mynameisdmoon

I saw that too but I thought that was because the standard rate was sold out for the dates.

iluvdoco

What was the speedboat transfer like? What is the nature of the speedboat? I'm assuming it's not a yacht?

billabong

Not a yatch but it's a very nice speedboat. Great seat, with AC and wifi

It's only a very short ride though.

Joker0874

There's also no restroom on the speedboat. Ride is about 20-30min.

seychellesbound

They use multiple boats and the newest one does have a bathroom.

DonnyJohn

Searched period of a few months, it's not the case. Looks like they have made standard redemption for beach villa only.

lincoln boy

As of mid last week, only beach villas can be bookable with points. Strangely, the rate for overwater villas are cheaper than the beach villas. I wonder if I could book a beach villa with points and downgrade it to the overwater villa.

todderz

Twice now I've written detailed posts about my impressions of what I've come to call the Hampton-on-sea, and they haven't appeared.

So I'll be brief, and just say it's clear why it's a Hilton instead of a Conrad or Waldorf, many of the villas have poor views and poor privacy, and the villas and public areas are all lacking any touch of personality or character or charm.

It's the beige, vanilla, generic, Ikea of overwater villa resorts.

Hawkeyefan

$300 for a 20 min boat ride? $900 an hour rate, ya right.

lendmeyourbrain

how expensive were the meals there? booked for us April 23-29

lendmeyourbrain

Also just saw pics of their volleyball net. Im a huge volleyball fan, cant wait to play it daily

todderz

I'll try to write something more useful than my initial review.

I want to rant about all the service issues I've faced, but that kind of thing is subjective and not systemic so I'll stick to the facts that might be of use to you.

The speedboat transfer was prompt and easy, and although $300++ is a rip-off, it's nice to get to the resort so quickly.

I booked a 1 bed overwater pool villa on points and was upgraded to a 1 bed suite overwater pool villa.
I had requested a south-facing villa and after many troubles I won't go in to, I ended up in 112.
The south-facing, even-numbered 100s have a horizon that is 1/3 open water, 1/3 beach and beach villas, and 1/3 an ugly, scruffy, industrial skyline of Mahe. Though it's on the horizon, not close, it does spoil the effect, and is very bright at night which spoils any starry skies.
The north-facing, odd-numbered 100s have a worse view of a neighbouring resort.
The north-facing 500s (the standard 1 bed overwater pool villas) also have a crappy view with lots of boat traffic and ugly little islands.
The best overwater villas are the south-facing 500s. They have largely unobstructed open-water views. They are also on the outside of the curve so they have a little extra separation.

In the south-facing 100s villa I rarely felt any privacy on the deck due to the beach villas on one side and boats in front, sometimes yachts parking up for the day directly in front of the villas. Outside the resort's waters, but too close for my liking.

The villa itself was uninspiring. Nothing wrong, but the materials and fixtures and furnishings do not feel premium. If Ikea made overwater villas, this would be it. Floors, tiles, bathroom fittings, all looked and felt average. There is not a hint of local colour or flavour in any of the decoration. It's anonymous, could be anywhere.

I often heard music from next door. Next door's lights were annoying at night. There is no master light switch so you have to visit 7 different locations, 2 outside, to go dark. The sliding doors rattled in the wind. Regular buggies speeding along the boardwalk sound like a heavy lorry rolling past. Heavy-footed people stamping their way along the boardwalk made the whole room shudder, same as when there's an elephant in the hotel room above yours.

The "suite" living room is just some space with a sofa in it. It's not integrated or useful. You walk through it to the bedroom area. All it does is give you a little extra width on the deck and pool, and a small bit of extra shade from a slightly deeper roof overhang (there is otherwise no shade at the overwaters), but really you are not gaining much by having the suite, and you're not losing anything in the standard overwater villa.

todderz

The public areas of the resort are also anonymous and generic with no hint of local culture, no personality, no character, no individuality. You could be anywhere.

The breakfast buffet is perfectly fine but again nothing special. No creative presentation or local specialties, just a generic Asian breakfast buffet. The egg station served quickly, coffee was served very slowly. There's plenty of choice, you won't struggle to have nice things to eat, but there's nothing special or interesting about it.

The happy hour at 3pm for Gold and Diamond is fine. Cocktail of the day, wines including sparkling, and though not listed they will make Pina Colada, Mojito, whatever you ask for if the have the ingredients. There are only about 25 seats and it was packed out both times I went.

There was nothing really wrong with anything, but it lacked any flair, and charm, any romance. It's vanilla, generic, sliced white bread and tap water. Nothing wrong with sliced white bread and tap water, but you probably think of the Maldives more like Champagne and caviar.

With nothing feeling particularly premium - materials, service, views, facilities - the premium prices for F&B feel wrong.

todderz

For the final 4 hours of my last day I have been moved to a beach villa, and everything changed.

Where the overwater villas feel a bit naff and a bit cheap, the beach villa feels nice.

The layout is better. The bathroom is nicer - the floor tiles are higher quality, the blinds are electric, the outdoor shower is a lovely space. It's the same fixtures, but it all feels nicer.

The pool is nicer, and a little longer, though in an L-shape.

But it's outside where the beach villa really shines compared to the overwater villa.

It has things that the overwater villa does not. There is a lovely swinging chair thingy, under shade, which is very comfy. There is shade over the sun beds if you want it. There is more space. The hedges on either side create a greater feeling of privacy, without obstructing the view. And then you're looking out over a beautiful white sand beach to turquoise waters.

It's really nice. It feels much more private than the overwaters (I'm in beach villa 210, was in overwater 112). The beach is in a bay so any boat traffic is much further out. Unless someone is on the beach in front of your villa, you won't see anyone, and you can't be seen from any overwater villas. Even at the current 80% occupancy I have not seen anyone else on the beach.

The beach is really pretty. I would much rather walk across the sand and into the water than climb down a slippery metal ladder covered in barnacles, as at the overwater villas.

I say the overwater villas are not worth 120k points, and certainly not cash.

The beach villas are certainly worth the points, though the cash price still puts me off - I'd go the Conrad Koh Samui if i was paying cash.

The beach villa is comfortable, private, and has a very pretty beach outside.

I still would not ever come back to this resort, but it you can't find availability at the Waldorf then get a beach villa here and you'll like it.

Being in the beach villa for these past few hours has changed my review score from 2 out of 10, to 6 or maybe 7 out of 10.

todderz

Allow me to reiterate. The overwater villas are not good enough quality, not private enough, suffer from noise, and have views that ruin the sense of being in an island paradise. I regret coming. I would not advise anyone to book an overwater villa here.

The beach villas are comfy, well laid out, private, quiet, and have gorgeous views of clean white sand and turquoise water, with less of the scruffy junk on the horizon visible from the room or the deck (at least in 210 and the other south-facing villas). It's a nice place to be.

The rest of the resort is fine but does not show or inspire any passion or delight. It's all just fine.

I have had numerous service issues that have really spoiled my stay, but I don't think they are things that will repeat.

So the Conrad or Waldorf are better, but a beach villa here will do nicely and I don't think you'd be disappointed. Only a beach villa though.