[ARCHIVE 2018 to 2019] Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi {MDV}
Jun 2, 2019, 7:02 pm
#886
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,835
I thought the same. Perhaps once on site those buildings are out of sight out of mind, but the aerial view makes the resort look considerably inferior to the feeling you get upon landing at St.Regis to be honest.
Jun 2, 2019, 7:54 pm
#887
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
My thoughts exactly about the StR. The vegetation also looks a little scanty. I hope I'm proven wrong.
Jun 2, 2019, 8:35 pm
#888
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
This is my take on the room location / preferences
For Beach Villas I am thinking my preferred rooms would be 211, 209, 213 as they have its own mini beach facing in the sunset direction. The beach drops off into deep water pretty quickly so will miss out on the turquoise blue waters of the inner lagoon. If I prefer the lagoon view, I am thinking 210, 208, 212 as that would give me the most "forward" view into the horizons, whereas the the higher the number up to 222 - might see too much 'land'.
Now for Overwater Villas, I am thinking 508 - 516 for sunset and lagoon views OR low 100's for sunset (no lagoon)
I think I will ask for 211,209,213 for the first three nights and then request an OWV position after seeing it in person.
For Beach Villas I am thinking my preferred rooms would be 211, 209, 213 as they have its own mini beach facing in the sunset direction. The beach drops off into deep water pretty quickly so will miss out on the turquoise blue waters of the inner lagoon. If I prefer the lagoon view, I am thinking 210, 208, 212 as that would give me the most "forward" view into the horizons, whereas the the higher the number up to 222 - might see too much 'land'.
Now for Overwater Villas, I am thinking 508 - 516 for sunset and lagoon views OR low 100's for sunset (no lagoon)
I think I will ask for 211,209,213 for the first three nights and then request an OWV position after seeing it in person.
Jun 3, 2019, 12:37 am
#890
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 37
I think this was discussed earlier, but I'm not convinced they have the correct Sunset direction on their photo.
If I compare their photo with the island on Google maps the "Sunset Direction" they list seems to be to the South of the resort (not West, as I would expect).
Anyone shed some light on this (pun intended)?
Jun 3, 2019, 3:01 am
#891
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Last edited by MaldivesFreak; Jun 3, 2019 at 3:08 am
Jun 3, 2019, 3:05 am
#892
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
Here's a video preview of a Beach Villa
Jun 3, 2019, 3:12 am
#893
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
And another video of the resort generally
Jun 3, 2019, 3:15 am
#894
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
Sorry for multiple posts
Reef Pool Villa
Reef Pool Villa
Jun 3, 2019, 5:07 am
#895
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,327
What are people's thoughts regarding the upgrades? I think $200++ for the reef villa looks OK for direct water access. $400.00++ for an OWV I'm not so sure. What's that extra $250 a night getting me?
Jun 3, 2019, 6:54 am
#896
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: Emirates Gold, United Silver, HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Discoverist, Delta Gold
Posts: 299
Ideally, it would be nice to spend four nights in a beach villa and four nights in a reef or OWV.
My strategy as a Diamond is to wait to see what other members have reported wrt free upgrades and the villa locations, villa categories etc. Of course, it will depend on availability at the time of arrival.
With the extra costs for yacht transports, the expected astronomical cost of food, I really don’t want to spend too much more on a higher villa category unless it’s a significant upgrade.
Jun 3, 2019, 7:38 am
#897
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
TBH it's getting you.....well.....direct access to the water and not much else. It's no surprise that every villa has a pool and the difference in upgrade prices are minimal compared to the base price(s). I don't think they couldn't get away with having some with pools and some without and this feature and that and having huge differences in prices based on those 'extras'. They are going for a very select market and are going to find it difficult to get their occupancy rate up into high figures - their base price point is just too high for most folks so they've price-structured as such. At least that's what it appears to me to be. Maybe some professional in the field can correct me if I'm wrong which I may well be.
Jun 3, 2019, 8:02 am
#898
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
TD
Jun 3, 2019, 8:26 am
#899
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Re those buildings opposite 311 - 325, they were supposed to be BVs. That would've made that area even more crowded by adding 7 of them. Either ran out of cash (read: not even one fully over-water restaurant) or thought there wasn't enough communal beach area to begin with.....or both.
Jun 3, 2019, 8:53 am
#900
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 119
I mean i'm kinda obsessed with the WA rn. But I made this idea of a website in about 25 minutes. I mean I don't get why they haven't made one yet.