WorldTravl

All the rooms are identical in size. The beach villa has more private square footage (in the sense that no one will be in the frontal and side bushes of your villa).

escape4

No doubt about it!

marcmsj

I'll also be there end of Feb 2020

TTT103

OK, that makes sense. They are counting the entire footprint, including land, as the square footage. I'm booking for next summer, and am trying to figure out why I would pay $673 a night more for a beach villa than a reef villa. I generally value on, or over water rooms, higher than land-based rooms, so this is a bit perplexing.

Jermyn

I think it must be driven by feedback from existing guests who value being on land because they have kids and are afraid of having them overwater. Plus there really isn't much in the way of dedicated beachfront for those without beach villas.

MaldivesFreak

You are Caucasian or Asian, not Middle Eastern, correct?

TTT103

Yes, why? Is there something in the Middle Eastern belief system that would require them to be on land?

MaldivesFreak

achen24

Well I might end up regretting this but I've chosen the Waldorf over the Conrad for an upcoming stay in the Maldives in a couple week. It will be my first and likely only trip to the Maldives. I was leaning towards the Conrad more because judging by what I read its a more "natural" Maldives with sea life and I would have liked to experience the underwater restaurant. However, I ended up choosing the Waldorf because it seems like the Conrad will be at close to full occupancy on the dates that I am staying judging by the room options that are available then and I prefer to have a more secluded stay. Plus outside of the occasional snorkeling/kayak/paddleboard activity I will likely spend most of my time in the comfort of my villa and the Waldorf clearly has a superior hard product and I really wanted to maximize the Hilton Free Weekend Night Certificates.

They have reached out to me in regards to the transfer (quoted at $350 per way before taxes and service charge, so no discount) and upgrade options. While I am interested in upgrading to a reef villa for a night just to have a overwater experience, I was wondering if I might be better off waiting to get to the resort to determine my upgrade on the slight (and I'll acknowledge its very slight) possibility that they provide me with a free upgrade that I've read other people received. I doubt that the resort will have any capacity issue during my stay so I'm assuming there will be a decent chance a reef villa or worst case scenario overwater villa will be available when I arrive.

Kimomo

Wait will be better, but when I post here, their manager might be watching user feedback and chose not to free upgrade you. ha ha
Also it all depends on your status, my experience in conrad Bora bora that they want couple hundreds to guarantee a water villa upgrade. We ignore it and got 4 level upgrade to 1 of the only 2 beach pool villa. I even ask manager if we can get a over water villa, he told me if we really want a downgrade.
We will try the WA Maldives next Mar, hope to have more economic transportation and generous upgrade.

Traveler Dave

I normally don’t recommend a wait and see approach on upgrades. I like to know what room I have. But my approach is different with the WA Maldives, as it was with IHG Thalasso BB. In both cases there is no bad room. If you don’t get upgrade free or paid your “base” room is better than most resorts best room.

TD

PS...you made a great choice in picking the WA!

My hope is bloggers never visit or post about this resort. But I know that is a pipe dream. They will all soon add it to their rinse/repeat articles on “best places to redeem vouchers” or “best points value resorts” posts. Once that happens getting points/voucher nights will be just as dicey as all the other bucket list resorts. Glad I got my 10 days in already. Hope I am wrong and can get in another 10 days in for 2021!

TD

bhrubin

I think you’re giving bloggers too much blame for what will inevitably happen even without them. The ship already will have sailed: it’s a WA—the nicest and most aspirational brand Hilton offers—in the Maldives—one of If not the most aspirational destination for many if not most. Bloggers are only going to relay what already is on everyone’s minds, especially since Hilton doesn’t have that many truly aspirational properties like this.

TravellerLux

Heads Up: I am cancelling my 3rd Nov to 8th Nov Award redemption booking in next few days. For those who are looking for last minute plans, maybe it will show redemption availability once I cancel.

Someone please convince me to do otherwise but here are my reasons:

After going through all these posts,

• I think US$1700+ transfer and US$2500 food and activity is not worth it, since I only visited Conrad Maldives in December 2018
• I was upgraded multiples levels to Retreat Water Villa at Conrad on my entire standard redemption booking, hence the allure of much better standard room at WA has diminished.
• WA seems a work-in-progress till now, so would make sense to go after year or two since I stay in India, and Maldives is just short direct flight away.
• Chances of request upgrades are understandably nil, and I hope after 2 years transfer costing, food, foliage and chances of upgrades will be sorted out.
• I think US$4000 or less will give me 5 days non-redemption hyper luxurious properties and vacation to Thailand or Bali or UAE or even Fiji. (suggestions welcome)

Downside I can see:

• Beach Villa will not be standard redemption next year onward.
• Risk of Hilton Points devaluation.

My heart says to visit this property, while brain says to visit someplace new.

alanslegal

My thoughts in blue;

mcab1123

I'm heading there in November on points and would love to check out the Spa treatments. I've searched and can't seem to find any specific details, does anyone know what the current Spa Treatment prices are? I've checked the website and other posts on FT.

Thanks!