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DRESS CODE FOR Aailaa
Visiting the JW for a few days at the end of the month. My question is about dress code for Aailaa. I know that I can probably get away with a pair of basketball shorts and a tank top there for lunch or dinner. But can I do the same in the evening ? Can I get away with shorts in the evening at dinner ? Do I have to sport a collared shirt in the evening ? If I order my dinner in room, any idea what they charge for room service delivery?
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You'll be fine in t-shirt and shorts at Aailaa. Even at Hashi and Shio you would be fine if necessary. Everyone there is on vacation and knows that the resort restaurants are your only option.
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Originally Posted by Patinum
(Post 34738071)
Just got back from a stay at the JW Maldives. Thought I'd share a few thoughts.
- Don't know why people are sleeping on this place. It's beautiful and service is great. Maybe not as good as St. Regis but I wouldn't know. If you're going to the Maldives as a bucket list travel you won't be disappointed. - Was trying to decide between JW, St. R, and W. St. Regis seemed like food would be more expensive. W looked too party and the villas seemed very close to each other. - Was initially concerned about this being a "family oriented" hotel. Honestly never really saw kids around since the kids area keeps them occupied. - Guests we about half Eastern European and half Americans. As an American, I'll just say I'm happy with how the Americans acted - very laid back and respectful to the staff. - Last day of our stay the hotel was at near full capacity and I felt it a bit. First time I saw the bottom of my champagne glass. Service was still always prompt and friendly. - Meal plans offered to me were $150 for half board, $210 for full board, $300 for all inclusive (full board + drinks), and $360 for All Inclusive Star. All Inclusive Star was originally $450 but was given 20% off. Not sure if they do this for everyone or because I'm Platinum. While we definitely could have done half board to save some money, we did the All Inclusive Star. This plan includes all menu items except caviar. Also includes champagne. When I say all menu items, I mean everything. We went the the fancier restaurants, Shio and Hashi, every night. No surcharges for the $300, $400, $500 items. Even got the $228 maldivian lobster for lunch without a surcharge. Could we have spent less a la carte? Probably. But there is something nice about having no limits. - Food was really good. Steak place was fantastic. Everything comes from Australia and is high quality marbling (using MB wagyu scale) and lots of dry aged. Thai place was the best thai food I've had since I've been to Thailand. All indian dishes were very good. The Japanese, American, Chinese, food was fine - but Thai, Indian, and steak were the stand outs - Lounge for the seaplane is brand new building. Conrad uses the same building. Very nice but wasn't there too long. - Seaplane is fine, but it is noisy and hot. Glad I had my noise cancelling headphones with me and changed to shorts. Noise isn't bad...just annoying for an hour. - Snorkling is good, not great. Overall had an amazing stay |
Originally Posted by najama2
(Post 34748747)
Thanks for the great review! Are those meal plan prices per person or for 2 people?
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Originally Posted by mlqsko
(Post 34749547)
A regular burger there costs $50++, I'l let you answer your own question :)
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Did they make you pay entire stay? Or could you have done all inclusive half a la cart half?
Also, how did depart and arrival days work? They billed you in full? Or did you a la cart? Hope they did not make you pay for the arrival and depart days.……assume like most you only had -evening arrival and breakfast department day, so curious how the hotel managed that situation. Thanks
Originally Posted by Patinum
(Post 34738071)
Just got back from a stay at the JW Maldives. Thought I'd share a few thoughts.
- Don't know why people are sleeping on this place. It's beautiful and service is great. Maybe not as good as St. Regis but I wouldn't know. If you're going to the Maldives as a bucket list travel you won't be disappointed. - Was trying to decide between JW, St. R, and W. St. Regis seemed like food would be more expensive. W looked too party and the villas seemed very close to each other. - Was initially concerned about this being a "family oriented" hotel. Honestly never really saw kids around since the kids area keeps them occupied. - Guests we about half Eastern European and half Americans. As an American, I'll just say I'm happy with how the Americans acted - very laid back and respectful to the staff. - Last day of our stay the hotel was at near full capacity and I felt it a bit. First time I saw the bottom of my champagne glass. Service was still always prompt and friendly. - Meal plans offered to me were $150 for half board, $210 for full board, $300 for all inclusive (full board + drinks), and $360 for All Inclusive Star. All Inclusive Star was originally $450 but was given 20% off. Not sure if they do this for everyone or because I'm Platinum. While we definitely could have done half board to save some money, we did the All Inclusive Star. This plan includes all menu items except caviar. Also includes champagne. When I say all menu items, I mean everything. We went the the fancier restaurants, Shio and Hashi, every night. No surcharges for the $300, $400, $500 items. Even got the $228 maldivian lobster for lunch without a surcharge. Could we have spent less a la carte? Probably. But there is something nice about having no limits. - Food was really good. Steak place was fantastic. Everything comes from Australia and is high quality marbling (using MB wagyu scale) and lots of dry aged. Thai place was the best thai food I've had since I've been to Thailand. All indian dishes were very good. The Japanese, American, Chinese, food was fine - but Thai, Indian, and steak were the stand outs - Lounge for the seaplane is brand new building. Conrad uses the same building. Very nice but wasn't there too long. - Seaplane is fine, but it is noisy and hot. Glad I had my noise cancelling headphones with me and changed to shorts. Noise isn't bad...just annoying for an hour. - Snorkling is good, not great. Overall had an amazing stay |
Originally Posted by Devon Rogalski
(Post 34788895)
Did they make you pay entire stay? Or could you have done all inclusive half a la cart half?
Also, how did depart and arrival days work? They billed you in full? Or did you a la cart? Hope they did not make you pay for the arrival and depart days.……assume like most you only had -evening arrival and breakfast department day, so curious how the hotel managed that situation. Thanks As mentioned a few times above, the package is a good deal if you intend to eat/drink like you would normally without a financial constraint. If you don't take the package and you're aiming to save money you will be constrained to the more standard restaurants (i.e. Aailaa) late breakfast and skipping lunch, plus limited alcohol such as beer. It is a good deal I honestly feel - but it is certainly reflective of resort pricing in the Maldives, not normal life. But they aren't going to let you pick and choose as obviously you could manipulate this slightly (i.e. the night you are on all inclusive you go to the best steak restaurant with wine/champagne, and then on a non-inclusive night you eat one curry at Aailaa shared between a family). They obviously presume you may switch between the restaurants and meals a bit, as I did, to get some variety in experience (plus base pricing). |
What littlevoices said is exactly correct - we paid for 6 nights. We arrived in the afternoon and once we settled the meal plans with our butler, we took some time to rest, then he brought us to the Thai restaurant for lunch before they closed. He also set up a later reservation for the steakhouse that evening. On our last day our seaplane was set to leave early in the morning - before breakfast even opened. Our butler was kind enough to arrange some pastries and coffee brought to our room while we settled our final bill. So essentially for our 6 night stay we got and paid for 6 full days of meals. You may be able to squeeze an extra meal or 2 out of them if you arrive early and depart late, but I wouldn't build my vacation around that.
I really see the service staff at these places like the dealers at a casino. The house (Marriott) may want you to lose but it's in the best interest of the dealers (staff) if you're winning. Our butler knew the plan we were on so wanted us to get the most for our money. |
Thanks for the information. I was not really thinking or considering the gamification of the system, but more rationally considering the reality of my partner and I will have just traveled 30 hours and are likely to not be feeling like doing or eating much on the first day when we arrive (after seaplane w/ potential stop) ~330 pm or 4 pm I would guess for check-in.
It is interesting that the Meridian does appear to offer flexibility in this capacity- you cannot go down, but numerous FlyerTalk members have noted they started a-la-cart or half board and then upgraded to the full all-inclusive for the duration of the stay. Our interest would just be in excluding the first day, if we went via plan, given the late arrival and anticipated jetlag. QUOTE=Patinum;34791896]What littlevoices said is exactly correct - we paid for 6 nights. We arrived in the afternoon and once we settled the meal plans with our butler, we took some time to rest, then he brought us to the Thai restaurant for lunch before they closed. He also set up a later reservation for the steakhouse that evening. On our last day our seaplane was set to leave early in the morning - before breakfast even opened. Our butler was kind enough to arrange some pastries and coffee brought to our room while we settled our final bill. So essentially for our 6 night stay we got and paid for 6 full days of meals. You may be able to squeeze an extra meal or 2 out of them if you arrive early and depart late, but I wouldn't build my vacation around that. I really see the service staff at these places like the dealers at a casino. The house (Marriott) may want you to lose but it's in the best interest of the dealers (staff) if you're winning. Our butler knew the plan we were on so wanted us to get the most for our money.[/QUOTE] |
Originally Posted by Patinum
(Post 34738071)
Just got back from a stay at the JW Maldives. Thought I'd share a few thoughts.
- Don't know why people are sleeping on this place. It's beautiful and service is great. Maybe not as good as St. Regis but I wouldn't know. If you're going to the Maldives as a bucket list travel you won't be disappointed. - Was trying to decide between JW, St. R, and W. St. Regis seemed like food would be more expensive. W looked too party and the villas seemed very close to each other. - Was initially concerned about this being a "family oriented" hotel. Honestly never really saw kids around since the kids area keeps them occupied. - Guests we about half Eastern European and half Americans. As an American, I'll just say I'm happy with how the Americans acted - very laid back and respectful to the staff. - Last day of our stay the hotel was at near full capacity and I felt it a bit. First time I saw the bottom of my champagne glass. Service was still always prompt and friendly. - Meal plans offered to me were $150 for half board, $210 for full board, $300 for all inclusive (full board + drinks), and $360 for All Inclusive Star. All Inclusive Star was originally $450 but was given 20% off. Not sure if they do this for everyone or because I'm Platinum. While we definitely could have done half board to save some money, we did the All Inclusive Star. This plan includes all menu items except caviar. Also includes champagne. When I say all menu items, I mean everything. We went the the fancier restaurants, Shio and Hashi, every night. No surcharges for the $300, $400, $500 items. Even got the $228 maldivian lobster for lunch without a surcharge. Could we have spent less a la carte? Probably. But there is something nice about having no limits. - Food was really good. Steak place was fantastic. Everything comes from Australia and is high quality marbling (using MB wagyu scale) and lots of dry aged. Thai place was the best thai food I've had since I've been to Thailand. All indian dishes were very good. The Japanese, American, Chinese, food was fine - but Thai, Indian, and steak were the stand outs - Lounge for the seaplane is brand new building. Conrad uses the same building. Very nice but wasn't there too long. - Seaplane is fine, but it is noisy and hot. Glad I had my noise cancelling headphones with me and changed to shorts. Noise isn't bad...just annoying for an hour. - Snorkling is good, not great. Overall had an amazing stay |
It appears that kids under 12 eat for free for all meals.
this basically saves you $125 a day, which is actually quite decent. So basically you only have to pay for adult meals. something like this could sway our decision where to stay, as over a week that’s $1000. |
Recently returned home after staying at the JW Marriott Maldives. Will try not to repeat what others have shared, but wanted to cover a few of our main takeaways:
Restaurants: Shio and Hashi are the more upscale options and therefore will be encouraged the most. While we greatly enjoyed the wagyu steak available at Shio, we both felt the sushi at Hashi was comparable to what you could find at most nice restaurants in Dubai, London, New York, etc. The best surprise for us was how great all of the options were at Aailaa for dinner. Meal Plans: We opted to skip the meal plan, mainly because we had breakfast included with our Platinum status. Respect that everyone picks what they feel is best, but for us, we never went hungry and still saved money by not selecting the meal plan. Breakfast set-up every morning was fantastic (freshly made eggs your way, waffles, etc.), and most days we left so full that we weren't ready to eat again until dinner. In the event that we did get hungry earlier, we ordered a pizza by the pool. Things to Do: As others have mentioned, the resort feels quiet and empty, even when at full capacity. We would regularly go to either of two pools to lounge for the day and would only see a few people there at the same time as us. Snorkeling gear is free to rent and is fun, but be prepared the beach is fairly rocky until you get a little ways out. There are plenty of water excursions you can sign up for, but our favorite event was signing up for a Thai cooking class near the treehouse! Staff/Guests: We were blown away at how attentive all of the staff were, including the butler assigned to each room. Most of the team members had our names memorized by day two, and went out of their way to remember our orders, where we were from, what we enjoyed, etc. While I'd like to think we were some of the more laid-back guests, the staff remained incredibly patient in dealing with some of the harder to please guests. Examples I remember include a guest who was mad the sushi wasn't as good as what it is in Japan, a guest who was upset at the lighting for his go-pro camera at the dinner table and several parents who assumed that their butler was a 24/7 daycare. Had an amazing vacation, and wouldn't hesitate to go back again. |
Just returned from a 5 night stay. Thought I'd share the current (March 2023) all-inclusive options.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4a8ac95795.png https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...be523300e7.png https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fa52df8947.png https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a13e38bd77.png |
Reading through that list, I see no mention of the half-board options. Is that still available? Any update on what they'll do for Platinum/Titanium who get breakfast? Seems like in March of 2022 they'd take $50 off the half-board/full-board price, is that still the case?
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What benefits are there at this resort for Platinum Elite members? All booking options included breakfast, so unfortunately that's not going to be a 'benefit'.
I believe the 20% dining discounts have been discontinued, is there any other benefits or discounts at restaurants & spa? |
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