A few months back I wrote about how a Ritz-Carlton could be coming to the Maldives. Well, the hotel is now accepting reservations, and you can even redeem points here, so I wanted to go over all the details.
Continue reading: Ritz-Carlton Maldives Opening May 2021 (Amazing Points Redemption!)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Good to know there is new Marriott option in the Maldives. However, from the title of the article, I was hoping to see a rate of 50-60k/night during this initial booking period rather than 100k/night plus $900/person in transfers. For those of us that don't have millions of Marriott points, I have hard time seeing the "Amazing points redemption" opportunity here.
It is so good to know. I really want to go to the Maldives but really don't know when will we be able to travel again. Will definitely check this hotel.
Another tourist trap, one that even exploits labor. They pay their employees (many of whom are foreign workers, typically from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, or the Philippines) between US$200 and US$250 per month, yet they charge $1,800 per couple for a 2 hour boat ride. And the food, oh, mostly cheap imported frozen stuff marked up an obnoxious amount.
Why do you think they keep minting these "resorts"? They mint money, at the expense of tourists who can go to much more interesting places for a fraction of the cost.
Interesting about breakfast... had the chance to stay at the new RC in Bali 5+ years ago. Same thing with points - included in every rate prior to booking. Eventually changed as we got closer to arrival. Wonder if that is something done at a newer property to incentivize a potential booking?
Location is really bad. When I was in Park Hyatt, it was amazing to step 2 feet into the water and see amazing corals with sea life swimming all around you. It was well worth the extra plane ride. For this reason, I'll never stay at Ritz-Carlton Maldives and for that matter at any resort close to Malé.
I’m pretty sure the W Maldives includes breakfast for all cash rates and yet doesn’t include it for points stays unless you’re Platinum or higher. I think the St Regis Maldives might be the same? So no reason to expect this property would be any different.
W is also giving overwater villas as the base room category these days.
What you see are redemption rates today for a yet to open resort wait till its time to open and there is a revenue review prior to opening and shortly there after those redemption rates might just change. Case in point Maui Andaz from "nice redemption" rates to "good luck"
Just saying
So sad that the Maldives is just getting oversaturated with hotels. Aren't we to the point where the Maldives is no longer interesting? People need to stop following what everyone on IG does. Sheesh, what a ruin.
You may have missed Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa, opening in one of the northern atolls sometime next year. The hotel's website just uploaded some renderings and it looks rather lovely, with a beautiful rendition of Le Méridien's mid-century design, several restaurants and an adults-only pool. It's definitely "bigger" at 144 rooms, but as a category 5 property, it could very well make for the best-value point redemption in the Maldives.
Not really sure what makes this a good value. Even if you do happen to have a million points to use, you still have to pay nearly a thousand USD per person just to get to the hotel? You can fly all the way there from Europe and back for less than that. So yeah, if you want to spend a lot of money and all of your points, by all means, have fun. But it is not a bargain in cash or points...
These resorts are environmental disasters in and of themselves in addition to the carbon footprint of getting there.
Supporting or promoting them is frankly irresponsible.
As you point out, the ocean near them has already been trashed by pollution and bleaching from climate change.
What's the point?
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-51468-3#article-info
Redemption
RATE DETAILS
1 room(s) for 5 night(s)
Prices in USD
Sunday, September 5, 2021
85,000 Points
Monday, September 6, 2021
FREE night70,000 Points
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
85,000 Points
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
85,000 Points
Thursday, September 9, 2021
85,000 Points
Total points rate340,000 PointsLocal Fee1,800.00Estimated government taxes and fees60.00Total Stay1,860.00 USD + 340,000 Points
PLUS 900 $ pp for transfer
Anything but a bargain. Stay away from such hotels!
And yes, no benefits for the Titanium members. A reason more to avoid Ritz Carlton hotels
“ generally speaking if a hotel includes something for all guests paying with cash, it will also include it for guests paying with points”
That’s not my experience. If it isn’t listed on the booking page breakfast typically isn’t granted.
Horrible labor policies
Even worse envionmental policies
And it’s not for the locals, these are policies that do nothing for the benefit of locals.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/12/13/reckless-development-worsens-maldives-environmental-crisis
Visiting these hotels are contributing to global climate change, destruction of native endangered species. Just horrible overall.
I went to waldorf. Marriott has a few hotels in maldives. They are really not that competitive with top resorts here. I am really dissapointed with Marriott not taking maldives as a super-touristic country. They are like somehow normal hotels. St regis is not that competitive in location, rooms and service as top 10. We need Ritz Carlton, to be top five and exceptional, in activities, family, food, island and lagoon location. Kids club, spa, food dining options. To be in maldives is not easy. The Brand should take it’s place here qualitative.
I am booked here on points from 5/7/21 - 5/14/21. Unclear if they will end up opening on time for my stay. The Ritz website notes a May 2021 opening and the Marriott website notes a June 2021 opening (can't even book in May through Marriott website anymore). I have been in contact with the GM at the property as of late, but no concrete answers yet. Fingers crossed, but have the St. Regis and W booked just in case!
@Mark did you find out if breakfast is included with points? I'm booked for July 7-12. Would you mind sharing the GM's contact info? I'd very much like to reach out prior to our stay. Thanks.