I stayed at the Conrad Hilton when I went there. I stayed there on an Hilton Honors Points stay. I did not convert my HGVC except for a little bit that I needed to top up what was required for my 10 night stay. I had 90% of the Honors points before hand.
My spouse and I recently started a travel business, and just in our first few months, we get inquiries from prospective clients about the Maldives and Seychelles. People think that they're the only place to stay in an overwater bungalow and that they're all ridiculously expensive, but still, it's a fantasy for lots of people.
There are lots of overwater bungalows in other places, including increasingly in the Caribbean and Mexico (closer to home, less travel time), and many are all-inclusive, but none of them are timeshare properties, and they're still not exactly cheap (though, definitely cheaper than the Maldives, especially if you consider the expense of traveling to the other side of the globe).
Sandy VDH - For your Turkish flights in business, did you redeem partner miles or Turkish?
I have tons of United miles (also Air Canada and Lufthansa) and have seen Turkish flights at the UA saver level, however the leg from Istanbul to Male comes as Economy. I am thinking about calling UA to ask about redeeming the entire flight in business. If that is not possible, I may need to go on BA or AF. I can do BA in F or AF in business because I am top elite with AF and you need that level to redeem in F (that's my understanding).
I don't think that there is a low season, as a Cat 10 property I think it is 95K a night all the time.
With that being said. The resort was fantastic.
You could pay to upgrade to an overwater bungalow, but since my last trip was Bora Bora and I stayed in an overwater I didn't feel the need to do it again. You could even pay for the upgrade even if you got there on a reward.
The entry level beach units are fabulous and HUGE, and are literally just steps from the beach. The have an outdoor open air bathroom, with sinks that are in a covered area but open to the outside. There is an outdoor shower, a bath for 2 (or more actually) in a covered hut, all outside in the 10' high walled in garden. Bedroom, with desk and couch area, and closest are in air conditioning. There is a outdoor fountain between the bedroom and bathroom as well, that is like a courtyard, surrounded on three sides by glass sliding doors. There are also huge sliding glass wall (10' or maybe 12') to your outdoor patio, that is about 20 steps from the water. You have a privacy wall between the two adjacent units so there is good privacy on the patio, but not complete privacy.
They have powered blinds that move into place and shut off the bedroom from both bathroom and patio. Since there are glass sliding doors and glass courtyard doors, You could see all the way from the patio to the bathroom. But with the shutters in place this is all blocked off.
Food is very expensive here. Breakfast I got free at hilton gold member. lunch runs about $60 a person, dinner about $130 plus the cost of any alcohol, and these are Miminum prices. So bring your check book.
I sent solo and went diving most days I was there. I did spa day on arrival day and departure day.
It took two overnights to travel, but I arrived at the resort before Noon on the 3rd day, my room was not ready but I booked a spa treatment for that arrival day, which was great. I flew on Turkish Air - Houston to Istanbul and then Istanbul to Male. Both were overnight flights, with a day off spent in Istanbul. Then you have to catch the water plane to get to the resort. I used Frequently Flyer miles for my flight and went Business Class. It was great only having 2 flights and the small water plane to get there.
On the way home I left the resort on the last flight out around 6 pm (flights only operate in daylight), as I had a midnight flight from Male to Istanbul, then a 1/2 day at AP with a flight later to get back to Houston. Turkish Lounge in Istanbul is fantastic.
High season is earlier in the Year (Chinese new year and Christmas through March). So rates are lower but Honors points are the same. When I went the beach entry level rooms were $2K a night, I went first week in February. Prices are all in US$ and charged to your CC in US$. Flight from Male to Resort Island is about $450 Per person.
Good to know. I'll give that a try when I'm ready to book. Turkish flies from NYC and IAD, both are close to me.I used United points and had to call, as the flights did not appear online. But only have to make it to Male in 2 flights was a bonus. I do not remember off the top of my head from which cities TA fly to Istanbul.
Didn't know about the whale sharks, that sweetens the deal...There are whalesharks there year round. That was one of my primary reasons for going. And yes I saw Whale sharks. I got to do a happy dance.
I too went for my 50th too. I went 3 years ago.
I even went solo. I was probably the only single person there. But I didn't care, the divers all talked to me.
I also wanted to get Nitox certified and did that while I was there too, Nitrox is great SCUBA air option if you can get it. I am not nearly as tired using Nitrox as I am using just compressed air.
Didn't know about the whale sharks, that sweetens the deal...
https://maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org/
They don't know why, but the year round population in the Maldives is 90% Juvenile males. They are not sure where the females are or where the breeding areas are. The one I saw was named Morgan, at the time he was 27' long and 7 years old. They can uniquely identify the whaleshare by their spot pattern. They catalog and name each whaleshark.