Planning on booking at the Conrad Maldives - any tips?

[Deleted member 29185]

Yes. All.one visit. The upgrades were pretty reasonable from memory. Maybe US$800?? But that's a stab on the back of a pretty ordinary memory. IIRC, we left it until we were on the island and got a better offer than the one before we arrived. On the other hand, we missed out on the underwater restaurant because we left booking that as well. Did get morning tea but Id recommend anyone keen to book the restaurant before arrival.

 

[boomy]

Thanks Swanning. $800 in total sounds very reasonable for the high villas upgrades you got. I think you did smart leaving negotiations to the last minute.

I thought Ithaa was ok but most impressive meal experience we had in the resort was the underground wine cellar dinner.

 

[Daver6]

$800 all up or per night? If the former, how many nights?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I thought Ithaa was ok but most impressive meal experience we had in the resort was the underground wine cellar dinner.

We didn't do the wine cellar. Probably should have.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

$800 all up or per night? If the former, how many nights?

All up, but I'll try to locate the record. I'm pretty sure I posted it here on AFF.

 

[Daver6]

All up, but I'll try to locate the record. I'm pretty sure I posted it here on AFF.

That's good enough for me. Gives a rough indication of magnitude. Thank you.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

That's good enough for me. Gives a rough indication of magnitude. Thank you.

Ok I've just gone through the files and as our Maldives holiday was not tax deductable, I haven't kept the Conrad statement. In thinking further, the King Beach Villa is what the redemption accommodation was and so there would have been no upgrade cost for that (I think it was 2 nights). We could then upgrade to the Premier Over Water Villa, but could only do so for (I think) 3 nights due to both of them being booked thereafter. We then had the choice of going back to the King BV or upgrading to the Deluxe Beach Villa and we decided to go the deluxe (and I'm soooo glad we did). The wrap up (which still may be wrong as I'd forgotten to set the date on the camera ) is that I believe, (given the fullness of time, a poor recollection and only for this moment in time) that we stayed 2 nights in the King BV, 3 nights in the Premier OWV and 2 nights in the Deluxe BV.

US$800 rings in my head, but so does US$500, so it may be that we paid US$800 for the Premier upgrade plus a further US$500 for the Deluxe BV upgrade as US$800 for all the upgrade nights does sound ridiculously cheap. I've looked back and I can't find any reference to it here (I did think I posted all the details previously), but in case it helps anyone in the coming months, I'll post up my photos of the three types of accommodation we trialled. As said previously, in my mind there is a very, very clear winner ... being the deluxe beach villa. Everything in the photos below are exclusive areas for each accommodation type. There are no shared facilities in any of them and when you see the deluxe, you may understand why it's my favourite!

KING BEACH VILLA



Welcome amenities and bedroom (which is also the office and dining area).




Refreshment nook - just inside the front door




King Bed - takes pride and place in the main room




Day bed. essential for us as our youngest daughter accompanied us on this holiday. TV is to the left and the office desk to the right of frame.




Office desk




The courtyard is pretty but essentially decorative. It separates the bedroom from the powder room. The connecting hallway is to the right of frame.




The powder room come drying room come vanity. (looking back through the courtyard to the bedroom)




The lavatory. Nothing too flash, but very practical!




The TV

 

[Deleted member 29185]

KING BEACH VILLA Cont.



The pathway to the private spa pavilion.




The private spa pavilion




The outdoor shower ... in fact the only shower.




The patio looking back to the bedroom




The private beach access

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Upgrade No1 was to the Premier over water villa.

PREMIER OVER WATER VILLA



Entrance foyer



Loungeroom



Floor lamp




Bedroom come dining room




Bathroom




Spa bath




Shower




Vanity

 

[Deleted member 29185]

PREMIER OVER WATER VILLA Cont.



Walk in robe




Dressing table




Office table




Deck an infinity edge plunge pool



Deck from another angle




Private reef access straight the deck



The Premier Villas beach

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Upgrade No2 was to the Deluxe Beach Villa.

DELUXE BEACH VILLA



Main entry door, from outside looking in to the main courtyard




From within the main courtyard looking back to the entrance door




Courtyard looking into the powder room




Powder room toiletries



Bedroom and day bed




Information stand come make up station




Office




Refreshment nook




Walk in robe (one side)




Walk in robe (other side)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

DELUXE BEACH VILLA Cont.



From the main courtyard looking toward the private spa pavilion.




The private spa pavilion.




The spa pavilion




Beyond the private spa pavilion, you finally reach the back fence!




From the spa pavilion back to the main villa.




The outdoor shower (once again, the only shower)




The shower toiletries.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

DELUXE BEACH VILLA Cont.



The patio and private plunge pool.




The private beach entrance looking from within.




The private beach entrance looking from the beach.




The beach chairs




The villa side area.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

That's good enough for me. Gives a rough indication of magnitude. Thank you.

A friend of mine was just asking some Rangali questions which sent me back to this thread and I found where I wrote the actual costs.

Here it is in this post of this thread! My memory was in in fact incorrect, but that post would be correct. Hope it helps.

 

[Daver6]

I'm looking at going around April/May next year if everything pans out with a pay 4 get 5 nights redemption.

I noticed that the base redemption on points is the same for either a base beach villa or a base over water villa. The beach one looks more spacious and private. Love the outdoor shower. However, lack of plunge pool makes me thing the over water villa with the ability to just get in the water might win out.

I know the obvious answer is booking a few nights in each, but having to move sounds painful (but will consider it). I'd be interested in thoughts on which of the two people would select and why.

 

[boomy]

I'm looking at going around April/May next year if everything pans out with a pay 4 get 5 nights redemption.

I noticed that the base redemption on points is the same for either a base beach villa or a base over water villa. The beach one looks more spacious and private. Love the outdoor shower. However, lack of plunge pool makes me thing the over water villa with the ability to just get in the water might win out.

I know the obvious answer is booking a few nights in each, but having to move sounds painful (but will consider it). I'd be interested in thoughts on which of the two people would select and why.

As I wrote last week, when booking for next year I’ve reserved overwater villa just because it’s $US400 more expensive per night compared to beach villa and it will hopefully give me better leverage to upgrade further. We paid almost $US500 per night to upgrade from beach to overwater last time, which was not worth it but had to try for the novelty. The next level upgrade from overwater should be Deluxe beach villa which looks very nice on Swanning_it photos.

In case I will not manage to negotiate good rate for further upgrade my plan is to spend few nights in each (can’t see an issue with asking to downgrade unless all beach villas will be fully booked). It’s not a hassle at all to move, they take care of everything for you, it’s a 5* luxury resort after all All you need to do is cross the bridge. If you won’t feel like walking then hop on the buggy and take a ride together with your luggage

 

[Daver6]

That makes a lot of sense. This site seriously saves me making a lot fewer stupid decisions

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I think boomys reasons are as good as any! I also agree it's not too onerous to change rooms.

 

[kyle]

Ok, I've taken the plunge and booked the first trip ever to the Maldives in January/Feb.

5 nights in BV on cash and 5 nights in OWV on points. Is that too many? The cash part is a package and includes the seaplane transfer, dinner and 30 mins spa treatment.

From Conrad's website, it says "Unless otherwise stated, all restaurants are open-air and have sea views. The dinner dress code is smart-casual and bare feet are encouraged."

Is that really true? From the pictures I see, every one is basically barefoot in all restaurants and everywhere else. If so, I'll be in heaven.

 

[Daver6]

I should also update here. Booked for 6 nights in a over water villa for Nov. Also all on points.