Originally Posted by makavel

We were recently at the Park Hyatt Maldives and learned some interesting information about ongoing upgrades during the Back of the House tour!

Longer-Term Upgrades
- All villa AC units will be replaced in the next year as the R-22 refrigerant currently utilized will no longer be legal in the Maldives.
- Seawater cooling system that can augment the AC in the water villas will be tested.
- The resort is considering the addition of plunge pools to water villas.
- The resort hopes to build a 2-3 bedroom Presidential Villa with a large plunge pool at the end of the water villa pier on the space that is currently unoccupied.

Additionally, the hotel was kind enough to show us the renovated villas and let us take some photos. I was told that all work on the new villas should be completed by ~November 15.

Deluxe Park Pool Villa
Three villas are being converted to Deluxe Park Pool Villas, which will have an enlarged plunge pool with infinity edge, submerged chaise lounge chairs, and an outdoor covered area with seating. It's a stunning transformation of the outdoor area! The interior of the villas is unchanged so I didn't ask to see that or take photos.

Attachment 43172
Plunge pool at Villa 2

Attachment 43173
Looking from Villa 2 to toward Villas 3 (standard Pool Villa) and 4 (Deluxe Pool Villa)

2 Bedroom Park Pool Villa (Family Villa)
Three villas are being converted to 2 Bedroom Park Pool Villas. These villas have a new entryway with the original villa door to one side, the new bedroom door to the opposite side, and a glass door to the pool area straight ahead. The second bedroom has two single beds that can be combined. It utilizes the same size AC as the original villas, so it should cool effectively because it's a smaller space. The second bedroom also features a full bathroom with indoor shower and toilet enclosures. There's no outdoor bathroom space for the second bedroom. The family villas also feature the new enlarged plunge pool with infinity edge.

Attachment 43174
Original villa on the left and new bedroom on the right

Attachment 43175
Family villa plunge pool

Originally Posted by makavel

Example: November 12, 2017
Park Villa: $700/night
Park Water Villa: $1,110/night
Difference: $410
Total Upgrade Cost/Night: $410 * 1.1 *1.12 = $505.12 (this amount exactly matches lagunas2k's quote)

For what it's worth, in my experience, the cost differential between villa categories seems to be quite stable over time, but the price of the base Park Villa goes up and down, which affects the price of the other villas.

I hope this helps!

Originally Posted by Kilian Zoll

The price difference between the base villa and the water villa is only $349 on my dates -- yet I have been quoted $499 (incl taxes) for the upgrade. Should I be asking for a new quote?

Originally Posted by ronbo83

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.

Originally Posted by Kilian Zoll

The price difference between the base villa and the water villa is only $349 on my dates -- yet I have been quoted $499 (incl taxes) for the upgrade. Should I be asking for a new quote?

Originally Posted by slm9555

Look at the price difference after taxes/fees. That might be why, try a mock reservation.

Originally Posted by lagunas2k

Thanks for the info. We're headed there in two weeks, and I upgraded the last three nights of my stay in a deluxe pool villa, so I'm super excited. I'll be sure to take a lot of pics when I get the chance.

The three villas that are deluxe park pool villas are 2/4 as you mentioned and 10.

How was the food during your stay? A good majority of the reviews are hit or miss on the dining room and specialty dinners like the bbq. Any thoughts are appreciated!

Originally Posted by jazzmailman

Does anyone know if it costs the same to upgrade at the time of check-in? ie Park Villa -> Park Water Villa still ~$500?

It's probably the same price but I figure it doesn't hurt to ask. I can't really confirm the upgrade right now because i'm still waiting for Etihad APT and Qatar Qsuite award space to open up...

Also, is 3 days at the PH Maldives too short? Wife and I aren't exactly resort/beach people, so I was thinking maybe 3 days is enough. We don't plan on doing much water activities, pretty much just relax. Would it be too rush?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by jazzmailman

Thank you for the reply makavel, i meant 4 days / 3 nights, arriving Thursday at night and leaving late Sunday night (red-eye CX to HKG). I'm actually planning to head over in 2 weeks, so hopefully any sort of flight availability opens up.

Has anyone stayed only 3 nights before? Seems like everyone is there for at least 4 nights.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by makavel

Thanks for providing the villa numbers! I was going to write those, but couldn't remember the third number so figured it was better to omit the information. It'll be great to have more detailed photos of the new villas from your upcoming stay.

To be honest, I'm not that picky when it comes to food! However, my wife is more selective and was generally satisfied with the food. I think that because this trip was a return visit for us, we already had an idea of which food items we might or might not like, and so we ordered accordingly. We enjoyed all of the dishes that we tried from the Dining Room and the Island Grill. We generally avoid the specialty dinners like the BBQ because they're quite expensive and the reviews that I've seen are not the most positive.

Since our last stay, the resort has also turned Drift into a specialty restaurant that offers a rotating assortment of cuisines depending on the night (Italian, Chinese hotpot, and Thai, I believe). We didn't try that option during our visit for the same reason that we don't usually do the other specialty dinners. This probably doesn't affect many people, but because of the conversion of Drift to a restaurant, Afternoon Tea is now accommodated at The Bar instead of Drift.

Originally Posted by TigerDeBaiter

Hi, so we finally got this all booked up and will be there in a couple weeks. What is the power situation? (kind of last minute, i know). We have a 3 day stopover in London, so we'll have an adapter already, but something I hadn't considered entirely.

Any update on the construction? What would be a good beach villa at this to request?

Thanks, Cant wait!!

Originally Posted by jazzmailman

Thank you for the reply makavel, i meant 4 days / 3 nights, arriving Thursday at night and leaving late Sunday night (red-eye CX to HKG). I'm actually planning to head over in 2 weeks, so hopefully any sort of flight availability opens up.

Has anyone stayed only 3 nights before? Seems like everyone is there for at least 4 nights.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by makavel

The UK power adapter that you'll have from London should also work for The Maldives! The Park Hyatt has universal plugs by the bedside, so you wouldn't need it there, but I believe the bathroom has the regular UK plugs (at least in the water villas). That adapter will also serve you well in the airport lounge while you're waiting for your connecting domestic flight.

The beach on the side of the island near villas 12/14 was great during our visit last month! My understanding is that the beach near villas 20-26 is also good year-round.

Enjoy your trip!