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Originally Posted by Spinstorm
(Post 37365469)
I’m staying here in a week or so. I’m doing the food on the low cost side as don’t drink and I don’t want to spend $300 on dinner. It may or may not be worth it but for me to that’s just wasting money. Even the $180 half board is more than I expect to spend.
Any useful tips about the resort in general? |
Back from the W Maldives, I have to say I loved the resort. I have made a YouTube video of the resort, and also Finohlu, a Design Hotel which will go on my channel in the coming weeks so you will be able to see it for yourself.
For context, I have now spent time at 4 different resorts in the Maldives - Radisson Blu, Le Meridien, Finohlu and now the W but W is by far my favourite but I am not really sure it makes sense but it is what I think. At Finohlu, the island straddles a large lagoon, it looks more impressive and it is better for water sports and when you see the W it has a very small lagoon, literally enscapsuling the water villas and a thin area around the sides of the beaches. This should make it less beautiful and less special but I would argue the opposite. The smaller lagoon doesn’t calm the water as much but oddly by the time it reaches the water villas the waves seem to be less. It doesn’t make sense. The other negative is that because the lagoon is smaller that if the wind does pick up as it did at night the villa will shake under the water pressure hitting the legs. To be fair this also happened at Finohlu, and even when I stayed in Bora Bora at both the St Regis and Westin (and they both have the most protected lagoon I have ever seen so I guess it is a just a water villa quirk). But see the smaller lagoon means there is a ton of sea life and it makes snorkeling very very easy. We had SIX sharks around our water villa one morning. And even though it was too windy to do paddleboarding etc in the lagoon that didn’t stop us snorkelling on the north side of the island by the spa as it was very calm. The beaches are pretty perfect, no coral when you go into the water, super soft sand, and fish swimming around you even just by the beach (honestly I thought those fish had a suicide pact or something as they seemed to be daring each other to get as close to being washed onto the beach as possible!). For me as a very bad swimmer I haven’t been one to even try snorkelling at any other resort as I would have had to swim a good 10 mins at Le Meridien or Finohlu and I wouldn’t have felt safe. But at the W you have 10 metres of lovely clear water, and then you hit the coral. And if you swim down the channel at 20 metres (Maybe less) your at the edge of the reef. The sea floor drops off dramatically and there are so many fish! But because it is less than 30 seconds of swimming back to the beach even I enjoyed it. I spent a good 30 mins snorkelling. I don’t know if there any many other islands in the Maldives with such good beaches and with such easy access to a fantastic reef but if your not a strong swimmer this is perfect. And if you are a good swimmer, then you could have a lot of fun with a very low amount of effort. I have spent quite a bit of time talking about the island and its beaches and reef, so let’s talk about the rooms and facilities. The new refurbed rooms have a lot more fun and colour to them, we stayed in the entry superior room on the lagoon side which had a stunning view with the expansive blue lagoon and a net over the lagoon which is missing from the premier villas. The outside area also had a covered pagoda. There is no Japanese style bidet in the superior rooms. They are only in the Premier rooms and above. Equally the air con units and showers seem to be a bit random. They had different units and showers heads in both rooms. The main other difference on the premium room is the see-through blue standalone bath. The premium room is on the ocean side so you still get some lagoon but it’s much smaller. You do get a great view of Gattafushi island (which we also visited) on that side. The pagoda however isn’t covered. Both types of rooms have a jacuzzi function in the villa pools but it wasn’t that relaxing if I am honest. I love how small the island is, the fact that you can walk between the 5 restaurants (FIRE, FISH, SIP, Kitchen and WET) in literally a couple of minutes. You really don’t need a buggy unless you’re right at the end of the jetty and it’s bad weather. Although like with every jetty the wind is greatly exacerbated on there and it doesn’t mean the main island will be windy. As you have no protection from wind on the jetty. The staff were super friendly, accommodating and helpful and always did the best they could to help. I was told 300 staff are on the island. I have no idea how they fit that many people on it! The food was also great. A couple of pizzas or similar and a soft drink will come to around $150 or maybe less, which if you have a rate with breakfast included (which is every single rate and a status perk for Platinum and above) you can survive the whole day and save some money without breaking the bank. However, if you like to drink and you have 3-course meals there expect two people to be over $250 - maybe even as much as $400 and in that case I would suggest a meal plan. Soft drinks from the mini bar are all included as well. Let’s talk about the pool and the slide. The pool is 1.2m deep maximum everywhere except by the slide when it is 1.8m/6ft so you can safely slide down it! There were no mosquitoes at all or biting insects on the W island or Finohlu but I take that to be a seasonal situation so your situation might be different. The W kindly provided a visit and lunch to Gattafushi and that was an experience. Make no mistake it eye watering expensive starting at $700 for a sunset drink to over $1100 for dinner/lunch. We had lunch on the island and it was magical. They set up a table and the food. There was a Bluetooth speaker for some music and even a WiFi hotspot for us. There was a soft swinging seat near the table and beanbags too. On the other side of the island was a bathroom with 2 toilets and plenty of towels and also an outdoor shower (I will ignore the slightly disheveled hut that is also on the island 😀). It is a 5 minute boat ride and you can see the W from the island clearly. The staff set up everything and left me and my partner alone for 4 hours. On a deserted island. We enjoyed the calm lagoon waters on one side of the island which has the small sand bar. The other side of the island actually has a larger lagoon and sea breakers but the tide was too high to use that beach. But the side we were on was super calm. So chose your side of the island based on the tides and wind - just like on the W itself. Is it worth it? The island experience is the one thing I would say is totally worth it. For the hotel it’s a huge cash cow but it is a memory you will not regret. Overall the W is somewhere I’d love to return to and maybe next time it will be less windy so I can do some water sports in the lagoon. Fantastic beaches, easy and amazing snorkelling and a compact island to get around with great service and great food. If you’re not sure which resort to visit then definitely consider the W. And keep an eye out for my video although I’ll post it into this thread when it’s out. I will also add some photos later, and share my thoughts about Finohlu in a separate thread. |
Have people managed to defer seaplane payment such that it can be billed to the room / points earnt?
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No, seaplanes are not eligible for Bonvoy points. And they must be paid for in advance.
It is one of the most annoying things about the Maldives. The W transfer is reasonable. There are plenty of resorts that charge over $1000 per person in the Maldives - and some of them are for their own boats! |
W Maldives: First Look at Reimagined Resort!
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Originally Posted by Spinstorm
(Post 37412764)
W Maldives: A Slice of Heaven on Earth
I am returning here for 7 nights in March on points and FNCs. I had a lot of criticism of the property when I stayed in late 2021 but I've heard from my trusted TA that things like food are much improved in addition to the renovations. |
I think for me the ease of snorkelling and also the immaculate beaches are a huge benefit. If anyone else can tell me any other resorts which such close and easy access to a thriving reef then I would love to know.
And Gathafushi was fantastic, it was in need of some gardening - no doubt as it wasn’t visited much during the rainy season - but it was amazing to be on an entire island by ourselves. |
Originally Posted by Spinstorm
(Post 37417099)
I think for me the ease of snorkelling and also the immaculate beaches are a huge benefit. If anyone else can tell me any other resorts which such close and easy access to a thriving reef then I would love to know.
And Gathafushi was fantastic, it was in need of some gardening - no doubt as it wasn’t visited much during the rainy season - but it was amazing to be on an entire island by ourselves. |
I’ve already said this in my post and video but I’m not a good swimmer. I don’t have confidence to float out to a reef which is far from the island.
At the W, I put on the flippers and life jacket and snorkelling mask and was able to paddle out to the reef in around 20 seconds! Due to the weather it was on the side next to the spa (but I understand that both sides of the island have a thriving reef) and it was so easy. We are talking 10 meters or so of pristine beach and soft sand before the coral starts appearing. The trick is to go down the channel. I can’t emphasise this enough. If you snorkel out and do not use the channel you risk hitting the coral and injuring yourself and damaging said coral and maybe even some fish. It seems like a safe idea just to swim to the coral on top of the beach but very quickly you realise that you have no where to stop and turn around and it is very, very close to you. Please use the channel, then you can float out to an area deep enough that you can stop take a breather and not worry about standing on top of anything. And it is still less than 30 seconds from the beach. It is so easy. I would return just for the snorkelling if there was nothing else good about the resort and island (but there is plenty). The lagoon wasn’t what I’d call rough while we stayed but it wasn’t suitable to any water sports other than those using the wind! The fact you can just walk to the opposite side of the island where there are no waves, no wind and it’s calm and snorkel and swim is fantastic. And if the wind swaps you can move to the opposite side. |
Originally Posted by Spinstorm
(Post 37417099)
I think for me the ease of snorkelling and also the immaculate beaches are a huge benefit. If anyone else can tell me any other resorts which such close and easy access to a thriving reef then I would love to know.
And Gathafushi was fantastic, it was in need of some gardening - no doubt as it wasn’t visited much during the rainy season - but it was amazing to be on an entire island by ourselves. |
10 day stay at the W Maldives
A couple of days ago, we returned from a wonderful 10-day stay at the W Maldives.
We’ve visited the Maldives five times before - twice at the St. Regis, once at the JW Marriott, and twice at the Ritz-Carlton. In 2025, my points balance wasn’t quite enough for another stay at the Ritz, so I started looking for alternatives and came across a great redemption rate at the W. Having stayed at several W properties around the world - and knowing the Maldives location had just been recently renovated - we were excited to finally visit what’s often called the “Original Wavemaker.” As many of you know, W hotels can be a bit hit or miss. While we love many of the Asian properties, some in Europe and the U.S. have felt more style-over-substance than truly service-oriented. The good news: the W Maldives definitely falls into the “good” category 😉 Let’s keep it simple: if you’re looking for snorkeling, diving, marine life, and activities, this is the place to be in the Maldives. Compared to the other resorts we’ve stayed at, the house reef right in front of the villas is absolutely stunning - and the surrounding reefs are just as impressive. If that’s your priority, you’ll have an amazing holiday here. We did a snorkeling tour on their Horizon yacht, which turned out to be a fantastic experience. We saw sharks, turtles, countless fish, and vibrant coral in excellent condition. Our guide shared a lot of interesting insights, making it a truly memorable trip. We also joined a dolphin tour. While seeing dolphins at sunset was beautiful, the overall experience could have been better. On similar tours elsewhere (for comparable prices), drinks and snacks were included. Here, we had to actively ask for water. At the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott, for example, they served Prosecco and canapés - so in comparison, the value for money at the W felt a bit off. We also did some jet skiing and the “Fun Bed,” which were enjoyable, but there’s no protected lagoon - so waters can be a bit rough. Another highlight was Gaathafushi Island. We booked a private sunset experience with Prosecco and canapés. You’re dropped off around 5:30 pm and picked up at 7:30 pm. What might sound a bit boring, being two hours lonely, turned out to be incredibly special. Just you, the ocean, the sound of waves, and an unforgettable sunset. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and not something many Maldivian resorts offer. In terms of service, the W doesn’t offer traditional butlers, but instead assigns you a personal assistant via WhatsApp. We never felt unattended, service was always warm, attentive, and fast. Within just a few days, the staff had already picked up on our preferences and routines. For example, I asked for mango chili pickles at breakfast once, and from then on, they were ready on the table every morning. We also got to know some of the team at SIP bar, which made it feel like returning to familiar faces each evening. Overall, I’d say the service is absolutely on par with the Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis: top notch. There are two downsides worth mentioning: First, the island is quite small. While both the overwater and beach villas are beautifully designed (we actually switched from a water villa to a beach villa after a few days), they are relatively close to each other. You may hear or see your neighbors, so it’s not the most private or secluded experience. If you’re looking for more space and privacy, the Ritz-Carlton is likely the better option, we felt there was significantly more distance between villas there. For the renovation part, the W replaced a lot of furniture inside, but many things are also still 20 years old, so don't expect a new patio or new build-in closets. The same applies to the restaurants: they’re all located in one central area. While the W has done a good job making each venue feel distinct, you’re essentially just a short walk away from the next one. If you’re looking for a more spread-out resort, this might not be the right fit. Second, pricing is on par with the St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton, both for food and activities. However, while the cost is similar, the food quality didn’t quite reach the same level as the Ritz-Carlton, in our opinion. When you’re paying premium prices, expectations are high, and at the Ritz, everything felt spot-on. At the W, we didn’t really find a standout restaurant. Fish, their signature venue, was good but not exceptional. Fire was enjoyable, especially the Middle Eastern and Indian sets, but not something we’d want every day. Kitchen was rather underwhelming, especially considering the price, and it doubles as the breakfast venue. Over a longer stay, we missed a bit of variety. Our favorite ended up being SIP, mainly for the sushi options and the great team there. We also experienced a few minor food issues (burnt pizza, overcooked Wagyu burger, bland fish), though the staff handled them well. Overall, the food was good, but don’t expect a culinary highlight and be prepared to pay 24 USD for two balls of ice cream. We had a similar impression of the spa. We paid around $1,100 for a three-hour couples treatment. It was definitely nice, but at that price point, you expect something on the level of the Ritz or St. Regis, and it didn’t quite match that standard. So what's our conclusion? In the end, we had a very enjoyable, relaxing, and fun 10-day stay. Would we return? Absolutely! For the atmosphere, the service, and the activities. That said, we’d probably stay around five days next time to enjoy the snorkeling, activities, and cocktails, and then move on to another resort. There are still plenty of Marriott properties in the Maldives left to explore. Maybe Halcyon or Patina next? 😉 https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...944d9360d3.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...30ca31650a.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b0d69cf6eb.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...140b6d3c85.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...51a58254d2.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0997ca0485.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6490d760d4.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5104b118af.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6408c4c576.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5d98baccc3.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...75d14dd992.jpg |
Really interesting to here a comparisons between the St Regis and Ritz-Carlton.
I have a question for you : how do the beaches and reef compare to the other two? I loved the perfect beaches at the W - soft sand, no coral and as you said super easy access to the reef. But I’ve always wanted to know how those beaches compare to the other 2 resorts. Clearly St Regis is the closest in terms on a small natural island unlike the man made RC. I think that if you want to spend less on food the W is still better value than the other two - breakfast as an elite benefit is a big one (unlike the RC but same as the SR). I loved how small it was because I wanted to feel like everywhere was quick to get to without needed a buggy or bike. I also found the lagoon to be a bit rough but we stayed in October. The conditions recently looked a lot calmer. I loved gaathafushi and it is certainly an experience. |
If you want just a beach holiday, I think the Ritz might be the best option because of the huge space. But you might have some more broken corals on the StR and Ritz at the beach, the W was really exceptionally clean. Maybe because of the healthy reef in front of it?
I found both the Ritz and the StR reefs quite dissapointing, while the StR is for sure better then the Ritz. For snorkeling in front of your villa, the Ritz is just too fresh build, and especially the overwater villas have nothing to find in front of the stairs. You will have to book some trips to see really good underwater life. At the StR, the part next to the dive center with the Two-Bedroom-Beach villas is for sure ok to see something, but it definately does not compare to the W. And it's true you have no waiting time for any buggy - you can go around by yourself easily all the time. They have no bikes though, which I loved as well at the Ritz and the StR. |
Originally Posted by dbode
(Post 37700728)
A couple of days ago, we returned from a wonderful 10-day stay at the W Maldives.
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Originally Posted by Singapore_Air
(Post 37700871)
Thank you for the review and photos. Unable to 'like'.
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