elpee1979

If you book 4 nights on points, you get the 5th night free. I booked a water villa at Conrad for 5 nights for 380k points (Sept '19). I asked for upgrade to superior water villa which was confirmed for around $100 per night. Lucky to be able to book accommodations with points as I'm expecting to spend a few thousand dollars on food, bev, transfers, & excursions.

MaldivesFreak

Well, you've got Bora Bora and Rangali. Having never been to Bora Bora I can't compare OWVs but AFAIK I don't think their base room is OW. The Conrad is the best deal IMO. There are a couple of folks here who have been to both but the only one I can remember who has posted in this thread in the last few years was upgraded to the Presidential OW suite in Bora Bora so that's hardly a comparison of base OWVs.

pinniped

Bora Bora has everything as a premium room award - even garden villas. The lowest overwater category is 400k points/night!!

Looks like this property is my best bet. As a bonus, getting there in CX J looks do-able with as much advance booking as I'm looking at.

Land-of-Miles

pineapple_09

pinniped

To be clear, I know this isn't a cheap place. I'm aware of how much it costs just to get from MLE to this hotel as well as the fact that it's expensive once you are there. In a world without points at all, I doubt these places would even be on my list. But if points can cover $6000-7000 in room costs, then this is possible.

Just out or curiosity, what did you spend your $12k on? I assume some of that was excursions and such...were they good? Worth it in your opinion?

I've seen several comments here and on other sites about how the St. Regis Vomuuli is one of the best hotels in the world. I totally believe that. It's getting acclaim that I usually see only for Four Seasons and other really private small luxury hotels. But it hasn't loaded its availability out past August and probably won't until Marriott Category 8 goes online. The cash prices for the OWV's there are definitely out of my price range. (I think by the time I got into that league, I'd just charter my own yacht for a week. )

alanslegal

Now that the standard WV are on the standard award, this Conrad is the best and easiest way to guarantee an entry level OWV experience. Yes guests can add another $50-$150 per night and get into an upgraded [S/D/R/F/P]WV. That said, there are much better OWV elsewhere (such as using Marriott points for the St Regis Volumni) but using a sensible amount of points OR finding availability is going to be the hardest part.

Yes there is also Bora Bora but standard rooms are Garden Suites, but from there it is a three room category jump before you get to any OWV. My review of the Conrad BB can be found here

stormbandit

I would think so. We just arrived yesterday. Our Emirates flight was delayed due to rain (!) in Dubai. We arrived in Male at 320 and our seaplane departed at 545.

pinniped

What specifically is it that make the St. Regis OWV's so much better? Just the service level from StR, the physical villas themselves, or the serenity of the atoll and natural surroundings?

I still think the St. Regis is probably out for me because I wouldn't be able to book it for several months after I'd need to have my flights in place. (Even if I can actually get the OWV with some huge number of Marriott points.) I like the fact that I can get the Conrad booked 1 year in advance and then book CX flights 30 days later, knowing that if I have to move it a day one way or the other I probably can. By the time StR opens up for booking, those CX J seats are probably long gone.

Wozza2404

I've never done the Maldives, but I'm booked up for November this year. 5 nights at the Conrad, and 3 nights at the new WA. If reviews of the WA aren't stellar by then, I have enough Marriott points to switch to the St Regis, or I may pay cash somewhere else.

For me, the Conrad is attractive for a number of reasons - Firstly, it costs around £1k a night for an OW villa at a 5* resort in the Maldives, so points save me £5k straight off the bat. Secondly, the snorkelling gets incredible reviews because of the location and the maturity of the reef around island - that's a big part of why I want to be there. Third, I'm not bothered about having a super luxury room - I'm there to be over the ocean and have the tranquillity that comes with that. I don't need mink curtains and a butler to tuck me in at night. A roof over my head if it rains and a comfortable bed is pretty much my entire list of requirements when I've got the ocean underneath me (BTW I understand the people who want absolute luxury at this price point and thus the Conrad doesn't meet their standard, but that's why these other resorts exist, because we're all different. I hate resorts that 'fuss', with butlers and people trying to polish my sunglasses on the beach. Other people love that stuff.).

So for me the Conrad has always been on my list. And being Diamond and having the free breakfast and afternoon snacks and stuff should mean I don't have to spend a fortune whilst I'm there (though obviously I'm aware it's not Eurocamp, either).

I get why some people may consider it a little 'rustic' - but for me that's exactly what I want.

MaldivesFreak

Agree. For somewhere like Conrad Koh Samui if the room is substandard or outdated I'd be much more concerned. Obviously it has to be in good nick and everything working. In the Maldives we go there to stare at the gradation of the colours of the lagoon and ocean, swim and snorkel, eat quality food, stare at the ocean some more when we eat, walk around the beaches, walk the paths - both night and day - that weave through the islands and admire the natural beauty of the whole place.....then stare at the lagoon some more from an infinity pool, take a jetski for a spin, then eat more great food. Then repeat. For us the room is 10, maybe 20%. When we go to CKS the room is 70, 80%. And hey, call me old fashioned but I'm the only one that cleans my sunglasses..... Furthermore I don't want a slave nor servant to attend to my every need. Makes me feel uncomfortable to be treated like a King.

goliath

But they do polish your sunglasses (at the pool) at Rangali!

dcht

In addition to what others have said... I'm not a frequent traveler so have no status for any programs. The fact that I could sign up for a Hilton credit card and instantly get Gold status which gets me free breakfast is amazing. So between the points and free breakfast, it makes a trip like the Maldives possible for someone like me who couldn't normally afford literally anywhere else in the Maldives. I have Marriott points, but availability at the STR is slim, and I'd also be paying for breakfast each morning. And, I'd rather burn my Hilton points at the Conrad and save my Marriott points for plenty of other locations where Hilton doesn't have hotels.

MaldivesFreak

Never had the offer, LOL. They must be sticking pins in my doll at TQZ as well, LOL.

goliath

We probably spent much more time at the (main) pool than any other guests at the time, so we got this service all the time. They do come by multiple times a day, even with a special solution that is flown in from "overseas".