May 7, 2021, 10:45 am
Last edit by: jason8612
Hotel email:
[email protected]
Resort Shared Seaplane Transfer:
Prices are inclusive of tax and fees and to be paid upon check-out.
420 USD per adult (12 years and above)
210 USD per child (ages between 2 and 11.99 years)
Baggage
Complimentary for infants (below 2 years)
Standard baggage is30 25kg including hand luggage. Excess weight will be charged at 5.60 USD per kg (per round trip).
Max dimensions are 158 cm and 32 kg. Infants do not have baggage allowance.
Hours
Operate between 06:00 to 16:00.
For check-in, last international flight must arrive at or before 15:30.
For check-out, first international flight must depart at or after 09:00.
Complete Details can be found here.
COVID Related Topics
Testing
Testing available at 120++ USD pp and reservations should be made no later than 72 hours prior to departure.
Quarantine/Isolation Policy
What happens if I test positive for COVID? Current policy can be found here.
Contact Tracing
Where can I find the list of properties under contract tracing? Here.
What happens if a resort is listed under contract tracing?
Guests must travel directly between MLE airport and the property post arrival and pre departure via international flight ONLY.
Inter-island transfers will be ceased and guests will not be able to arrive from, depart to, another island in the Maldives.
Water Sports & Diving Menu
Spa, Beauty, & Fitness Menu
F&B Menu
Latitude Menu
Riviera Menu
Tabemasu Menu
Turquoise Menu
Velaa Lunch Menu
Velaa Dinner Menu
Waves Menu
Wine Master List
Mini Bar Menu
Meal Plans
Prices are inclusive of tax and fees
Bed and Breakfast per night
30 USD per adult (12 years and above)
15 USD per child (ages between 3 and 11.99 years)
Half Board per night
95 USD per adult (12 years and above)
47.50 USD per child (ages between 3 and 11.99 years)
Complimentary for infants (below 3 years)
Full Board Plus per night
155 USD per adult (12 years and above)
77.50 USD per child (ages between 3 and 11.99 years)
Complimentary for infants (below 3 years)
All-Inclusive per night
230 USD per adult (12 years and above)
115 USD per child (ages 3 and 11.99 years)
Complimentary for infants (below 3 years)
Details can be found here.
F&B Bonvoy Discounts
General Members & Silver Elite 10%
Gold Elite 15%
Platinum, Titanium, & Ambassador Elite 20%
Full Details can be found here.
Resort Map
Can be found here.
Room total can be found here.
Beach Bungalow and Beach Villa are categorized by location. See the resort map for more information.
Paid/confirmed upgrades
Rates per night as of 08-May-2021
From Sunrise OWV to Sunset OWV 50++ USD
From Sunrise OWV to Sunset OWV w/ pool 250++ USD
Terms
Must be for entire duration of reservation
Requires non-refundable payment at time of confirming
Availability and rates subject to change
Can you apply SNAs at this property? No.
Late Checkout Policy (subject to availability)
General Members: None
Silver Elite: "Priority"
Gold Elite: 2pm
Platinum & Titanium Elite: 4pm
Ambassador Elite: 4pm or "Your24"
Welcome Gift
General Members & Silver Elite: None
Gold Elite: 500 points per stay
Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite: Welcome Gift: 1000 points per stay OR amenity per stay OR breakfast at Turquoise Restaurant per day for 2 persons (member + 1)
Drone Restrictions
"We strictly prohibit the operation of any type of UAV or drones for any purpose within and above the premises of the resort as our guests' privacy is of our utmost concern. This prohibition extends to devices launched from the resort or from outside the boundaries of the resort. If you wish to take photographs or videos, you may do so at the common areas of our resort."
[email protected]
Resort Shared Seaplane Transfer:
Prices are inclusive of tax and fees and to be paid upon check-out.
420 USD per adult (12 years and above)
210 USD per child (ages between 2 and 11.99 years)
Baggage
Complimentary for infants (below 2 years)
Standard baggage is
Max dimensions are 158 cm and 32 kg. Infants do not have baggage allowance.
Hours
Operate between 06:00 to 16:00.
For check-in, last international flight must arrive at or before 15:30.
For check-out, first international flight must depart at or after 09:00.
Complete Details can be found here.
COVID Related Topics
Testing
Testing available at 120++ USD pp and reservations should be made no later than 72 hours prior to departure.
Quarantine/Isolation Policy
What happens if I test positive for COVID? Current policy can be found here.
Contact Tracing
Where can I find the list of properties under contract tracing? Here.
What happens if a resort is listed under contract tracing?
Guests must travel directly between MLE airport and the property post arrival and pre departure via international flight ONLY.
Inter-island transfers will be ceased and guests will not be able to arrive from, depart to, another island in the Maldives.
Water Sports & Diving Menu
Spa, Beauty, & Fitness Menu
F&B Menu
Latitude Menu
Riviera Menu
Tabemasu Menu
Turquoise Menu
Velaa Lunch Menu
Velaa Dinner Menu
Waves Menu
Wine Master List
Mini Bar Menu
Meal Plans
Prices are inclusive of tax and fees
Bed and Breakfast per night
30 USD per adult (12 years and above)
15 USD per child (ages between 3 and 11.99 years)
Half Board per night
95 USD per adult (12 years and above)
47.50 USD per child (ages between 3 and 11.99 years)
Complimentary for infants (below 3 years)
Full Board Plus per night
155 USD per adult (12 years and above)
77.50 USD per child (ages between 3 and 11.99 years)
Complimentary for infants (below 3 years)
All-Inclusive per night
230 USD per adult (12 years and above)
115 USD per child (ages 3 and 11.99 years)
Complimentary for infants (below 3 years)
Details can be found here.
F&B Bonvoy Discounts
General Members & Silver Elite 10%
Gold Elite 15%
Platinum, Titanium, & Ambassador Elite 20%
Full Details can be found here.
Resort Map
Can be found here.
Room total can be found here.
Beach Bungalow and Beach Villa are categorized by location. See the resort map for more information.
Paid/confirmed upgrades
Rates per night as of 08-May-2021
From Sunrise OWV to Sunset OWV 50++ USD
From Sunrise OWV to Sunset OWV w/ pool 250++ USD
Terms
Must be for entire duration of reservation
Requires non-refundable payment at time of confirming
Availability and rates subject to change
Can you apply SNAs at this property? No.
Late Checkout Policy (subject to availability)
General Members: None
Silver Elite: "Priority"
Gold Elite: 2pm
Platinum & Titanium Elite: 4pm
Ambassador Elite: 4pm or "Your24"
Welcome Gift
General Members & Silver Elite: None
Gold Elite: 500 points per stay
Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite: Welcome Gift: 1000 points per stay OR amenity per stay OR breakfast at Turquoise Restaurant per day for 2 persons (member + 1)
Drone Restrictions
"We strictly prohibit the operation of any type of UAV or drones for any purpose within and above the premises of the resort as our guests' privacy is of our utmost concern. This prohibition extends to devices launched from the resort or from outside the boundaries of the resort. If you wish to take photographs or videos, you may do so at the common areas of our resort."
Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa, Thilamaafushi, Maldives [Master Thread]
Oct 22, 2021, 5:57 pm
#631
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 33
I am here now and will be leaving Monday, 25 October. Arrived 3 days ago. For me, this has been an incredible experience booked on the great points price in May. I'm Platinum and got upgraded automatically to the "Sunset OWV." Only half of the villas are open -- the other pier (or whatever you call the walkway with villas) is still being finished. Employees told me they are about 50% occupancy of what is actually open and usable right now but they expect it to get busier in November. One told me today there are about 250 employees on the island and about 90 guests, so the staff:guest ratio is over 2:1. This is my first time on a trip like this (and first Flyertalk post) and for me, it has been incredible and completely worth it. I'm here until Monday so could try to answer questions "from the ground" if I could be helpful. Reading this forum certainly helped me plan this trip on the other side of the world..
Oct 22, 2021, 6:03 pm
#632
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 542
I am here now and will be leaving Monday, 25 October. Arrived 3 days ago. For me, this has been an incredible experience booked on the great points price in May. I'm Platinum and got upgraded automatically to the "Sunset OWV." Only half of the villas are open -- the other pier (or whatever you call the walkway with villas) is still being finished. Employees told me they are about 50% occupancy of what is actually open and usable right now but they expect it to get busier in November. One told me today there are about 250 employees on the island and about 90 guests, so the staff:guest ratio is over 2:1. This is my first time on a trip like this (and first Flyertalk post) and for me, it has been incredible and completely worth it. I'm here until Monday so could try to answer questions "from the ground" if I could be helpful. Reading this forum certainly helped me plan this trip on the other side of the world..
Oct 22, 2021, 11:26 pm
#633
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SPG-Plat, Hilton-Diamond, Club Carlson-Silver, Cathay-Diamond, Virgin-Gold
Posts: 2,183
If you take breakfast as your benifit it can reduce the mealplan as for as my understanding is.
Oct 23, 2021, 3:20 am
#635
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SPG-Plat, Hilton-Diamond, Club Carlson-Silver, Cathay-Diamond, Virgin-Gold
Posts: 2,183
Oct 23, 2021, 9:58 am
#636
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto (YYZ)
Posts: 6,279
Oct 24, 2021, 1:15 am
#637
Join Date: Oct 2021
Programs: Bonvoy, HH, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 10
I asked at "The Hub" (the Le Meriden version of the Front Desk) and was told they are NOT on Island Time. Here is the same time as in Male -- he said "we are on Maldivian Time." He said some islands are one hour ahead but not here.
Oct 24, 2021, 2:27 am
#638
Join Date: Oct 2021
Programs: Bonvoy, HH, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 10
Food experience / meal plans
I am Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, and I chose the daily breakfast as my Elite Benefit gift. (The other 2 options were 1) 1,000 points per stay -obviously not the best choice or 2) a Maldivian gift -- which right now is some piece of Maldivian clothing). I just assumed that for me, a meal plan would not be the best option so I just told them at check-in I was not interested. However, after getting this question and doing some research, I'm not sure I would make the same choice in the future. Why? My original plan was to eat breakfast late each day, (it is a huge buffet each day with 10+ stations ranging from local Maldivian fare, to a Chinese soup and dim sum station, to bacon & eggs, potatoes, etc, cold cuts, pancakes/crepes, etc. -- i think this has been covered with photos in this thread), then skip lunch and eat dinner, some days small other days full meals. There were a few disadvantages to this:
- With jet lag, some days I was awake very early - and hungry. Waiting 4 hours for breakfast wasn't always realistic.
- Knowing it would be my only meal until evening (and few options for snacks) made me tempted to stuff myself at breakfast
- It's not really possible to get a "light meal" in the evening. There are only three restaurants open in the evening: Turquoise, Velaa and Tabemasu. Waves and Latitude close at 5 p.m. (used to be 6) and Riviera stops serving food at 8 (and the food comes from the kitchen on the other side of the island, so the wait is at least 30 minutes for light bites only). Basically, you are forced to eat a meal that is not in expensive at one of the three. (There is no "snack bar" or convenience store that I know of). One night, I was determined to eat light and got only a small bowl of lobster bisque and an appetizer at Velaa and that was $66.14 USD.. The other nights my meals were $90, $90 (Turquoise Buffet 2 nights) , $80.00 (Mixed Grille & Onion Rings at Velaa) and tonight I plan to eat at Tabemasu which will be $130 for the "chef's choice" 5 course meal. (I didn't have dinner the first night because I was full from the plane meal) So, the food is not cheap and, except for the buffet, the portions are not generally huge, nor, aside from bread at Vella, are sides or any extras included. If you order the fish filet, that's exactly what you get - fish. But as the reviews are consistently noting, the service and employees are phenomenal and somehow I didn't leave unhappy even knowing the bill.
Or, I could have taken the Full Board Plus for $750 for 6 nights and had each day:
- a selection of alcohol and other beverages
- lunch
- minibar snacks
As for the Elite vs. Non-Elite prices, there are a couple of things which make it confusing, but I think I have it figured out:
- In this part of the Marriott world, Platinum and above receive 20% off all food & beverage if you are not on a plan. I saw this on each bill I got, so my costs above reflect this discount already.
- If you are using your Platinum or above for the free breakfast, you would use what I'll call "Price LIst A" to add on a meal plan (e.g. Half Board would cost you $65)
- If you are not Platinum or above, or if you are but chose not to take the included breakfast as your elite benefit, then you would use what I'll call "Price List B" (e.g. Half Board would cost you $95, so they apparently value breakfast at $30)
- So, there is not a $30 discount but it is reflected in the 2 different price lists.
Hmm, I can't get the attachments to load so I'll work on that...
Oct 24, 2021, 6:02 am
#639
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Thanks for the very helpful info xplant. Like you, I was planning on taking the Tit breakfast and eating light for dinner. However I am a strict vegetarian (no fish). Would your recommendation be any different if you were in my shoes since vegetarian meals tend to be cheaper?
Oct 24, 2021, 6:54 am
#641
Join Date: Oct 2021
Programs: Bonvoy, HH, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 10
Vegetarian options
Thanks for the very helpful info xplant. Like you, I was planning on taking the Tit breakfast and eating light for dinner. However I am a strict vegetarian (no fish). Would your recommendation be any different if you were in my shoes since vegetarian meals tend to be cheaper?
Oct 24, 2021, 7:15 am
#642
Join Date: Oct 2021
Programs: Bonvoy, HH, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 10
Meal plan options
My understanding is that in the first month they seldom had a buffet because they didn't have enough guests. Now apparently there is a buffet nearly every night and there seems to be the 3 course meal each night at Velaa. I haven't paid close attention but it seems they have it more together for the meal plans than last month.
Oct 24, 2021, 7:23 am
#643
Join Date: Oct 2021
Programs: Bonvoy, HH, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 10
Vegetarian - one other thought
There are a couple vegetarian options especially on the Turquoise buffet and I did see a couple on Turquoise ala carte menu (such as mushroom risotto or the vegetable wrap) and that was slightly less expensive but still $30 or $35. I think your best option for strict vegetarian with no fish is the Turquoise buffet (breakfast and dinner but that is $80++) so you might benefit from a plan... I don't find any strict vegetarian options on the Velaa menu.
Oct 24, 2021, 10:45 am
#644
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 706
My understanding is that in the first month they seldom had a buffet because they didn't have enough guests. Now apparently there is a buffet nearly every night and there seems to be the 3 course meal each night at Velaa. I haven't paid close attention but it seems they have it more together for the meal plans than last month.
Also, when you refer to the 3 course meal, are you referring to the meal you'd get if you were on a meal plan?
In the fine terms and conditions here, also enforced at the resort, the 20% does not apply to "promotional" menus, such as the lobster night....which we were able to get credited on the bill but just wasn't a super great experience since you figured ordering F&B from a restaurant would give you the aforementioned F&B credit.
- The Discount Offer does not apply to seasonal or promotional menus, festive products (e.g. Mooncakes, Christmas Hampers), takeaway, deliveries, minibar, in-room dining, private dining rooms, contracted groups and events and outdoor catering bookings held in catering venues or any booking in restaurant for more than 10 persons.
Our favorite restaurant was Tabemasu; I think the math was similar to xplant's that we probably came out about even and if we did a meal plan could have had more lunches and drinks, but we really liked the food and the service at Tabemasu. They somehow knew it was my birthday and treated us very well. The service was always really good at the restaurants here but Tabemasu's service was by far the best for us. We did the 5 course teppanyaki too; essentially private chef for 2 hours was pretty unique.