[ARCHIVE 2018 to 2019] Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi {MDV}
#271
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Posts: 2,385
I dont get why you guys are surprised about the 'Premium Room Rewards' price? Its perfectly in the usual range for points-per-dollar, so the high values you're seeing was known as soon as they started releasing the expected revenue prices last year. The only thing that is (still) unknown is how many, if at all, standard price reward rooms they'll release, and at what price.
#272
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: HH Diamond, BAEC
Posts: 1,341
I agree. A Deluxe Water Villa at CR is 470k points and the cash rate for that is nowhere near that of the cash rate for the base room at the WA.
#273
Formerly known as hcampana
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AMS
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 463
So does that mean all rooms will be premium rewards? When I pull up the base room there is no option for using points online. The grand villa says “premium” room rewards. But there is no price.
#274
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
TD
#275
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: Hilton credit card Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,653
I dont get why you guys are surprised about the 'Premium Room Rewards' price? Its perfectly in the usual range for points-per-dollar, so the high values you're seeing was known as soon as they started releasing the expected revenue prices last year. The only thing that is (still) unknown is how many, if at all, standard price reward rooms they'll release, and at what price.
#277
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott PPE with Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 226
Exactly - and it is actually even more if you count taxes and service charge, of which award stays are exempt! The all-in non-prepay cash rate with HIlton Honors discount for a base water villla at Conrad Maldives during my upcoming festival season stay is $3,600 / night all in or about $75k for the entire 21 night stay. I booked 20 nights on points (total 1,520,000 points) and one with a free night award. I ended up buying some points at 0.5 cents/point during the latest promo and ended up utilizing them for about 10x price at about 5 cents/point - one of the few times buying Hilton points proved to be a good value. It might be silly, but I’ll definitely take it
Last edited by brandonpkt; Feb 8, 2019 at 9:01 pm
#278
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Gold, UA Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 342
unpopular opinion here, but ive seen quite a view videos & pictures of the new Waldorf and i simply cant see why anyone would pay upwards of $1,800 to stay in an island that is overbuilt, ugly and essentially everything that the maldives shouldn't be. ive been to the maldives 5 times (visiting 5 different islands) and ive yet to see a resort island that looks as unnatural as the Waldorf (except for maybe Centara Ras Fushi & the Sheraton!). its very clear by the unique shape off the island that a lot of the sand has been artificially pumped, and the island does not appear to have any sort of big blue lagoon that is typical of maldivian resort islands. the water villas are built in extremely long lines with a very narrow lagoon infront of them which in my opinion will make swimming not so enjoyable as the reef drop-off is so close by.
yeah the rooms are really nice but you can get nice rooms in dubai or other locations.. what makes the maldives a special destination is the sheer natural beauty of the island and its surroundings, and the Waldorf appears to lack all of that. while the conrad (or, even better, non US hotels such as Anantara Kihavah, Amilla Fushi, Vakkaru etc ), are seemingly less luxurious, they provide for a much more quintessential maldivian holiday.
i mean look at this aerial image. yes its still under construction but i cant see it getting any better...
yeah the rooms are really nice but you can get nice rooms in dubai or other locations.. what makes the maldives a special destination is the sheer natural beauty of the island and its surroundings, and the Waldorf appears to lack all of that. while the conrad (or, even better, non US hotels such as Anantara Kihavah, Amilla Fushi, Vakkaru etc ), are seemingly less luxurious, they provide for a much more quintessential maldivian holiday.
i mean look at this aerial image. yes its still under construction but i cant see it getting any better...
#279
Formerly known as hcampana
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AMS
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 463
#280
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: FlyingBlue (Platinum); AA (Executive Plat); BAEC (Silver), SPG (Platinum); Hilton (Diamond)
Posts: 699
Online booking is open. I could not find standard rewards offered at any time...all premium rewards. Rates in Sept appear to start at $1800...jumping to $2200 in October. Good luck to them - not clear to me how they'll fill rooms at those rates while the resort recovers from development, landscaping fills out and the staff figure out what the hell they're doing.
Last edited by ocdb8r; Feb 9, 2019 at 5:37 pm
#281
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
and i simply cant see why anyone would pay upwards of $1,800 to stay in an island that is overbuilt, ugly and essentially everything that the maldives shouldn't be.
ive been to the maldives 5 times (visiting 5 different islands) and ive yet to see a resort island that looks as unnatural as the Waldorf (except for maybe Centara Ras Fushi & the Sheraton!). its very clear by the unique shape off the island that a lot of the sand has been artificially pumped, and the island does not appear to have any sort of big blue lagoon that is typical of maldivian resort islands. the water villas are built in extremely long lines with a very narrow lagoon infront of them which in my opinion will make swimming not so enjoyable as the reef drop-off is so close by.
yeah the rooms are really nice but you can get nice rooms in dubai or other locations.. what makes the maldives a special destination is the sheer natural beauty of the island and its surroundings, and the Waldorf appears to lack all of that.
ive been to the maldives 5 times (visiting 5 different islands) and ive yet to see a resort island that looks as unnatural as the Waldorf (except for maybe Centara Ras Fushi & the Sheraton!). its very clear by the unique shape off the island that a lot of the sand has been artificially pumped, and the island does not appear to have any sort of big blue lagoon that is typical of maldivian resort islands. the water villas are built in extremely long lines with a very narrow lagoon infront of them which in my opinion will make swimming not so enjoyable as the reef drop-off is so close by.
yeah the rooms are really nice but you can get nice rooms in dubai or other locations.. what makes the maldives a special destination is the sheer natural beauty of the island and its surroundings, and the Waldorf appears to lack all of that.
I agree with the fact that there is a serious lack of natural flora. The fact that a lot of the resort's area is mostly reclaimed land certainly makes it feel artificial. Conrad has tons of what this resort doesn't. I'll go once just because it's new and it will be interesting, however I don't expect it to hold my interest for multiple visits like Rangali does.
Regarding the lagoon, I have to disagree with you there. Where the main islands are situated there is a perfectly normal lagoon. The six boats in the picture above are in the lagoon and it's plain to see that the water isn't that deep even right in the middle. The water in the middle of Rangali's lagoon between the 2 islands is deeper than that.
As for swimming and beaches, you have to take into consideration the size of the resort and then calculate roughly how wide the beaches are and how far out the depth increases. For example, the middle section of the resort with the beach villas (the strip where the Welcome Centre is located) looks to have at least 10m of beachfront and then 30 or 40m of reasonably shallow water before it gets to any dropoff / deep water. The BVs on the other side of the resort are a different story, however.
Added a Pictures (resort under construction) section to the wiki to show, in chronological order, the resort and how it has evolved.
Also changed opening date to reflect latest change.
And here's a nice pic from of one of the news articles. Seems real enough and will no doubt have some of us salivating until we get there, LOL
Last edited by Canarsie; Apr 30, 2019 at 11:55 am Reason: Consolidation.
#282
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 253
The more recent photo does make it look congested with not much land mass. Hard for me to imagine WA lagoon being as spectacular as CR's - especially from Vilu .... very torn between trying WA or staying with the no shoes, sand floors, remote felling at CR .. oh, decisions, decisions .....
#283
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
No harm in trying both! I think the colour(s) of the water isn't going to be a problem.....it's what's on the other side(s) that's going to spoil the view.
And another thing. Why the heck have they not made a fully overwater restaurant. Baffles me, considering Rangali has 2.
And another thing. Why the heck have they not made a fully overwater restaurant. Baffles me, considering Rangali has 2.
#284
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BG
Programs: BAEC Silver, TK Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 827
Standard reward availability is posted now....and its 120,000 points a night. So much for the 95,000 cap
Just booked 26-31 December for 480,00 points, reservation went through smoothly!
Just booked 26-31 December for 480,00 points, reservation went through smoothly!
Last edited by Canarsie; Apr 30, 2019 at 11:56 am Reason: Consolidation.
#285
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Under 500K for 5 nights is not too bad, considering. And thanks for the heads up!
Hmm...just called the telephone number and it's switched off or out of coverage area. Must be a mobile. Surprising for 1:46 in the afternoon. Having a nap maybe?
Hmm...just called the telephone number and it's switched off or out of coverage area. Must be a mobile. Surprising for 1:46 in the afternoon. Having a nap maybe?