Author Topic: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip  (Read 32216 times)

Offline Denverite

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 2006
  • Total likes: 181
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Denver
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #60 on: August 25, 2016, 10:32:06 PM »
I don't think these goofballs will ever get to maldives.

Dan could edit that out, BL already allowed for that...

That's true, you could tweak it a little and I guess you do weed out a lot of the people because you have to make an effort to get the Hilton cards and points and even then most people that want the cheapest aspirational HHonors stay and to cause kashrut machlokes use their points at the WA Jerusalem!  :P

Offline AJK

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 25419
  • Total likes: 721
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: United Concierge Key; Delta Global Services; American Chairman; US Airways 1K; Hilton Sapphire; Hyatt Tritium; Marriott Californium; Starwood Kryptonium; Hertz Plutonium; National Adamantium, Avis Executive Proactanium
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #61 on: August 28, 2016, 10:48:18 AM »
Great stuff!
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline Denverite

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 2006
  • Total likes: 181
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Denver
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #62 on: August 28, 2016, 12:53:40 PM »
Great stuff!

+1!  Did you do any excursions?  We're leaving next week and I just reserved for intro snorkeling on the house reef and the turtle Safari.  Picked the turtle one because I'm not dying to swim with sharks and manta rays, the other ones were more expensive and this one it looked you didn't have to be such a strong swimmer.  Also based on your info, we reserved the Maldivian fishing expedition where they show you how to line fish like the locals and then they cook up your catch for the next night's dinner.  Looking forward to the rest of your TR!

Offline BarryLincoln

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 1388
  • Total likes: 145
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Programs: SPG Platinum, National Executive, Hertz Five Star
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #63 on: August 28, 2016, 10:10:36 PM »
Great stuff!

Thank you!!

+1!  Did you do any excursions?  We're leaving next week and I just reserved for intro snorkeling on the house reef and the turtle Safari.  Picked the turtle one because I'm not dying to swim with sharks and manta rays, the other ones were more expensive and this one it looked you didn't have to be such a strong swimmer.  Also based on your info, we reserved the Maldivian fishing expedition where they show you how to line fish like the locals and then they cook up your catch for the next night's dinner.  Looking forward to the rest of your TR!

Didn't sign up for any excursions.  Spent a lot of time snorkeling near the house reef but didn't take any intros.  They provided equipment and life jacket.  Other than that, it was primarily R&R... Not sure what kind of fish you'll catch on the excursion - I can tell you that the salmon is shipped fresh weekly from Australia...  Enjoy - am sure you'll have a great time...

Offline Denverite

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 2006
  • Total likes: 181
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Denver
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #64 on: August 29, 2016, 02:04:21 AM »
Thank you!!

Didn't sign up for any excursions.  Spent a lot of time snorkeling near the house reef but didn't take any intros.  They provided equipment and life jacket.  Other than that, it was primarily R&R... Not sure what kind of fish you'll catch on the excursion - I can tell you that the salmon is shipped fresh weekly from Australia...  Enjoy - am sure you'll have a great time...

Thanks, all your info has been really helpful.  No idea what kind of fish they catch but someone posted a bunch of pics on TA and it looked cool.

Offline BarryLincoln

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 1388
  • Total likes: 145
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Programs: SPG Platinum, National Executive, Hertz Five Star
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #65 on: August 30, 2016, 02:28:51 PM »
Thanks, all your info has been really helpful.  No idea what kind of fish they catch but someone posted a bunch of pics on TA and it looked cool.

Am sure it's going to be awesome... When are you leaving?

Offline Denverite

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 2006
  • Total likes: 181
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Denver
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #66 on: August 30, 2016, 07:03:36 PM »
Am sure it's going to be awesome... When are you leaving?

B"H Sunday but doing a stopover in Singapore on the way.  I used to travel a ton but this is my first big trip, besides going to Israel, in almost 20 years (thank you Dan and DDF) so I'm really excited!

Offline @Yehuda

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 9693
  • Total likes: 187
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #67 on: August 31, 2016, 04:24:32 PM »
Wow, what a TR! What pics! Is it just me or do the TRs of the Conrad make it seem like it has the best service of the classic MLE hotels?

Offline elya

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2015
  • Posts: 2378
  • Total likes: 96
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #68 on: August 31, 2016, 04:39:39 PM »
Wow, what a TR! What pics! Is it just me or do the TRs of the Conrad make it seem like it has the best service of the classic MLE hotels?
With regard to upgrades definitely seems so.

Offline @Yehuda

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 9693
  • Total likes: 187
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #69 on: August 31, 2016, 05:08:26 PM »
With regard to upgrades definitely seems so.
And Kosher help. Can't believe he had eggs everyday.

Offline elya

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2015
  • Posts: 2378
  • Total likes: 96
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #70 on: August 31, 2016, 05:18:19 PM »
And Kosher help. Can't believe he had eggs everyday.
PH service was by far the most outstanding service I have ever experienced!

I would be surprised if they would turn down a request to make eggs, judging by how accommodating the staff was with regard to our Kosher needs. But I don't think anyone has requested there as of yet.

Offline coralsnake

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 4555
  • Total likes: 162
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #71 on: August 31, 2016, 05:26:42 PM »
And Kosher help. Can't believe he had eggs everyday.
I have eggs EVERY day. Never been healthier.
"Here at DansDeals we don’t do buses." -Dan

Offline Denverite

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 2006
  • Total likes: 181
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Denver
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #72 on: August 31, 2016, 07:18:12 PM »
I have eggs EVERY day. Never been healthier.

LOL

Offline Luvtotravel

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 3014
  • Total likes: 131
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
  • Location: Ny
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #73 on: August 31, 2016, 07:27:04 PM »
ridiculously beautiful pics!
Don't wait for the perfect moment; take the moment and make it perfect.

Offline BarryLincoln

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 1388
  • Total likes: 145
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Programs: SPG Platinum, National Executive, Hertz Five Star
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #74 on: August 31, 2016, 09:18:05 PM »
Wow, what a TR! What pics! Is it just me or do the TRs of the Conrad make it seem like it has the best service of the classic MLE hotels?

While i dont have a ton of personal experience at higher end hotel chains, i felt that the staff at the Conrad went way above and beyond to make sure we were totally satisfied...

 
With regard to upgrades definitely seems so.

Fortunately for us the stars were aligned... we didnt pay up for the upgrade... dont kniw how freqently that occurs at the Conrad...

And Kosher help. Can't believe he had eggs everyday.

Eggs were awesome...hopefully moisheb left the shoprite oil spray for Denverite...

ridiculously beautiful pics!

Thanks!!

Offline Denverite

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 2006
  • Total likes: 181
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Denver
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #75 on: August 31, 2016, 09:44:31 PM »
While i dont have a ton of personal experience at higher end hotel chains, i felt that the staff at the Conrad went way above and beyond to make sure we were totally satisfied...

 
Fortunately for us the stars were aligned... we didnt pay up for the upgrade... dont kniw how freqently that occurs at the Conrad...

Eggs were awesome...hopefully moisheb left the shoprite oil spray for Denverite...

Thanks!!

Based on FlyerTalk I think getting an upgrade to a Premier Villa is a literally almost never, although I want one now so I think I'm just gonna pony up and pay for a couple nights!  As far as the Shoprite spray I considered asking if you all left it for me but to be safe I'm gonna anyway bring some Wal-Mart GreatValue spray and then I can pay that forward to the next DDFer too! :P

Offline Denverite

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 2006
  • Total likes: 181
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Denver
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #76 on: August 31, 2016, 09:48:43 PM »
BarryLincoln's pictures of the Premier Villa were awesome but check out this video walk through.  The fact that he had to show all the toilet features because it was so cool cracked me up.  ;D

https://youtu.be/xFSP8N1FhYA

Offline eli5757

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2016
  • Posts: 173
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Toms River
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #77 on: September 04, 2016, 05:41:07 PM »
Heck of a TR! Good job man! Thanx for the honorable mention....

Mine will come once I retire lol.

Offline eli5757

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2016
  • Posts: 173
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Toms River
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #78 on: September 04, 2016, 05:41:50 PM »
Just wondering if all the North Americans that go to MLE are freeloaders FT\DDF etc..?!!

You always hear celebrities going more to BOB then MLE!!

Just my 2 cents.

The Kardashians were at The Conrad Maldives like 2 months ago

Offline BarryLincoln

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 1388
  • Total likes: 145
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Programs: SPG Platinum, National Executive, Hertz Five Star
Re: Barry Lincoln's Summer 2016 Venice and Maldives Trip
« Reply #79 on: November 13, 2016, 07:11:06 PM »
With fall in full swing, I couldn't help but reminisce about our trip to MLE in August.  In doing so, I realized that I did not finish the TR.  That said, for the benefit of all those considering the trip, here is the final installment to Barry Lincoln's Maldives TR...

20160802_140059 by Barry Lincoln, on Flickr

Waking up on our last day at the Conrad was a bittersweet event.  We enjoyed the view, sites and sounds for one last time on this trip.

Conrad Rangali Premier Water Villa by Barry Lincoln, on Flickr

Conrad Rangali Premier Water Villa by Barry Lincoln, on Flickr

Since our return flight from MLE on EY was scheduled at 7:40pm, we asked for the latest seaplane transfer and were ultimately advised that our transfer would leave at about 5:30pm Conrad time (4:30pm MLE time).  Having the better part of our day ahead of us, we took full advantage of our Premier Villa's infinity pool one last time and also spent some more time snorkeling in the Indian Ocean.

As we has some issues we had with our original room a few days earlier, we had been comped a meal at either Vilu or Mandhoo.  Given our food restrictions, we weren't sure how we could take advantage of this offer but eventually settled on our chef's offer to cook us up some salmon and double-wrapped baked potato using the new pan/utensils/flatware and silverware he had procured for us. 

After cleaning ourselves up and packing up, we took a buggy over to Vilu for lunch.  It was a truly beautiful setting for our last meal on the trip...  While our Pom meals were great, lunch really hit the spot. 

20160802_143334 by Barry Lincoln, on Flickr

With a couple of hours before our transfer, we made our way to the beach for some final R&R before the 24 hour trip home...

IMG_0268 by Barry Lincoln, on Flickr

After settling our final bill and tipping our hostess and chef, we made our way to the seaplane platform to wait for our transfer.  While waiting, we befirended a family from Los Angeles who had been staying on an adjacent resort.  Earlier that morning, they took a boat over to Ithaa for lunch and were transiting back to Los Angeles via Dubai on EK.  They spent 2 weeks in Zambia on a safari and decided to relax in the Maldives on the way back home to LA...

(Despite leaving the Conrad, we were excited/anxious to experience the Apartments on our EY flight back to NYC.  Having never flown real F before, we were super excited for the experience.)

This picture was taken on takeoff from Conrad... not the best quality....

Conrad Rangali Maldives (TMA Seaplane) by Barry Lincoln, on Flickr

For some reason that I don't remember, we had to make a mad dash from the seaplane transfer to the main terminal at MLE to catch our EY flight to AUH.  Conrad staff shlepped our luggage the entire way and escorted us through airport security at the entrance to the airport, then on to the relatively primitive check-in desk where we got our boarding passes.  The boarding process was near complete as we boarded and took our seats in J.  Within an hour or so of departing, we were provided with a Hermolis meal which we thoroughly enjoyed.  I imagine that the rest of the flight to AUH was uneventful as we passed out and woke up on final approach to AUH. 

Last part of the installment will focus on the EY-F experience back to JFK....