As we wrapped up the Thailand portion of our trip, my husband and I had a bit of a debacle. We didn’t really need to be home until the 11th (and there wasn’t much in the way of award space home), but we didn’t have anywhere else we actively wanted to go, especially as wherever we went, we’d both be working, so more rural and exotic destinations were out.
We considered staying in Hong Kong for a few days, and just jumping on award space when it opened, but the weather was decidedly unpleasant, and we weren’t really dressed for it.
These are ridiculous “problems” to have, I’m well-aware — just providing some context for the decision making process here. 😉
We looked at a variety of options, and the best combination of weather and flight/hotel availability seemed to be the Maldives. Our friends Matthew and Heidi were at the Park Hyatt around the same time, and it would have been lovely to join them, but there wasn’t any points availability, and $2500-a-night hotel rooms will never be part of my life.
While the Park Hyatt is the fan favorite around here, there are dozens of other resorts in the Maldives, and many of them can be a great value as well. Given the short notice our options were a bit limited, and we ultimately decided on the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa. I’ve long been intrigued by this hotel as a more value-friendly option in the Maldives, so we decided to give it a try.
Booking the Sheraton Maldives
The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is a Category 6 property for SPG, which means free nights are 20,000 – 25,000 points per night, depending on the season.
- SPG offers the 5th night free on award stays, so you could book five nights for 80,000 points, potentially
- Cash and Points rates, when available, are 10,000 Starpoints and $180 per night (you don’t get the 5th night free on C&P rates)
- Suites and upgraded rooms are also available for additional points; I was quoted 27,500 points per night for an Island Cottage
So there are several options for redeeming points, but I opted to pay for my stay using the 4th night free benefit from the Citi Prestige. There weren’t any Deluxe Rooms available (which would be the base room at this property), and flights worked better if we were spending four nights rather than five. I also measure my SPG points in increments-of-stays-at-Al-Maha nowadays, so wasn’t about to spend over 100k Starpoints for an unplanned trip.
Sheraton Maldives
And rates weren’t horrible. The base rooms were sold out, but the Island Cottage was available, and the resort was offering a promo for full board (meaning breakfast, lunch, and dinner for two people would be included). This rate was $468, which I would typically consider jaw-droppingly expensive, but given food costs in the Maldives, and that this would allow us to bundle things such that we’d have a full day of expenses refunded through the Citi Prestige® Card, it seemed like a better option than using points.
The good news is that paid rates here can be quite reasonable, so with a bit of advance planning you could spend much much less.
Getting to the Sheraton Maldives
One of the obstacles for many resorts in the Maldives is the arrival situation. To get to the Park Hyatt, for example, you have to take at least one plane and a boat, for which you’ll pay nearly $500 per person. The Sheraton is much closer to Male, so it’s a quick ~20 minute boat ride from the airport (which you still pay $136 per person for, because that’s apparently how things work in the Maldives).
The great thing about the proximity to the airport is that the Sheraton runs their transfer service 24/7, so you don’t have to overnight in Male. This is a huge plus in my book, though of course the tradeoff is that you don’t get that same sense of isolation.
Our flight from Hong Kong was a little delayed, so it was after 10PM when we arrived to Male. Being airport experts we were through immigration formalities and to the arrivals zone in just minutes.
Male airport arrivals
The Sheraton has a small shared desk with the W, where an attendant was waiting to take us to the boat.
Male airport arrivals
Unfortunately we had to wait for one other couple (who were most definitely not airport experts, and thus took almost an hour to get through the formalities), but soon enough we were on our way.
The boat docks are just outside the terminal, so it was a quick walk through the building and across the street.
Male airport terminal
The whole setup was quite efficient, I thought, with covered walkways connecting the airport to the docks and bus terminal.
Or, to quote my husband, “Damn! This is how to win at Transportation Tycoon!”
Male airport boat docks
Male airport boat docks
Male airport boat docks
The Sheraton has their own boat, which was clean and well-maintained.
Sheraton Male boat transfer
The staff was polite and professional, offering cold towels and bottled water as we sped across the water. The ride was a little choppy, but it seemed like no time before we had arrived at the resort.
Sheraton Maldives boat dock
The Sheraton Maldives effectively has two lobbies — one near the main resort, and one at the boat dock where they process the check-in formalities.
Sheraton Maldives welcome area
The space was welcoming, with several seating areas and a fun blend of furniture.
Sheraton Maldives welcome area
Sheraton Maldives welcome area
We were invited to sit while the paperwork was processed, and an iced tea was delivered along with more cold towels.
Sheraton Maldives welcome beverages
The agent went over the full board entitlements, and provided us with a general overview of the resort and amenities.
Sheraton Maldives full board options
He also recognized my SPG Platinum status, and provided details on the Sheraton Club:
Sheraton Maldives Club details
We were also given a map of the resort, which was helpful. I’ve added annotations with locations of amenities and room types, as I think that could have been more clear:
Sheraton Maldives resort map
At this point it was nearly midnight, so we were bustled off to our room in a golf cart. We obviously didn’t get to see much of the resort, but what we did was nicely illuminated.
Sheraton Maldives trees at night
Sheraton Maldives Island Cottage
For SPG Platinums, it’s worth noting both the Island and Beach cottages are in the Platinum upgrade pool. You can use a Suite Night Award to confirm an overwater bungalow, but the cottages are the standard upgrade if availability permits.
We were assigned cottage 206, which was a free-standing building at the top of the first horseshoe:
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
The room opened to a short hallway, with a closet on the right, and an outdoor bathroom on the left.
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
The bed was a Sheraton Sweet Sleeper (one of my favorites), and had a great headboard.
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
In fact, I loved the decor of the room in general. The wooden ceiling and accents fit the styling of the resort, and I loved the textured stucco work. It was certainly kitschy, but felt appropriate, if that makes any sense.
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
A plate of chocolates had been left on the coffee table, which was a nice touch. (And bonus points for wrapping them — that always weirds me out a little otherwise).
Sheraton Maldives welcome amenity
There was also a minibar at the entrance, with prices ranging from the reasonable to the comical:
Sheraton Maldives minibar
Sheraton Maldives minibar
The bathroom was completely outdoors, which I loved. The decor here was a bit more…of an era…but do you really care when you get to shower with geckos? I don’t.
Sheraton Maldives island cottage bathroom
Sheraton Maldives island cottage bathroom
Sheraton Maldives island cottage bathroom
Sheraton Maldives island cottage bathroom
Sheraton Maldives island cottage bathroom
Sheraton Maldives island cottage bathroom
My only complaint about the setup was that the shower didn’t have hot water. I like my showers nearly scalding, but even my husband conceded it was tepid at best. I think this was just a maintenance issue though, which I’ll get to.
Sheraton Maldives island cottage bathroom
In the morning, we could see that our room was right on the beach, though set rather far back from the water.
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
The cottage had a private deck, with a pair of very comfy lounge chairs
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
There was also a spigot for washing sand off your feet, which I appreciated.
Sheraton Maldives island cottage
One thing I didn’t love in the light of day was the angle of the other cottages. I know it’s not a huge deal, but being at the top of the horseshoe made me feel very exposed. I don’t think the average person would have any issues, but I’m particularly sensitive to spaces (I don’t like to sit in the front of an airline cabin if I can avoid it, or with my back to the room at a restaurant).
Sheraton Maldives island cottages
But otherwise I loved the room. It wasn’t super-luxurious, but I really liked the fun island vibe, and being able to walk right out onto the beach was fun.
Sheraton Maldives Ocean Villa
Given that I was planning on spending quite a bit of time working from the room or at least the patio, and as the hot water was problematic, I ventured down to the lobby after breakfast to see if we could move.
I liked the layout of the room, so asked if there was just a different cottage they could move us to, but they were fully committed. They offered an overwater bungalow for no additional charge, but the rooms they had available weren’t that well-positioned either, so we eventually settled on an Ocean Pool Villa for an additional $75 per night, which I thought was reasonable, given those rooms are three times larger and typically sell for more than 3x the price of the room we were in.
Someone came by shortly thereafter to fetch us and our bags in a buggy, and we drove to the far side of the resort, where the row of Ocean Villas are located.
Sheraton Maldives resort grounds
This might be silly, but I was really surprised by how lush and green the resort was. I think I was expecting more of a windswept beach feel, so the abundance of tropical greenery was really nice.
Sheraton Maldives resort grounds
All of the Ocean Pool Villas are free-standing buildings, and at almost 2400 square feet they are massive. That’s literally more than twice the size of my apartment.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
We were assigned villa 409, which was about halfway down.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
The villa had a private yard, and after going through the gate we entered a gorgeous suite.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
This portion of the resort is newly-constructed, so everything felt fresh and smelled new.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
The room featured wrap-around windows, with a daybed along one side.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
There was also a massive desk along the back of the bed, which I thought was a great architectural choice.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
Along the side was a minibar and coffee setup (although the coffee maker was far more complicated than I’m interested in learning how to use on vacation).
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
The minibar offerings were identical to the other room, which made sense.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
Off the entryway was a massive closet, which led to the bathroom.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
And while the bathroom was sadly gecko-free, it was well laid-out, with floor to ceiling windows looking over the private garden.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
This shower got very hot, which was great, though I think the controls were designed by someone who had never actually used a shower.
The temperature knob was polished, round, and set very close to the wall, making it impossible to turn if your hands were wet, or soapy, or you know — in the shower. It looked nice though, so basically the epitome of form over function.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
There were also two sinks, which both had plenty of counter space and well-positioned mirrors, which is always nice.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
The tub was perfection, though it inspired a rant on how Sheraton desperately needs to update their toiletries.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
Outside, the situation was even more gorgeous. The villa featured a private plunge pool overlooking the ocean:
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
Along with a hammock and an abundance of seating alternatives:
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
There was also a rainforest-style shower (oddly gecko-free):
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
The downside to this villa is the lack of direct sea access — the currents are too strong on this side of the island — but the outdoor space was just stunning.
Sheraton Maldives ocean pool villa
We also had some storms while we were there, so I’m not sure if this was the cause, but the waves on this side of the island were massive, and the wind was persistent. We even got rain several times (though never on the other side of the island, which was fun).
Overall, I’m not actually sure which room I liked more. The setup of the Island Cottage wasn’t ideal for me, but I liked the beach access, and the outdoor bathroom. The overall layout and location of the Ocean Villa was obviously much better, but it was cold on that side of the island, and the decor was a touch sterile.
But really, I don’t think you could go wrong either way.
Sheraton Maldives resort and restaurants
The main resort amenities were clustered around the lobby, which had the same thatched-roof motif as the cottages.
Sheraton Maldives lobby
A small gift shop and all five restaurants were clustered around the pool, but the area never felt crowded, or even highly trafficked.
Sheraton Maldives pool
We had breakfast one day at Feast which is the main/buffet restaurant. Breakfast was included in our rate, but SPG Platinums could also select the full buffet as their welcome amenity.
In fact, if you are an SPG Platinum, you could probably get by with an early breakfast in the Sheraton Club, then a late brunch/lunch in the restaurant, as the options were expansive. (The lighting didn’t do my photos any favors, and I promise everything looked better than it appears).
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
In addition to the buffet, eggs were also being prepared to order:
Sheraton Maldives breakfast
It wasn’t an amazing buffet (I mean, I don’t even like buffets), but there was a good variety, and given that everything has to be imported, I felt the options were reasonably fresh.
The main lagoon/beach area is to the side of the cottages, and the Kakuni Hut beach bar is on that side as well. There were an assortment of picnic tables right on the sand, as well as bar seating.
Sheraton Maldives beach bar
Sheraton Maldives beach bar
The food was good, and I thought the prices were comparatively reasonable. And that goes for the resort in general.
Granted, I’m used to Southern California, but cocktails in the $12-$15 range are normalish if you go “out” and entrees in the $25-$35 bracket aren’t unheard of. So the sticker shock wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.
The portions were also very large — we could have easily shared an entree at every meal and been just fine.
Tasty lamb skewers
A delicious, but ridiculous, portion of tuna for lunch
While we both spent time working, we also had plenty of time to swim and paddle board, or to just explore the resort. The seas were a bit too choppy for snorkeling, and my ears are too messed up right now for diving, so we didn’t take advantage of any excursions.
But the island was pretty, so that was just fine.
Sheraton Maldives resort grounds
Sheraton Maldives resort grounds
One thing we did notice was that all of the bungalows were free-standing. Many properties in the Maldives offer “duplex” bungalows, so that’s a plus for the Sheraton.
Sheraton Maldives overwater bungalows
Sheraton Maldives overwater bungalows
Sheraton Maldives overwater bungalows
We ended up spending most of our “beach” time at the Anchorage Bar, for a few reasons.
One, the beach was quieter, as it was further from the cottages.
Sheraton Maldives beach bar
Two, the music was better (by which I mean they played Taylor Swift and old-school Britney Spears, as opposed to the weird elevator-trance-muzak stuff we heard at the other places).
Sheraton Maldives beach bar
Three, they had cabanas, and bar service, unlike the main beach (I will never understand hotels that don’t actively try to increase F&B sales).
Sheraton Maldives beach bar
And finally, it was a great place to watch the fruit bats!
Fruit bats!
Seriously, why did no one tell me the Maldives have diurnal bats? This was the coolest thing! I loved watching them glide between trees and then crash into the branches. So fun!
Fruit bats!
And an honorable mention goes to the A+ planespotting opportunities from this side of the lagoon.
“Bright yellow tail. Is that Royal Brunei?”
“I don’t think they fly here. Maybe Condor in the retro livery?”
“It’s a 76…”
“Definitely Condor then.”
I realize that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but this is the stuff avgeek vacation dreams are made of.
Sheraton Maldives lagoon
While we had a blast watching the departures from Male, the plane situation wasn’t actually a distraction, and if you were at the main beach or on the bungalow side you’d probably never notice them at all. You couldn’t really hear the larger jets, so the only noise came from the seaplanes, and their approach path was far from the main areas of the resort. We could hear them outside at the Sheraton Club, but not at all once we went inside.
With the overcast skies we didn’t have incredible sunsets, but they were still pretty:
Sheraton Maldives sunset
And the resort was lovely at night, with just enough (but not too much) light.
Sheraton Maldives resort grounds
Sheraton Maldives resort grounds
Sheraton Club
The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has a club lounge, which is accessible to SPG Platinums.
Sheraton Club directory
The Sheraton Club was at the far end of the resort, past all the Ocean Villas, so it was very private.
Sheraton Club Maldives
The Club had the same design elements as our villa, with walls of windows, a wood-paneled ceiling, and bright accent pillows.
Sheraton Club Maldives
Sheraton Club Maldives
The Sheraton Club also featured a private pool, with an assortment of lounge chairs. This would be a great place to relax on a less-blustery trip!
Sheraton Club Maldives
Sheraton Club Maldives
Sheraton Club Maldives
Unlike some club lounges that offer a full meal in the evening, this was definitely more of a “happy hour” spread. And it was a bit lackluster, to be honest.
There were two hot items; satay and something close to a conch fritter
Sheraton Club Maldives happy hour
And then a few plates of cookies (which were gross).
Sheraton Club Maldives happy hour
And then a few different options for small plates. These were interesting, but a little too interesting, if that makes any sense.
Sheraton Club Maldives happy hour
Sheraton Club Maldives happy hour
An assortment of soft drinks and beer were available throughout the day:
Sheraton Club Maldives happy hour
With wine and hard liquor available during the evening reception:
Sheraton Club Maldives happy hour
Sheraton Club Maldives happy hour
Overall, I was a bit unimpressed with the evening setup at the Sheraton Club. The food options weren’t cohesive, and the preparation was lacking. I also felt the bar setup wasn’t well thought out — there weren’t any lemons or limes, for example, even when I asked, and the ice was in wooden bowl, and thus quickly became a melted mess.
Minor things, and totally fixable, so just observations.
For all the missed opportunities in the evening, however, the breakfasts in the Club were well done.
To start, the menus were nicely printed, and offered a range of cooked-to-order options.
Sheraton Club Maldives breakfast
Then there were a few hot items at the buffet:
Sheraton Club Maldives breakfast
And an assortment of continental items:
Sheraton Club Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Club Maldives breakfast
Sheraton Club Maldives breakfast
Thoughts on the Maldives
To be fair, the Maldives isn’t somewhere I’ve been dying to go, so my perspective here might be a bit different.
I enjoyed the trip, and the time in the sun was lovely, but I really missed even having the opportunity to interact with the local culture.
I’m not saying I need an “authentic cultural experience” every time I travel, but I do like to stumble in to coffee shops, or see what the locals are buying at the market (even if that market is a Carrefour). The Sheraton does actually offer boat service over to Male, which I would have been interested in, but the ocean was rough enough that risking a brush with seasickness didn’t sound particularly compelling.
The beaches were nice, and the water was warm, and given the relative abundance of air service, the Maldives are going to be a great destination for many.
Sheraton Maldives lagoon beach
But the lack of opportunity to really engage meaningfully with anyone felt weird to me. The desire to keep the tourists separate from the “real” Maldives (and vice-versa) felt palpable to me, and I didn’t love that.
So I wouldn’t necessarily discourage others from visiting the region, particularly if this is one of your dream destinations, but I’d have to seriously contemplate a return visit, personally.
Sheraton Maldives bottom line
The Sheraton is a nice property, everything was well-maintained, and the service was great. It’s certainly not to the caliber of the Park Hyatt, or the Conrad, but the Sheraton is a solid (and potentially much less expensive) option, in my opinion.
Sheraton Maldives bungalows
It’s also easy to get to, and the value for SPG Platinums is quite good. Being able to access the Club via the Amex benefit will also be a huge perk for many. The WiFi at the Sheraton was ridiculously fast, so if you need to get work done that’s a major positive.
So I think it’s worth considering if you’re interested in a trip to the Maldives. This wouldn’t be my pick if you’re looking for something luxurious and opulent, but for typical vacations I think the Sheraton is competitive, and we had a lovely stay.
What do you think? Have you been to the Maldives? Where did you stay?
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