[ARCHIVE 2018 to 2019] Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi {MDV}
Aug 23, 2019, 7:33 pm
#2131
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
Given WA requires tons of points for redemption bookings, I have another quick question popped up in my mind.
"How much price do you need to pay per a point?"
I think there would be a separate thread but I couldn't find it. But in Korea (not North for sure!
) I can buy it 3.6-4.0 cents (depending on FX) per point from other Hilton members.
So for a 7-night stay at WA next year, compared to Conrad, the premium is about US$560 for the entire stay or US$80/night. (WA BV vs Conrad OWV).
And now WA offers 'downgrading' BV to RV/OWV... so US$80/night premium is well offset by that I don't need to pay US$200/night extra.
I have been seriously considering a switch back to Conrad w/ SWV which offers wonderful marine life and decent sunset view.... but given the reduced premium I need to pay and my desire to enjoy a new property, I think I would stick to my current booking at WA.
Well I am still concerned about limited (likely) marine life at WA but hopefully paid tours would provide much nicer conditions!
"How much price do you need to pay per a point?"
I think there would be a separate thread but I couldn't find it. But in Korea (not North for sure!
) I can buy it 3.6-4.0 cents (depending on FX) per point from other Hilton members.So for a 7-night stay at WA next year, compared to Conrad, the premium is about US$560 for the entire stay or US$80/night. (WA BV vs Conrad OWV).
And now WA offers 'downgrading' BV to RV/OWV... so US$80/night premium is well offset by that I don't need to pay US$200/night extra.
I have been seriously considering a switch back to Conrad w/ SWV which offers wonderful marine life and decent sunset view.... but given the reduced premium I need to pay and my desire to enjoy a new property, I think I would stick to my current booking at WA.
Well I am still concerned about limited (likely) marine life at WA but hopefully paid tours would provide much nicer conditions!
Aug 23, 2019, 7:58 pm
#2132
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
TD
Last edited by Traveler Dave; Aug 23, 2019 at 8:06 pm
Aug 23, 2019, 8:20 pm
#2133
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
Perhaps someone who has been to both can comment. But I can tell you there is great fish life (on the outside) of the WA. We dove off our suite (303) all four days. Lots of fish life and some decent Coral growth. If you don’t mind paying for a tour they will take you to even better fish/coral life.
TD
Aug 23, 2019, 8:52 pm
#2134
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 119
Park Hyatt
Waldorf Astoria
Did anyone who stayed at WA find lagoon to be disappointing for the Maldives. (Especially considering this is 1000$ a night). From pictures I have seen, it looks "meh" like something I could find in the Caribbean (which is much close to where I live). Like, the Park Hyatt makes me go "wow" in pictures while the WA is like "eh".
Aug 23, 2019, 9:10 pm
#2135
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
I have no Maldives comparison, but I was thinking there would be more. I guess I was thinking we would be snorkeling in the “protected” lagoon. Not that there was massive traffic, but with jets-skies, day boat tours, sail boats, banana boats, etc all coming out of the water sports area I never would have snorkeled in there. Very not-protected. The little diving down I did on the sea-bob all I saw was sand and the rare fish swim by. We did see fish and rays from the bridges from time to time in the lagoon.
TD
Aug 23, 2019, 11:35 pm
#2137
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
I've been following this thread with interest for a while now, and I'm just really struggling to see what the value proposition is for this property over the Conrad (or some others in the Maldives). What is it about this place that makes it worth all of the extra money?
Now, if I was paying cash for my room, I personally would be tempted to stay elsewhere, especially when there are sites like Luxury Escapes (and a few others) that from time to time offer some very good value.
For example, this expired Shangri La Maldives deal was pretty hot imo.
https://luxuryescapes.com/au/offer/s...I00000Y4cuvQAB
Now, compare this to the Conrad, I felt the Conrad prices were about 15-20% less than this property. That the Conrad had more actual over water dining experiences (Vilu, Mandhoo, Sunset Grill) versus a few tables over the water at Li Long only. For me the Conrad had more of a beach island / maldivian / tropical vibe to it whereas I didn't get that feeling staying at the Waldorf, especially when it came to dining. Apart from breakfast where we sat on the deck & over the beach, other dining options were indoors, in air conditioning, we could have been dining anywhere in the world thousands of miles away. Sure we could have gone to Yasmeen and experienced an arabian themed dining but the resort is supposed to be a tropical island eating bbq seafood and drinking coconuts, sand between my toes. Ok we can uplift the elegance a little from that scenario but (hopefully) you get my drift. The Conrad had some nice beach events (seafood / lobster bbq on the beach, maldivian nights, japanese grill overlooking the beach) so that complimented the tropical beach island theme very well. Hopefully the Waldorf can implement some of that in the near future.
Aug 23, 2019, 11:42 pm
#2138
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, ICC Amb Plat, LH Freq Fly, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 635
Sorry a question, that resort looks like it's roughly only the same distance to the WA as they are from the Airport and they do Airport runs for $185 each all inclusive.
Aug 23, 2019, 11:52 pm
#2139
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
Aug 24, 2019, 12:24 am
#2140
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
Aug 24, 2019, 2:42 am
#2141
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,837
Here is a comparison of the cost I saved going to WA Maldives over Conrad Bora Bora last year. All the rooms at the WA are suites with pools and a great for two people. But we prefer a little more leg room. So we upgraded to the Grand versions. Our cost to upgrade to a Grand RV was $400++ (in 2020 it will be free).
Aug 24, 2019, 7:16 am
#2142
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
That the Conrad had more actual over water dining experiences (Vilu, Mandhoo, Sunset Grill) versus a few tables over the water at Li Long only. For me the Conrad had more of a beach island / maldivian / tropical vibe to it whereas I didn't get that feeling staying at the Waldorf, especially when it came to dining. Apart from breakfast where we sat on the deck & over the beach, other dining options were indoors, in air conditioning, we could have been dining anywhere in the world thousands of miles away. Sure we could have gone to Yasmeen and experienced an arabian themed dining but the resort is supposed to be a tropical island eating bbq seafood and drinking coconuts, sand between my toes. Ok we can uplift the elegance a little from that scenario but (hopefully) you get my drift. The Conrad had some nice beach events (seafood / lobster bbq on the beach, maldivian nights, japanese grill overlooking the beach) so that complimented the tropical beach island theme very well. Hopefully the Waldorf can implement some of that in the near future.
Park Hyatt
Waldorf Astoria
Did anyone who stayed at WA find lagoon to be disappointing for the Maldives. (Especially considering this is 1000$ a night). From pictures I have seen, it looks "meh" like something I could find in the Caribbean (which is much close to where I live). Like, the Park Hyatt makes me go "wow" in pictures while the WA is like "eh".
Aug 24, 2019, 8:24 am
#2143
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
Thanks for the detailed analysis and comparison. Just one clarification however: next year the "Grand" version of everything (BV, RV, OWV) will be a massive cost compared to less than $200 now. The cost of your extra legroom in the Maldives is about to get astronomical in 2020 at $1300-1600 per night for the additional living room... Definitely not free!
Let me check on the 2020 upgrade(s) to see where that puts the numbers. I am trying to convince my wife it makes better financial sense to go back to the Maldives over BB next year so I need the correct numbers before I make my presentation.
TD
Aug 24, 2019, 9:03 am
#2144
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Gold, UA Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 342
Park Hyatt
Waldorf Astoria
Did anyone who stayed at WA find lagoon to be disappointing for the Maldives. (Especially considering this is 1000$ a night). From pictures I have seen, it looks "meh" like something I could find in the Caribbean (which is much close to where I live). Like, the Park Hyatt makes me go "wow" in pictures while the WA is like "eh".
the beaches at the conrad, PHH, and W are MUCH MUCH nicer.
ive been to 6 resorts in the maldives and even cheap 4* ones come way way ahead than the waldorf when it comes to beach and lagoon beauty. which at the end of the day is why i fly 30+ hours across the world and is also why i will never ever visit the WA.
Aug 24, 2019, 12:31 pm
#2145
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 158
How was the noodles at Tangled? I love noodles but looked at some videos and the bowls look very small. Should we skip Tangled?
And does anyone have a full Terra menu? I see one with the $388 but I'm interested in the $298 menu also.