtaking seaplane journey is available during daylight hours only from 06:00 a.m to 04:00 p.m and has a luggage allowance of 25kg per person plus 5kg of hand luggage. Any excess baggage is chargeable and will have to be paid directly to Maldivian Air Taxi at US $ 2.00 per 1kg.
The Conrad Maldives Representative will be at the airport to meet & greet upon arrival. Our Representatives are located at the Counter # 49 and # 50 (Crown Tours) at the arrival terminal hall. They will escort you to Maldivian Air Taxi Conrad Lounge, where you will be transferred to Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
Hotel check in time: 14:00hrs Early check in can be guaranteed by charging the previous night accommodation
Hotel check out time: 12noon Late check out until 17:00hrs can be guaranteed by charging an additional night accommodation
In the event of a cancellation within 72 hours prior to the arrival or no-show/ one way seaplane transfers as per number of seats booked will be charged from the credit card.
Additional hotel information:Half Board Supplement (Dinner): USD 66.00 per adult per night including 10% service charge.
Half Board guest will get 25% on a la carte menus and US$ 30.00 credit on special dinner events.
Half Board guest have a choice of dine in Atoll market Place.
Special Events Dinner : Underwater restaurant ,Koko Grill, Wine Cellar Dinner and Private BBQ on the Beach.
We accept special event dinner's reservation 14 days prior to clients arrival at Conrad Maldives and we recommend all our guest to reserve or prebook a table for special event dinners 2 weeks prior to arrival.
F&B special event dinner's reservation looking after our Island host Ms Almas.
To pre-book the Special Dinner event's reservation & price,excursion trips & price and more information about the meals,please contact direct to below e-mail address .
Island Host E-Mail address: Islandhost.Maldives@conradhotels.com
We have two spas on the resort - the beautiful Overwater Spa with its glass-bottom treatment floors and the award-winning Spa Retreat - Maldives only Destination Spa. It's a great idea to pre-book as the spa's do get very busy. If you would like more information on the Spas, please contact our Spa Manager, Tara Hanrahan, on spa.maldives@conradhotels.com who would be more than happy to help.
Please contact our dive center's manager Mr Alexis with regard to dive sites and more information about the dive courses and price. Mr Alexis E-mail address:Rangali@Subaqua-divecenter.com
The Islanders of Rangali and Rangalifinolhu are looking forward to welcome you in our own patch of little paradise and trust that you will have a superb holiday with us at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
(*******)
Senior Reservations Agent
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
P.O Box 2034
South Ari Atoll
Republic of the Maldives
Please note the cost of the Seaplane transfer, the early/late check-in comments and the luggage.
My wife and I just returned from the Conrad, and it was wonderful.
With regards to the excess weight to the luggage, if the Sea plane is not full and your bags are not overly over weight they let you slide. overly over is roughly + or - 5 pounds.
The Hilton Maldives has recently been rebranded as a Conrad and it is probably time to start a new thread. For those interested in previous reviews and the problems of obtaining reward reservations I suggest a search under "Maldives"
As there are some aspects of visiting this property that are not discussed on the web-site, I am sharing the following e-mail recently received from the property regarding my upcoming stay.
Please note the cost of the Seaplane transfer, the early/late check-in comments and the luggage.
Thanks for this, we're going there in March, how far in advance of your stay have you received this notification?
Our stay is a combination award and revenue stay.
The upgrade policy is interesting, I wonder how hard and fast they stick to it - i.e. if the next room category is not available, but others higher up in cost are, will they not consider an upgrade?
I received a request for flight details about fourn months prior to my visit. The e-mail quoted in the post was in response to me sending them my flight details.
I have also received a bunch of (what seemed) photos, menus, meal plans, excursions and many pages of spa treatments and prices.
I will let you know about the upgrade after my visit - but I have very low expectations. Given that the lowest price room in February is about $1100 and I happy for the free stay.
where would you recommend to stay near the airport
also is it worth going there for just 2 days or should one make more time of it as it takes so long to get there
where would you recommend to stay near the airport
also is it worth going there for just 2 days or should one make more time of it as it takes so long to get there
My wife and I stayed for 7 days. So personally 2 days seems very short.
Once your there, it will be very hard to leave. If you want to Stay longer its a hit or miss, sometimes theres availability other time there's not. We've met people who booked and stayed 2 days and thought it was enough but wanted to stay longer but there was no availability.
With regards to upgrades, again I think it depends on availability. If available they'll probably upgrade you if you have status. When we arrived we where upgraded from a Watervilla to a Superior Watervilla
where would you recommend to stay near the airport
also is it worth going there for just 2 days or should one make more time of it as it takes so long to get there
There is a bunch of hotels in MLE a short 15 min ferry ride from the airport. There is even a very highly priced hotel at the airport. I have booked the Nasandhura for a little less the $100 B & B. There are cheaper hotels - see Lonely Planet
MLE can be a difficult place to get to as flights do not operate every day.
If you gave me a choice of two days or not at all, I would opt to at least see the place - especially if the accommodation was free and you could eith use FF points or an LCC to get there. See
I have booked the Nasandhura for a little less the $100 B & B.
Just a few steps from the jetty, but thats about the only good thing about this place.
Even small town motel rooms in Australia are in better shape than the Nasandhura "Palace" Hotel. But then one should experience a little bit of "hell" before going to "heaven"
