[ARCHIVE 2018 to 2019] Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi {MDV}
Jul 8, 2019, 5:51 am
#1471
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: FLL
Programs: United Premier 1K; Alaska MVP 75K; Hilton Honors Diamond; Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 667
Of the people at the resort now, which room did you book, and which room did you receive? Just scanning the last few pages it seems nobody is being upgraded? If so then I am surprised about the lack of upgrades, not a major issue but if I was GM of a new hotel I would want to be generous from the start and create good publicity. Also if nobody is being upgraded, people staying in non-Beach Villas are on cash bookings or paid upgrades in greater numbers than I expected.
Thanks to all who contributed tidbits of reviews during their stay so far. ^
Thanks to all who contributed tidbits of reviews during their stay so far. ^
Jul 8, 2019, 6:17 am
#1472
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
And we received a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Rosè Brut.
The non grand cru Billecart-Salmon Brut champagne is $62++ per glass at dinner, crazy! So we drink up at breakfast when its complimentary
Jul 8, 2019, 6:33 am
#1473
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,622
Jul 8, 2019, 7:20 am
#1474
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
Jul 8, 2019, 7:22 am
#1475
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,723
Have any Golds stayed yet? Would be interesting to hear about the differences in benefits between Gold and Diamond, if any (apart from the spa discount which I won't be taking advantage of anyway).
Is the in-villa champagne the same? Broader snack selection for Diamonds? Different breakfast selection/a la carte menu? Any other points of differentiation?
Is the in-villa champagne the same? Broader snack selection for Diamonds? Different breakfast selection/a la carte menu? Any other points of differentiation?
Jul 8, 2019, 7:40 am
#1476
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
re: tennis courts, it is being built where my red dot is, just before crossing the bridge to the spa/gym and adjacent to staff quarters.
re: sunset/sunrise, i am guessing that its the yellow line or thereabouts, goes right to left.
I am guessing that none of the villas have actual sunset views from their deck (except ocean villas and private island) the closest BV that i would guess that have sunset views or at least from their beach would be near the wedding pavilion. The reef villas in the 500, 400, 300s would likely be blocked by neighbouring fences. (Seeing it from the wedding pavilion) Again I emphasise I am just guessing from my observations and island exploration.
..
re: upgrades, been told that occupancy is 80+% right now and will be higher as of next week, it doesnt help that the villas in 100s and 200s are not in service.
The resort is gigantic so if i had to do this visit again (and i might) my preference would be : beach villas in the 200s south facing, then 200s north, then low 600s north facing for sunset on the beach, if reef villas in the 300s or 400s, as for owvs, equally same as they are pretty much far away from everything hahaha i am pretty sure north facing rooms end up having distant lights from other islands that can be distracting. Not sure about south.
re: sunset/sunrise, i am guessing that its the yellow line or thereabouts, goes right to left.
I am guessing that none of the villas have actual sunset views from their deck (except ocean villas and private island) the closest BV that i would guess that have sunset views or at least from their beach would be near the wedding pavilion. The reef villas in the 500, 400, 300s would likely be blocked by neighbouring fences. (Seeing it from the wedding pavilion) Again I emphasise I am just guessing from my observations and island exploration.
..
re: upgrades, been told that occupancy is 80+% right now and will be higher as of next week, it doesnt help that the villas in 100s and 200s are not in service.
The resort is gigantic so if i had to do this visit again (and i might) my preference would be : beach villas in the 200s south facing, then 200s north, then low 600s north facing for sunset on the beach, if reef villas in the 300s or 400s, as for owvs, equally same as they are pretty much far away from everything hahaha i am pretty sure north facing rooms end up having distant lights from other islands that can be distracting. Not sure about south.
Jul 8, 2019, 8:10 am
#1477
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: LT NoN REV
Posts: 566
What is the invoice like for this option B including all taxes and excluding tip.
Thank you,
Last edited by dimmedlights; Jul 8, 2019 at 8:10 am Reason: add
Jul 8, 2019, 9:22 am
#1478
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,622
re: tennis courts, it is being built where my red dot is, just before crossing the bridge to the spa/gym and adjacent to staff quarters.
re: sunset/sunrise, i am guessing that its the yellow line or thereabouts, goes right to left.
I am guessing that none of the villas have actual sunset views from their deck (except ocean villas and private island) the closest BV that i would guess that have sunset views or at least from their beach would be near the wedding pavilion. The reef villas in the 500, 400, 300s would likely be blocked by neighbouring fences. (Seeing it from the wedding pavilion) Again I emphasise I am just guessing from my observations and island exploration.
..
re: upgrades, been told that occupancy is 80+% right now and will be higher as of next week, it doesnt help that the villas in 100s and 200s are not in service.
The resort is gigantic so if i had to do this visit again (and i might) my preference would be : beach villas in the 200s south facing, then 200s north, then low 600s north facing for sunset on the beach, if reef villas in the 300s or 400s, as for owvs, equally same as they are pretty much far away from everything hahaha i am pretty sure north facing rooms end up having distant lights from other islands that can be distracting. Not sure about south.
re: sunset/sunrise, i am guessing that its the yellow line or thereabouts, goes right to left.
I am guessing that none of the villas have actual sunset views from their deck (except ocean villas and private island) the closest BV that i would guess that have sunset views or at least from their beach would be near the wedding pavilion. The reef villas in the 500, 400, 300s would likely be blocked by neighbouring fences. (Seeing it from the wedding pavilion) Again I emphasise I am just guessing from my observations and island exploration.
..
re: upgrades, been told that occupancy is 80+% right now and will be higher as of next week, it doesnt help that the villas in 100s and 200s are not in service.
The resort is gigantic so if i had to do this visit again (and i might) my preference would be : beach villas in the 200s south facing, then 200s north, then low 600s north facing for sunset on the beach, if reef villas in the 300s or 400s, as for owvs, equally same as they are pretty much far away from everything hahaha i am pretty sure north facing rooms end up having distant lights from other islands that can be distracting. Not sure about south.
Edit: The 100s villas aren’t finished. They were fumigating out there today and you could see the fumigation fog from across the lagoon.
Last edited by jphripjah; Jul 10, 2019 at 3:21 am
Jul 8, 2019, 9:32 am
#1479
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,622
For what its worth, and this will not be a surprise to anyone, I went to another dining venue today and the bill had the same itemization with Tip - $0.00 printed on the bill, then service charge, then tax, then later a line for you to write in your gratuity. And I did ask a staff member today if they receive the service charge and he said yes.
An interesting question here is, if I leave a tip on the bill charged to my room, who gets it? Does it all go to the waiter, or to the staff of that restaurant only, or does it go into the general "service charge" fund shared by all the staff?
An interesting question here is, if I leave a tip on the bill charged to my room, who gets it? Does it all go to the waiter, or to the staff of that restaurant only, or does it go into the general "service charge" fund shared by all the staff?
Jul 8, 2019, 10:16 am
#1480
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: El Gouna , Hurghada (HRG)
Programs: BAEC:Silver ,IHG:Spire Amb ,QR:Silver,HH:Diamond
Posts: 374
Firstly I would like to chip in with some thanks to the FT "pioneers" . Some very helpful information already . If I could ask a couple of questions they would be . What are the selected drinks that are available in the Nava Happy Hour ? and I read somewhere that one establishment has Shisha water pipes . Did anyone notice the price for this ? Im sure it will be a little more than the $5 I'm used to paying here in El Gouna Egypt ;-) . Responses appreciated .
Jul 8, 2019, 1:50 pm
#1481
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 8
Yacht Cost
Have anyone stayed and reviewed the yacht costs? When first booking it stated it was $370/PP RETURN (roundtrip). Did any early bookers confirm that they honored the $370 roundtrip?
Jul 8, 2019, 7:05 pm
#1482
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: Hilton
Posts: 14
Alanslegal's observation is clear. Here is the sun path of July and Dec for this island. Just look at that yellow line.
It seems that the best position is BV 20x facing south in Dec. Unfortunately I am going in Oct, it seems that the best positions to watch sunset is the staff house
It seems that the best position is BV 20x facing south in Dec. Unfortunately I am going in Oct, it seems that the best positions to watch sunset is the staff house
Jul 8, 2019, 7:50 pm
#1483
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
Jul 8, 2019, 10:17 pm
#1485
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
But elite treatment - even Golds - seems very good at this property. Even though complimentary upgrades don't seem to be a thing.