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MaldivesFreak

I know how you feel. It's surprising just how many folks wouldn't notice or know what to look for. Just one thing, though. I think you needed to use the other pic in your quote of @WorldTravl's post.

BLTraveler

The prices I was quoted from SAii last month (before hotel opening was delayed) to transfer to Waldorf was:

“Fjord (open boat) cannot be used if raining – USD 770

Al Safana (air conditioned boat) – USD 935”

I believe this was the per boat fee and not per person. Hopefully, Waldorf will at least allow transfers from other Hilton resorts.

WorldTravl

Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru Beach villa Cost: 1880$ next April 1440$ this October

I'm grateful that I can redeem points at WA. But I don't get why anyone would want to pay for it. The water looks so bad. The most I would pay for WA in money is 800$. So I am really reconsidering if I want to stay at WA. The only reason I see people paying for WA now is because of the brand.

Traveler Dave

Kilian Zoll

Yes, with all the amazing options in the Maldives it makes little sense to actually pay for a property like WA (or even Conrad for that matter, unless you find a very good rate) -- I bet most of the guests are either redemptions (on which they make money on transfers and F&B/other incidentals) of different kinds of package tours.

Tilly71

Looking for some advice on food costs, we want to pay minimum prices whilst there. So far we've seen pizza, the chicken & fries to share but can anyone who has stayed there on a budget offer some more ideas for budget dining. Thx

noeatbutgo

​​​​​In my case, I don't care about thw WA brand but 1) good value for point redemption (120,000pts for OWV w/ new spacious interior compared to Conrad) and 2) a chance to try a new resort. So yeah in case of cash booking, I would be keen to find other options with greater lagoon and marine life.

MaldivesFreak

To be frank: you're looking in the wrong place. This resort has set a new standard for not-able-to-be-done-on-a-budget properties.....unless you do what some others do and take instant noodles and chocolate bars. Ugh.


I agree. A cash stay here is only for those who don't know any better or have money to burn. Most of the people paying cash here are Arabs, celebs and mainland Chinese (see this review a few pages back where, as a good example of what's being offered on the mainland as far as package deals go, they paid about 17K*+ all up for 5 nights for a family of 4 in a single room). Note that the Chinese are now a much bigger piece of the pie for new resorts. They are much fewer in number at places that have already been open for a couple of years or more. Cash-paying Westerners will be few and far between.

You mentioned the Conrad. On the up side here they occasionally have specials from around $350++ in low season (around 50% off), normally with 30-35% off you're still only looking at about $450-500++ which, considering their BVs have recently been re-decorated, is pretty good value. I'm pretty sure that this isn't going to last much longer though, as they will surely be raising their rates after the OWVs on Rangali Island have been replaced early to mid 2020.

* if you take out the return air tickets to China

Tilly71

I was looking for replies from people who have already stayed at the WA and their experiences of the best value dining options..😤

MaldivesFreak

Have you looked at all the menus? They've already been posted. I've put links to all of them in the wiki. Like @alanslegal said
Pizzas, noodles, salads etc are the cheapest things at any location and it's no exception here. Apart from appetizers & side dishes, eggs are the cheapest thing on the menu. Only $35.72 each. A steal by Ithaafushi's standards. So your baseline is going to be at bare minimum, $40++ for anything substantial, i.e; not an appetizer, side or drink.

Oh, the only other option (which would be a little difficult to pull off) is this one courtesy of our resident out-of-the-(kids)-box thinker, @WorldTravl. @:-)^ JK!

MaldivesFreak

The Reethi Rah, another predominantly man-made resort, has a lot of the same beautiful colours but if you want a typical marine life and coral on your doorstep experience you're out of luck.

TerryK

Thanks to posts from this thread, I was able to change my 2020 booking from BV to OWV without charge. As website still allows point bookings for BV, you can effectively choose between BV, RV and OWV for 120K for 2020 bookings. I don't think this will last.

MaldivesFreak

So far we have these 2 pics of Yasmeen's menu. The first one from @Stivelio and the second from @Traveler Dave





They are both $148++ but the first one says 'SET MENU B' and the other says 'SET MENU'. I'm wondering if there is a 'SET MENU A' or whether the A & B options were discontinued as Traveler Dave's one is the more recent photo as far as I can tell. There are also the differences of:
1. Having a fruit platter and the choice of 2 additional desserts for dessert in the first one and only 1 dessert in the second
2. A choice of 4 mains in the first one but only 3 in the second
3. 5 options for cold mezze in the first one but only 3 in the second
Once we figure it out I know which I should link to in the wiki. Input if you will. TIA.

Oh wait.....I know the answer! It's easy. Cost cutting is already in place and the one with the least options is the one that's current, LOL.

Traveler Dave