silvergirl

Here right now for a few days, second stay here, as Plat got upgraded to an OWB, which was not expected but very welcome.

Does anyone know if nespresso machines got removed from all bungalows (last year we had one) or are we in a different villa type?

animal88

I am at the resort now actually. Booked an island cottage and was upgraded to a beachfront cottage. The resort is fairly empty and I think there's a lot of rooms available. I was offered an upgrade as a platinum to an OWB for a fee, which is a bit surprising. I think those people getting upgraded for free to OWB are probably booked in beachfront cottages? The cottage is awesome but we may try to get a bungalow for a night or two to try it out. Has anyone had success getting that room without paying the fee? I'm not sure how they are asking for a fee unless they consider those premium view which are excluded from platinum upgrades?

animal88

Update: they are only upgrading platinums to beach cottage for free as I am being told that is the highest platinum upgrade. Strange since other people are reporting success. I was even told that if you book a beach cottage that is what you will get unless you pay for the upgrade with cash or points. The hotel is at very low occupancy but they are holding out for $$. So any plats should keep that in mind. Don't get me wrong this resort is amazing and the club lounge is outstanding. But I stressed a lot wondering about the upgrades here and this is what info was told to me by staff and confirmed by a manager. In the end the beachfront cottage is awesome and I think they want $130 including tax for the upgrade to OWB which we may do on the last night. Whether or not that complies with the spg program I don't know and I'll at least try to figure it out when I get home. But I hope this helps other plats plan their stay. Right now the hotel is at very low occupancy so I am confident that this strategy is in place. Perhaps others had success when the beach cottages were all booked and the only upgrade they could give was to a bungalow. I think they do work with ambassadors as well which sometimes has success.

margarita girl

See my post #239. I used an SNA to upgrade to beachfront cottage, then asked and got an OTWB (for free) for m second night, but in the end decided I preferred my beach front cottage. So there must have been a change in policy.

animal88

Update: but the bullet and paid the upgrade fee after talkin with another platinum guest who went from the beach cottage to the bungalow. The bungalow is extremely nice, a huge upgrade over the cottage. The room looks recently remodeled. The bathroom although indoors has panoramic ocean views from the bath tub! Definitely worth the cost. Note that we are in a club bungalow which I believe is different than the regular OWB. Highly recommended.

margarita girl

Is there more than 12" of water under your Club Bungalow? Is there a glass floor so you can see the fish swim underneath?

animal88

No glass floor. It's deep enough for me to jump off the deck without bottoming out. Side by side I would take the bungalow over the beach cottage anytime. I found out today they are remodeling all of the bungalows to be individual without connecting walls but some are still old. I am definitely happy to be in a remodeled one and not one of the older connected ones.

margarita girl

Sounds better than the one I was offered.

eyal

Just got back from a 4-night award stay. Resort was fairly empty during the week, but at over 94% occupancy on the weekend (I asked!). I am SPG Gold and have SPG Business Amex.

I booked the first night at a regular cottage (22.5K points) and 3 more nights at a regular room (10K points+ $180 per night). We were offerred to upgrade to an over-water bungalow for ~$160/night plus taxes and fees.

Upon check-in and without me requesting anything, they told me and that I was upgraded to a beach cottage for the entire stay. They also gave us free access to the Sheraton Club Lounge (due to SPG Business Amex), which includes free breakfast, free all days snacks (including beer), and free evening cocktails.

DaveInLA

I've read a few reviews of this resort and everybody says it's nowhere near the PH or Conrad. I'm planning a trip to Maldives in Feb 2017, and I like that it doesn't require another flight from MLE. I've been to Bora Bora IHG properties at IC Le MOana as well as Thalasso. Moana is 4 stars, Thalasso is 5 stars. Would that be a fair analogy for Sheraton vs PH/Conrad?

DaveInLA

Is this the typical amount people are quoted to upgrade to OWB from an award booking? I'm also SPG Gold and have AMEX SPG Business card. Looking to stay next February.

atxtraveler

It may be irrelevant as it is from March of last year, but we were also upgraded to OWB as Platinum with no cost or hassle.

As to the question around kids, they would certainly be fine at the club lounge. Free breakfast, snacks, and evening drinks at sunset.

worldtraveller73

I can't speak for the Conrad in the Maldives or the French Polynesia resorts, but I can say that I have stayed at both the Sheraton Full Moon and the Park Hyatt Maldives in the same trip. The PH Maldives blows the Sheraton out of the water in every sense of the means.

The Sheraton, while a nice property, isn't unique to the Maldives. It's very close to the airport (noise), is full of guests (mostly groups it seems). I used it as a transit hotel to get to the Hyatt and I think others are as well. The PHMaldives is much quieter and remote with the best house reef, possibly in the world.

A better comparison would be to compare the PHMaldives to a comparable Starwood luxury resort like the new St Regis or the W Maldives, both of which I haven't stayed at.

Nurse Traveler

Contacted the property in advance of a November stay to see about confirming to an OWB as this is part of a very special trip. SPG play booked into a base room. I was offered an upgrade price of $247 (inclusive of taxes).

Is it OK to counter? I wasn't expecting a complimentary upgrade to OWB but that pruce, in low season, seems steep. Is it better to politely decline and see what happens when I get there?

imverge

I'd wait until Sept. to contact them again. In the meantime keep comparing paid rates and file a BRG if you can. I snagged a OWB for $402 including breakfast, which I consider a better value vs. spending points + upgrade $.