Staying in the Maldives with points: 5 things you need to know

After we gave space to the story of Joseph and his stay at the Conrad Rangali in the Maldives., as well as after publishing the video of the my Christmas at the Hilton Amingiri Many questions and comments have come in regarding the stays paid for with points Of the different loyalty programs.

What must be understood, however, is that the Maldives, like the Seychelles and more than Bora Bora are a sui generis destination, where the cost of accommodation is high, but then there are all those costs that you still have to incur and therefore affect the income statement.

Beware of flight time

Of course if you call the folks at Virtuoso to make reservations they will make no mistake, but if you are a Do-It-Yourself traveler, beware of your arrival time in Malé. If you land after 3 p.m., it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to get to the more distant atolls, the ones that are reached by seaplanes.

Here, even if you arrive in Emirates First Class, there is no chauffeur That takes you to the hotel, you are forced to book private transportation from the resort Because 9 times out of 10 it is not possible to get there by other means.

If, on the other hand, the destination can be reached by sea, the timetable issue is less rigid, taking into account, however, that the later you arrive the less time you will have to enjoy the first day of your vacation.

You have to get to the atoll

As mentioned, travel is difficult and transportation costs are expensive And not at market price. If in Tokyo or New York you can take uber, subway or helicopter in the Maldives the price is imposed by the hotel and you pay (including children).

Spending $250/300 for the boat or $600 for the seaplane is within the norm. This condition also has an impact on freedom of movement; it is not possible to go "for a ride" without spending as much money and in a great many cases the most emblazoned resorts are not accessible by public transportation or private boats.

Statuses don't count the same as on land

Status helps, but not so much. From breakfast to upgrades here the rules are different and the benefits risky.

Hilton clearly explains what to expect in their facilities, Marriott and other chains leave the floor directly to the hotels.

All inclusive does not exist

Points pay for the room And sometimes breakfast, everything else is to be put on the bill. Obviously all these expenses accumulate points and qualifying nights even if the rooms are paid for with points, but what should be clear is that all meals are separate and, like everything else, at Maldivian prices.

Joseph made a point that I absolutely agree with regarding the famous Conrad Rangali underwater restaurant. A dinner for two, including tax, costs about 1200$, a three-star Michelin price in the real world.

Full board is equally expensive and is likely to be unaffordable, so Before choosing which resort to book, it's a good idea to take a look at the sites, dining options And possibly to ancillary costs.

There is always so much availability

Having said that I explained what are the rules of the award nights in the hotel and which rooms you need to book, going to the Maldives with points is much easier than booking an award flight, there is plenty of room availability, and even if you want to stay during peak season, if you move early, you can book "affordable" rooms. Not forgetting that on the fifth night, o better every 4 nights paid one is free,

• sleep with points