ga8riel

Awesome, thanks, that was my question.

tcormier

Going for our honeymoon next April. Asked about upgrades, and got the prices including the new deluxe pool villas. Wanted to share for anyone interested (sorry if reposted, didn't see it but didn't look too hard):


To Park Pool Villa USD210 plus taxes of 23.2%, total USD258.72per night.
To Park Deluxe Pool Villa USD310 plus taxes of 23.2%, total USD381.92 per night.
To Park Water Villa USD410 plus taxes of 23.2%, total USD505.12 per night.
To Park Sunset Water Villa USD610 plus taxes of 23.2%, total USD751.52 per night

slm9555

I'm going to do my first 3 nights OWV and then 4 nights on the standard award.

Anyone know what time I would have to "check out" / leave the OWV on the 4th day? I am hoping it's 2pm with my current status and if I become a globalist than 4pm?

joecool1885

My 26-part report on our Dubai/Maldives trip concluded today with the publishing of my direct comparison: Park Hyatt Maldives VS. Conrad Maldives.

Hope you all enjoy. Comments/questions/suggestions welcome.

Ultimately:
Our trip was exactly what I had hoped for: a mix of romantic ambience, enjoyable activities, excellent food and beautiful scenery all around. As you can see from the above, these two resorts are pretty evenly matched, and I wish I could say definitively you should choose one over the other. As far as diving and snorkeling, if you want to see a healthier reef and ecosystem, the Hyatt is the place to be. But if you want to see more fish and marine life, you should check out the Conrad.
I would be more likely to recommend the Hyatt to a couple on their honeymoon who wanted a stress-free romantic getaway and I would push a family or a couple that wanted to try a variety of activities in a tropical paradise towards the Conrad. But at the end of the day I recommend you try them both!

Joe

m0hamed

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ga8riel

I've never dived but have interest in doing it. Is this recommended based on the currents there?

Also can anyone help me make sense of what it would cost? Would it be 80 for orientation PP + 360 open water per couple?

What does the "pool experience" entail?

canyonleo

This location is not one for the beginner (that is not the same as saying it's expert-only). See up-thread where I've posted details on my thoughts on this topic if you want my opinion.

enelym1978

I went there and I'm a PADI Advanced Open Water certified but the person I was with had never dived before.

If you've never dived before, you need to book the Discover Scuba Diving. Orientation Dive is more like a refresher course for those who are certified but haven't dived for more than a year.

Pool Experience: you will only do it in the main swimming pool. It's a fun way to discover breathing underwater for those who are scared of being in the open.... not that interesting according to me. The main point is to see the underwater life and some fishes

Go for the Discover Scuba Diving - Open Water Experience. You will get a crash course, demo, then a practical exercise in the main pool and then they will take you out to the house reef. My friend loved it. You won't go deep and the dive master/instructor will always be behind you to hold you if you are "sinking".
They were really nice with my friend, no complaints. I was just diving next to them.

I then went on my own and some German guests out to the rim of the atoll and that is definitely not for beginners, they wouldn't take you anyway. It was mostly drift diving with some calmer spots.

The house reef is already super nice with black tip reef sharks, tons of small fishes, cuttlefish and the local turtle.

WillSkiGT

Be aware, these rates are not universal and only apply to your stay in April.

My wife and I were quoted much higher (think 2x+) upgrade rates for our upcoming stay in December.

slm9555

I am going in January and my upgrade quotes were identical to the above. I'm surprised there would be much of a difference between December and January.

Kilian Zoll

We've been offered USD 405 plus 23.2% taxes for the Park Water Villa upgrade in early/mid February. I believe this is the peak of the high season (?).

lagunas2k

Do any real pictures of the deluxe pool villas exist yet?

Headed to the PHM in November and bringing the 2 yr old. Please don’t judge. Anyhow considering the deluxe pool upgrade but not sure if the pool is deep all the way through. The semi submerged chairs tell me no, but haven’t received a clear answer yet. Anyone know? Would be great to have the kid putz around the pool without floaties the entire time.

Also has anyone confirmed the new family amenities being tossed around on the net:

“Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa will launch a brand-new family offering, including daily kids activities, new kids’ welcome packs and a complimentary babysitting service to allow parents to enjoy some quality time as a couple.”

TIA

WillSkiGT

Just reached out to re-confirm and got the following:

Park Pool Villa: $252.56/night
Park Water Villa: $498.96/night
Park Sunset Water Villa: $751.52/night

Interestingly enough, none of the new villas were listed as an option.

Still debating doing all-inclusive with a base Park Villa or a la carte with a Pool or Water Villa. My wife wants to do all-inclusive, but she is the type of person who orders a 3 course meal and only ends up eating half of the salad before being full. I don't want to feel like we have to eat and drink a ton every day to get our money's worth, but also don't want to feel like we have to watch our food/drink spending (it is our honeymoon, after all). All-inclusive for the two of us would be over $5k, which is a tough pill to swallow.

Decisions, decisions.

slm9555

I am presuming the above prices for the room upgrades were inclusive of tax? If so that is in line with the above upgrade information. I'll probably reach out to PHM before my trip in January and see if the rates have gone down at all.

How many nights are you doing? You can do a mix of beach villa and upgrades.

ronbo83

Things may be different now that they have a new GM. The last one was very kid friendly to a fault of other guests looking for peace and quiet here. I believe he is the one who instituted the kid friendly changes so it may be good to check with the hotel to match your expectations.

Funny that the parents need free babysitting to enjoy time being a couple as mentioned in the sought after benefits. The rest of us are trying to do that here and enough parents wouldn’t watch their kids that this place felt more like a cruise ship than luxury island so no one wins.