kkl

buffet includes ala carte and you could order multiple dishes

knokturnl

As in the breakfast buffet is worth it at $65/pp, and you spent more than $60/pp just going off the a la carte menu?

CPH-Flyer

I guess it depends on what you want from your breakfast, you could have 1 main dish, coffee and juice, and keep it below 65++ per person. But if you want to hang out over breakfast you are more likely to be better served by paying for the full breakfast.
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NSCan

No. $60 TOTAL for both of us. Not $60/pp. The serving size was generous and we didn’t ever leave hungry.

Chewie

Hoping to get some feedback. We are headed to This property in 1 month. We currently have a sunset lagoon view OWV booked.

Any reason we should consider a sunrise view instead?

Like everyone else, naturally, we want the best bang for our buck and try to maximize the “enjoyment”. We want to be able to enjoy warmer water in our private plunge pool and spend as much time outside our villa.

I haven’t seen any recommendations on specific villa numbers, but would appreciate any feedback.

Definitely looking forward to this trip!

kkl

Currently, sunrise water is much calmer and less windy.

jcave114

great tip! What was your typical order for you both? And was there any sides that usually came with your orders like bread/pastry basket?

kkl

Ala Carte - no pastry basket. Pastry basket is $13++ iirc.

jcave114

What’s the tipping etiquete? In-room dining and restaurant bills have a ++ “service charge”, but also a line for tips. 20%?

nexusCFX

Tipping is not expected in Maldives so if one feels compelled to do so there is no consensus on a standard amount.

CPH-Flyer

As said above, but also be aware that the 10% service charge is split among staff, so if you feel compelled to tip, that is a baseline already tipped.

NSCan

Every day they brought either a complimentary pastry basket, fruit and/or mimosas to the table. We didn’t care for the Prosecco that they used in the mimosas so those typically sat untouched. I had eggs or pancakes every morning and my husband would have coffee, an omelette, hash browns and usually a protein. We’re not huge breakfast indulgers but it was plenty of food!

As for tipping, we added 10% to the bill but we’re American and used to 20% so this felt fair to us. We also tipped our butler $100/day at the end of our stay. We tipped housekeeping $20 daily. This felt right to us - some might say it was too little, some might say it was too much.

We didn’t require much from our butler. We walked or took bikes everywhere. She made reservations for us for dinners and was generally available but we didn’t really need her for much (other than for picking up items for pressing on our first day).

LiquidHonesty

Finishing up 6 days in villa 316 which is considered Sunset side, and other than the first two days when it rained non-stop the weather has been really calm and perfect on this side. Not too windy or rough at all....

Chewie

Thanks for this! How was the private pool temp in the afternoon?

Naturally, we are now 50/50 for sunrise/sunset recommendations

Was the view in your villa unobstructed and private (seems they should be mutually exclusive)?

LiquidHonesty

On the days with sunshine it was fine, we didn't have a problem with it. But it would be nice if it was heated so you could use it when it rains! If you looked to the left it was open ocean, to the right it was the island that will be Capella that they're still building (watched a big ship take a bunch of trees over there and unload it.) The main issues with the sunset side and even the further out sunrise side is the route the ferry boats take to Fari Marina Island....it goes past them all every 15 minutes. On sunrise side you could get a good spot where you wouldn't have this. BUT, too far to the island and you'll be less private as the beach over water villas could see in. So it's tough really. Personally we were thrilled with our spot. Even more so when during a torrential downpour a seaplane basically fell out of the sky right in front of the villa.....We assume he couldn't see or didn't feel safe....dropped in like a rock, drove around back and fort for about 10 minutes until the weather let up, then took back of. Would have been scary to have been in that plane.

I'll be writing a full write up soon, but LMK if you have any more questions as I just left today, currently in Abu Dhabi on a layover....(disclaimer, I AM an Marriott employee and stayed on an employee rate)..