Honeymoon: BOB, MLE, Or LIH?

[AJK]

Nice!
Although I think you have a 3h 20m stop in ZRH, no?

Yep. My bad.

I tried to get LH F MUC-JFK, but didn't work. (It showed online as being available, but wouldn't reserve and agent didn't see it on her end...)

EDIT: See attached. There it is, but no can do...

[aussiebochur]

Does it come up as available on Aeroplan or ANA?

Id stay the extra day over flying LH F.

[AJK]

Does it come up as available on Aeroplan or ANA?

Id stay the extra day over flying LH F.

I'd just move the JFK-MLE a couple days earlier and fly LH F, but I just checked ANA and its a no go. Oh well, there are worse things than saving 40K.

[myb821]

I'd just move the JFK-MLE a couple days earlier and fly LH F, but I just checked ANA and its a no go. Oh well, there are worse things than saving 40K.

I had the same issue for my FIL hes actually global services so those agents are a lot nicer but i finally got an agent who called up lufthansa and was able to book the tickets even though it didnt show on the UA agents end so if u want call and ask them to call lufthansa

[AJK]

I had the same issue for my FIL hes actually global services so those agents are a lot nicer but i finally got an agent who called up lufthansa and was able to book the tickets even though it didnt show on the UA agents end so if u want call and ask them to call lufthansa

You saw availability on UA.com? What about ANA?

I have less than no status on UA... Though I guess its possible, I'd be shocked if a regular CSR called LH to book it, especially when it actually does seem like phantom availability (I don't see on ANA, only on UA.com).

[myb821]

You saw availability on UA.com? What about ANA?

I have less than no status on UA... Though I guess its possible, I'd be shocked if a regular CSR called LH to book it, especially when it actually does seem like phantom availability (I don't see on ANA, only on UA.com).

ti saw it on ua and aeroplan

[AJK]

ti saw it on ua and aeroplan

Very weird.

Same thing with this flight (attached). On UA and Aero, but not ANA.

[myb821]

Very weird.

Same thing with this flight (attached). On UA and Aero, but not ANA.

when the agent called lufthansa they said it was available

[chuchem]

As you might know i was in the maldives less then a year ago. My advice: dont stay in the hyatt. Dont schlep around the world and sell yourself to a brand for a few freebies. I stayed in halaveli, really nice. The standart room is a over water villa with private pool. That made a real diffrence, we spend hours in our pool just chilling. I was considering the hilton, but didnt take it, even through it was a little cheaper. Villas are not as private, much more people on the island, villas are not as nice...its not as secluded and quiet as halaveli

Check www.agoda.com for good deals in the maldives. I ended up booking it through a travel agent in england specialising on the maldives, he was about 200 dollars cheaper then agoda. Have to look up his contact details and pm them to you. But agoda is very cheap and had a good selection of resorts...

[chuchem]

http://www.purelymaldives.co.uk/

He is really good and was very friendly, he was at most resorts already, knows them well

[chuchem]

The only other resort I almost picked Zitahli Resorts & Spa Kuda-Funafaru with a Super deluxe aqua villa with pool. Looks like a very nice resort. Agoda has them on sale for 480 a night, also overwater villa, big pool.

Halaveli is on agoda for 590, check both of them and read feedback on tripadvisor. My advice, pick one of them.

[AJK]

@chuchem -- thanks so much for contact info and recommendations!

If you want to give me your name via PM, I'll be happy to let http://www.purelymaldives.co.uk/ know that you were the one who referred me.

I'll look myself in the meantime, but what was the xfer fee for the haleveli?

[chuchem]

transfer fees change all the time because of the fuel. I think on agoda it will say the exact amount. When I booked purelymaldives was only able to beat agodas rate by halaveli and not zithali. I think both are great choices.

no need to give my name to purelymaldives, the next time i will go there will still be a long time, its a expensive place to go, but its paradise

[AJK]

transfer fees change all the time because of the fuel. I think on agoda it will say the exact amount. When I booked purelymaldives was only able to beat agodas rate by halaveli and not zithali. I think both are great choices.

no need to give my name to purelymaldives, the next time i will go there will still be a long time, its a expensive place to go, but its paradise

Great, thanks.

Were there water activities at the Haleveli? I'd love to do some SCUBA, fishing, and jetskiing while there...

[chuchem]

fishing and scuba yes, jetski not. most resorts in the maldives do not offer it. The maldives is all about peace and quiet. most people would not be happy with a jetski in fron of their watervilla. There are some low class party islands, there you will find all of this, disco, jetski, noise.... but thats not what most people are looking for....
Check tripadvisor and halavelis website, it will answer most of your questions....
If you dont have a PADI its not worth doing a "tourist" dive in the maldives. It goes upto a max of 15 feet and costs alot of money, we saw so many fish snorkeling, the water is so clear... we took a snorkeling boat tour costs half and was like snorkeling in a fishtank... sharks, turtles... you name it

[AJK]

Good info yet again!

[Dan]

As you might know i was in the maldives less then a year ago. My advice: dont stay in the hyatt. Dont schlep around the world and sell yourself to a brand for a few freebies.

Did you read Gary's TR on the PH MLE?
That's a guy who's stayed in more luxury and exotic hotels than anyone here and called it one of the best he's ever been to...

[AJK]

Did you read Gary's TR on the PH MLE?
That's a guy who's stayed in more luxury and exotic hotels than anyone here and called it one of the best he's ever been to...

I did, and I've been back and forth with him about it. There are arguments to be made on both sides.

But the biggest one against the Hyatt is that it costs 22,000 HGP per night + ~$400 buy up per night.

Assuming comparable resorts, if I can get a beautiful OWB with a plunge pool, for only $5-600, it's a tough argument to beat.

Don't you agree that you're 22,000 HGP is worth more than $1-200?

[damaxer91]

Did you read Gary's TR on the PH MLE?
That's a guy who's stayed in more luxury and exotic hotels than anyone here and called it one of the best he's ever been to...

Gary may be a travel expert, but Luxury Hotels aren't exactly his forte. His TR's are almost all on Hyatt's, Westin's and the occasional St. Regis. Hardly someone I would consult for a one time trip to the Maldives

[Dan]

Assuming comparable resorts, if I can get a beautiful OWB with a plunge pool, for only $5-600, it's a tough argument to beat.

Agreed, if you can get it for that price then go for it.  But if it's going to be much more then perhaps not.  Also don't forget to factor tax on the paid rates versus no tax with points.

Also it makes a difference if you have expiring cc nights or are using points.  And it makes a difference if you stocked up on Hyatt money at Costco at 78% like I did in anticipation of an FFN that hasn't materialized.

I thought the Hyatt charged $350 for the buyup though?