Maldives Master Thread

[Denverite]

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/maldives-travel-advisory.html

Guessing this has to do with Sri Lanka attacks.

I was always wondering, how can an island such as St Regis defend themselves against an attack of multiple persons?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_Maldives_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat?wprov=sfla1

Imagine something of this scale on an island.

I’d be way less worried about this on the remote islands. The terrorists would have to have boats or planes to get there and the hotel could literally see them coming.  Both the lifeguards we talked to at the Conrad seemed to be former Special Ops guys in the military. Maybe it was a coincidence that they hire Special Forces guys but it felt like to me that they doubled as security.  It would take A LOT for it to come to that at one of these island hotels (terrorist attacks seem to tend to be in places with large populations to maximize damage). Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part or my childhood growing up on military bases but I’d be shocked if they didn’t also have a lockdown plan for their guests and an weapons for their security team.

[KSMH]

I'm not telling you to be scared.

Maldives does have a history of  an attack via boats on the main island.

I don't believe a single gun will get you to far with a well organized attack, have you ever seen a video of some ME action?

Before the Sri Lanka attacks, the general assumption was that the people on that side of the planet aren't radicalized, history has shown otherwise. When visiting the main island you see some really religious people. I'm not accusing them of anything, just saying when you have a pool of that many people there will always be fanatics.

[Denverite]

I'm not telling you to be scared.

Maldives does have a history of  an attack via boats on the main island.

I don't believe a single gun will get you to far with a well organized attack, have you ever seen a video of some ME action?

Before the Sri Lanka attacks, the general assumption was that the people on that side of the planet aren't radicalized, history has shown otherwise. When visiting the main island you see some really religious people. I'm not accusing them of anything, just saying when you have a pool of that many people there will always be fanatics.

I’m not disagreeing with you about fanatics at all.  If you read upthread I’ve posted about how I’d rather not go to the Maldives than to have to spend the night in Male. The Maldives actually had the highest per capita number of ISIS recruits of any country in the world! I didn’t feel totally comfortable in the airport either (although I didn’t feel unsafe per se).  I guess my thing is the logistics of attacking an island that takes a seaplane to get to (I think resorts that are a boat ride from Male would probably be an easier target) and that people assume these resorts are totally unprepared for a terrorist action but on every other level they seem to run like a mini-city and it seems like they’d have their own security forces embedded in the island level infrastructure as well. 

[mochjas]

I’m not disagreeing with you about fanatics at all.  If you read upthread I’ve posted about how I’d rather not go to the Maldives than to have to spend the night in Male. The Maldives actually had the highest per capita number of ISIS recruits of any country in the world! I didn’t feel totally comfortable in the airport either (although I didn’t feel unsafe per se).  I guess my thing is the logistics of attacking an island that takes a seaplane to get to (I think resorts that are a boat ride from Male would probably be an easier target) and that people assume these resorts are totally unprepared for a terrorist action but on every other level they seem to run like a mini-city and it seems like they’d have their own security forces embedded in the island level infrastructure as well.

not to mention that the terrorists probably make a lot of $ from the tourism and wouldn’t want to cut that out

[Dan]

not to mention that the terrorists probably make a lot of $ from the tourism and wouldn’t want to cut that out

Since when has that deterred terror?

[mochjas]

Since when has that deterred terror?

in their own countries? I think it’s a deterrent but I’m just using my head I don’t have facts or numbers to back it up

[KSMH]

Since when has that deterred terror?

Sri Lanka was attacked by their own residents.

Hotels cancellation is up 70% and beaches are all empty, do a simple search, and yet they were attacked. Think of it as מאה שערים, the people living there don't want tourists and occasionally attack tourists that dont line up with them.

[Denverite]

Sri Lanka was attacked by their own residents.

Hotels cancellation is up 70% and beaches are all empty, do a simple search, and yet they were attacked. Think of it as מאה שערים, the people living there don't want tourists and occasionally attack tourists that dont line up with them.

Again, not defending the government or safety of the Maldives but Sri Lanka is apples to oranges. It is only 10% muslim concentration in a couple small geographic areas within the country.  They seem to want to hit their “oppressive” Buddhist and Christian government. The Sri Lankan Muslims probably care as much about hotel cancellations as the Palestinians in Gaza care about cancellations in Tel Aviv.

[israshot]

Is anyone planning to go to the WA Maldives? Apparently the 30 minutes transfer costs by boat are very high.

https://onemileatatime.com/waldorf-astoria-maldives-updates/

[davidrotts63]

Is anyone planning to go to the WA Maldives? Apparently the 30 minutes transfer costs by boat are very high.

https://onemileatatime.com/waldorf-astoria-maldives-updates/

Wow. That kinda ruins the excitment of a cheaper transfer to a hotel. That's not much better than the SR.

[israshot]

Maybe they want to put high barriers of entry... literally 😏

[israshot]

I got my dispute accepted. $370+taxes/round trip.
Just a simple email to MLEON.RSVN@waldorfastoria.com. They responded within minutes.

[EJB]

I have a stay at the Angsana Valvaru early July in their massive 2 floor villa based for cheap. Anyone interested in taking it over from me? I think I'm going to stay in STR over it. I'm considering splitting my time and hiring a boat to travel the 10 or so minutes between islands.

[Buruch]

Any points hotel have base rooms that can accommodate 4 adults and 2 kids? Not OWB obviously.

[Denverite]

Any points hotel have base rooms that can accommodate 4 adults and 2 kids? Not OWB obviously.

Not that I’m aware of but can book the Conrad into a OWV as a base room and then ask them the upgrade fee for the family or spa owv suites.  It might be reasonable. Those two options are the exact same layout but the spa suite can often be way cheaper. The second room in that one has two massage tables they put in but instead just ask for rollaways in their place. 

[meir123]

Jw marriot books into a owv for 85k a night 5th night free looks really nice

[Wizmanison]

Have 07/17/2019 - 07/22/2019 booked in OWB at the SR MLE on plat account that I, unfortunately, won't be able to make. Anyone interested?

[Moshe26]

https://thepointsguy.com/deals/maldives-deal-with-delta-skymiles/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=tpg_alerts&utm_medium=social&utm_content=3A560DB0-96D0-11E9-A66D-B4CD4744363C

[Dan]

https://thepointsguy.com/deals/maldives-deal-with-delta-skymiles/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=tpg_alerts&utm_medium=social&utm_content=3A560DB0-96D0-11E9-A66D-B4CD4744363C

Why is this a deal?!?

[mmgfarb]

Why is this a deal?!?

Welcome to TPG...Those 60 full-time employees have to do something all day.