Conrad Maldives- any experiences or questions?

Finishing up a 5 nights stay here at the Conrad and I'm waiting for my lunch to arrive, so I thought I would post replies now.

The basics again- HH diamond
On pre-deval points, 7 nights booked, had to shorten to 7.

Paid upgrade to superior water villa with private jacuzzi.

Has a happy hour 5-6 for diamonds and golds

Breakfast full buffet comp for diamonds and golds too.
Is a very nice, but pricey, resort.

Some questions from the HH status experience thread.

First question- why did I shorten my stay?

Girl issues. Partner/ex GF at the time only wanted to go for 5 nights max. Turned out to be a waste as I am here by myself anyway

Q2- paid upgrade.

Emailed in advance asking for prices. They have a standard list that varies at different times of the year. Then after all my changes, they came at me with a better offer if I upgraded the whole stay.

From award basic room to SWV was 400USD++

I don't really think there is any room to negotiate upgrade pricing until just before your stay, if they are overbooked and you are gold/diamond, then they may want to empty the beach villas and may offer better pricing.


Q2b- do you think the upgrade was worth it, and can it accommodate 4?
It was worth it, but it depends on how you like to spend your money. Being able to snorkel from the villa was amazing, but the discussion on FT is that a king water villa may be better, as they have a plunge pool rather than a jacuzzi. I think I would have used a plunge pool a bit more, as the jacuzzi is a bit hot for the day, and I was always out until bedtime at night.

Fitting 4? No idea where they would go, to be honest. Maybe 3, not adults. I'd choose something else for 2 with 2 kids.


Q3- How many points per night did you use? Did you book the most basic room?

Pre-deval, was around 37000 points per night for most basic room, which I had booked. Best use of points I have ever done, with a value of around 5c/point at the time.

This place is very nice, however, and the snorkelling is decent.
Today I went on the whale shark snorkel and had 1 hour in the water with him.

Then home at midday and hit the house reef. Found a turtle as soon a I got to the blue, followed it, once it was too deep turned around and there was a shark! Then found a larger shark asleep on the bottom, maybe 1.5m. Did half the reef and back a bit and found another lazy turtle. Followed him for ages then came in for lunch and packing.

If you don't like the ocean, I wouldn't bother with here though, unless you really love dining in resorts and the food on offer. I've been to cheaper and just as good resorts with decent/better pools. Conrad Nusa Dua and W Singapore come to mind straight away.

Cynicor said:

I thought I would post replies now.

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Thank you so much for the info!

Sorry your +1 couldn't make it .

From award basic room to SWV was 400USD++

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Is that a US$400 per night or for the whole 5 nite stay?

Also.......an update on F&B prices? I know there is a spreadsheet on FT, but I'm not sure how accurate it is and which restaurants do you consider the better value (and I don't just mean the price, but experience and F&B quality as well?

Many thanks

400 per night. This place is expensive, everything is almost guaranteed to cost more than at home, so you must bear that in mind. Everything is shipped in from Male, and everything is shipped or flown from the rest of the world. and there is an army of staff to pay for!

Also, everything is ++, not nett. The 10 service charge and ~7ish GST, but I think that is going up too soon.

Food prices depend on what you want to do. My own test for doing or eating anything here was- would I do it for half the cost? If so, I did it. But I am a single 28 YO, not a couple with kids!

Attached are some of the dining examples. I think the buffet dinner is $95 a night. Room service and the main pool bar are the cheapest options, around 29-45 for a mains, more for the grill items. I only found this out last night, as I have enjoyed the specialty dinners.

Best value? The degustation at Vilu, without matched wines (don't drink by myself much), was only $95. 4 or 5 courses and very decent food. Just check water prices before you order. Voss was brought to me and was $20 or more for a bottle!!

I did the Maldivian buffet for $115, that was excellent, good variety of food.

Tapas and cheese in the wine bar was great, but wine is extra. Not really worth $125.

Sunset grill is nice, all the restuarants are like fine dining except the buffet, so this is relative. Mains were about $40-50 I think here.

Did the undersea lunch rather than dinner. Book this one early if you want either, as it may book out. Can book things 2 weeks before arrival.

As there are a lot of Chinese here, and they aren't very adventurous, they mostly go BBQ or buffet or main pool. I have not had any issues making my reservations the day prior. In fact, I was the only one at the 8 seater tapas and cheese.


Room service pics, best prices on the island!

Also, quality wide, everything is excellent. It is on par with most fine dining/1 star restaurants I feel.

Food pricing looks very reasonable compared to say Tahiti where $400 a day is the norm.

How much were the unavoidable sea plane transfers?

With a 6 night stay coming up in late Feb 14, I will have a stack of Qs....just have another family trip to US first which has got all my attention atm...

Transfers were 470 + (only GST, no service charge).
Not technically unavoidable, but I suggest that the best way to enjoy this trip is to just ignore the price column and book things that take your fancy. The 5 nights here by myself, excluding upsell cost about about $2.5k. I had 2 private dives, did the whale sharks snorkelling and hired an underwater camera.
Also are properly for breakfast and dinner but didn't have lunch. After the gym and yoga, there was only about 30-60 min for brekky from 10-11 anyway, so didn't need another meal inbetween!

I was chockers every minute almost, brought 5 books and still on the first one that I have only read on the plane!

Amazing value only 37k points per night!! How did you fly there? Via Dubai?

Cynicor said:

excluding upsell cost about about $2.5k. I had 2 private dives, did the whale sharks snorkelling and hired an underwater camera.
Also are properly for breakfast and dinner but didn't have lunch.

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Would I be rude to ask for a detailed breakdown?

You don't mention the upsell costs. As we'll most likely be 2A + 1x13 YO and perhaps (but unlikely) a 17YO, I'd really like to get some budget going which probably includes knowing what your upsell costs were per head or per room. For the upsell costs for the "extras" like dives, camera and whale sharks......what would be the approx. amount per head? I guess all those are x3 or x4 for my entourage........+ the room upgrade (in our case 7 nights)? Was the US$400/night upgrade for the room in total and was that the upsell cost or your out of pocket expenses?

swanning_it said:

Would I be rude to ask for a detailed breakdown?

You don't mention the upsell costs. As we'll most likely be 2A + 1x13 YO and perhaps (but unlikely) a 17YO, I'd really like to get some budget going which probably includes knowing what your upsell costs were per head or per room. For the upsell costs for the "extras" like dives, camera and whale sharks......what would be the approx. amount per head? I guess all those are x3 or x4 for my entourage........+ the room upgrade (in our case 7 nights)? Was the US$400/night upgrade for the room in total and was that the upsell cost or your out of pocket expenses?

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Just so you know, the AFF app seems to hate you. This is my 5th attempt at replying. Wrote an essay on the phone that got lost, then the app crashed 3 more times...
Gave up and now on the iPad.

Incidentally, the lounge at MLE can be accessed a myriad ways. I have access through PP, Amex, 2x OWS and J class... Might be more but bottom line is you should have access if you have any memberships at all. AAA affiliate probably gets you in.

Anyway- by upswell I mean the upgrade costs ad this is how the hotel refers to it.

I don't mind you asking about the breakdown. I'm happy to send you an anonymised portfolio if you really want.

I wouldn't get an overwater for 3 or 4 with kids that age. They are very romantic and small, and not the sort of place I'd bother bringing along a 13YO. Get a bigger beach villa I think.

Costs- whale shark tour is 200 a head with no guarantee of seeing anything. Half day tour, but if you do it is magical. Being from AU, I hope you can swim/snorkel better than most others. If so, use this skill to swim fast and in front of everyone else, away from the crowds!

Camera is 60 half day or 80 full day, the half day is 5 hours which is plenty. It's great, and I should have hired it for my last day too!

Diving is not quite certain. I know a private guide is 300 for up to 3 people as I did this once. I think gear hire is an additional 50, and a normal dive about 100. So a normal plus a private plus camera came to around 650ish. With so many Chinese (they don't dive generally, or do anything much of the other resort activities), the dives are really quiet anyway and my second dive was actually 2 on 1- with 2 guides and myself, and I paid only as a normal dive. The first dive would have been 1 on 2 as there was only 1 other diver that day.

Your main cost will still be food most likely. I spent about 150 a day on it, and that was without breakfast and most lunches. They will only give you 2 breakfasts if gold or diamond, so you will have to pay for extras most likely, I assume it it north of $50 per person at the buffets.

I would budget about 400-500 per person per day for everything inc food and transfers and diving/spa etc. It would be easy to spend a lot less, but it might not be as fun. My minimum would be 50 a day per person plus 500 for transfers. This could be achieved by having a big and late breakfast, no lunch, no formal activities (snorkel off the house reef, use the pools and the gym, BYO tennis racquets) and have dinner at the main pool bar or in room service with only a mains each.

If you want more info out the diving and how you sign up etc, let me know.

Thanks for such detailed info!

I think if I ever went there the best benefit is it would be the first time I'd come home to Perth and think...wow...Perth is cheap

Cynicor said:

Just so you know, the AFF app seems to hate you.

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:mrgreen: I seem to have that effect on people....so why not forum boards as well? :shock:

Cynicor said:

I wouldn't get an overwater for 3 or 4 with kids that age. They are very romantic and small, and not the sort of place I'd bother bringing along a 13YO. Get a bigger beach villa I think.

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Now that advice is golden. Thank you, it was exactly what I was wondering about. As much as an OWV sounded good, extra space would be my preference with kid(s) in tow with an added saving of US$400/night upgrade expense.

Cynicor said:

I would budget about 400-500 per person per day for everything inc food and transfers and diving/spa etc. It would be easy to spend a lot less, but it might not be as fun.

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Thanks for the costings. We are not really known for saving money on holidays and the Maldives for us may quite probably be a once in a lifetime trip, so that's good advice as well. We only snorkel but my +1 wants to do the whale shark bit. We also keen to have at least one meal in the underwater restaurant but the cost is high. Was it worth it IYHO?

Many thanks for such detailed replies.

Another quick question.

The Rangali website shows taxes and surcharges as 10% per room per night, 8% per room per night and US$8.00/person per night.

How did they calculate these? On a points reward, on what basis are the percentages applied? Or is it applied to additional charges only and not the accommodation rate?

swanning_it said:

:mrgreen: I seem to have that effect on people....so why not forum boards as well? :shock:



Now that advice is golden. Thank you, it was exactly what I was wondering about. As much as an OWV sounded good, extra space would be my preference with kid(s) in tow with an added saving of US$400/night upgrade expense.



Thanks for the costings. We are not really known for saving money on holidays and the Maldives for us may quite probably be a once in a lifetime trip, so that's good advice as well. We only snorkel but my +1 wants to do the whale shark bit. We also keen to have at least one meal in the underwater restaurant but the cost is high. Was it worth it IYHO?

Many thanks for such detailed replies.

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To be honest, coming from Perth too, the prices aren't too out of whack. In fact, the value presented may even be better than some Perth restaurants, as the food is decent. It is just like fine dining every night, and that is where the costs mount.

Note that while I say the over water villas are small, they are still very large, but have a lot of furniture and I feel they would be cramped with more than 2 people. There's a large sofa, a reclining seat thing, a long table and a desk etc. they are still a good deal larger than most master bedrooms and the bathroom has 2 sinks and a huge shower etc. I just feel that beach villa may be the way to go. I will talk about room selection in another post, if you want to email them with your preferred area.

The underwater restaurant is worth it to- say you have done it, or to eat in an aquarium. It is nice but you see the same fish diving or snorkelling, and it is rather pricey. The dinner apparently has larger fish visiting, but the lunch is perfectly fine. Bring your sunnies though. 4 courses for 195 I think it was, and I would normally pay around. $90 for this I feel, so $100 markup in my mind for the novelty factor. I think, do it once, and if I had a partner in tow I would have done the dinner and booked ahead of time.

Book for the first whale shark tour available and schedule around it. Reason being they get cancelled with regularity due to poor weather conditions. It is the open ocean so just because it is fine and calm where you are doesn't mean it is calm 20min away. If your tour is cancelled they can get you on the next one hopefully. My Wednesday was cancelled so I went Friday, my last day.

You can hire snorkel and fins for free, so you do not need to bring your own unless you are lie me and have prescription masks or decent fins etc.

I can't comment on The Conrad but I can on Maldives. The sea really is as blue and clear as in the ads.

We were just a couple but didn't book the overwater villas and were pleased when we dined with someone who had, and they said they were sick of the sounds of splashing water at night time.

One thing we did find was the number of women having large tattoos on their back and they weren't young uns. I'm talking large black ones that cover half of the back. When a woman in a bikini was walking towards us we'd make a game of Yes or No. Usually the yes one.

There are large numbers of charter flights from Britain. The people book full or half board and the beaches would empty at 12.30 as the lunch bell sounded. We don't get hung up on food, or buffets so we didn't purchase full or half board. And were so glad we didn't.

We stayed at Kuredu Resort and felt the staff were very much into getting their tips. Promising things that a couple of days later never happened. (Eg free wifi on a 'different system' or extra special drinks). Just a little curious.

It was a fantastic holiday but don't find myself wanting to repeat it. So if there's a tour you really want to do, then do it.

swanning_it said:

Another quick question.

The Rangali website shows taxes and surcharges as 10% per room per night, 8% per room per night and US$8.00/person per night.

How did they calculate these? On a points reward, on what basis are the percentages applied? Or is it applied to additional charges only and not the accommodation rate?

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Umm... They are calculated on every dollar of cost for any fee/charge etc, at the time of signing the bill. It won't just appear at the end of your stay. They apply service charge first, then I think GST to the total and no idea about the $8, it never came up. Award nights are all inclusive so there will be no added cost. Upgrades are charged at the $ for the upgrade, plus service charge, plus GST, without the $8 charge.

Is that what you meant, or have I missed the point? Sorry!

Pushka said:

I can't comment on The Conrad but I can on Maldives. The sea really is as blue and clear as in the ads.

We were just a couple but didn't book the overwater villas and were pleased when we dined with someone who had, and they said they were sick of the sounds of splashing water at night time.

One thing we did find was the number of women having large tattoos on their back and they weren't young uns. I'm talking large black ones that cover half of the back. When a woman in a bikini was walking towards us we'd make a game of Yes or No. Usually the yes one.

There are large numbers of charter flights from Britain. The people book full or half board and the beaches would empty at 12.30 as the lunch bell sounded. We don't get hung up on food, or buffets so we didn't purchase full or half board. And were so glad we didn't.

We stayed at Kuredu Resort and felt the staff were very much into getting their tips. Promising things that a couple of days later never happened. (Eg free wifi on a 'different system' or extra special drinks). Just a little curious.

It was a fantastic holiday but don't find myself wanting to repeat it. So if there's a tour you really want to do, then do it.

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I have to say it must be very resort dependant. This is absolutely nothing like the experience at the Conrad, of which every bit was wonderful and there were barely any other people most of the time, even at almost full occupancy.

The villa doesn't overwater is not noisy at all unless there is a storm and then everywhere is noisy. I heard my spa going on and off mainly, but I could just turn it off if I wanted.

Didn't see any tattoos at all, and probably only 1 or 2 Brits around. The Chinese are the majority I would say, and they don't do tattoos much! Part of the reason it is so quiet is that there are 2 whole islands to swim on, and the villas are well spaced. Unless you wanted to snorkel, there's no point going to another beach. The quiet zone pool, at its busiest, had 5 people including myself. This is for an areas with about 20-30 seats, deckchairs etc.

No issues with staff either. They were all wonderful and each person has a 'host' who is their personal concierge. They are generally up to date on your reservations etc, and they make everything easy. I used the main lobby a lot instead, as it was on my was to the gym and the house reef, but others use them for everything.

I will definitely be back (even by myself), and before my diamond status expires. I will probably use points, but I should be requaled by end of Jan 2014 so I have until Mar 2016 to get there!

Yes. It's probably very resort specific. Our resort was nice but it sounds like it was very different. Not cheap though!

No, not cheap at all. My base room at the time of booking (on points), was just north of 2000USD/night. But that money gets you 5 star service and and no hands out for tips.