St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort [Master Thread]
May 4, 2021, 5:37 pm
#4231
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
We used WhatsApp and Google Voice, both worked well. When we made a mistake and didn't use Wifi the Verizon charges were astronomical, so you need to be careful.
May 4, 2021, 5:57 pm
#4232
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,166
May 4, 2021, 6:52 pm
#4233
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
May 4, 2021, 7:15 pm
#4234
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 52
Google Fi
Google Fi is a great option for international calls, text and data. You can pause the service at anytime. Cost only $20 a month for call and text and $10 per gig of data. The usage is also prorated, so if you only have the service enabled for 10 days, and just only 500mb... You only pay for that portion of the usage. I use it as my international phone and only resume the service when I travel. Way cheaper, more and faster coverage than verizon's daily international pass. You can also use their "data only" sim card, which is great as mobile hotspot or backup phones for data use only.
May 4, 2021, 9:25 pm
#4235
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
Google Fi is a great option for international calls, text and data. You can pause the service at anytime. Cost only $20 a month for call and text and $10 per gig of data. The usage is also prorated, so if you only have the service enabled for 10 days, and just only 500mb... You only pay for that portion of the usage. I use it as my international phone and only resume the service when I travel. Way cheaper, more and faster coverage than verizon's daily international pass. You can also use their "data only" sim card, which is great as mobile hotspot or backup phones for data use only.
Do you change the SIM to a Google Fi Sim in your existing Verizon phone or you have a separate phone with a Google Fi Sim or your Verizon Sim works with Google Fi? Thanks in advance for clarifying this.
May 4, 2021, 9:47 pm
#4236
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 52
I actually was going to write in my previous post that I think Google Fi would be a great option, but I'm not so well versed with this service and didn't want to mislead anyone so I just didn't bother writing it.
Do you change the SIM to a Google Fi Sim in your existing Verizon phone or you have a separate phone with a Google Fi Sim or your Verizon Sim works with Google Fi? Thanks in advance for clarifying this.
Do you change the SIM to a Google Fi Sim in your existing Verizon phone or you have a separate phone with a Google Fi Sim or your Verizon Sim works with Google Fi? Thanks in advance for clarifying this.
May 4, 2021, 9:48 pm
#4237
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Manhattan, Palm Beach Island, San Francisco, Boston, & Hong Kong
Programs: Lifetime United Global Services, Delta Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Ambassador, & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,165
I actually was going to write in my previous post that I think Google Fi would be a great option, but I'm not so well versed with this service and didn't want to mislead anyone so I just didn't bother writing it.
Do you change the SIM to a Google Fi Sim in your existing Verizon phone or you have a separate phone with a Google Fi Sim or your Verizon Sim works with Google Fi? Thanks in advance for clarifying this.
Do you change the SIM to a Google Fi Sim in your existing Verizon phone or you have a separate phone with a Google Fi Sim or your Verizon Sim works with Google Fi? Thanks in advance for clarifying this.
May 5, 2021, 12:18 am
#4239
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Palm Springs, CA
Programs: AA EXP / Marriott AMB & LT Titanium
Posts: 377
Last time I was there , having Verizon service at home, and an iPhone, I disabled all cellular services (voice + data) & enabled Wi-Fi calling & connected to StR’s Wi-Fi and was able to initiate and receive calls as if I was home.
May 5, 2021, 12:55 am
#4240
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,166
May 5, 2021, 4:31 am
#4243
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 52
SNA don't apply here as it's an all suite property. Upgrades depend on availability so if the OW are sold out...you are out of luck...e.g., which often happens during the Christmas season.
May 5, 2021, 8:07 pm
#4244
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
I think those rates are for the peak season. They start to go back down a tad at the end of April... And probably back to current rates for May to early November (non-peak season). I have been monitoring the cash upgrade rates for the past year as we are planning to visit in October during the shoulder season. Our backup dates were in December or February and the cash upgrade for December 2020 and February 2021 were similar to current rates for December 2021 and February 2022 (when they were bookable in early 2020 prior to covid-19 closings.
You can still get the old upgrade rates through mid December 2021. I'll wait and see to see if the rates in May to November 2022 go back down to current rates as you predict.
May 5, 2021, 10:05 pm
#4245
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 524
Would shoot for a week or two after NYE in hopes most people on holiday clear out by then.