Maldives Master Thread

[Denverite]

IME I've had places that didn't charge at all and I mention that to the hotel. Usually they will wipe the account, but YMMV.

Was this at the Conrad?  I think the other guys are talking about the PH and I didn't know if anyone had done this at the Conrad.

[Denverite]

Extra fees always leave a bad taste in my mouth. Especially as it's a low enough amount that it likely doesn't mean anything to them. Charging $1000 a night and then nickel and diming me sounds weird. like paying 15k for a first class ticket and them having to shell out a couple dollars more for WiFi

Yeah but none of us are actually paying anything for the rooms! 😂😂

[AJK]

I think the customer service aspect of doing it for free would be more valuable to them.

Nail on head.

Almost akin to a balancing of the equities. The upside of $150 is relatively meaningless to the hotel, whereas the downside, the poor taste left in the mouth of the guest, is far greater.

Personally, it sours my entire experience, right or wrong.

[Marco Polo]

Was this at the Conrad?  I think the other guys are talking about the PH and I didn't know if anyone had done this at the Conrad.

I've had it happen at Conrads and Hyatt properties.

[Denverite]

Nail on head.

Almost akin to a balancing of the equities. The upside of $150 is relatively meaningless to the hotel, whereas the downside, the poor taste left in the mouth of the guest, is far greater.

Personally, it sours my entire experience, right or wrong.

Put in that light, I see your perspective.  I guess also part of the reason I don't even want to ask the hotel ahead if they will do this for me (that's why I'm trying to find out here) is because, based on my loyalty to the brand and tons of $$$ annually spent with them, I DO want to push them really hard for a nice upgrade.  Flip side of that $150-$200 being so silly to reheat food, is that it's also a small amount for me to pay if they'll give me an awesome upgrade (which I know is really hard to get there) for free...maybe it was totally unrelated but when I was at the WA Jerusalem I made sure to make multiple meal reservations in their restaurants, mention my loyalty to the brand for my business and my request for Diamond Suite upgrade all in the same email and they hooked us up with an awesome suite combo for our standard points bookings.

[AJK]

Put in that light, I see your perspective.  I guess also part of the reason I don't even want to ask the hotel ahead if they will do this for me (that's why I'm trying to find out here) is because, based on my loyalty to the brand and tons of $$$ annually spent with them, I DO want to push them really hard for a nice upgrade.  Flip side of that $150-$200 being so silly to reheat food, is that it's also a small amount for me to pay if they'll give me an awesome upgrade (which I know is really hard to get there) for free...maybe it was totally unrelated but when I was at the WA Jerusalem I made sure to make multiple meal reservations in their restaurants, mention my loyalty to the brand for my business and my request for Diamond Suite upgrade all in the same email and they hooked us up with an awesome suite combo for our standard points bookings.

I wish you luck on the upgrade. We've had great success as HH Diamond, but the Conrad MLE is not an easy property.

Also, I wouldn't ask for free heating up before hand, only alert them I'm bringing some. After I found out about the upgrade, good or bad, I'd request the heating accommodation.

[Denverite]

I wish you luck on the upgrade. We've had great success as HH Diamond, but the Conrad MLE is not an easy property.

Also, I wouldn't ask for free heating up before hand, only alert them I'm bringing some. After I found out about the upgrade, good or bad, I'd request the heating accommodation.

Yeah, good call.  I'm not asking them anything about food ahead! I actually don't mind to stay in the beach villas the first couple nights because I think it'll be easier for Shabbos, so maybe they'd do a Deluxe Beach Villa if not an OWV for free.  I know everyone wants over the water but their beach villas are HUGE (Deluxe is 3200sqft), even the standard one I have booked is 1600sqft and the outdoor, shower and jacuzzi look really cool.  For the later days I was also thinking of not even trying to get a free upgrade to an OWV but paying the normal upgrade but then really pushing them to bump is up to a higher lever water villa (I'm going in the low season) than just the standard one.  Anyone had any success with any of this at Conrad?

[AJK]

You'll likely get a deluxe as a diamond. And frankly, I wouldn't be *dejected* to not be upgraded to OWB at the Conrad MLE.

[Denverite]

You'll likely get a deluxe as a diamond. And frankly, I wouldn't be *dejected* to not be upgraded to OWB at the Conrad MLE.

LOL, I'll honestly be happy with whatever since their "worst" accommodations are ridiculous, but it's always fun to see what you can get and this is the most remote place I've been to (excited to take the seaplane). We usually prefer to have some kitchen amenities or have kosher food close by so even though you guys do it all the time, I do hope the dependence on them for the food doesn't detract from the experience.  Since we're going to be in Singapore first, I think we're gonna also get a bunch of the pastries, sandwiches and other stuff from the Coffee Bean there that doesn't even need reheating.

[Emkay]

Yeah but none of us are actually paying anything for the rooms! 😂😂

Makes no difference

[Marco Polo]

From lots of research, mainly on FT, they only really comp upgrades to returning customers and even then it is very YMMV. Not saying they won't upgrade for HH Diamond, but I would not rely on it. For my 5 night stay, I'm paying to upgrade the last two nights. If I get anything more than that, I'll be shocked but very happy.

In regards to the food, I usually email them asking about storage and as AJK said, deal with paying or not paying later on.

[chuchem]

Sorry, but I totally disagree
If the hotel should charge this for heating up or not doesn't really matter, fact is they do. Get over it

If it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, then you got this mentality, that unfortunatly a lot of people got lately, magia li and for free only. Seriously? Yes some things in life you pay for!! Fair or not!!

You are staying at one of the fanciest places in the world, were rooms normally go for 1000s you think besides for jews anyone else argues about 15 dollars? would you be happier if they say, no outside food allowed? They loose a lot of revenue by 'us' not eating there. So 15 dollars is a small price to pay and arguing about this just shows the 'cheap jew'

Say thank you, be happy they do it at all and shut up about the small charge

[Drago]

You are staying at one of the fanciest places in the world, were rooms normally go for 1000s you think besides for jews anyone else argues about 15 dollars? would you be happier if they say, no outside food allowed? They loose a lot of revenue by 'us' not eating there. So 15 dollars is a small price to pay and arguing about this just shows the 'cheap jew'

When I was at a different resort, we had some frank talks with the GM and chef, and they told us that one of their pet peeves was to have ppl come (Chinese they said), pay the 1k+ per night (no points program at this hotel), and then bring ramen noodles so they wouldn't have to pay for dinner.

They went easy on us b/c they understood our situation, but we didn't discuss the burner we had snuck in

[ya]

I've had it happen at Conrads and Hyatt properties.

In Maldives?

[CS91]

If it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, then you got this mentality, that unfortunatly a lot of people got lately, magia li and for free only. Seriously? Yes some things in life you pay for!! Fair or not!!

I don't think anyone hear cares about actually having to pay $15 per meal to hear up considering they're already paying $500pp for the sea plane from MLE to the hotel. What most people are saying is that it's just odd for the hotel to charge such a petty amount when it makes no difference to them in the grand scheme of things.

[Emkay]

I don't think anyone here cares about actually having to pay $15 per meal to heat up

I do

[CS91]

I do

Obviously we'd all rather not haha. Was just saying it's not insanely expensive compared to other costs associated with going to MLE.

[Emkay]

Obviously we'd all rather not haha. Was just saying it's not insanely expensive compared to other costs associated with going to MLE.

It can be an extra $350 that i would rather spend on 70 rolls of sushi

[Dan]

we didn't discuss the burner we had snuck in

That's the easiest way to go.

[AJK]

Hotels must love some people. Pay whatever is charged, no questions asked, all the time.

--$5/day for newspapers you didn't ask for and hotel doesn't mention charging for? some people: Sure, why not! Most people: What is this? (Charge removed)
--$50/night valet parking? some people: where do I sign? Most people: park at the self parking next door for $14/night.
--$40/night "resort fee" for internet/bottled water/access to gym? some people: how else do they provide such services? Most people: uhm, what are they charging $500/night for?

Must be nice being rich/fiscally irresponsible.

For the rest of you, pay when it's required, don't when it isn't.