Smiley90

"does not swim" or "can not swim"? I'd be worried about an OWV if one cannot swim.... heck, if I wasn't gonna swim I sure wouldn't be going to the Maldives at all, but to each their own

Sam P. Goodman

Our sunrise OWV at the very end of the pier was in pretty shallow water in March. Maybe waist deep? We could easily stand (I'm short) and we also spent some time on floats jus hanging out. There were still times when swells would knock you around a bit. On our previous trip to the Westin, it was too choppy to get in from the villa, but I was still happy we had one.

wb2020

We were also there in March about halfway down the pier and it was a bit shallower than yours at the end of the pier, as one might expect. Seas were very calm during our trip, but this can vary from day-to-day even in the dry season.

Dfitzy10

We finally returned today from our 10 day honeymoon trip and all we can say is wow. We were so happy with le meridien and their service. In the final 5 days since my last post we took a 2nd snorkel trip with the dive center and also snorkeled everyday off our villa. Rays turtles and fish were plentiful. The final 7 days of our stay the weather was wonderful. The first few days were very rainy, cloudy, and choppy seas. When the water was calm it was about knee to waist deep (I’m 6’) at low tide each morning of our ovw villa

the food overall was great! We did the greenhouse tour and had their Harvest table dinner after our final night. We highly highly recommend this. Yoga who is the manager of turquoise, recommended it to us and it was easily one of the highlights of our trip. A private 4 course meal and they even customized the menu to our preferences.

the only downfall in my opinion is the sea plane transfers to this resort. If we go back to Maldives it will be a boat transfer resort only. Our sea plane trip back was an absolute nightmare. We started by taking off at 2:30pm heading for one other stop at a resort and then scheduled to be in male by 3:30pm. After landing at the other resort to pick up passengers, we were asked to get off the plane due to the sea plane airport in malé being closed due to thunderstorms. This was a 10 minute delay and we were back on the plane. After attempting to fly to malé, we were informed in the air the airport closed again so we made an energy landing at another resort to wait out the storms. This delay lasted about 45 minutes and we were then quickly asked to board the sea plane again. The water was extremely rough during take off. They told us we were a short 15 minutes from malé. After 10 minutes the nightmare plane ride began. Our pilot attempted to fly us through a major thunderstorm and at one point lost visibility and navigation in the plane and thus flying the plane blind. I have never once been nervous on a plane before, in this ride I legit feared I was going to die. The worst turbulence I have ever experienced along with loud pouring rain and no visibility. After circling malé for 40 minutes(we had maps open on our phones trying to figure out ... was going on) in this hell the pilot did a 2nd emergency landing at the one and only resort. He didn’t communicate to us one time what was happening. Just kept trying to go through the storm. Every person in the plane was pissed and a few got sick due to motion sickness. The staff at the one and only resort was kind enough to put us on their large yacht and take us by water to the airport. The seas were very rough, 5-6 foot waves and more thunderstorms. More people got sea sick. Took 1 hour on the yacht and we pulled up to malé. Most in our group missed their flights, my wife and I were lucky our plane left at 11pm and made ours on time.

all in all it took about 4 hours for normally a 40 min trip….

the pilot clearly did not check radar and was trying to pull off a miracle. We will be following up with le meridien on this sea plane experience in hopes of a partial refund for the plane transfer.

overall amazing trip spoiled by a dumba** pilot trying to be a hero and not considering his passengers safety. It is because of this we may never return to Maldives.

some will say I’m overreacting and that they can’t control the weather. While this is true, I felt they should’ve checked a weather radar and considered our safety being the first priority. They were too worried about beating daylight…

martzipan

Being a GA pilot, I think you’re not overreacting at all. While the turbulence in general is not an issue - it’s unpleasant but not unsafe, running into low/no visibility and thunderstorms on a small aircraft is indeed unsafe. Good thing there are no mountains to hit by accident, but what you are describing is extremely unprofessional behavior on the pilots’ part.

I mean, sure, pilots can fly IFR too, but if that’s not something they typically do there, having to do two emergency landings due to weather sounds like very sloppy planning.

Dfitzy10

I seriously think the pilot was pressured by trans Maldivian airways to push through and try to get us there to avoid them having to pay a resort to bring us by boat. The 2nd emergency landing was at a resort further from male then the first emergency landing…. Clearly they were attempting something they weren’t supposed to be doing…. I even checked the radar myself and thought “we’re trying to jam a square peg into a. Round hole” and shoot into a gap of storms…. Overall had me never wanting to fly a sea plane again.

doantien87

Does anyone know if Plat get free breakfast at this property?

nexusCFX

They do, same as other Le Meridien properties.

cutnana

Stay with the Sunrise OWV. We had the first 2 villas but you can stand in the water all the way to the reef in low tide and I think even in high tide. Also, you are provided with life jackets so he should always wear one. I think you will be find.

cutnana

I think that what you have experienced is extremely rare. I love flying the seaplane and have done it in the Maldives many times even during rain which was actually fun.
You should complain to the airline and the resort about the incident and even the Maldives office that oversees the operator.

overclocked92

Seaplane transfer prices have increased:

Ages 2-11 $248
12 and up $495

margarita girl

I presume they will honour the $450 price which is on my confirmation email!

rakeshs_ca

Thanks for the reviews. 10 days eh. I am thinking 5 nights/6days might be too much, we are going for our 25th. Wife is Vegan too, so food could be a problem.

margarita girl

Please let us know what you choose (meal plan or a la carte) and how it works out for your wife. I am vegetarian and still haven't decided which will be the best option for me. I'll be there in Oct.

Dav77

I’m here since yesterday morning

pre upgraded the day before my arrival to a beach villa with pool, it’s probably 5-6 category above the beach bungalow (standard room) booked with points for 16 nights. (Titanium)

I received an email from Mr. Mohamed Haroon (Resort manager) two days before my stay and I replayed him with my preference to be upgraded to a beach villa, since I don’t like to stay in an overwater. Very kind and generous to upgrade us to the best kind of 1 bedroom beach villa

we met also Mr. Nilesh Singh, the general manager, he came tonight at dinner also to greet us and talk a little

they are both very nice guys

I believe they do more than an extra mile for the Marriott elite members, I really feel welcome and appreciated

The service from all the people here from staff is very good.

the resort itself is very nice and new. And super clean everywhere in every part. I can’t say luxurious, it’s minimalist style and elegant. Room is very comfortable and housekeeping service is perfectly managed 2 times per day.

for any request you can get in touch with the reception by WhatsApp and they are quick and accurate.

we choose the half board and both the dinners had at Velaa and Turquoise were fantastic. Large portions and very good quality food.

in this season the best side of the island is (unfortunately) the south one, where only some 2 bedrooms villas and the lagoon villas are located.

the sea in the north side (and also the sea where the overwater are open yet) in this season is more rough and there is more wind also. But not a big problem

actually the best beach / sea where to relax is the south one facing the houses where the employees stay

riviera pool area is amazing, very quiet and facing a very nice sea. Also the main pool is very nice but too windy area for me.

I’m sure coming in the best season it must be wonderful, as the whole north part of the island.

I’m actually very happy with my choose of this resort. It absolutely values the amount of points payed.

The prices for extra F&B are correct for this kind of resort, nothing is overpriced

here some photos: