[ARCHIVE 2020] Conrad Maldives Rangali Island {MDV}
Dec 8, 2020, 11:05 pm
#1441
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 16
HH
Good to know, not a Corona fan, beer or otherwise.
Being from Texas, with decent taste in suds, wouldn’t touch the stuff.
Happy to hear there may be choices.
Being from Texas, with decent taste in suds, wouldn’t touch the stuff.
Happy to hear there may be choices.
Dec 9, 2020, 6:07 am
#1442
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 329
Had breakfast today (Dec. 9th) at Vilu restaurant. We left the resort today, but they started back up buffet breakfast style. You can get hot and cold items, but also order from the regular menu, items like French toast, pancakes, etc.
Kind of strange, but the buffet had NO safety measures whatsoever. Everyone grabs the same tongs to pickup breads, etc. When we were in Dubai, our InterContinental hotel had everything behind glass, and if you wanted something you would point at it and the workers got it for you.
The hotel staff said they are ramping up to almost full resort capacity for the holiday season. So this explains why they want to get buffet style eating back. There were only 4 of us and we had all sorts of problems in the beginning, but eventually got things worked out. I give them props for doing a good job.
Kind of strange, but the buffet had NO safety measures whatsoever. Everyone grabs the same tongs to pickup breads, etc. When we were in Dubai, our InterContinental hotel had everything behind glass, and if you wanted something you would point at it and the workers got it for you.
The hotel staff said they are ramping up to almost full resort capacity for the holiday season. So this explains why they want to get buffet style eating back. There were only 4 of us and we had all sorts of problems in the beginning, but eventually got things worked out. I give them props for doing a good job.
Dec 9, 2020, 8:37 am
#1443
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BG
Programs: BAEC Silver, TK Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 827
Transfers to another resort
I'm looking at staying for the 3rd time at the property, next year Christmas and will try to book a points stay one year out. However, I would like to combine it with another hotel as a week at the Conrad and a week elsewhere works better for us.
We did this last year and had to transfer back through Male with the seaplane, then get another seaplane thus spending more time and more money than i'd have liked.
I haven't chosen the 'other' hotel yet, but if we were to chose somewhere like sun Island, or LUX South Ari, for example both are just a few miles from Maamigili Airport which is where I assume (please correct me if i'm wrong) Conrad use when you chose the domestic seaplane and speedboat option.
Therefore, an idea would be to take a Seaplane one way and speedboat with domestic flight the other, but with 1 week between the speedboat and domestic flight so we can visit another hotel.
Does this look doable and realistic as a plan and are the Conrad likely to agree to such a plan without increasing the transfer cost? We will be 2 adults and 2 kids.
Any suggestions or input would be appreciated!
I'm looking at staying for the 3rd time at the property, next year Christmas and will try to book a points stay one year out. However, I would like to combine it with another hotel as a week at the Conrad and a week elsewhere works better for us.
We did this last year and had to transfer back through Male with the seaplane, then get another seaplane thus spending more time and more money than i'd have liked.
I haven't chosen the 'other' hotel yet, but if we were to chose somewhere like sun Island, or LUX South Ari, for example both are just a few miles from Maamigili Airport which is where I assume (please correct me if i'm wrong) Conrad use when you chose the domestic seaplane and speedboat option.
Therefore, an idea would be to take a Seaplane one way and speedboat with domestic flight the other, but with 1 week between the speedboat and domestic flight so we can visit another hotel.
Does this look doable and realistic as a plan and are the Conrad likely to agree to such a plan without increasing the transfer cost? We will be 2 adults and 2 kids.
Any suggestions or input would be appreciated!
Dec 9, 2020, 9:42 am
#1444
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Transfers to another resort
I'm looking at staying for the 3rd time at the property, next year Christmas and will try to book a points stay one year out. However, I would like to combine it with another hotel as a week at the Conrad and a week elsewhere works better for us.
We did this last year and had to transfer back through Male with the seaplane, then get another seaplane thus spending more time and more money than i'd have liked.
I haven't chosen the 'other' hotel yet, but if we were to chose somewhere like sun Island, or LUX South Ari, for example both are just a few miles from Maamigili Airport which is where I assume (please correct me if i'm wrong) Conrad use when you chose the domestic seaplane and speedboat option.
Therefore, an idea would be to take a Seaplane one way and speedboat with domestic flight the other, but with 1 week between the speedboat and domestic flight so we can visit another hotel.
Does this look doable and realistic as a plan and are the Conrad likely to agree to such a plan without increasing the transfer cost? We will be 2 adults and 2 kids.
Any suggestions or input would be appreciated!
I'm looking at staying for the 3rd time at the property, next year Christmas and will try to book a points stay one year out. However, I would like to combine it with another hotel as a week at the Conrad and a week elsewhere works better for us.
We did this last year and had to transfer back through Male with the seaplane, then get another seaplane thus spending more time and more money than i'd have liked.
I haven't chosen the 'other' hotel yet, but if we were to chose somewhere like sun Island, or LUX South Ari, for example both are just a few miles from Maamigili Airport which is where I assume (please correct me if i'm wrong) Conrad use when you chose the domestic seaplane and speedboat option.
Therefore, an idea would be to take a Seaplane one way and speedboat with domestic flight the other, but with 1 week between the speedboat and domestic flight so we can visit another hotel.
Does this look doable and realistic as a plan and are the Conrad likely to agree to such a plan without increasing the transfer cost? We will be 2 adults and 2 kids.
Any suggestions or input would be appreciated!
GET MY BOAT: https://www.getmyboat.com/boat-renta...ale--Maldives/
ATOLL TRANSFER: https://www.atolltransfer.com/
BTW, I've had friends go to Sun Island. As the name suggests it's more akin to a holiday camp than a resort. Nothing compared to the Conrad so be aware of that if you are considering it.
Dec 9, 2020, 10:49 am
#1445
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 73
I've been unsuccessful finding the answer to this--what does it mean when prices have:
- Two dollar signs before them?
- Two plus signs after them?
Dec 9, 2020, 11:45 am
#1446
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Two dollar signs before them: People being blinded or mezmerised by money? 
Two plus signs after them: They mean taxes. One '+' is the service charge (10%) and the other is any government levy (usually a GST or some other Tourism tax). See the wiki for info on taxes in the Maldives and how to calculate them.
Two plus signs after them: They mean taxes. One '+' is the service charge (10%) and the other is any government levy (usually a GST or some other Tourism tax). See the wiki for info on taxes in the Maldives and how to calculate them.
Dec 9, 2020, 11:51 am
#1447
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,593
Is there some kind of opt-out for those ++ and if so, is it even more than 5% of people paying? Are they just ashamed to write the real price because they're ridiculous? I imagine they want tip on top?
It's not comparable to the US where the extra is rarely double digits.
I often feel that these foreign companies are milking the Maldives for every penny until the Islands are consumed by the climate emergency.
It's not comparable to the US where the extra is rarely double digits.
I often feel that these foreign companies are milking the Maldives for every penny until the Islands are consumed by the climate emergency.
Dec 9, 2020, 12:26 pm
#1448
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: LGB
Posts: 1,206
So any time you see "$100++", it's "$123.20".
Yes, it's deceptive.
Dec 9, 2020, 2:32 pm
#1449
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Interesting. They're obviously not breaking any of the hotel's new sanitation / health and safety rules and / or the rules have changed. I've added this info to the wiki. No doubt folks who are going there this festive season will report on the buffet situation if it changes.
Dec 9, 2020, 2:34 pm
#1450
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,541
It’s pretty much the norm in all of Asia that I have been to, with the exception of Japan.
it’s a hospitality thing and there is no expectation of tip on top.
yes it’s annoying and some hotels are great and actually just print the final price.
no idea where this habit comes from but it’s probably from the US where sales tax springs up on you all the time, and tipping adds to the price too.
it’s a hospitality thing and there is no expectation of tip on top.
yes it’s annoying and some hotels are great and actually just print the final price.
no idea where this habit comes from but it’s probably from the US where sales tax springs up on you all the time, and tipping adds to the price too.
Dec 9, 2020, 7:07 pm
#1451
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,779
It’s pretty much the norm in all of Asia that I have been to, with the exception of Japan.
it’s a hospitality thing and there is no expectation of tip on top.
yes it’s annoying and some hotels are great and actually just print the final price.
no idea where this habit comes from but it’s probably from the US where sales tax springs up on you all the time, and tipping adds to the price too.
it’s a hospitality thing and there is no expectation of tip on top.
yes it’s annoying and some hotels are great and actually just print the final price.
no idea where this habit comes from but it’s probably from the US where sales tax springs up on you all the time, and tipping adds to the price too.
Europe and Australia require the actual price to be quoted
Dec 9, 2020, 7:12 pm
#1452
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,541
Not sure if Australia is the strictest in the world, but it must be close.
Prices must be displayed as the final price, and that has to be the biggest font too- not just a tiny final price and a large “entry price+tax”.
it’s great!
Prices must be displayed as the final price, and that has to be the biggest font too- not just a tiny final price and a large “entry price+tax”.
it’s great!
Dec 10, 2020, 1:40 am
#1453
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL; Virgin Gold; HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 421
Flights
No doubt most other people on here are also linked into other forums and travel services - but in case not and anyone isn’t going to Conrad because they’ve struggled to get flights over the festive season (at non insane prices)....
I got an alert from a flight service telling me BA has added a second direct flight on various days. I had a look and indeed they have, and there’s still good availability in business and first and at sensible prices.
I got an alert from a flight service telling me BA has added a second direct flight on various days. I had a look and indeed they have, and there’s still good availability in business and first and at sensible prices.
Dec 10, 2020, 4:18 am
#1454
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,181
No doubt most other people on here are also linked into other forums and travel services - but in case not and anyone isn’t going to Conrad because they’ve struggled to get flights over the festive season (at non insane prices)....
I got an alert from a flight service telling me BA has added a second direct flight on various days. I had a look and indeed they have, and there’s still good availability in business and first and at sensible prices.
I got an alert from a flight service telling me BA has added a second direct flight on various days. I had a look and indeed they have, and there’s still good availability in business and first and at sensible prices.
Dec 10, 2020, 8:02 am
#1455
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL; Virgin Gold; HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 421