[ARCHIVE 2014 to 2017] Conrad Maldives Rangali Island {MDV}
Jul 21, 2017, 2:13 pm
#4711
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Hmmm. Would any of those nights happen to be before Jan 8?
Jul 21, 2017, 3:13 pm
#4713
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Actually I re-read your posts from a few pages back and you were thinking of 2 or 3 nights for the upgrade, correct? Did you add a 6th night onto your stay? How many nights are you offering to prepay the upgrade for?
Jul 21, 2017, 3:32 pm
#4714
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 190
My initial stay was for 5 nights with 3 nights upgraded to RWV. I added a 6th night and contacted them about additional upgrades. Currently I'm the first 2 nights in BV and the next 4 nights in RWV. But if I can get a cheaper rate I'd like to upgrade for 5 nights and only stay in the BV 1 night.
Jul 22, 2017, 2:29 am
#4715
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
I see. So just to confirm, the 3 (now 4) nights upgraded to RWV are confirmed at the rates you mentioned and you are due to pay for them at checkout, correct?
As for discounting your rate, at least some of early January is already fully booked and there's a good chance the rest of the month is also pretty full (lots of Russians at that TOTY). Therefore it might be hard for them to re-allocate the single night in the BV that you will be giving back. Pretty much no-one is going to take a single night in a BV. If that's the case, you can imagine that they have to consider that particular room being empty and losing the revenue it would generate for 1 night and so are reluctant to give you anything lower than what they have offered so far. Either that or they would have to give a free (or highly discounted) upgrade to either of the parties staying in that same BV on adjacent sets of nights in order to open up something worth booking. Then they lose all or part of the revenue that that upgrade would have given them. Lose/lose situation for them.
Can I make a suggestion. Staying in a villa for a single night then moving is a hassle, and a hassle that you could do without so soon after you arrive. And for most people it's not going to give you enough time to appreciate just how nice the BVs are. 2 & 4 is a good combination if you want to split a stay. If I were you I'd stick with 2 & 4, save a bit of cash and have more time to really enjoy their newly-renovated BVs. That's my 2c anyway.
As for discounting your rate, at least some of early January is already fully booked and there's a good chance the rest of the month is also pretty full (lots of Russians at that TOTY). Therefore it might be hard for them to re-allocate the single night in the BV that you will be giving back. Pretty much no-one is going to take a single night in a BV. If that's the case, you can imagine that they have to consider that particular room being empty and losing the revenue it would generate for 1 night and so are reluctant to give you anything lower than what they have offered so far. Either that or they would have to give a free (or highly discounted) upgrade to either of the parties staying in that same BV on adjacent sets of nights in order to open up something worth booking. Then they lose all or part of the revenue that that upgrade would have given them. Lose/lose situation for them.
Can I make a suggestion. Staying in a villa for a single night then moving is a hassle, and a hassle that you could do without so soon after you arrive. And for most people it's not going to give you enough time to appreciate just how nice the BVs are. 2 & 4 is a good combination if you want to split a stay. If I were you I'd stick with 2 & 4, save a bit of cash and have more time to really enjoy their newly-renovated BVs. That's my 2c anyway.
Jul 22, 2017, 3:09 am
#4716
Formerly known as hcampana
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AMS
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 463
Can I make a suggestion. Staying in a villa for a single night then moving is a hassle, and a hassle that you could do without so soon after you arrive. And for most people it's not going to give you enough time to appreciate just how nice the BVs are. 2 & 4 is a good combination if you want to split a stay. If I were you I'd stick with 2 & 4, save a bit of cash and have more time to really enjoy their newly-renovated BVs. That's my 2c anyway.
Jul 23, 2017, 10:33 am
#4717
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 190
I see. So just to confirm, the 3 (now 4) nights upgraded to RWV are confirmed at the rates you mentioned and you are due to pay for them at checkout, correct?
As for discounting your rate, at least some of early January is already fully booked and there's a good chance the rest of the month is also pretty full (lots of Russians at that TOTY). Therefore it might be hard for them to re-allocate the single night in the BV that you will be giving back. Pretty much no-one is going to take a single night in a BV. If that's the case, you can imagine that they have to consider that particular room being empty and losing the revenue it would generate for 1 night and so are reluctant to give you anything lower than what they have offered so far. Either that or they would have to give a free (or highly discounted) upgrade to either of the parties staying in that same BV on adjacent sets of nights in order to open up something worth booking. Then they lose all or part of the revenue that that upgrade would have given them. Lose/lose situation for them.
Can I make a suggestion. Staying in a villa for a single night then moving is a hassle, and a hassle that you could do without so soon after you arrive. And for most people it's not going to give you enough time to appreciate just how nice the BVs are. 2 & 4 is a good combination if you want to split a stay. If I were you I'd stick with 2 & 4, save a bit of cash and have more time to really enjoy their newly-renovated BVs. That's my 2c anyway.
As for discounting your rate, at least some of early January is already fully booked and there's a good chance the rest of the month is also pretty full (lots of Russians at that TOTY). Therefore it might be hard for them to re-allocate the single night in the BV that you will be giving back. Pretty much no-one is going to take a single night in a BV. If that's the case, you can imagine that they have to consider that particular room being empty and losing the revenue it would generate for 1 night and so are reluctant to give you anything lower than what they have offered so far. Either that or they would have to give a free (or highly discounted) upgrade to either of the parties staying in that same BV on adjacent sets of nights in order to open up something worth booking. Then they lose all or part of the revenue that that upgrade would have given them. Lose/lose situation for them.
Can I make a suggestion. Staying in a villa for a single night then moving is a hassle, and a hassle that you could do without so soon after you arrive. And for most people it's not going to give you enough time to appreciate just how nice the BVs are. 2 & 4 is a good combination if you want to split a stay. If I were you I'd stick with 2 & 4, save a bit of cash and have more time to really enjoy their newly-renovated BVs. That's my 2c anyway.
Thanks for the advice!
Jul 24, 2017, 3:11 am
#4718
Company Representative, Milaidhoo Maldives
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Baa Atoll, The Maldives
Posts: 27
Jul 24, 2017, 5:10 am
#4719
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
OK, so they don't do it as a normal routine and check everyone's water bottles. I suppose that would be a logistical nightmare and also please at least a couple of FT'ers here, LOL.
Jul 24, 2017, 2:55 pm
#4720
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 253
Heading back to Rangali for our 8th stay (10th in Maldives ... yup, we're addicted ...). Any FT'ers going to be at CR during period of August 4-11??
Jul 25, 2017, 1:18 am
#4721
Company Representative, Milaidhoo Maldives
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Baa Atoll, The Maldives
Posts: 27
A couple of years ago I did notice them taking water bottles off travellers coming into the country. I haven't noticed this since, but then I'm not really looking. My strong advice would be to not risk this. Customs are aware of this trick, and they do stop people, so your chances of getting caught are good. While accidentally bringing alcohol into the country isn't a problem, this is definitely smuggling.
Kat
Jul 25, 2017, 3:26 am
#4722
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 462
We have arrived and it's as magnificent as everyone says! The biggest surprise in the few hours we've been here is how perfect the water temperature is, for some reason I was expecting it to be warm but it's really refreshing.
If anyone is going to be here for the next few nights let me know and let's grab a drink or two!
If anyone is going to be here for the next few nights let me know and let's grab a drink or two!
Jul 25, 2017, 4:28 am
#4723
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
I can't confirm whether or not it's routine because I don't really pay that much attention when I go through customs (still half asleep, usually!).
A couple of years ago I did notice them taking water bottles off travellers coming into the country. I haven't noticed this since, but then I'm not really looking. My strong advice would be to not risk this. Customs are aware of this trick, and they do stop people, so your chances of getting caught are good. While accidentally bringing alcohol into the country isn't a problem, this is definitely smuggling.
Kat
A couple of years ago I did notice them taking water bottles off travellers coming into the country. I haven't noticed this since, but then I'm not really looking. My strong advice would be to not risk this. Customs are aware of this trick, and they do stop people, so your chances of getting caught are good. While accidentally bringing alcohol into the country isn't a problem, this is definitely smuggling.
Kat
Jul 25, 2017, 7:42 pm
#4725
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 462
What's the etiquette on tipping for tea and free happy hour? We do have some cash here and service was exemplary at the happy hour yesterday. Just want to make sure everyone is being taken care of and it's also not frowned upon to tip.