Sweet Willie

Here is all the FT archive info I could dig up on the Hilton Maldives that had pertinent inforamtion:

SFO_FT – “Stayed there a year ago ... phenom place. The hotel is located on its own island, which is 30 minutes flying time from the int'l airport at Male. The "air taxi" flights only operate during daylight hours, so if you arrive on the SQ flight from SIN (arriving late evening in Male), you'll need to overnight in Male.

No specific exec club lounge at the hotel. It's a small, intimate hotel anyway and the hotel bar/lounge serves as the main focal point of activity. The overwater rooms are located on a small adjacent island, which does have a private lounge for guests staying in these rooms. Nothing fancy, though.

If I remember correctly, the air "taxi" to/from Male is somewhere in the neighborhood of US$175/roundtrip.
Most guests do the full meal plan, which I remember being about US$60 or US$70 per person per day. Meals are buffet style (really good food, too) in the main restaurant, with lots of options/variety.”

Gaza - “Contact details of Maldivian Air Taxi http://www.mataxi.com/

BSL – “Well I must chime in with my personal favorite: Hilton Maldives. But only the Over-water bungalows. In a word awesome. I would highly recommend staying there to anyone. Getting there from the US is a long trip. We went via Germany. If you go don't bother to stay in the land villa's. We had to the first night we were there, these villas will make you think again about your decision to make the trek. But not the overwater villas, Large room, deck, secluded beaches, huge tub, shower, closet all done in wood. The staff made our bed and decorated it with flowers.”

beergut

SST

From the Maldives Hilton website.


" Resort is located 90km from the Male airport on Hulhule Island, a 30-minute seaplane ride. A round trip by seaplane is US$ 220.00 per adult and child under 12yrs get 50% discount, we will arrange the transfers. The seaplane journey is available during daylight hours only, and has a luggage allowance of 20kg 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. In order to reserve the transfers, arrival and departure international flight details should be provided in advance .

Guests arriving at night will have to over-night at the Airport hotel , we will reserve room for them ; Rates:- 01/08/02-31/10/02 USD 155.00 & from 01/11/02-30/04/03 USD 165.00 per room per night inclusive of breakfast and service charge.The payment should be setteled at Hilton (Festivee season suplement from 22/12/02-04/01/03 USD 30.00 per room per night.)

Our airport representatives meet and greet all guests upon their arrival to Male Airport. Located at counter number 2 (Crown Tours PVT Ltd) our representatives will escort them to the Maldivian Air Taxi shuttle bus service where they will be transferred to our Hilton Maldivian Air Taxi Lounge. "

Nigel

mymiles2go

From what I understand, an award stay at Maldives is default a beach (or land in some way shape or form) villa. With some Diamond members reporting luck in getting upgrades (dependant on how full the resort is). Does anybody know if one can somehow "pay" extra points to get a guarantee upfront of a overwater bungalow?

I do recall that some programs (Marriott or Starwood, but I think it's Marriott) allow for "pre-paid" with points, upgrades ahead of time.

beergut

Don't know about that but when I e mailed Hilton Maldives last year for reservation prices I also asked about upgrades for GOld. The reply was that it depended on occupancy levels and no hint was given as to whether you'd be upgraded from beach to Water if an upgrade was possible

Nigel

Sweet Willie

No one can't and as I've stated before, this is a HUGE PITFALL of the HHonors program. W/Marriott and *wood, you can either use a higher point amount OR pay a slight fee per day to guarantee the room you want.

BSL

As for the Land or Water villas. Spend the money and stay in a WV. I was was a gold during my stay and told by local staff that I would not be able to upgrade to the WV's. So here is what I did:
I made a reservation for the week and just kept repricing the same week over and over. Eventually I got a $200 per night rate then cancelled the other reservation. There is one WV that is better than the rest and another couple, one of whom was a diamond, had been upgraded to it. If you are a diamond who knows.

To quote my wife: "You are not going to take me to the other side of the Earth and then not let us stay in the nice rooms." She was compeletly right.

The rooms are nicer, breakfast is included (we would carry away enough food for an afternoon snack and then not eat again until dinner), the service is better, turndown at night is better, there is a different feel to staying on the two islands. We would go over to the main island for activities and laze away the day on the WV island. I would not risk not getting upgraded.

Request that they make you dinner on the point of the island. (it requires a special request and is worth it.) They take you to the tip of the island and set up a table and chairs and then there is cook and waiter for you and you eat dinner under the moonlight. You get to choose your own menu, I think the entire cost was ~65-70 including wine, best dinnner we had on our honeymoon.

E-mail me if you need more info.

BSL

SFO_FT

Am wondering if anyone has, in the past 12 months, been successful obtaining award space at this wonderful property. US award res has told me nothing avail for the next 12 months!!!

FrankoBonanzo

I was successful in booking a six night GLON a few months ago for a stay there at the end of October & beginning of November. From what I've heard it will be the best 100,000 points I've ever spent.

Wudy15

The Diamond desk (Glasgow) had to call the hotel direct as there was nothing showing for late September months back.DD managed to get us 6nts starting the 27th Sept which was not our 1st choice dates but was all that they could secure. DD also told us that there is only 2 rooms per night available for HH redemption.

PS No BA Miles award seats to the Maldives either!!Still looking for a cheap flight

Cheers

Alan

Mogensen

You can look forward to your stay at hilton rangali at the maldives, it is great. Was there with my fiance last summer, and spent 5 wonderful days there, relaxing, swimming and enjoying life. You might also consider taking a flight to sri lanka a rt ticket business class with emirates is not more than about 2-300 - the view on this flight is great and sri lanka is a wonderful county. Check some of the aitkenspence hotels www.aitkenspencehotels.com

OSLflyer

Mogensen
Do you connected in DXB on your way to MLE and where do you purchased your tickets?

Together with my family I will be on Meeru in July, but havn't booked any flight yet. We have also made plans for visit friends in DXB.
Thanks.

mymiles2go

I successfully created a 6 day stay for later this summer via Award. Like others mentioned, you'll have to call the Diamond desk - or call the hotel directly and try and work something out. The hotel staff also answer e-mail quite regularily - but trust me - phone calls are better to that resort.

Fly Boy

I am considering spending a week at the Hilton Maldives this June or July and have been a bit confused by the guidebooks which seem to say that weather there is undesireable over the summer months (specifically; high winds and lots of rain were mentioned).

I would be grateful if any of you might have some feedback or experience to share about the local climate for this property. It has been difficult to guage if the weather will be so bad that the trip would not be relaxing. Many thanks!

Fly Boy

Reviving this thread...

I would be grateful if someone could post if they have heard anything about what it's like there in the summer months...

Sweet Willie

For the following information you must post your Maldives trip report on Flyertalk

http://www.asia-hotels.com/weather/Maldives.asp

Maldives weather
Male
Dry Season
November - April
Average temperature Average rainfall
23 - 32oC (73-89F) 72mm
Wet Season
May - October
23 - 33oC (73-91F) 208mm


The Maldives has a hot, tropical climate all year round and is affected by two monsoons bringing different weather fronts to the area.

Wet Season - The southwest monsoon brings wind and rain and it is a good idea to try to avoid the Maldives during this time - particularly June and July when the weather is extremely stormy with torrential rainfall.

Throughout the year the daytime temperature rarely falls below 23ºC and despite its position beside the equator, humidity is low due to cooling sea breezes.

Light cotton or linen clothes are the most appropriate attire and waterproofs are essential during the wetter months.
Best time to visit: During the Dry Season when the northeast monsoon brings drier, sunnier weather.

Carry a lightweight jumper as it can be chillingly cold inside air-conditioned buildings.


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