[ARCHIVE 2018 to 2019] Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi {MDV}
Jun 30, 2019, 9:21 am
#1246
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: HH Diamond, BAEC
Posts: 1,341
I don’t drink wine so just have water but I love Voss. And the Voss is $2 cheaper at the WA than CR, LOL.
Well tomorrow is the big day for the WA opening, I guess we just wait and see what happens.
Well tomorrow is the big day for the WA opening, I guess we just wait and see what happens.
Jun 30, 2019, 9:52 am
#1247
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond, DL PM, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 920
An entree is closer to $35++ to $75++ at one of the bars and $45++ to $90++ at the restaurants at CMR. There aren't any entrees anywhere on the resort that I remember in the $15++ to $30++ range. You might be able to find a chicken dish at Ufaa for $29++, but then you have to pay $12++ or so for the steamed white rice that goes with it.
Jun 30, 2019, 9:58 am
#1248
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
But
Michael
After a closer look I think I agree with you....money out of pocket-wise....
An overpriced meal at Conrad may be $40 with a similar meal being $60 at WA. With a 50% increase, this is obviously excessive for the same food. But it is still just $20.
Of course, after 9 days with 2 adults/1 child that % difference will add up. But financially (money spent) will not be enough for me to notice, especially when you consider the overall trip cost.
My hope is that the food will be amazing and I actually taste the extra $20 per meal. My first trip to Maldives, but have been to 7 resorts in Bora Bora. I found the food generally priced equally to Conrad Maldives (from blog reports). Only 1 of those resorts had food worthy of the prices they were asking. I would have gladly paid $20, per plate, more for every dinner to have been “wowed”. I am in no way a foodie. I just like good food.
On the the flip side, if the food is comparable to the mediocre food I have previously experienced 50% more per meal will blow.
To the chef’s at Waldorf Maldives, please make us appreciate why we are paying so much more for food!
TD
I spent a lot of time looking at the menus. I don't think the food costs at WA is that much outrageously higher than our last trip to CMR. Seems to be a $10 or $15 premium for comparable dishes at the WA vs. CMR. I look forwarding to hearing reports if the quality of the food offsets the premium. Beer prices are comparable, and the selection at WA is much better (tons of craft beer options under $20 at WA if that's your thing - no craft beers at CMR). Pool cocktail menu appears the same price within a couple of dollars between the resorts. Wine at WA is ridiculous - who would pay those prices?
After a closer look I think I agree with you....money out of pocket-wise....
An overpriced meal at Conrad may be $40 with a similar meal being $60 at WA. With a 50% increase, this is obviously excessive for the same food. But it is still just $20.
Of course, after 9 days with 2 adults/1 child that % difference will add up. But financially (money spent) will not be enough for me to notice, especially when you consider the overall trip cost.
My hope is that the food will be amazing and I actually taste the extra $20 per meal. My first trip to Maldives, but have been to 7 resorts in Bora Bora. I found the food generally priced equally to Conrad Maldives (from blog reports). Only 1 of those resorts had food worthy of the prices they were asking. I would have gladly paid $20, per plate, more for every dinner to have been “wowed”. I am in no way a foodie. I just like good food.
On the the flip side, if the food is comparable to the mediocre food I have previously experienced 50% more per meal will blow.
To the chef’s at Waldorf Maldives, please make us appreciate why we are paying so much more for food!
TD
Last edited by Traveler Dave; Jun 30, 2019 at 10:15 am
Jun 30, 2019, 10:19 am
#1249
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
Three hours til July 1st in Male.
Anyone think they will release a new/improved website in 3 hours? The current website has slowly been updated over the last 30 days. But still feels very fragmented/incomplete. That could just be my perception as I have been looking at it for several months.
TD
Anyone think they will release a new/improved website in 3 hours? The current website has slowly been updated over the last 30 days. But still feels very fragmented/incomplete. That could just be my perception as I have been looking at it for several months.
TD
Jun 30, 2019, 10:41 am
#1250
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 119
I took a look at saii lagoon rates. They are really low : 650 for an overwater in high season (Early April). Two bedroom overwater is only 1700. The rooms and lagoon there seem to be very nice. Especially because half of the overwater villas face away from male. The lagoon at the saii/hardrock/crossroads complex looks amazing. Much more of that shallow clear blue water, that you get at the Conrad. I might change, and pay 1300 a night, for two overwater villas . I booked a room at the WA for three people, with 400$ upgrade. Food and activities (for 3) at the WA looks like it's going to cost over 1200$ a day. Which including the upgrade makes my ten night stay $17,000.
Waldorf Astoria
Saii Lagoon (Bottom) Hard Rock (Top)
Waldorf Astoria
Saii Lagoon (Bottom) Hard Rock (Top)
Jun 30, 2019, 10:47 am
#1251
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 119
Three hours til July 1st in Male.
Anyone think they will release a new/improved website in 3 hours? The current website has slowly been updated over the last 30 days. But still feels very fragmented/incomplete. That could just be my perception as I have been looking at it for several months.
TD
Anyone think they will release a new/improved website in 3 hours? The current website has slowly been updated over the last 30 days. But still feels very fragmented/incomplete. That could just be my perception as I have been looking at it for several months.
TD
Jun 30, 2019, 10:47 am
#1252
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
Last edited by Traveler Dave; Jun 30, 2019 at 10:54 am
Jun 30, 2019, 1:00 pm
#1254
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
There is some seriously odd pricing in that link. Some surprisingly good deals ($30 for snorkelling for an hour? - Presumably with someone?) but also some odd ones. $180 for two dives, but $2,450 if you want to go private.
Jun 30, 2019, 1:03 pm
#1255
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,330
That photography package is mental. I'll take 500 high res shots of any couple for 2 hours whilst I'm there for $250 if anyone is interested.
Which will probably buy me enough water to stay hydrated for those two hours...
Which will probably buy me enough water to stay hydrated for those two hours...
Jun 30, 2019, 1:12 pm
#1256
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DEN
Posts: 136
Part of the resort's market is people for whom money really isn't an object. So the answer to your question is "people for whom money isn't really an object".
I think it's one of those, "if you're appalled by these prices, you're obviously not in the target demographic" things.
I think it's one of those, "if you're appalled by these prices, you're obviously not in the target demographic" things.
Jun 30, 2019, 1:36 pm
#1257
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
I think that’s actually relatively standard pricing for super resorts - I seem to remember the St Regis Bora Bora actually being quite a bit higher actually.
Jun 30, 2019, 2:56 pm
#1258
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
The price is “cheap” in comparison to other resort pricing I have seen. Yes, much more expensive than going to Olin Mills at Sears....but I think the product will be heads above.
TD
Jun 30, 2019, 3:06 pm
#1259
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
The results of these photoshoots (assuming they have a good photographer) are actually pretty spectacular - much better than anyone would do as an amateur unless you're the kind of person who enjoys doing their own post-editing in Photoshop. In Bora Bora I thought it was worthwhile especially for younger American couples who might be on their honeymoon but who in any case had 30+ years of work ahead of them with only a couple of international holidays a year.
Jun 30, 2019, 5:46 pm
#1260
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 104
I am intrigued on the thought process of getting to this price. Surely they thought "We'd be giving it away at $86,140 and we no one in their right mind would pay $86,150 so lets go $86,144 and see how many takers we get".
