FLYGVA

I added a wiki to the thread with a compilation of several information about the hotels. Feel free to add additional information (e.g. about restaurants, activities, Royal Ambassador benefits).

The post before the opening are moved to its own thread. Also linked in the Master List overview.

FLYGVA
co-moderator IHG Forum

shoven

Did you try the evening drinks at the retreat? How was the offering as the website just mentions wine and cheese?

Marco159

Yes, at the retreat and at the poolbar. See attached menu for evening (complimentary) drinks:

nrgetik

The timing of 08-10 PM is very nice. But the choice of a very cheap Italian Prosecco spumante is disappointing for such a resort. Do you have any in pics of drink menus? I.e. how much for a decent bottle of champagne?

336

Bottles of wine start at 90usd plus tax and service. Didn't remember champagne. I would guess at least 150usd ++.

shoven

Other than the Prosecco sparkling option seems like a pretty decent offering with plenty of choice.

Shame no Champagne for the price of a room at the resort but I'm not supprised to be honest.

I imagine its down to high tax?

Passportinonehand

I’m at the resort now, staying in a lagoon villa which is really nice. Tried the food at Café Umi, The Collective and Fishmarket already (and afternoon tea at the Retreat). Will have dinner at the Lighthouse tomorrow. Haven’t tried the spa yet, but have a treatment booked later. Let me know if you have any questions/requests and I’ll try my best to answer them!

For those interested in moving images, I have plenty of short videos on my Instagram stories (lots of food, too). My username on IG is the same as on FT.

koriobg

@Passportinonehand: Thank you for the offer. I am trying to figure out what I have to book to meet my requirements below and if possible want to ask:




1. What is the cheapest suite which is on the beach, can accommodate 3 people and has 2 rooms with physical separation (i.e. door) to provide privacy for a family?


2. Which suite is one category below point 1 so can be booked to receive an AMB upgrade to the one desired above?





Thank you in advance.

JSR2014

I have just booked two weeks here on reward nights at a cost of 1.4m points - hope its worth it.

The concierge are VERY slow at responding to emails, however we are in a sunrise over water villa for myself, my wife and my 5yr old son. I am beyond excited as its our first time to the Maldives, I was surprised to find reward night availability - however perhaps this was due to my RA status (there was nothing as Spire Elite)?

I would be very interested for more information on the Club Intercontinental, specifically inclusions and exclusions, it appears that beer and wine during the day are included but not at dinner etc which I am fine with. My son is going to want a lot of ice cream etc as well.

Passportinonehand

That would be the 2 bedroom family beach villa! I don’t know how the AMB upgrades work exactly but normally the category just below should be the regular beach pool villa.

Regarding your 5yo, I don’t think they put children in overwater villas. You might be ‘upgraded’ to a lagoon villa which is a 2 Story villa with a deck with private pool overlooking the ocean on one side and beach access to the lagoon on the other side. The only inconvenience here is that you don’t have direct access to the ocean from your deck (although our neighbours jumped from their deck in the ocean - about 14ft high). We stayed in a similar 2-story villa albeit on the sunset side which I would recommend because of the warmer pool and more sunlight during the day. You can find a room tour of this particular room in the ‘Maldives’ highlight on my Instagram.

JSR2014

Interesting, I had read this too - however when I spoke with them by email they said it was absolutely fine - I guess only time will tell. I had a snoop on your IG and noticed you'd been in Seychelles as well, we were in the Seychelles last year and its my favourite place in the world - how does the Maldives compare? We stayed at the Constance Ephelia whilst were there. Lovely lovely place, especially the beach on the "suite" side of the island. The beach on the other side was a bit "meh".

Passportinonehand

They also told me they make exceptions for kids in the overwater villas when guests are really persuasive ;-).
We loved the Seychelles islands for their natural beauty (especially La Digue, Coco Island and Felicité island) but found the quality of the hotels were a couple notches below Maldivian standards.
IC Maldives is several levels above Constance Ephelia, both in terms of hard product, service, food and natural beauty. We felt the beach at Constance Ephelia was terribly overcrowded. The only hotel we stayed at in the Seychelles that was true luxury was Six Senses Zil Pasyon. Even though the hotels were disappointing there, I absolutely loved our two weeks there and I can't wait to head back! The only similarity between the Seychelles and the Maldives is the colour of the water, but that's where the comparison stops.

JSR2014

OH wow that's exactly what I wanted to hear - the beach did get busy at the Ephelia, it was a source of annoyance to us but it was quickly overcome after a bottle of wine from the beach bar

This will be a bucket list trip for us, somewhere I have always wanted to go.

koriobg

Thank you.

If regular Beach Pool villa is one category below, I am wondering where Family Beach Pool and 1 Bedroom Beach Pool stand from category perspective. Looking at the prices they are between the regular and the 2 Bedroom Family Pool.

336

The only alcoholic drinks which are included, as part of the club offer, are the evening digestivs, between 8-10PM.

The drinks menu is quiet comprehensive and has been posted here before. No champagne though.