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Possible routings to MLE and costs:

JFK-AUH-MLE (EY) -- 45/67.5/90 AA
JFK-DOH-MLE (QR) -- 45/67.5/90 AA
JFK-FRA-SIN-MLE (SQ) -- East Coast: (Including 15% off booking online) 46,750/91,375/116,875; West Coast: 89,250/144,500/229,500
JFK-DXB-MLE (EK) -- 42.5/82.5/150 AS
JFK-IST-MLE (TK) -- 42.5/70/90 UA (United routing allows a stopover in TLV)
JFK-VIE-MLE (OS) -- 42.5/80 UA
JFK-LGW-MLE (BA) -- 45/90/135 BA
JFK-ICN-CMB-MLE (KE) -- 60/107.5/137.5 KE
JFK-HKG-MLE (CX) -- 57.5/85/112.5 AA
JFK-HKG-MLE (CX) -- 50/70 AS
TLV-IST-MLE (TK)-- 20/35 UA
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It's pretty simple, y'all. No pork, no porn, and no alcohol. Those are the rules. -AJK
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Park Hyatt MLE + Diamond Suite Upgrade gets you nothing as all are considered suites. -AJK



Conrad Upgrades:

Upgrade from King Beach Villa to King Water Villa US$ 200 + 10% service charge + 12% T GST per night.
Upgrade from King Beach Villa to King Deluxe Beach Villa US$ 210+ 10% service charge + 12% T GST per night.
Upgrade from King Beach Villa to King Superior Water  Villa US$ 250 + 10% service charge + 12% T GST per night.
Upgrade from King Beach Villa to King Retreat Water Villa US$ 400 + 10% service charge + 12% T GST per night.
Upgrade from King Beach Villa to King Deluxe Water Villa US$ 480 + 10% service charge + 12% T GST per night.
Upgrade from King Beach Villa to Family Water Villa US$ 720 + 10% service charge + 12% T GST per night. ( 2 bedrooms)

Airport transfer fee: $560 including tax

PH Upgrades:

Upgrade from Park Villa to Park Pool Villa $USD 252.56++ per villa per night
Upgrade from Park Villa to Park Water Villa $USD 405++ per villa per night ( Villa Number 38-44)
Upgrade from Park Villa to Park Water Sunset Villa $USD 610++ per villa per night ( Villa number 45-51)

Airport transfer fee: $520 RT per person

SR:
Airport transfer fee: $745 RT per person

Author Topic: Maldives Master Thread  (Read 1331395 times)

Offline Luvtotravel

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3400 on: January 25, 2017, 11:27:39 AM »
Better if there is a picture to demonstrate:

http://www.travelagewest.com/uploadedImages/All_Gateways/ASPAC/Asia/StRegisMaldives_HERO.jpg

The villas that make up the "C" are the sunrise. You can see where the privacy issues are.

Opposite are the sunsets, and you can see that privacy is not an issue.

Then there are the north villas which are private but have no sun.
what are those few villas on the upper right? or maybe its a spa?
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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3401 on: January 25, 2017, 11:27:58 AM »
I'll wait until we get some lie-flat seats to PPT, in which case part of the debate will be gone ;)
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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3402 on: January 25, 2017, 11:48:23 AM »
It is one thing to call those OWBs and high end resorts phenomenal and other-worldly. I would fully agree that that is the best of the best and will result in the best overall experience. But c'mon, calling anything else sub-par? I look at some non OWBs and some other hotels and they don't strike me as "below average" or "not up to standard".
There is one point I'm making and that's the once in a lifetime point.

AJK is basing his decision on which he would go back to, what about if he could only go to one and would never return to either (a very real decision for many).

You can get an unreal and stunning beach villa in cancun. Why would someone fly 20 hours each way to get that? OTOH an OWB that you can only experience in certain remote parts of the world, that's clearly a better experience and if you aren't getting it IMO you are missing out and yes getting a sub-par hotel product.

ETA:
As for the St. Regis tbh I don't think sun on the deck is a big deal at all, you have a beach if you want sun or you have sun while you are in the water etc. As long as the pool is warm enough to go in I don't think it's an issue for me. Also as long as you can be taken somewhere with breathtaking snorkeling while it was nice jumping off my deck to see schools or tropical fish it would't drastically change the experience.

Although it is the little things at the W that added up to the whole experience. Like the glass window under the bungalow and seeing fish swim under your room was super cool. But service wasn't like having a butler so I can see that adding a truly luxurious feel to the trip.
« Last Edit: January 25, 2017, 11:51:31 AM by jj1000 »
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Offline damaxer91

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3403 on: January 25, 2017, 11:48:31 AM »
I'll be the contrarian here.

BOB:
-Stunning views
-Premium cabins are awful
-Even though they are awful, they're also ridiculously hard to find
-The OWBs don't have private pools
-The snorkeling/diving isn't as good as MLE

BOB also has:

-Much shorter travel time and less jet lag
-Many more options in terms of water and ground activities. Think Jetskiing tour, ATV's, Biking, Hiking etc and they can be booked via outside operators for affordable prices
-You can hop from resort to resort at night for drinks etc and go to main island to stock up on groceries
-The peace of mind knowing that you are not in some Muslim country that can implode at any time (and ya I've been to enough of those)

And as AJK says, you need to experience it. Pictures don't do justice.

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3404 on: January 25, 2017, 11:50:45 AM »
In off season.

Fact is, it'd be a downright tragedy if you shlepped to either destination in low season and got slammed with rain for 5 days. Likely, no, but possible.

These reservations were four hundred bucks for peak, peak, peak season.

No, not necessarily. SPG50 at SR and BOGO at FS are often available during peak season for BOB (Memorial Day weekend, 4th of July, Thanksgiving)

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3405 on: January 25, 2017, 11:54:20 AM »

-Many more options in terms of water and ground activities. Think Jetskiing tour, ATV's, Biking, Hiking etc and they can be booked via outside operators for affordable prices
While at first thought this doesn't sound like a big deal because you can do all that in Miami or LA. It does sound like it can add a lot considering you won't have kids with you so these are things you can do on a whim, unlike other vacations where it would take arranging before hand to set up.

Also this would add to the feeling of having to go back. Go to the Maldives and you've seen/done it all in the first trip. Go to BOB and there is more to do see when you go back again.
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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3406 on: January 25, 2017, 11:55:22 AM »
http://www.travelagewest.com/uploadedImages/All_Gateways/ASPAC/Asia/StRegisMaldives_HERO.jpg
what are those few villas on the upper right? or maybe its a spa?

I might as well go through the whole island  :)

Top left are the rooms I already mentioned.

Bottom -  that little "J" that sticks out is the whale bar, the sunsets there are spectacular, breath-taking, etc.
Moving to the right..
There are 6 family overwater villas - my favorite type of villa on the island (except for the specialty ones).

Then there are the watersports center, the miscellaneous things etc...

Then theres the boat dock where they take out for snorkeling/diving/fishing trips.

The big thing with 6 "arms" sticking out is the spa.

I forgot what's sticking out of the water at the top there but IIRC it's where the seaplane lands and where they welcome you. Don't hold me to that though. I was half asleep on both the incoming and outgoing seaplane.

Then along the left are the beach villas.

Most of the middle of the island is the staff area but there is something called the "vommuli house" - gym/yoga, salon , board games, ping pong, foosball, kids nursery (they watch kids aged 4-12 for a huge portion of the day - i think 9-6) etc.

Alba restaurant (where we ate most of our meals) and the main pool/ beach area is between the OWV's and the whale bar. The library (and its 50 books), and the boutique shop are in this area as well.

The best snorkeling is on the left of this picture.

Any other questions, just ask  :)


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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3407 on: January 25, 2017, 11:56:03 AM »
I might as well go through the whole island  :)

Top left are the rooms I already mentioned.

Bottom -  that little "J" that sticks out is the whale bar, the sunsets there are spectacular, breath-taking, etc.
Moving to the right..
There are 6 family overwater villas - my favorite type of villa on the island (except for the specialty ones).

Then there are the watersports center, the miscellaneous things etc...

Then theres the boat dock where they take out for snorkeling/diving/fishing trips.

The big thing with 6 "arms" sticking out is the spa.

I forgot what's sticking out of the water at the top there but IIRC it's where the seaplane lands and where they welcome you. Don't hold me to that though. I was half asleep on both the incoming and outgoing seaplane.

Then along the left are the beach villas.

Most of the middle of the island is the staff area but there is something called the "vommuli house" - gym/yoga, salon , board games, ping pong, foosball, kids nursery (they watch kids aged 4-12 for a huge portion of the day - i think 9-6) etc.

Alba restaurant (where we ate most of our meals) and the main pool/ beach area is between the OWV's and the whale bar. The library (and its 50 books), and the boutique shop are in this area as well.

The best snorkeling is on the left of this picture.

Any other questions, just ask  :)


Can we get red arrows please? :)

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(Thanks for the detailed explanation!)
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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3408 on: January 25, 2017, 11:59:24 AM »
But service wasn't like having a butler so I can see that adding a truly luxurious feel to the trip.

Bingo. We felt like multi-millionaires.

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3409 on: January 25, 2017, 12:00:23 PM »
Can we get red arrows please? :)

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Tell me how and I don't mind doing it. Something to do to pass the jetlag time  ::)

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3410 on: January 25, 2017, 12:12:33 PM »
Top left are the rooms I already mentioned.

Whats this room? Looks to be the most private with the best views.. Unless I'm mistaken.


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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3411 on: January 25, 2017, 12:23:45 PM »
That's part of the John Jacob Astor Estate (along with the two structures to its immediate right).  Basically, the penthouse.
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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3412 on: January 25, 2017, 12:25:57 PM »
That's part of the John Jacob Astor Estate (along with the two structures to its immediate right).  Basically, the penthouse.
So like a $20 at check-in?
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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3413 on: January 25, 2017, 12:30:56 PM »
That's part of the John Jacob Astor Estate (along with the two structures to its immediate right).  Basically, the penthouse.
Yep.

Took a tour of it. It's beautiful but not worth the $20k+/night (my butler told me it was 40k+???) that it is.

But if y'all want privacy, it's got it's own massage room and it's own gym  :D

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3414 on: January 25, 2017, 12:47:31 PM »
BOB also has:

-Much shorter travel time and less jet lag
-Many more options in terms of water and ground activities. Think Jetskiing tour, ATV's, Biking, Hiking etc and they can be booked via outside operators for affordable prices
-You can hop from resort to resort at night for drinks etc and go to main island to stock up on groceries
-The peace of mind knowing that you are not in some Muslim country that can implode at any time (and ya I've been to enough of those)
Those make sense, thanks.

Though the S. Regis MLE site says they have, "sailing, windsurfing, surfing, parasailing, sea kayaking, jet skiing, water skiing, and stand-up paddling."
Do they actually have all that?

Isn't it hard to resort hop in BOB? How did you coordinate that?
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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3415 on: January 25, 2017, 01:04:48 PM »
Though the S. Regis MLE site says they have, "sailing, windsurfing, surfing, parasailing, sea kayaking, jet skiing, water skiing, and stand-up paddling."
Do they actually have all that?

Yes to most. windsurfing and surfing, not really sure where they would do that so can't confirm.

They for sure have sailing, parasailing, kayaking (free -/ $60 for glass bottom), jet skiing, stand-up paddling, seabob (my fav after scuba), scuba, and some others.

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3416 on: January 25, 2017, 01:05:43 PM »
Have the activity price list?
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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3417 on: January 25, 2017, 01:13:19 PM »
Have the activity price list?

Was upthread but I reposted here.

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3418 on: January 25, 2017, 01:14:22 PM »
Was upthread but I reposted here.
Time to add useful info on the various hotels to the Wiki :)
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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #3419 on: January 25, 2017, 01:18:10 PM »
That's part of the John Jacob Astor Estate (along with the two structures to its immediate right).  Basically, the penthouse.

Thanks.. Wow!

So like a $20 at check-in?

ALOL!  ;D