MaldivesFreak

It's really luck of the draw whether they a) have rooms available, b) whether the rooms they have available are unoccupied contiguously, i.e; for 3 or more nights in a row (they will seldom offer upgrades for only 2 nights unless at the beginning or end of your stay so guests don't have to move back to their original villa during their stay, i.e; move twice), and c) whether other Hilton Elites (Golds & Diamonds) are before you in line to upgrade. Remember that this property is almost always at full or near-full occupancy and there are, at any given time, an average of 20-30 villas occuppied by Elites so your chances of an upgrade are not very high to begin with. Do not count on / think you will be likely to get a free upgrade at this property. As for rates, it's almost guaranteed not to get any cheaper the closer you get to your check-in date so if you really want a better villa then pay for an upgrade as soon as you can. Check out my Guidelines For Paid Upgrades post linked in my sig for more info on upgrades at this property.

Donhugo

pinniped

Yeah, it's not a dealbreaker by any stretch, but even at ocean resorts we sometimes do a quick dip in the pool even if we're also spending lots of time snorkeling or doing other things in the ocean. Just seems strange that they bothered to build pools and then only have them open for such limited hours each day. I'm used to resorts having at least one pool open most of the day...sometimes adults-only after 10PM or so, and often as late as you like as long as you're not noisy.

But I suppose in this case chilling at our own villa at night will be quite pleasant.

lhrhappy

Go in the ocean. I don't mean to excuse the fact that the pools close so early, but really do consider going in the ocean. It doesn't get cold at night. You might even see some bioluminescent plankton.

MaldivesFreak

@lhrhappy is right. It's 2:30AM and the water temperature is 28°C. Great for a midnight dip. ^
One reason they don't have the pools open 24hrs is there's no-one, and I mean no-one, about after midnight. I agree though that 6PM is a bit slack since Rangali Bar and The Quiet Zone are open til well after 6 but it's a place where almost no-one wants to swim after dinner. Kids are asleep and everyone's either relaxing on a lounger letting dinner digest, taking a walk across the bridge or sometimes on the beach or in their room.

mdg197777

manneca

There is filtered (purified?) water put in refillable bottles in the villa each day. You can ask for more. I'm not sure what the practice is now, but in the past some of the restaurants have been reluctant to offer the resort water; they want to sell bottled water. I usually insist on the resort water. (Sometimes I just bring my own water to the restaurant.)

There are some small ways in which I am really, really cheap. I hate paying for bottled water when there is perfectly drinkable water otherwise available. (But I'll gladly pay for the Wine Cellar dinner.)

MaldivesFreak

Tap water is drinkable. Refilled for no cost in room, however much you want. Free outside the room only at the gym and Atoll Market at breakfast time. I assume there's free water at Vilu for breakfast too.

MaldivesFreak

Here it is: Guidelines For Paid Upgrades

canesfan

That's funny because when we checked in last week, our resort host told us to not drink the tap water. She said if you need more filtered water in the bottles, just call and they will bring more. Although there was always about 4 bottles in the room each day so never ran out before room was cleaned.

Cynicor

mb123

Donhugo

MaldivesFreak

They always tell guests not to drink it although they do tell some that it's still drinkable. Go figure.

Traveler Dave

I am sure it is drinkable, i.e. you wont die or end up on the commode for 3 days. But I assume many have complained about the taste and found telling people to drink the bottled instead causes them fewer hassles.

I have no issue spending money on overpriced items on a trip like this. It comes with the desire to vacation in places like the Maldives and Bora Bora. But my Father comes out in me when asked to pay $10 for a bottle of water at dinner! Especially when the same bottle of water (given to me for free) is sitting back at my room.

TD