DansDeals Forum > Destination Guides And Trip Planning

Maldives Master Thread

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brytch:
Going to the Maldives in June.. I noticed there isn't a thread dedicated to this so I figured worth starting one.

I am going biz with Qatar and returning biz via SIN-ICN-SFO (2 singapore business legs, and ICN-SFO on united biz)

I'm having a hard time deciding on resort.. We're taking our 1yr old there... so I'm probably not interested in Over Water, probably interested in beach villa.

I want a resort which is on the quieter side, where we won't see too many people.. very picturesque and decent house reef.

Another point, I leave MLE at 11:30pm... so I probably want one of the resorts accessible by speed boat, as that way I can stay at resort until late and arrive at airport just before flight.. if I need sea plane they can't guarantee schedule and they can send you at noon or 1pm and you're stuck at the airport..

I am open to considering the Conrad Rangali as they said there's a good chance I can take a late plane out at 5pm or so.. if anyone has been there would love to here how private the villas are...

Lots of great hotel options so very hard to chose. Currently my best options seems to be the Coco Palm Bodu Hithi as all their rooms have private pools and seem very spacious. I may consider a night in the over water, as it's somewhat bigger than others I've seen (and traveling with a baby you need room...)

Once I decide on hotel I'll check what food options I have.. I would have liked bringing wine, but customs are super strict and I hear no chance of getting any alcohol in.

If anyone has any tips or pointers please let me know.

An advantage to taking a place within speed boat distance you save about $250-350 per person on transfer, and you can use that towards your room.

For anyone wondering, the Hyatt is suppose to be a very nice island, it's a schlep however. You need to take a DOMESTIC flight from Male, and only after that a speed boat.. Transfer is about $500.. Also accommodations didn't seem quite as luxurious as other places I've been looking at. The island itself seems very nice..

A note on when I'm going: I've had great luck with off season traveling.. I've been all over SEAsia during off season months and it's really worth it. Places are quiet, weather has been great, and price is normally less than half...

aussiebochur:
Lol, dont think MLE has been discussed on this forum ;)

While youre right that theres no Master Thread (Mods, perhaps make this it?), there is a fair bit of discussion in these threads,
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=12479.msg216348#msg216348
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=6376.msg184093#msg184093
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=8423.msg122618#msg122618
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=4909.msg53368#msg53368
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=6250.msg120862#msg120862

brytch:
yeah I've seen these bits and pieces everywhere, but doesn't seem like anything is 100% exclusively dedicated to Maldives..

aussiebochur:

--- Quote from: brytch on May 01, 2012, 09:31:56 AM ---yeah I've seen these bits and pieces everywhere, but doesn't seem like anything is 100% exclusively dedicated to Maldives..

--- End quote ---
Correct. Hence,

--- Quote from: aussiebochur on May 01, 2012, 09:27:05 AM ---(Mods, perhaps make this it?)

--- End quote ---
As in "Maldives Master Thread", like all the others. Or brytch, can u still change the topic?

But thats just about the amount of first hand experience youll get here.

Btw, I would monitor availability and see if you can get seats on Asiana from ICN. Better then UA...

damaxer91:

--- Quote from: brytch on May 01, 2012, 09:15:36 AM ---Going to the Maldives in June.. I noticed there isn't a thread dedicated to this so I figured worth starting one.

I am going biz with Qatar and returning biz via SIN-ICN-SFO (2 singapore business legs, and ICN-SFO on united biz)

I'm having a hard time deciding on resort.. We're taking our 1yr old there... so I'm probably not interested in Over Water, probably interested in beach villa.

I want a resort which is on the quieter side, where we won't see too many people.. very picturesque and decent house reef.

Another point, I leave MLE at 11:30pm... so I probably want one of the resorts accessible by speed boat, as that way I can stay at resort until late and arrive at airport just before flight.. if I need sea plane they can't guarantee schedule and they can send you at noon or 1pm and you're stuck at the airport..

I am open to considering the Conrad Rangali as they said there's a good chance I can take a late plane out at 5pm or so.. if anyone has been there would love to here how private the villas are...

Lots of great hotel options so very hard to chose. Currently my best options seems to be the Coco Palm Bodu Hithi as all their rooms have private pools and seem very spacious. I may consider a night in the over water, as it's somewhat bigger than others I've seen (and traveling with a baby you need room...)

Once I decide on hotel I'll check what food options I have.. I would have liked bringing wine, but customs are super strict and I hear no chance of getting any alcohol in.

If anyone has any tips or pointers please let me know.

An advantage to taking a place within speed boat distance you save about $250-350 per person on transfer, and you can use that towards your room.

For anyone wondering, the Hyatt is suppose to be a very nice island, it's a schlep however. You need to take a DOMESTIC flight from Male, and only after that a speed boat.. Transfer is about $500.. Also accommodations didn't seem quite as luxurious as other places I've been looking at. The island itself seems very nice..

A note on when I'm going: I've had great luck with off season traveling.. I've been all over SEAsia during off season months and it's really worth it. Places are quiet, weather has been great, and price is normally less than half...


--- End quote ---

To be 100% honest, I would wait to go the Maldives when you have someone to watch your 1 year old. I went with a 9 month old who didn't even walk and spent the entire time nervous as even the larger islands revolve around water. Transferring onto the boat was even scarier as we had to pass the baby from one another over a plank and had to hold onto her throughout the ride which was one of the scariest of my life. Its also a ton of flying which won't be fun even with a well behaved kid. I've been everywhere with my kids and I can say that the Maldives was the most difficult.

Also, I think that Chuchem made a good point in the other thread. Be prepared to spend a lot of $$$. The costs keep adding up and even soda on the islands can cost $15 a can. If possible, wait until it can be done right. It'll be the trip of a lifetime.

FYI, lots of the nicer resorts will negotiate with you, especially during low season. It pays to get the GM''s email and send a nice letter with an idea of what you want to spend. Of course don't mention the kosher part until later as once they know you aren't buying food, you are a much lower REV guest

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