I'm assuming that there's some protocol in place in which if there is no specimen detected (which would be the case if the swab is unused) then the test is completely invalidated and you don't get any results at all which defeats the purpose as well.

Then just have your friend/dog/relative take it, or just only sample very low in the nostril, etc. I personally find the test overkill as someone fully vaccinated but if you're going to have it, you should probably be rigorous about it. Letting people use results from mail-in testing sort of defeats the purpose.

In contrast, the US guidelines for the test to enter the US specifically say any mail-in test has to have FDA emergency approval and one of the requirements is that the test collection be witnessed by some sort of authority. Of course, the US also allows antigen tests while Maldives does not, etc. Everyone doing their own thing.

Agree with you that there certainly needs to be in person oversight on those tests and also that vaccinated people should be exempt. Can't wait until this is all behind us whenever that will be.

Yes, I was shocked that an unsupervised test was okay - clearly if you want to cheat way too easy (and sadly even vac certs are being forged....). I think the rationale (if such exists) is that even fully vaccin can have the virus but not get sick so the chance they could infect someone else BUT so far all the science says this doesn't happen. All this has happened so fast that the data is evolving and most governments seem to not have the care/knowledge to evaluate and make the kind of decisions an MD or scientist might.
BTW - cases in the Maldives are going up at an alarming rate (200 a day to 1200 a day ago) - not too much of a problem at the resorts but the airport can be a mess so I'd advise wearing a good mask while there to be extra safe and b/c there are some variants in India, etc. that seem to be more of concern.

just book CEP service and for 200 dollars per person you will see nobody!

Hi,
For anyone who has stayed recently, did the hotel reach out beforehand for booking activities and such? I'm staying at the W next week and would like to book a massage for my arrival day. I'm used to hotels emailing beforehand, but this is my first international trip since the pandemic started so I'm not sure what's changed and what hasn't.

i just came back last week. I contacted them the before we went there and scheduled a couple treatments. So i would suggest to contact them.
Enjoy, oh and bring some protection against mosquito's if you are in a beach villa or wanna sit at the swimming pool! (over water villa's didnt have any mosquito's)
Say hi from me to the everybody :).

And ask for the special not on the books manta snorkeling.. much better then the whale-shark experience:) At least i did a private manta snorkeling with my kids which was alot of fun!

Thank you for the advice! The mantas sound excellent, I went on a nighttime manta dive in Hawai'i this past January and they are amazing animals.
I can't remember the last time I was this excited about a trip :)

Does W Maldives allow you to buy an all-inclusive or full board package on top of award bookings?

was that in Kona? We did the night dive with Mantas in Kona and it was absolutely amazing.

here now, the manta's have gone awol - we have been trying to get out but they dont know where they are after the storms

It was! I think Kona is the only place that does night dives with Mantas, everywhere else I've seen Manta dives are during the day.

Contact Info
 

We have a trip planned for 4/2022 and have a couple of questions for the resort. Does anyone have contact info other than international long distance? Email? Whatsapp?
We were planning to get Marriott gift cards to use while we are there (we have seen in other reviews that this has worked), but the Titanium line is telling us that the W does not accept Marriott gift cards. Does anyone have any recent information on this?
Thanks!!

I’m currently at the resort and when we checked in at the W Lounge in the airport they asked how we would settle the bill and we said Marriott Gift cards, so the CSR you spoke to was wrong. We also rang the resort directly before arriving and they said they accept the gift cards.

Thanks! We were able to communicate with someone at the resort, via facebook messenger, that confirmed that Marriott Bonvoy gift cards are accepted. Glad to hear it!!
I hope you enjoyed, or are enjoying, your time there!