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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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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 1116417 times)

Offline israshot

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5460 on: December 28, 2020, 10:36:28 PM »
My question is why is it not out of the question for everyone? :)
I stay recently in a luxury hotel, on points, and brought my Pom meals. I handed the hotel my meals and told them at what time exactly I want them heated and brought to my room.
Every day they brought the meals, at the right time and the right temperature, with paper plates and culteries.
All of that was free of charge and I still can't believe it.
I understand why a hotel would charge for this service. $75 is exaggerated but I understand better a hotel that charges a fee than a hotel that doesn't.

Offline iluv2travel

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5461 on: December 28, 2020, 11:03:56 PM »
My question is why is it not out of the question for everyone? :)

I agree that perhaps it should be.

On the other hand, someone who wants to go to the Maldives and have the luxury experience of the WA or STR that they are booking with points and also flying there with points, they have to make a decision if its worth a couple hundred $$ for heating up their meals because that's what the hotel policy is.

If its not worth they can find plenty of other destinations with luxury hotels that won't charge, like where @israshot stayed, but it won't be the Maldives. That experience is just unparalleled and unfortunately they decided to tack on this high fee.

And I highly doubt they will change it even if we all kosher travelers boycott them. An average couple there probably spends at least $2-3k on food. So they don't really like that we aren't, but they obviously can't force us to eat.

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5462 on: December 28, 2020, 11:21:44 PM »
Ok, so it really makes sense to charge $75 to put the tray in the microwave.  ::) Don't see why people think it's acceptable. Five star hotels should bend over backwards to serve their guests, not rip them off when doing a simple favor.

Is it reasonable for a restaurant to charge $100 for a steak that cost them $5?
Is it reasonable for a restaurant to charge $10 for a bottle of water that cost them $1?
Is it reasonable for a restaurant to charge $100 corkage for allowing you to drink your wine in their restaurant when you pay so much for your food?

Most restaurants won't heat your food at all. Instead of being grateful that some hotels will accommodate your whims, you're kvetching about how much they charge for it. Caveat emptor
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Ergel

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5463 on: December 29, 2020, 07:46:50 AM »
I spent one night in the Sheraton Maldives (as we arrived too late to make it to the W). We didn't really explore the island at all - arrived late at night and left first thing in the morning, but I can not imagine spending any extended time there. The room was like you would expect from a Sheraton. No outdoor space, no privacy or anything. You could see the airport from the hotel. It's not a place to vacation
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline yelped

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5464 on: December 29, 2020, 03:15:27 PM »
Is it reasonable for a restaurant to charge $100 for a steak that cost them $5?
Is it reasonable for a restaurant to charge $10 for a bottle of water that cost them $1?
Is it reasonable for a restaurant to charge $100 corkage for allowing you to drink your wine in their restaurant when you pay so much for your food?

Most restaurants won't heat your food at all. Instead of being grateful that some hotels will accommodate your whims, you're kvetching about how much they charge for it. Caveat emptor
Is a hotel a restaurant? In other words, if you look at it as a restaurant, by bringing your own food, you are competing with them, so they charge an exorbitant fee to discourage you from bringing your own food. But I don't think hotels are restaurants. The primary service is a hotel.
« Last Edit: December 29, 2020, 03:23:30 PM by yelped »

Offline gotthepoint

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5465 on: December 29, 2020, 03:33:27 PM »
My sister who is pregnant would like to go the  waldorf.
Her Dr. told her she can go, as long as there is a good hospital in the area just in case something happens  CV...
Anyone know about this?

Offline AJK

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5466 on: December 29, 2020, 03:40:13 PM »
My sister who is pregnant would like to go the  waldorf.
Her Dr. told her she can go, as long as there is a good hospital in the area just in case something happens  CV...
Anyone know about this?
Only hospital is on Male. For hotels reached by seaplane, will take at least 2-3 hours to get there.

WA is by boat, I think, so probably a minimum of 45-60 mins in an emergency.
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Offline gotthepoint

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5467 on: December 29, 2020, 03:45:38 PM »
Only hospital is on Male. For hotels reached by seaplane, will take at least 2-3 hours to get there.

WA is by boat, I think, so probably a minimum of 45-60 mins in an emergency.
would you know if its a good hospital?

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5468 on: December 29, 2020, 04:12:05 PM »
There may be helicopters for emergencies
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Online tavster

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5469 on: December 29, 2020, 04:15:11 PM »
My 2 cents: when your Israeli Dr recommends you to be next to a good hospital, he's probably thinking of something like Ichilov rather than MLE..


Offline Dan

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5470 on: December 29, 2020, 04:16:25 PM »
would you know if its a good hospital?
I doubt it. And I doubt they're very fond of Israelis in MLE.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline gotthepoint

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5471 on: December 29, 2020, 04:19:10 PM »
I doubt it. And I doubt they're very fond of Israelis in MLE.
She's American living in Israel.

Offline Dan

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5472 on: December 29, 2020, 04:20:43 PM »
She's American living in Israel.
Either way, somewhere near a good hospital doesn't mean a villa on a private island in middle of the ocean.
JMHO.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline iluv2travel

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5473 on: December 29, 2020, 04:23:15 PM »
Is a hotel a restaurant? In other words, if you look at it as a restaurant, by bringing your own food, you are competing with them, so they charge an exorbitant fee to discourage you from bringing your own food. But I don't think hotels are restaurants. The primary service is a hotel.

You definitely have a point there that a hotel isn't a restaurant.
However, you need to understand 2 things. Firstly, for resorts in Maldives they rely a lot on the revenue from F&B because they know their guests have nowhere else to eat or drink but there. So every time they host a kosher guest they end up losing out on that and so therefore they decided to implement this fee.

Secondly, now that this fee is already implemented, what exactly do you want everyone who wants to go there to do if they don't want to shlep a toaster oven halfway across the world?

Offline iluv2travel

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5474 on: December 29, 2020, 04:27:08 PM »
would you know if its a good hospital?

Even if its an ok hospital, I wouldn't suggest having a medical emergency there especially not one related to giving birth to a child.

I personally don't see what the big rush is to go there right now while pregnant and at higher risk of perhaps needing medical attention. I would humbly suggest she goes with baby between 3 and 6 months when they're still quite portable. I know its much easier to travel without baby but especially if she's only coming from Israel its not so hard traveling with infant. And she will most likely have a much lower chance of needing medical attention.

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5475 on: December 29, 2020, 04:32:01 PM »
Is a hotel a restaurant?
Yes.

General approach to life - don’t assume you’re entitled to something and automatically consider yourself a victim. Assume nothing is owed to you and be grateful for anything you are given.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline iluv2travel

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5476 on: December 29, 2020, 04:35:50 PM »

Offline yelped

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5477 on: December 29, 2020, 04:56:33 PM »
Yes.

General approach to life - don’t assume you’re entitled to something and automatically consider yourself a victim. Assume nothing is owed to you and be grateful for anything you are given.
Lol, thank you.

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5478 on: December 29, 2020, 05:09:42 PM »
Yes.

General approach to life - don’t assume you’re entitled to something and automatically consider yourself a victim. Assume nothing is owed to you and be grateful for anything you are given.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Maldives Master Thread
« Reply #5479 on: December 29, 2020, 07:05:53 PM »
Every single one in the world?
Most. Full service hotels in the Maldives actually go out of their way to improve their food offerings as there are few alternatives for guests, and they have a reputation of poor F&B.

There are quite a few hotels that earn most of their revenue from the F&B.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים