Originally Posted by
cnote2254
For anyone interested, I asked for further details on several of the private dining options. I can't post the imgur link nor upload photos because I don't have enough posts. Maybe someone can add a/1HCFk16 to the regular imgur url for me.
Anyways, wife and I have a points/certs booking 12-19 Jan prior to having to spend a year apart, so considering surprising her with something unique if it's worth it. Still not sure...
Thanks to everyone here for sharing up to this point, it's been incredibly helpful.
Just got back from the WA... My two cents on the private dinner option is that unless money really is not important to you, its not a good value (I believe its around $1000/couple + taxes). Terra is a decent hybrid option that's mostly private (custom dinner to your tastes, now $300/pp) or the tasting menu at the Ledge (which also is customized) at less than that, though not as private. The private dinners are all nice and the locations are decent, but it isn't as "private" as the pictures make it out to be... Spend your money on a nice nice dinner followed by a great bottle of champagne and ask for some flowers in your room and I promise it will be far more romantic and the rooms are phenomenal.
Originally Posted by
brandonpkt
For those who have visited: Which reef villas or overwater villas would you recommend as the best for direct access to snorkeling?
When we visited Conrad Maldives our fav villa was the old retreat villas because you could swim directly to the “drop-off” / edge of the house reef with deep water and schools of fish.
Visiting WA soon, so thanks for the help with villa selection!
The outside reef has great snorkeling, Any of the OVWs in the 700s have some great snorkeling. Its true the water can be a little rough with the winds, but we never had problems and if you are not a strong swimmer, you can always wear a life jacket. The snorkeling by LiLong is also supposedly good, but while we were there, sand was kicked up from the beaches and there was no viability. I'd recommend an OVW villa as far from land as possible for the best snorkeling.
Originally Posted by
planodiver
My wife and I will be there the 23rd until the 31st next year. Very excited and doing the same thing reading everything in this thread. I’m an avid diver and hoping to see if there’s a way to go dive or snorkel with the whale sharks. So if there’s anyone who’s visiting that could find out if that’s possible I would appreciate it. Managed to find AA award tickets DFW-DOH-MLE Qatar QSuites both ways so really a massive savings on the redemption and booked the Beach Villa though my wife is hoping for a few days in the over water villas..I really appreciate all the information and pictures everyone is posting.
They can do whale shark diving, though its significantly farther than most of the dive sites that they use (which are within 10-15 minuets of the resort). My significant other went on 5 dives and was the only person on all of them (and this seems to be pretty common as there is not a lot of overlap between the clientele and diving). All of the diving was as good as anywhere else she had been in the Maldives (St. Regis and Sheraton). If you want to do whale sharks though, request it when you get there and they will be able to accommodate (though it might be a bit of an up charge due to the added distance).
As for the OVW, they are AMAZING! I think the beach villa is better for families, but you don't really feel like you are in the Maldives. I'd suggest a bit of kindness (via email) and the hotel will try to do the best they can to accommodate...
QSuites are amazing. Please be sure to salute the lamp-headed travel oracle teddy bear when you go through Doha for good travel blessings.
Originally Posted by
lacoca
so countdown has started, within a month we will check in to the WA! few practical questions as could not find any reference on the post.
our flight from Muscat will land at MLE at 06:00 AM ... anyone had this flight and do you know if they will pick us up and take with the boat straight to the resort so early ? have they opened the temporary lounge ? anyone with early check in experience can share ?
shall we expect an email from the resort at some point ? do they usually contact guest in advance or best to contact them ?
The lounge is not open yet, but they do have 4 boats running and the wait times are pretty low. We got lucky and had a private ride to the resort. There were two couples on the way back. They run the boats non-stop though and try to follow a strict schedule.
The boats are all really nice and have champagne and some light snacks.
It might not all be absolutely prefect, but it'll be a very good experience. I would guess that with the 6AM arrival, you won't be waiting for anyone (other than if there's anyone else on your plane).
As everyone has said, they will contact you and its likely you will be able to check-in and not have to sit around for 6 hours.