Trip Report: Amansara (Cambodia) & Both Four Seasons Maldives
Nov 24, 2010, 5:18 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
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- The FS looked a little more rustic/natural whereas the O&O looked a little more glitzy
- FS provided direct seaplane transfers between their two resorts
- We were strongly considering the FS Explorer
- O&O was new and we were concerned about the onsite snorkeling since they had built up the island with lots of additional sand
Having said that, I would still like to visit the O&O someday. The reviews are very good.
I'll let others who've been to both do a comparison....
Nov 29, 2010, 12:20 pm
#32
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
Ericka's reports was excellent, but let's remember that this was 2007 and all the resorts mentioned have now moved on (or not).
Four Seasons Kuda Huraa is now exceptionally good. FS LG is a beautiful island with great snorkelling but its close-together accommodation is, IMHO, not well built and in some places is cracking (private pools). I am sure this will be dealt with, but compared to FS Kuda Huraa it is so lacking in warmth. I find O&O much more 'embracing' staff-wise.
O&O is unique - nothing like it. In fact it is not glitzy, just manicured. Some of the guests can be a little bling, but generally only at Christmas and New Year. 12 beaches are hard to beat.
I would return to FS Kuda Huraa in a heart beat and to O&O. Less so FS LG.
Four Seasons Kuda Huraa is now exceptionally good. FS LG is a beautiful island with great snorkelling but its close-together accommodation is, IMHO, not well built and in some places is cracking (private pools). I am sure this will be dealt with, but compared to FS Kuda Huraa it is so lacking in warmth. I find O&O much more 'embracing' staff-wise.
O&O is unique - nothing like it. In fact it is not glitzy, just manicured. Some of the guests can be a little bling, but generally only at Christmas and New Year. 12 beaches are hard to beat.
I would return to FS Kuda Huraa in a heart beat and to O&O. Less so FS LG.
Nov 30, 2010, 2:25 am
#34
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
My trip report to the two FS Maldives resorts is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...le-report.html
We were there in February 2009.
We were there in February 2009.
Nov 30, 2010, 6:05 am
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,434
I'm having a total flashback right now...just glancing into the water and seeing all manner of colorful fish, crabs, rays, eels, juvenile sharks....you don't even have to be snorkeler....just look down while walking around the resorts.
I really have to get back.
I really have to get back.
Nov 30, 2010, 10:36 am
#36
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
My trip report to the two FS Maldives resorts is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...le-report.html
We were there in February 2009.
We were there in February 2009.
Dec 1, 2010, 8:07 am
#37
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
Sure. Things are changing. I just linked to my report to make the thread complete given that someone was looking at an even older trip report.
Dec 4, 2010, 12:11 am
#38
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
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Posts: 4,539
Ericka's reports was excellent, but let's remember that this was 2007 and all the resorts mentioned have now moved on (or not).
Four Seasons Kuda Huraa is now exceptionally good. FS LG is a beautiful island with great snorkelling but its close-together accommodation is, IMHO, not well built and in some places is cracking (private pools). I am sure this will be dealt with, but compared to FS Kuda Huraa it is so lacking in warmth. I find O&O much more 'embracing' staff-wise.
O&O is unique - nothing like it. In fact it is not glitzy, just manicured. Some of the guests can be a little bling, but generally only at Christmas and New Year. 12 beaches are hard to beat.
I would return to FS Kuda Huraa in a heart beat and to O&O. Less so FS LG.
Four Seasons Kuda Huraa is now exceptionally good. FS LG is a beautiful island with great snorkelling but its close-together accommodation is, IMHO, not well built and in some places is cracking (private pools). I am sure this will be dealt with, but compared to FS Kuda Huraa it is so lacking in warmth. I find O&O much more 'embracing' staff-wise.
O&O is unique - nothing like it. In fact it is not glitzy, just manicured. Some of the guests can be a little bling, but generally only at Christmas and New Year. 12 beaches are hard to beat.
I would return to FS Kuda Huraa in a heart beat and to O&O. Less so FS LG.
It was my first trip to the Maldives, so I can't compare to other resorts. Even though I had a slightly better impression of the KH, I would go back to the LG. For me the main criterion was the variety of things to do. Before I went to the Maldives, I thought that I would be bored -- but I easily filled up four days at the LG with the various activities. The different beach and pool areas, excursions, variety of solid dining options, and relatively large size of the island meant that I had plenty to do. Obviously it depends on what one is interested in for one's vacation, but that's one respect in which the larger LG is superior to the KH.
Jul 14, 2012, 4:34 pm
#39
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO bay area
Programs: UA 1MM, AA EXP 1MM, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,729
We're thinking about staying at the FSKH in November with our 2 kids. The xfer would be speedboat, but we would like to get an aerial view in a seaplane. FSKH tells us that they can arrange 20 minute photo flight for $1700 (not inclusive of taxes, fees), which seems rather steep even for Maldives. Anyone has suggestions?
Last edited by 2cardinalalums; Jul 14, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Jul 14, 2012, 11:27 pm
#40
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K MM, AS MVPG, SPG PLAT 100
Posts: 1,497
We're thinking about staying at the FSKH in November with our 2 kids. The xfer would be speedboat, but we would like to get an aerial view in a seaplane. FSKH tells us that they can arrange 20 minute photo flight for $1700 (not inclusive of taxes, fees), which seems rather steep even for Maldives. Anyone has suggestions?
Jul 15, 2012, 12:15 am
#41
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Jul 15, 2012, 1:10 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: LAX
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Posts: 1,497
Ouch, I've been to the FSLG twice (once on babymoon and once the following year) and I thought the 6 day babymoon trip was too short considering the distance flown from CA.
I bet if you expressed some interest in seeing the FSLG from KH, and there were seats open, I cant imagine they wouldnt let you just fly up there and back (there is always a late afternoon LG to KH flight for LG guests with late departures out of MLE) for little to no money.
I bet if you expressed some interest in seeing the FSLG from KH, and there were seats open, I cant imagine they wouldnt let you just fly up there and back (there is always a late afternoon LG to KH flight for LG guests with late departures out of MLE) for little to no money.
Jul 15, 2012, 10:53 am
#43
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Ouch, I've been to the FSLG twice (once on babymoon and once the following year) and I thought the 6 day babymoon trip was too short considering the distance flown from CA.
I bet if you expressed some interest in seeing the FSLG from KH, and there were seats open, I cant imagine they wouldnt let you just fly up there and back (there is always a late afternoon LG to KH flight for LG guests with late departures out of MLE) for little to no money.
I bet if you expressed some interest in seeing the FSLG from KH, and there were seats open, I cant imagine they wouldnt let you just fly up there and back (there is always a late afternoon LG to KH flight for LG guests with late departures out of MLE) for little to no money.
Thanks for the suggestion to piggyback on KH-LG. Probably will be costly, regardless.
Jul 15, 2012, 11:06 am
#44
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
Another idea would be to stay at LG and - if you have a late plane back - leave LG early to go to Male and from there take the boat and spend the last day at KH. Boat quick and nice. I have heard that this is possible as my husband was offered to do this when we left LG (he was travelling somewhere else for work after holidays). He declined and spent the day at Male which he regretted. Really nothing exciting there.
Jul 15, 2012, 11:25 am
#45
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
also http://www.fourseasons.com/maldivesk..._and_transfer/ ($150 / $300 discount)
$750 x 3 + $900 x 3 = $4,950
an example of a starting point for negotiation
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jul 15, 2012 at 11:34 am