Originally Posted by
samwkchan
Just want to check if the $150 in your example is some real data or just an example number. I ask so because the upgrade cost from Beach Villa to Overwater Villa (the second cheapest "room") in 2021 was already $200++ which exceeds the difference in their pre-tax room rate by a lot.
The room rates on a random date (12 January 2025) of Beach Villa and Overwater Villa are $1235 and $1425. If I book this night with points as a Globalist, do I just pay $190 to upgrade to Overwater Villa?
That was a real number for my particular dates (plus 27.6% tax), but rates are significantly cheaper the time of year I booked. It was more like $900 or so/night for the base Beach Villa rate, so it sounds like the spread between rooms increases as the rates go up (as you'd expect). Real upgrade numbers from a points booking for a slower demand period was $150+tax (OW), $250+tax (Beach Pool), $350+tax (OW w/Pool), $550+tax (Deluxe Beach Pool), and all exactly matched the room price differences. And your other option as Globalist is take your chances and they'll upgrade you to the first level up (OW) for free if available at checkin. Since we feel like we're already getting a deal using points and don't plan on returning to Maldives any time soon, we splurged for one of the higher upgrades to guarantee a (hopefully) amazing room.