[ARCHIVE to 2013] Conrad Maldives Rangali Island {MDV}
Dec 9, 2013, 8:23 am
#7516
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,497
I wouldn't worry if I were you. Highly unlikely they would let their service go awry. I wouldn't like to be there on the last 2 or 3 days though as the seaplane company will have a hell of a time trying to fly every single guest back to Male. I spoke to one of the staff there - a young German lady - and she said that the worst they've had as far as not being able to get guests off the islands (due to weather) is they had to put some of them up in the yacht for the night. Might sound nice but I think if you were missing your flight out of Male you wouldn't be too happy regardless of where they put you...
Dec 9, 2013, 8:50 am
#7517
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 731
can you see fish at all times in the enclosed glass restaurant?
Just curious if you see lots of fish like the pictures at all times- during lunch and dinner or if there are better times to be able to see more fish. Thanks for more info if you tried lunch and/or dinner here.
Dec 9, 2013, 9:28 am
#7518
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SAN, DFW
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 307
Dec 9, 2013, 9:52 am
#7519
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,497
There are fish all the time, everywhere, but the bridge at night is one of the best places to see some of them. There are other animals too. Today I have seen 2 types of lizard, (fruit?) bats, some birds, an octopus, hermit crabs, the bioluminescent stuff, and a crazy amount and variety of fish.
Dec 9, 2013, 1:00 pm
#7520
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 731
There are fish all the time, everywhere, but the bridge at night is one of the best places to see some of them. There are other animals too. Today I have seen 2 types of lizard, (fruit?) bats, some birds, an octopus, hermit crabs, the bioluminescent stuff, and a crazy amount and variety of fish.
I just heard from the concierge that we need to book the restaurant 2 weeks in advance in order to make sure we have dinner or lunch because it's very restricted. We leave in a month, so maybe that's a busy time of year.
Dec 9, 2013, 3:00 pm
#7521
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Programs: OZ *G, HHonors Gold, Aclub Plat
Posts: 1,025
wow, super exciting! Is the bridge outside or in the restaurant? Did you go on any tours or did you see that from just the bridge? Very excited for you.
I just heard from the concierge that we need to book the restaurant 2 weeks in advance in order to make sure we have dinner or lunch because it's very restricted. We leave in a month, so maybe that's a busy time of year.
I just heard from the concierge that we need to book the restaurant 2 weeks in advance in order to make sure we have dinner or lunch because it's very restricted. We leave in a month, so maybe that's a busy time of year.
Dec 9, 2013, 4:26 pm
#7522
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PDX
Posts: 988
I wouldn't worry if I were you. Highly unlikely they would let their service go awry. I wouldn't like to be there on the last 2 or 3 days though as the seaplane company will have a hell of a time trying to fly every single guest back to Male. I spoke to one of the staff there - a young German lady - and she said that the worst they've had as far as not being able to get guests off the islands (due to weather) is they had to put some of them up in the yacht for the night. Might sound nice but I think if you were missing your flight out of Male you wouldn't be too happy regardless of where they put you...
Dec 9, 2013, 5:58 pm
#7523
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,497
Spellbound, I suggest you peruse the map of the resort, to understand a little about what you can see.
Basically the place is 2 islands connected by a long bridge with the seaplane terminal in the middle. You will not see much from most restaurants, except maybe vilu or sunset grill if right on the edge, looking down.
I have not yet left the resort, nor done any real specialised activities (apart from snorkelling) to see all that. You just have to keep an eye out!
Also, there are different fish at different times of day so always look down!
Does anyone know what the jumping fish are? Are there flying fish here or is it something else?
Basically the place is 2 islands connected by a long bridge with the seaplane terminal in the middle. You will not see much from most restaurants, except maybe vilu or sunset grill if right on the edge, looking down.
I have not yet left the resort, nor done any real specialised activities (apart from snorkelling) to see all that. You just have to keep an eye out!
Also, there are different fish at different times of day so always look down!
Does anyone know what the jumping fish are? Are there flying fish here or is it something else?
Dec 9, 2013, 6:52 pm
#7524
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 731
Dec 9, 2013, 7:26 pm
#7525
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,497
Also, you can book most dinners on the day, or day prior I have found, but I don't guarantee it! Ithaa needs advance booking though, as that one was full in my preferred time.
And Dinners really don't have to be $300pp. The degustation at Vilu is only $95 with 5 courses if you don't get matched wines, and it is very decent!
The buffets are also around the same price
And Dinners really don't have to be $300pp. The degustation at Vilu is only $95 with 5 courses if you don't get matched wines, and it is very decent!
The buffets are also around the same price
Last edited by Cynicor; Dec 9, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Dec 9, 2013, 7:45 pm
#7526
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
The seaplane company...but I doubt you'd get a cent out of them. You'd have to have extensive travel insurance that would cover full reimbursement of flights. Then there'd have to be seats available on whatever flight you got out of Male and in high season that'd be a stretch.
Dec 9, 2013, 8:49 pm
#7527
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, BLR, LHR, SIN and a few others
Programs: UA 1K 1.01 MM
Posts: 1,245
We had a flight issue, see down the thread for details, in any case our concierge indicated to my wife that they had a back-up protocol, which is a boat to another island where you can connect to a domestic flight that can fly at night. Not much help assuming weather is to bad to fly, unless they have different tolerance for weather.
Dec 9, 2013, 9:50 pm
#7528
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
You are right. I think it was only late this year that they implemented that protocol (after the new airport opened). Don't know the schedule of flights back to Male though or whether it would be practical to get a flight out at such short notice and even whether the speedboat would take passengers in a heavy storm. Wonder if CM can clear that up for us?
Last edited by MaldivesFreak; Dec 9, 2013 at 9:56 pm
Dec 9, 2013, 11:01 pm
#7529
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAD
Programs: United, AA, Hilton
Posts: 340
There is a domestic flight out at 6pm and 11pm. I think they are atr 42s and or dash 8s. They flew through the monsoon when I was there according to my flight tracker app. The problem is getting to that island in rough seas. The boat we were on that takes you past the airport island could barely handle the 1.5 meter waves.
Dec 9, 2013, 11:06 pm
#7530
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAD
Programs: United, AA, Hilton
Posts: 340
Resolved to my satisfaction, with thanks to all, but especially soccerguy985.
Apologies were given, and they've made amends. However, we are probably the first people ever that booked a trip there that really didn't want to go. We really didn't. In the grand scheme of things, it's little consolation. But it is the right place to help us escape, get away and put the past behind us.
(For those that are interested, I did post our adoption debacle in OMNI in the 'Adoption Clinic' thread over the course of the last month).
Apologies were given, and they've made amends. However, we are probably the first people ever that booked a trip there that really didn't want to go. We really didn't. In the grand scheme of things, it's little consolation. But it is the right place to help us escape, get away and put the past behind us.
(For those that are interested, I did post our adoption debacle in OMNI in the 'Adoption Clinic' thread over the course of the last month).