[ARCHIVE to 2013] Conrad Maldives Rangali Island {MDV}
#1
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: nyc, ny, usa
Posts: 364

Any recent experiences at this resort? Do they have an Executive Lounge that is provided to Gold/Diamond Members? Is it true that you can only reach the hotel before sunset?

#2
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXPLT, NZ GE, VA PLT Hyatt Diam, Marr Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 3,421
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.
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.

#3
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Sacramento area, CA USA
Programs: UA Gold Million Miler, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,858
I would like to stay there on an award. What about food costs since you are captive there? And what type of food do they serve?

#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
And what are the transfer costs on the air taxi? How is it booked, etc.

#5
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXPLT, NZ GE, VA PLT Hyatt Diam, Marr Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 3,421
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.
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.

#6
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Posts: 234
Does the reward redemption includes the transfer?
Other than sea-plane, are there water taxi (to save some money)?
Other than sea-plane, are there water taxi (to save some money)?

#7
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,786
a few years ago I too was thinking of this but read the local paper and got scared off when I read that the plane that does this trip crashed and everyone aboard was killed
I'm afraid of small planes any way and this didn't help.


#8
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: Still a lowly Blue with BA but inching towards Bronze. Managed to get to KLM Silver!
Posts: 4,308
There are thousand's of uneventful inter-islands flights every year in the Maldives.

#9
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 622
Take the air taxi. I Stayed in the water villas in 99 and loved it. Would return in a heartbeat. As for the Air Taxi. Go to the book store and get the current issue of Airways magazine with Continental on the cover, it has an article on the Maldives Air Taxi. These guys are who we flew with. The boat will take hours and you WILL be seasick if you don't spend alot of time on the water already.
BSL
The Airways Table of Contents.
http://www.airwaysmag.com/magazine/a64/index.tpl
BSL
The Airways Table of Contents.
http://www.airwaysmag.com/magazine/a64/index.tpl

#10
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: SFO
Posts: 687
Hilton Maldives - any advice??
has anyone stayed at the Hilton Naldives? I am planning a trip there soon. Thanks in advance. When is the best season to visit?

#11
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AA ExPlat, Marriott lifetime Titanium, IHG Spire/Ambassador
Posts: 23,374
sxchan,
Check this thread, there is a short rec from a BSL on the Maldives: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/000679.html
another FT asks BSL to elaborate, but to date they have not. Hopefully here?
Check this thread, there is a short rec from a BSL on the Maldives: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/000679.html
another FT asks BSL to elaborate, but to date they have not. Hopefully here?

#12
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AA ExPlat, Marriott lifetime Titanium, IHG Spire/Ambassador
Posts: 23,374
Don't know why, but this thread did not come up on my first search.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/001070.html
Anybody else been??????
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/001070.html
Anybody else been??????

#14
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: Still a lowly Blue with BA but inching towards Bronze. Managed to get to KLM Silver!
Posts: 4,308

#15
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: Still a lowly Blue with BA but inching towards Bronze. Managed to get to KLM Silver!
Posts: 4,308
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by estnet:
a few years ago I too was thinking of this but read the local paper and got scared off when I read that the plane that does this trip crashed and everyone aboard was killed
I'm afraid of small planes any way and this didn't help.</font>
a few years ago I too was thinking of this but read the local paper and got scared off when I read that the plane that does this trip crashed and everyone aboard was killed

We did the Seaplane transfer to our resort (not the Hilton) and it was fantastic. The Pilots must have the best flying job around - t-shirt, shorts and bare feet!
