WOW! Those prices are truly insane. Do they still have an option for half-board or full board, and if so, what price? Does it seem that breakfast is now actually included with all rooms?

And will they bring you some ice cream if you want to disassociate with their healthy lifestyle?

They are called sweet spots, if it's true they are now stocked with water, ice and apples it abouts sums things up. Basically all the fun is being sucked out of things! We are adults and as such quite capable of deciding if we want an ice cream and what the effects are on our bodies! Obviously it's really a cost cutting move as the property is nowhere as near popular and thus as expensive as it once was.
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it has been under funded and gone through many GM's in recent years. The W vibe it had is pretty much gone and while still stunning in some what's, not in any ways that many other properties in the Maldives are!

Still adds another reason I wouldn't return to what was once my fav property in the world!

Before it was 46 USD (Feb 2018) so it is about 6,5% more, thats okay.

But removing the ice cream at sweet spots I will miss.

It looks high but for 5* resorts at Maldives it is normal.

How could you see that fifth night is open on points? You see online or ask hotline? How much points you pay for what kind of room?

Is 85,000 for the Lagoon Suite enough reason to make a trip to the Maldives? Obviously this will be a very expensive free trip outside of the room. When the St. Regis was available at 60k (or 85k) I'll admit I was much more excited than I find myself with the prospect of spending 85k at the W. The fact that everyone seems to agree that the reef is superior is encouraging. My biggest worry is the food and club-like atmosphere that caters to a specific type of client. That might just be me reading too much into old reviews.

I have the option of staying at the Park Hyatt for 25,000 points per night, albeit not in an OVW.

I'm having a tough time understanding point stays at this place. I was able to see an award stay for dates we like "51428 points/night average". Approx 350K for a week. I called as directed. They said 500K and couldn't explain the difference. Does that make any sense?

Which room category?

Has anyone stayed recently? I'm torn between the beach oasis vs. the lagoon oasis. The lagoon room looks fairly small, and I've done the OWV thing at the St. Regis and at a few places in Bora Bora.

Is the pool temperature reasonable in the beach villas? lagoon villas? I found it so cold at St. Regis that it was unusable.

If anyone has stayed in both, please share some feedback!

The beach oasis. That's the lowest category they have. The original rep had to call a specialist. She told me the specialist said 500k points. When I questioned the total, she said "That's what he said" and no further info available.

Odd...

I saw the same thing on Friday and called the Starwood Platinum line to try to book. The rep wasn't able to book the beach villa for the 360,000 points for 7 nights but was able to book a Spectacular Lagoon Oasis OWV for 500,000 for 7 nights. I booked it and shortly received a confirmation email. Now I am a little confused because I thought the Spectacular meant ocean facing but they call it a Lagoon Oasis.

Exactly. I could see the award online, but couldn't book it. Perhaps you solved my mystery in that they were looking at the wrong room. I assumed it was the Beach Oasis. I'll have to call again.

Can anyone confirm the following for the W Maldives
- Award nights cancelled are having the points re-posted back to the account immediately
- Award nights cancelled are shown back in Inventory immediately or within a few minutes to rebook an award night

I need to know an answer ASAP. I have read on the St.Regis thread that both are true but I need to confirm this with the W Maldives

I can confirm the first, at least that was my experience. I canceled some very long reservations (via phone) and the points came back immediately.

That might help you find an answer to your second question.