[ARCHIVE 2018 to 2019] Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi {MDV}
Jun 23, 2019, 6:02 pm
#1141
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,720
Cages in Bali have been very “in” on Instagram in the last couple of years. They might have been aiming at influencers, but no influencer pays $800 for dinner (or ideally, anything at all).
Jun 23, 2019, 6:59 pm
#1143
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 119
LOL. The website is one of the most important aspects of a resort, not mentioning one that is opening in days. And WA made one that doesn't work, doesn't look good, and has pictures misplaced.
Jun 23, 2019, 7:57 pm
#1144
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 179
It’s funny watching the nightly cash rate drop. All they have to do is lower the transfer price so any potential guest doesn’t have sticker shock before even thinking about booking. I rent a 35’ sea ray for a full 8 hours with a captain, first mate and free flowing alcohol for $1800 in the USVI. Hard to imagine why I need to pay $900 for 30 minutes. I don’t know any oil rich Arabs so maybe their perspective is different.
Jun 23, 2019, 11:13 pm
#1145
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
The skeptic side of me says it is intentional. The resort isn't really ready to open so have closed all bookings moving forward. Those already booked, probably all on points and from FT, will get to stay and enjoy a bare bones property rather than be 'walked' to an equivalent property.
Jun 23, 2019, 11:51 pm
#1146
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,843
Jun 24, 2019, 12:17 am
#1147
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,843
I'm booked for July 6 and I'm really worried that an hour after arriving on the property I'll be kicking myself that I didn't just go back to an overwater villa at Rangali Island for 25,000 fewer points per night. I'm struggling to see how this place will be "better" than CMRI, except that the villas are bigger, better, and newer.
For a stay July 6 you are right perhaps WA just won't be ready for you to fully enjoy your stay. However for a stay a few months down the line, I think 25k pts is likely to be worth it, after all 25k pts is not what it used to be. Otherwise we would be arguing that if it was not for points, we would be willing to pay no more than $125 extra per night at WA than Conrad if we value points at 0.5 cpp. It's unlikely the long-term cash difference between the two properties will be only $125 per night.
That said, while I think WA will continue to command a significant price premium over Conrad specifically because of the rooms / villas, I also think that WA will not beat Conrad on all possible aspects of a head-to-head comparison. Among other things, the feeling you get on the resort will probably be better at Conrad as a result of vegetation being scanty at WA in the short to medium term.
Jun 24, 2019, 1:05 am
#1148
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
TD
Jun 24, 2019, 1:13 am
#1149
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
TD
Jun 24, 2019, 2:01 am
#1150
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
Jun 24, 2019, 3:47 am
#1151
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,843
I am somewhat confused then, when I posted a message earlier today cash bookings were available for July 2019. I just checked again and it's still available. I am looking on hilton.com.
Jun 24, 2019, 3:49 am
#1152
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Who knows with Hilton and their IT department. No doubt it will return to normal in the next couple of days.
Jun 24, 2019, 3:50 am
#1153
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,843
I tried July 17-24 and all looks normal
Jun 24, 2019, 7:03 am
#1154
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
Not doubting yours, but I just checked again and for those dates, mine shows cash unavailable for those same dates, both on PC and App. Tried flexible dates, tried reducing length and still no luck. Guess what MaldivesFreak suggest might be an IT/Hilton/potential new website issue.
Jun 24, 2019, 7:22 am
#1155
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
What might be happening is they are updating the site (and testing the updates) on a single server or set of servers in one location and not letting it (the changes) propagate throughout the whole CDN(Content Distribution Network) so some people in different locations are seeing different things.