Abidjan

photo 2 - - well im a repeater and i'm still stumped.

enwhycee

We are up early..

is is a good strategy fruit in morning then late breakfast at Atoll, then tea time/ happy hour?

Trying to extend our dollar as far as it will go..

The guests are probably 98% Chinese. Is that typical?

Any other recommendations, since I feel like I have already forgotten most of what I have read? Lol

mnredfox

If you fill up at Atoll and then tea time and HH you may not even need fruit in the AM.

And yes lots of Chinese. I wouldn't say 98% but maybe 60%. Get used to it, they are gettting more and more rich....

vnfilm1

Can someone please let me know where what time is a tea time and happy hour at this hotel. Will I get these information at check in desk.

Thanks .

goliath

Yes, you will get that info at check-in - or here in the Wiki at the top of this thread.

enwhycee

Every interaction with the staff has been them complaining about them ruining reef or scratching the whale shark etc..

Oh well. Can't get over how awesome the DBV is.

Worried about missing it, when we move over to the SWV..

Cynicor

Mainlanders...

also, you make have to prompt about the tea time at checkin. I've not been to it as I wasn't told either of my visits, and assumed it had stopped running or something. Quite disappointing really.

MaldivesFreak

Careful, the FT Truth Police will be onto you for that, LOL!

Can't remember if we were told about tea time on our first visit but they certainly didn't let us know at check-in on subsequent visits (not that they should after the 2nd as repeaters find out about it in due course anyhow). OTOH, there was a welcome letter which did detail it (when we were entitled to it, 2nd visit onwards IIRC) waiting in the room.

MaldivesFreak

That's pretty much SOP for saving those greenbacks.

May seem like that (might be hard to differentiate between mainlanders and other Chinese and other Asians too) but, as mnredfox says, probably only around 60%, possibly a bit into the 70s or higher if they are doing promos for the Chinese market. If you include Koreans, Japanese and perhaps a few other nationalities within Asia and Southeast Asia then you could be looking at a figure in the high 80s. If they were mostly mainlanders like you say it would be a little strange because their kids have just gone back to school this month and there are no holidays right now to make them travel in greater numbers than usual. It's usually 2/3 or above mainlanders in the school holidays which are the last week in June and all of July and August.

Are you going to do a beach dinner? How many nights are you there for again?

MaldivesFreak

Scratching the whale sharks? Bleeding hell. Shame they can't scratch back! How do they manage that, anyway?


Wouldn't surprise me if someone opened up a resort specifically excluding the mainland market. @:-)@:-)@:-)@:-)@:-) There are a few restaurants around the globe like that. If I had 100mil to invest I know what I'd be doing.....

enwhycee

Hey MF,

Why is there so much talk about reserving anything at this resort?

Every restaurant is empty. There is no need to reserve anything.

Is it just high season that your speak of?

We haven't really had the desire to spend outrageous prices to eat at empty restaurants.

Have been enjoying the fairly reasonable priced meals at Rangali bar.

Also only about a dozen people at tea time and HH which is nice.

enwhycee

I guess there is difficulty translating "DONT TOUCH THEM" and they wear so much sunscreen that poisons them.

MaldivesFreak

Mainlanders have an aversion to a lot of Western style and fusion cuisine so they prefer Atoll Market and Ufaa (after it improved when they changed the menu) and Ithaa for the experience. For example, none of the people I've gone with (except my girlfriend of course) or have recommended Rangali and Ithaa to, have praised the food at Ithaa. Some might read this and think well, that's just a few people. JIC some of you don't know, I have lived in mainland China for more than 15 years and I can tell you it's very hard for them to accept or get used to Western / non-native cuisine.
As a general rule, the more you see at the resort the less trouble you have booking tables at Mandhoo, Sunset Grill and Vilu.
Forgot to mention that The Wine Cellar dinner, Tapas and Cheese Fondue are also almost never patronized by them and are very easy to get seats at if their numbers are high.

Abidjan

When did the Ufaa menu change occur? Last few visits were underwhelming. Willing to give it another go if the menu change was recent.

jphripjah

You should get dinner at the Quiet Zone. Also reasonably priced, lovely atmosphere near the water, you might have the place to yourself.