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]
#1202
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 271
#1203
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 12
Believe it or not, we have 2 extra and are arriving at the resort on Tuesday afternoon! I was not going to pack them but will throw them in for you.
#1206
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Gold/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott Plat
Posts: 963
#1207
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 34
Have you all been tipping those that you would hand cash to (housekeeping, bellhops, etc) in the Maldivian Rufiyaa or just your local currency? I would have to put in a special order for the Rufiyaa so I was hoping I can get away with USD but I don't want to be presumptuous!
#1208
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,453
Have you all been tipping those that you would hand cash to (housekeeping, bellhops, etc) in the Maldivian Rufiyaa or just your local currency? I would have to put in a special order for the Rufiyaa so I was hoping I can get away with USD but I don't want to be presumptuous!
#1209
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 43
Sorry, the questions may have been asked a zillion times here but here are some again (I got some other answers looking through this thread)
Looking to book LM in October using points (208000), both are not huge beach people would 5 nights be too much time to spend here.
My wife is vegan, would there be enough selection for food for her.
When you are staying with points, can you purchase any of the meal plans
Would LM be better than the Sheraton 180000 points or Westin at 248000?
Since this stay is 4 nights and get the get fifth free, would I be able to instead do 3 nights and use a free night certificate and save some points for other stays?
TIA
Looking to book LM in October using points (208000), both are not huge beach people would 5 nights be too much time to spend here.
My wife is vegan, would there be enough selection for food for her.
When you are staying with points, can you purchase any of the meal plans
Would LM be better than the Sheraton 180000 points or Westin at 248000?
Since this stay is 4 nights and get the get fifth free, would I be able to instead do 3 nights and use a free night certificate and save some points for other stays?
TIA
#1210
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,332
Sorry, the questions may have been asked a zillion times here but here are some again (I got some other answers looking through this thread)
Looking to book LM in October using points (208000), both are not huge beach people would 5 nights be too much time to spend here.
My wife is vegan, would there be enough selection for food for her.
When you are staying with points, can you purchase any of the meal plans
Would LM be better than the Sheraton 180000 points or Westin at 248000?
Since this stay is 4 nights and get the get fifth free, would I be able to instead do 3 nights and use a free night certificate and save some points for other stays?
TIA
Looking to book LM in October using points (208000), both are not huge beach people would 5 nights be too much time to spend here.
My wife is vegan, would there be enough selection for food for her.
When you are staying with points, can you purchase any of the meal plans
Would LM be better than the Sheraton 180000 points or Westin at 248000?
Since this stay is 4 nights and get the get fifth free, would I be able to instead do 3 nights and use a free night certificate and save some points for other stays?
TIA
#1211
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott LTP/PE
Posts: 292
Review and commentary about the Meridian in the Telegraph newspaper yesterday. Very favourable.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/d...rts-get-money/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/d...rts-get-money/
#1212
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA 1MM EXP, DL Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador (RIP SPG), Aeroplan 75K
Posts: 1,140
I had an eMed kit, but due to some flight changes, I wanted to have a back up in case I came across an agent who didn’t want to accept a test taken on 5/18 when I was arriving in the US on 5/20 across two PNRs.
#1214
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott LTP/PE
Posts: 292
As someone fortunate enough to have seen a lot of the world, I am resolute in my view that the Maldives is the best holiday destination on Earth (unless you find sand and sea boring). Having developed considerably from 1970, when the Indian Ocean archipelago was still a largely uninhabited collection of 1,192 fishing islands, today there is little to distinguish one from another (there are more than 150 operating as resorts, with about a dozen new offerings launching each year).
Competition is fierce between brands to differentiate themselves in what is essentially a parade of white-sand, turquoise-rimmed microcosms dotted with overwater villas. Standards are high, as are prices, which range anywhere from about £300 per night to more than £2,000.
But is it possible to visit this paradisal corner of the planet on a shoestring budget? And are the most expensive establishments really so much more amazing than their more moderately priced neighbours?
That’s what I set out to discover when I toured seven of them, from the absolute cheapest I could find (a ramshackle inn on a local atoll for £11 per night) to the priciest (an exclusive £4,000-per-night island of dreams) and several in between.
With my fiancé Julius in tow, I judged each of them on five key criteria – setting, design, service, facilities and food – and then chose three examples to compare. I found a fair few surprises, especially in the median ranges, where similarly priced resorts are not created equal. We stayed at two sister resorts under the same Marriott umbrella, the second (Le Méridien) being easily three times more marvellous than the first (the Sheraton), despite being in roughly the same price bracket; from £440 per night.
Cora Cora, newly launched in autumn 2021, was overpriced at £570 per night for what it offers, while I was blown away by Sun Siyam Olhuveli, a fantastic option with packages from as little as £175 per night for a family of three. For the purposes of the following in-depth comparison, though, I chose Le Méridien (marriott.com) as the mid-range option, as it turned out to be my favourite overall.
At the cheapest end, while there are guesthouses on islands bookable for under £100 per night elsewhere, they tend to be far-flung, and difficult and prohibitively expensive to reach. So instead I hunted down the lowest-priced all-inclusive hotel I could find that was accessible from Male via public speedboat; Ithaa Beach Maldives (ithaabeachmaldives.com), on the local island of Guraidhoo.
Booking all-inclusive in the Maldives, I learnt, is all but essential unless you are teetotal with the appetite of a sparrow: you’ll be on an island without any other dining alternatives, and the à la carte menu options at each resort we visited, across every price point, were fall-off-your-sun-lounger exorbitant. All the packages examined here are thus all-inclusive.
It’s worth noting also that there is certainly an upper limit to how splendid a resort can be. Several years ago I visited what used to be the priciest option in the Maldives; Coco Privé, a now-closed private island with a £32,000-per-night price tag, and it was no more luxurious than Kudadoo (kudadoo.com). So no matter how much cash you are rolling in, you won’t find better – or need to spend more – than somewhere like Kudadoo.
The winner
Kudadoo, with its A-lister-worthy attention to detail is closely followed by Le Méridien, which struck the perfect balance between laid-back and highly competent. Ithaa Beach was impressive and quibble-free, given the price.
Competition is fierce between brands to differentiate themselves in what is essentially a parade of white-sand, turquoise-rimmed microcosms dotted with overwater villas. Standards are high, as are prices, which range anywhere from about £300 per night to more than £2,000.
But is it possible to visit this paradisal corner of the planet on a shoestring budget? And are the most expensive establishments really so much more amazing than their more moderately priced neighbours?
That’s what I set out to discover when I toured seven of them, from the absolute cheapest I could find (a ramshackle inn on a local atoll for £11 per night) to the priciest (an exclusive £4,000-per-night island of dreams) and several in between.
With my fiancé Julius in tow, I judged each of them on five key criteria – setting, design, service, facilities and food – and then chose three examples to compare. I found a fair few surprises, especially in the median ranges, where similarly priced resorts are not created equal. We stayed at two sister resorts under the same Marriott umbrella, the second (Le Méridien) being easily three times more marvellous than the first (the Sheraton), despite being in roughly the same price bracket; from £440 per night.
Cora Cora, newly launched in autumn 2021, was overpriced at £570 per night for what it offers, while I was blown away by Sun Siyam Olhuveli, a fantastic option with packages from as little as £175 per night for a family of three. For the purposes of the following in-depth comparison, though, I chose Le Méridien (marriott.com) as the mid-range option, as it turned out to be my favourite overall.
At the cheapest end, while there are guesthouses on islands bookable for under £100 per night elsewhere, they tend to be far-flung, and difficult and prohibitively expensive to reach. So instead I hunted down the lowest-priced all-inclusive hotel I could find that was accessible from Male via public speedboat; Ithaa Beach Maldives (ithaabeachmaldives.com), on the local island of Guraidhoo.
Booking all-inclusive in the Maldives, I learnt, is all but essential unless you are teetotal with the appetite of a sparrow: you’ll be on an island without any other dining alternatives, and the à la carte menu options at each resort we visited, across every price point, were fall-off-your-sun-lounger exorbitant. All the packages examined here are thus all-inclusive.
It’s worth noting also that there is certainly an upper limit to how splendid a resort can be. Several years ago I visited what used to be the priciest option in the Maldives; Coco Privé, a now-closed private island with a £32,000-per-night price tag, and it was no more luxurious than Kudadoo (kudadoo.com). So no matter how much cash you are rolling in, you won’t find better – or need to spend more – than somewhere like Kudadoo.
The setting
Ithaa Beach
This being located on the local fishing island of Guraidhoo, a 35-minute public speedboat ride from Malé, it is governed by strict Islamic laws that don’t apply to resort-only islands. So though Ithaa is positioned on a quiet beach and just a short distance from the calm, clear sea, its location was wasted given that swimwear here is prohibited everywhere except for a small fenced-off “bikini beach” area on the other side of Guraidhoo. While the view is nice, it’s a shame not to be able to sunbathe or cool off in the water.Le Méridien
Delightful. This pristine, moderately sized nine-hectare island on the northern Lhaviyani Atoll has the advantage of being far enough away from Malé (90 miles; a 35-minute seaplane ride) that it is free from the ugly construction sites and high-rise buildings that blight the skyline of other resorts (such as the Sheraton, similarly priced and also owned by Marriott, but with far inferior views). The surrounding reef was beautiful, fully stocked with fish and turtles, and close to an impressive 50 dive sites and two shipwrecks.Kudadoo
A convenient five-minute speedboat hop from its less expensive sister Hurawalhi (many guests split their stay between the two), Kudadoo nevertheless feels like a world of its own. It’s a tiny, perfectly formed island, also on the Lhaviyani Atoll (45 minutes by plane), which can be circled on foot in less than 10 minutes, and had the best reef we experienced; a technicolour drop teaming with fish and spinner dolphins, just a few strokes from the deck of our villa.The winner
Kudadoo wins for the quality of its reef, but Le Méridien’s location is almost as good. A vital and often overlooked factor in choosing a resort is how isolated the island is on which it sits – and this is not something always reflected in the price. As long as you are secluded, as both these were, the views don’t differ much; and you can expect endless perfect seascapes in every direction. Veer too close to Malé, though, and it’s impossible to avoid eyesores.The design
Ithaa Beach
As basic as it comes, with tiled floors, plastic furniture, and no distinctive features. However, it was more comfortable than I was expecting, given that I came prepared for a situation comparable to my gap-year travels. Our small room, with views from the modest window overlooking a brick wall, was clean and air-conditioned, the shower was hot and there were no creepy-crawlies.Le Méridien
This felt far more high-end than any of its mid-range competitors. With that unmistakable new sheen (it opened in September 2021), the palette here is white and pastel, with nautical accents and the odd smattering of palm tree and flamingo motifs. The communal areas are sleek, the villas large and elegant, and the tropical grounds colourful but immaculately kept. All in all, I failed to comprehend how this resort was the same price as its rivals, notably the Sheraton, which was tired and somewhat tatty by comparison, and Cora Cora, which although also new, felt like a tackier version.Kudadoo
Truly unique; a total show-stopper. Designed by Japanese-American architect Yuji Yamazaki, with a solar-panel encased roof, Kudadoo is both eco-friendly and endlessly sophisticated. Furnishings are heavy on teak and cedar wood, while floor-to-ceiling glass throws long shadows across the decking to create a spectacular chiaroscuro effect. Our villa, one of only 15, was vast, jaw-dropping and brimming with fine bath products, indulgent baked goods, an iPad Pro and even a paint set.The winner
Kudadoo wins for wow factor, but Le Méridien, being larger, offers a wider array of beautifully designed spaces to flit between and is astounding value for the price. Ithaa was unsurprisingly unable to compete with either in this category; or indeed with any of the other mid-range resorts we visited.The service
Ithaa Beach
Excellent. Our host was warm, and this being such a small operation, we had the same polite and attentive server for all meals. While his English was fairly limited and thus conversation minimal, there were several thoughtful encounters – on our last night, he was kind enough to set up a beautiful candlelit dinner on the beach. In fact, Ithaa far outperformed the treatment we experienced at the Sheraton and Cora Cora, both of which charge upwards of £400 per night and where we experienced several substantial service-related hiccups.Le Méridien
Faultless; neither too stuffy nor too lax. Staff here seemed more genuinely happy in their jobs than anywhere else, seemingly with the time and space to get to know us. The team at the watersports centre were particularly fun, providing truly memorable aquatic adventures, while we spent hours chatting one night to a very lively mixologist at the bar. Every member of staff remembered our names and went above and beyond to make us smile upon every encounter.Kudadoo
“Anything. Anytime. Anywhere” is the mantra here, and it holds true. Our dedicated butler, contactable at all hours via WhatsApp, was an expert at waiting in the wings; always on hand to provide us with suggestions before we even thought to ask, without ever invading our privacy. The highlight was, after a fine dinner set up in a lantern-strewn jungle clearing, the surprise display that awaited us in our villa – complete with a cake, and flower petals leading to a candlelit bath – to celebrate our recent engagement.The winner
Kudadoo, with its A-lister-worthy attention to detail is closely followed by Le Méridien, which struck the perfect balance between laid-back and highly competent. Ithaa Beach was impressive and quibble-free, given the price.