Just wanted to provide a datapoint for any future travelers who face a weather IROP at the Maldives. This is in regards to a seaplane flight cancellation due to weather, forcing us to stay the night in Male and miss a day at the resort.

When the seaplanes were cancelled, the staff at the Conrad Lounge told us that a) we’d have to pay a change fee to the seaplane company, b) we’d have to book and pay for our own accommodations in Male that night, and c) we’d receive no compensation at the resort. There happened to be a TMA employee in the lounge, so we talked to her regarding the change fee. She make it clear from the outset that we didn’t have to pay any fees for the rebooking to the next day due to bad weather and was shocked that we thought we had do. This was probably a hotel miscommunication. The Conrad employees wouldn’t budge on the other two, so we ended up having to shell out $500 for a room in Male that night (mind you everything was extremely expensive because a) everyone had to stay the night in Male now and b) it was a day-of booking). Even the airport hotel cost north of $350 for a room; they just couldn’t accomodate three people. The employees did say the GM would meet all the delayed passengers at the arrival platform the next day.

We tweeted Hilton, who contacted the resort. They reiterated the GM would meet us at the platform on arrival. We got to the resort around 1pm the next day. No GM, but we did get a complimentary SWV —-> DWV upgrade. We asked our personal attendant (is this the role name?) about the possibility of a refund or resort credit to compensate the first night. She said she’d have to talk with the manager. She got back to us later in the day saying we’d get a resort credit but wouldn’t tell us for how much. After a back-and-forth throughout the next day, they finally offered a $500 credit. We pushed a bit more and they comped a couple’s massage worth about $450 with taxes and fees. We ran into another delayed couple who were Gold (we are Diamond); they were still negotiating but their current offer was $200 and a free Market Atoll Dinner.

Just want to say: we completely understand that weather is out of the hands of the Conrad. However, the way this situation was handled was really poor. If this is a rare occurrence, then I’m happy that more travelers don’t have to miss out on such an amazing (expensive) experience. If it’s even semi-common, I’m shocked the Conrad doesn’t have a system worked out with a Male hotel. As far as I’m concerned, we were in the custody of the Conrad on-time, at an extension of their resort (the lounge), and given that we paid for a room that night, it was their responsibility to ensure we were accommodated. Anyways, just wanted to put this out there to provide a new DP: the Conrad, through some negotiation, will offer you a resort credit, free experiences, and/or room upgrades in the case of a weather IROP.