[ARCHIVE 2014 to 2017] Conrad Maldives Rangali Island {MDV}
Oct 10, 2017, 8:17 am
#5131
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: LGB
Posts: 1,205
For me personally the Quiet Island comes far closer to embodying the spirit of a Maldivian holiday. Whilst I appreciate that there are plenty of large facilities on the main island that people enjoy, I consider everything outside of the overwater area and the house reef as a 'necessary evil'.
Oct 10, 2017, 9:07 am
#5132
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: OVER ENTITLED United 1K 2MM HHonors Diamond ICH Club Platinum Marriott Gold
Posts: 369
Tom pretty much summed it up
They have 2 small catamarans with 2 sails, I think it is the Hobie Cat Wave. They are free of charge, at your first time you have to go with one of the staff of the watersports center, to show that you are able to sail the boat.
For beginners it is quiet nice, you can also book a 1 or 2 hour lesson.
If you are an advanced sailor, it might be a bit boring, as you are restricted to the area between the 2 bridges. So no sailing around the island.
For beginners it is quiet nice, you can also book a 1 or 2 hour lesson.
If you are an advanced sailor, it might be a bit boring, as you are restricted to the area between the 2 bridges. So no sailing around the island.
It is beautiful to go sailing in the lagoon, but the area is pretty small. They don't let you leave the protected waters, but that's probably for good reason.
It is free and that is a big bonus. Worth a try for an hour or so...if it is windy.
Oct 10, 2017, 9:38 am
#5133
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 17
Thanksgiving 2017.
Oct 10, 2017, 10:23 am
#5135
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Slowly but surely... the next part of my trip report is up.
Getting slightly more esoteric with this segment, I hope you all enjoy it nonetheless:
A comparison of The Main Island and the Quiet Island at the Conrad Maldives
For me personally the Quiet Island comes far closer to embodying the spirit of a Maldivian holiday. Whilst I appreciate that there are plenty of large facilities on the main island that people enjoy, I consider everything outside of the overwater area and the house reef as a 'necessary evil'.
I can't imagine that I'm the only person that feels this way...
Getting slightly more esoteric with this segment, I hope you all enjoy it nonetheless:
A comparison of The Main Island and the Quiet Island at the Conrad Maldives
For me personally the Quiet Island comes far closer to embodying the spirit of a Maldivian holiday. Whilst I appreciate that there are plenty of large facilities on the main island that people enjoy, I consider everything outside of the overwater area and the house reef as a 'necessary evil'.
I can't imagine that I'm the only person that feels this way...
And my girlfriend and I have to applaud you on three points. Your pics are always great. Second, every single one of them has the horizon perfectly level (FEI, check out TA to see what I mean) and your dress sense for the location is excellent. ^
Oct 10, 2017, 1:48 pm
#5137
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 139
They have 2 small catamarans with 2 sails, I think it is the Hobie Cat Wave. They are free of charge, at your first time you have to go with one of the staff of the watersports center, to show that you are able to sail the boat.
For beginners it is quiet nice, you can also book a 1 or 2 hour lesson.
If you are an advanced sailor, it might be a bit boring, as you are restricted to the area between the 2 bridges. So no sailing around the island.
For beginners it is quiet nice, you can also book a 1 or 2 hour lesson.
If you are an advanced sailor, it might be a bit boring, as you are restricted to the area between the 2 bridges. So no sailing around the island.
Oct 10, 2017, 4:14 pm
#5138
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Worldwide
Programs: UA MileagePlus Premier Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 289
We're booked for early February! 
We arrive in Male and are spending the night at a hotel near the airport since we would have arrived too late for the seaplane. Depart after lunch on the departure day and then head right to Sri Lanka for a short tour.
Upgrade prices provided were as follows:
Beach Villa to Deluxe Beach Villa USD360.00 + tax per night additional
Beach Villa to Water Villa USD288.00 + tax per night additional
Beach Villa to Superior Water Villa USD360.00 + tax per night additional
Beach Villa to Deluxe Water Villa USD720.00 + tax per night additional
We arrive in Male and are spending the night at a hotel near the airport since we would have arrived too late for the seaplane. Depart after lunch on the departure day and then head right to Sri Lanka for a short tour.
Upgrade prices provided were as follows:
Beach Villa to Deluxe Beach Villa USD360.00 + tax per night additional
Beach Villa to Water Villa USD288.00 + tax per night additional
Beach Villa to Superior Water Villa USD360.00 + tax per night additional
Beach Villa to Deluxe Water Villa USD720.00 + tax per night additional
Oct 10, 2017, 11:16 pm
#5139
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Good decision to overnight in MLE. The more time you can spend in paradise the better.
Thanks for the upgrade quotes. Will add to the wiki if necessary.
Thanks for the upgrade quotes. Will add to the wiki if necessary.
Oct 11, 2017, 2:24 am
#5140
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: Ronin - churn and burn
Posts: 701
I like the frank writing style. Bloggers rarely call out the shortcomings of a Maldivian resort (apart from Hilary Stockton complaining about fruit juice not being freshly squeezed); I usually only see critical posts on forums. Honest reviews may not be as easy to sell to the hotels, airlines, and banks, but I appreciate them!
+1. This is one thing that makes Conrad Rangali special. If you wish to, you can spend a lot of, or even most of your time on Rangalifinolhu; in your OWV, at Vilu and the bar, the Wine Cellar, The Quiet Zone etc, and then there are Koko Grill and the beach dinners, and it still feels isolated and like you're almost the only people there. You don't have to visit the main island if you don't want to.
Funny you should mention clothing. A few people have written to me recently, asking me how I decide what to wear when I travel. I've been meaning to write a post about that for a while. Perhaps it'll help to break the monotony of the endless pattern of F, J, Hyatt, Hilton trip reports that I seem intent on producing
Oct 11, 2017, 8:37 am
#5141
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 540
Is there anything worth seeing in the city of Male? I usually enjoy seeing how the locals live before heading to resorts when I can. Could I land at the airport, catch the ferry from the terminal to Male, take a few hours to go see the town, head back, and then catch the seaplane to the Conrad?
Oct 11, 2017, 8:45 am
#5142
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: LGB
Posts: 1,205
Attitudes toward foreigners are less warm than they are at the resorts. Women report that the local men leer at them. There's no alcohol anywhere.
Oct 11, 2017, 11:04 am
#5143
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 7
And you add up the seaplane and other costs, even with points redemption, it is still expensive IMHO.
Just wanted to add a DP for our upgrade. Below is our original offer, we are going to stay during high season (Thanksgiving):
Beach Villa to Water Villa - USD175+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Superior Water Villa - USD245+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Retreat Water Villa - USD385+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Deluxe Water Villa - USD700+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Premier Water Villa - USD980+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Junior Beach Suite - USD1,260+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Sunset Water Villa - USD2,520+ taxes per night
This was an offer provided in September, I waited for a month and requested politely to upgrade our BV to WV for $100++ per night (total $123.20 per night), to my surprise, I received a yes immediately.
Just wanted to add a DP for our upgrade. Below is our original offer, we are going to stay during high season (Thanksgiving):
Beach Villa to Water Villa - USD175+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Superior Water Villa - USD245+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Retreat Water Villa - USD385+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Deluxe Water Villa - USD700+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Premier Water Villa - USD980+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Junior Beach Suite - USD1,260+ taxes per night
Beach Villa to Sunset Water Villa - USD2,520+ taxes per night
This was an offer provided in September, I waited for a month and requested politely to upgrade our BV to WV for $100++ per night (total $123.20 per night), to my surprise, I received a yes immediately.
Oct 11, 2017, 2:28 pm
#5144
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 60
Managed to request upgrade after seeing Nattino post from Beach villa to SWV for the $245 plus taxes per night (staying 10 nights in March).
I had it reduced from $350 to $300 and thought would ask if could get matched to $245 and the agent was dealing with did so !!
Thanks Nattino.
I had it reduced from $350 to $300 and thought would ask if could get matched to $245 and the agent was dealing with did so !!
Thanks Nattino.
Oct 12, 2017, 11:01 am
#5145
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 478
Hi everyone,
its my first time on here and I have an important query.
My partner and I have just started saving Honors points for a Conrad Maldives redemption middle of next year December for our honeymoon.
In total (including Amex Gold) we currently have 225,000 Hilton points. By upgrading to Platinum and doing another churn we hope to reach the 380,000 required for 5 nights by middle of next year.
My main concern here is that rewards nights could be sold out by the time we actually accumulate all the points next year. Have you had any feedback from readers about this in the past? How easy is it to get redemption for Conrad Maldives 4-5 months in advance on points?
I dont want to transfer all my Amex points to Hilton only to find out that there are no reward nights left!
Any insights will be very helpful!
its my first time on here and I have an important query.
My partner and I have just started saving Honors points for a Conrad Maldives redemption middle of next year December for our honeymoon.
In total (including Amex Gold) we currently have 225,000 Hilton points. By upgrading to Platinum and doing another churn we hope to reach the 380,000 required for 5 nights by middle of next year.
My main concern here is that rewards nights could be sold out by the time we actually accumulate all the points next year. Have you had any feedback from readers about this in the past? How easy is it to get redemption for Conrad Maldives 4-5 months in advance on points?
I dont want to transfer all my Amex points to Hilton only to find out that there are no reward nights left!
Any insights will be very helpful!
Not 100% sure whether Hilton will be in there or not but they used to be the last couple of years.
Or use one of the many points sales where you can accumulate 160'000 points very easily. Your AMEX points might be more useful on other occassions?
Regarding availabilty 4-5 months out I had trouble finding award space in April 2017 for Feb 2018 for the dates I wanted. One or two out of 7 weren't available so I emailed CR. They happily opened up award space and asked me to call Honors and make the booking there even no availabilty was shown. CR cannot make point bookings on their own. I rang up Honors, they called CR and confirmed my dates. Couple of weeks later online award availability was wide open... So you never know, space comes and goes sometimes.