We spent our first three nights in the Maldives at Cheval Blanc Randheli. For those not familiar, Cheval Blanc is the boutique hotel group owned by LVMH (which stands for Louis Vuitton Mot Hennessy), and the brand currently has five properties. We stayed at Cheval Blanc Paris last October and were amazed by the property’s…
Continue reading: Review: Cheval Blanc Maldives Randheli
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My only comment, as always, is to book a more accessible rate when doing these types of reviews (rack rate, Virtuoso rate, whatever). It may impact your opinions, even subconsciously. A cool thing about points reviews is that all readers can book the way you did.
Thanks Lucky. Just got back from the Waldorf Pedregal yesterday, and now I feel like I stayed at the Motel 6.
Also, with this kind of resort, it is impossible to tell if the hotel went over the top with service given the guests were a travel agent and a well known travel blogger. I'm sure service is great for everyone, but the way the hotel is booked makes it difficult to really know if this was a representative stay
Looks good, comparable to the stunning Waldorf Astoria. The kitchen and implied possibility to bring your own food and booze will make it easier for my partner to chose between this and the Waldorf Astoria, especially with the 7 days for the price of 5 promo.
There was not a single guest in any of the photos. I wonder how many other guests were there at the time?
Gorgeous resort.
Resort looked nice, rooms looked massive and nice, but the pictures of the water made the ground feel very rocky and didn’t like the view of the jetty vs more of the endless ocean views that a lot of Maldivian resorts offer.
Looks wonderful, I like the layout of the resort and the multitude of seating areas to enjoy the glorious sunrises and sunsets, not sure the food options in the evening are my cup of tea.
Yes to echo Anthony…awesome hotel.
But IMHO these posts are less “reviews” and more descriptions of experiences had by a famous travel blogger paying the travel agency rate, and in this case, staying on his birthday.
I don’t know if any, if not all of the factors above contribute to the experience.
I still love reading if only to dream…
For those wondering if Ben got better service as a known personality, it's possible, but this hotel is truly in a league of it's own. Everything about it is in its own class. It's really hard to picture if you haven't been, especially if you've had a fantastic stay in the Maldives before at another property. CB is worth every penny (and it's a lot of pennies!)
"Even if you’re not someone who would usually not stay at propoerties like this..."
Extra not and a misspelled word
Great review. Thanks. I loved the pictures and the write up. Well done. Looks like a gorgeous place.
That does look awesome, probably as good as it can get on the Maldives. And I do really like to read the "Hotel porn" reviews every now and then, so hope you keep up this mix.
Personally, I still don't really get the Maldives though. I'm currently saving up on Hilton points, but have basically removed all the Maldives properties from my aspirational goals lists. Because what is the point if I redeem my points, but then anyways pay $1.000+ pP just for the short transfer and $100+ per dinner every night, not even to mention the probably insane cost of alcohol and massages. I don't get this sort of investment for then essentially being trapped on a tiny island where you can't really do much, and let's be honest some of the activities seem really superficial in a "hey, we had to come up with something..." way like that waterslide.
In this vein I'd much rather go for something like French Polynesia, which has a more or less similar setup and remoteness (and expensiveness), but there is at least more to do because it's bigger (hiking etc) and the transfer not as expensive.
Also Boooo for the Foie Gras. I don't really care what others eat, but at this point it seems like you eat it in every second hotel review, while at the same time mentioning how you don't get pork because you find them so cute. Ducks are also cute-ish and die an absolutely horrible death for Foie Gras compared to how the average pig is slaughtered. So that seems quite hypocritical to be honest. Again, usually I don't care and have a "live and let live" mentality, but this really stood out for me in the last reviews.
Next level!
I wonder if Bernard Arnault paid with his own billions for that resort.
Need the wine list please. I can only imagine how 1) insane it is, matched only by the insanity of 2) its pricing
A beautiful property and wonderful experience. But I don't understand how a property at this level and with such limited guest capacity makes a profit, even at its lofty rates. Maybe it doesn't and isn't intended to?
Just wow! Incredible property, and the fact it has a kids club makes me think I have a chance at going, and having my kids entertained 🙂 Very awesome to see.
I probably won't ever be able to swing that but that was a great review!
As a side note, I'm not sure why you never disclose how much the travel advisor rate is but it would be very useful to know those on all those crazy expensive hotels you've been staying at - it just adds some worthy context in my opinion.
I had similar thoughts to you re: Maldives before I went for the first time a few years ago. Up to then I would jam pack my vacations with different locations, activities, etc. But I work a stressful job and the ability to just sit and do nothing but enjoy the wonderful scenery and go into the ocean whenever I want was easily worth it. I was there 5 days and thought I would get bored by the end but I wanted more time when it was over. I will say that I went to Seychelles later that same year, and thought I would enjoy it more because it has other activities (hiking, etc.), like what you said with Bora Bora. But in the end I found I didn't relax as much because I was trying to do more.
Would I want all of my vacations to be like that? Absolutely not. But every so often a vacation like that where I can just completely disconnect, unwind, and do nothing but relax was great for me. And for me, the price you pay (with or without a points subsidy) to be so remote and away from it all is worth it--you don't really get that remote feeing anywhere else I've been (which includes the Seychelles for me, but I haven't been to Bora Bora).
I believe alcohol is generally held at Maldives immigration when you arrive. They let you take it with you on your way out, but I don't think they let you bring anything in anymore.
I think keeping them confidential is a requirement of TA rates but I could be wrong.
Looks absolutely stunning. It looks "worth" the price of admission, which isn't always the case.
One thing that looked odd, was the bath-tub filled upon arrival? I've never seen that before and I'm not sure that I understand how that would be useful as the temperature is almost certain to not be as desired by the time you would choose to hop in.
Great report! Were there any insect/reptile issues at all (ants, roaches, mosquitoes, lizards...)? I've been to Fiji while I loved it, I remember a lizard dropping from the ceiling onto my bed and a couple of big bugs here and there.
Ben. I have read more than a dozen excellent, professional reviews on this property. Your review in on an entirely different level. All I can say is BRAVO!
Great review Ben! Doubt I’ll ever get to stay here but this was hotel porn at its finest.
I suspect that photo was taken after a bath was drawn, not upon entering the room.
I’ve also read many reviews of this place but no other reviewer captures every aspect of what it feels like to stay (and fly) somewhere the way you do, Ben! It is a gift.
The price of Le 1947 is reasonable and is in line with what a 2-3 Michelin star restaurant costs in the US. So I’d be thrilled to have it at that price in the Maldives! I have to assume there were wine pairings available?
That is incredible. Compared to say, Hawaii, and the Maui Andaz now charging $1200 a night this is a steal value wise even at a little more than double the price. I'm actually surprised at the rates. Aman is charging the same for Turks and Caicos and it's not nearly as amazing. Great review. I'm seriously intrigued.
@Anthony: Lucky generally has stated he does what he can to be anonymous. Not to say a hotel might look him up (I've had this happen to me... despite being a nobody with what equates to a personal blog)... but can't be certain.
Ford getting a travel agent rate... that's different and I imagine could lead to special treatment.
I do agree that reviews of luxury resorts at discounted travel agent rates... that's a growing disconnect from the regular readers of this blog.
My favorite part of the blog is that it's something most middle class people in the U.S can participate in. 'Sign up for a credit card or two and you can do this too', as opposed to 'marry or become a travel agent and you can do this too'.
TBH, I'd be reading "Travelsort" if I wanted to know what the nicest cash hotels are.
I think it’s usually in Ford’s name and he isn’t getting Ben’s surname. So unless hotels go way extra mile (And then every hotel can do so) they probably won’t know.
The little touches staff made for Lucky is typical for other guests as I have experienced it myself and I’m no big time blogger. The excellent photos that Lucky took still doesn’t do this property justice. Depending which villa you ended up in, one can dive right into water and be snorkeling among hundreds of fish. By far the best snorkeling off villa experience compare to Seychelles and bora bora. Top three best massage I ever gotten at a resort is on that gorgeous spa island. What Lucky failed to mention is that every treatment villa comes with its own bathroom, sleeping room, and treatment room. In the bathroom there is a huge makeup counter with tons of Guerlain product for you to try for free. Personally I may or may not had slap on those super expensive face cream on my body. The Italian restaurant’s food is as good as anything you get in nyc but the price tag here makes you think that meal at Cipriani’s last week was a steal…. If the Maldives wasn’t so far away, I would return in a heart beat.
A very random question, but is that a slimline wine conditioner next to the minibar? Just intrigued and paying way too much attention to this gorgeous review - thank you for your sacrifice. Cannot wait to see what M Arnault does with the Cipriani in Venice.
What's wrong with fois gras? Animals are way better treated than in a chicken farm. Unless you are vegan, i dont think the argument works. The way they are killed is not different than any animals, the debate relates to the fact they are overfed. But so are americans, and they seem happy about it 😉 And btw fois gras is not necessarily from ducks, it can be also from geese.
An exhaustive and fantastic review-and what an amazing place! I always enjoy reading you and I simply love this post! Thanks for all you do for the travel community!
Sorry Anthony but why would they choose to book a higher rate by choice. They probably dont stay there without the travel agent rate and therefor we don't get this review. Lets not forget it is still work to always being taking these pictures writing up these summaries and making sure he photos everything super early to avoid all people.
Incredible post! Thank you for all the details provided. Very intriguing . Well done!m
Ben. Hotel porn indeed. What an extraordinarily detailed review. Thank you as always
Great report, very detailed. This is quite useful to me as I use your reviews to decide on places to stay. I'm one of the people who (as a European, where credit card rewards are less generous) rely more on cash spending than points. So these reviews are very useful, but I feel you leave out a very important element in this report. You don't mention the extremely high cost of additional expenses. Like the outrageously expensive burger and the ridiculous prices for scuba diving. For me this is an important element that is missing. If I decided to stay here based on your report I would be in for a bad suprise.
As a side note: I stay once or twice a year at places that charge similar prices. But I hate the feeling of being ripped off and it taints the experience. That's why I don't like Aman much, but am quite happy with Six Senses. I absolutely love the Singita all-inclusive prices.
@Ben: What's the reason you mention room and transfer prices, but not food, beverage, or activity prices where it gets quite rip-offy?
Ive been to this resort 2 years ago, and I can attest that everyone is treated the same. I paid full price, albeit the rates during the peak of the pandemic was extremely reasonable.
The mistake Ben made is doing CBR first then going to WA. He should have reversed it and stayed longer at CBR. Going from CBR to WA is truly a HUGE downgrade. We booked WA first and thought so highly of it that I was able to rebook again, but upon 4 nights at CBR we just went ahead and cancelled WA and extended the stay at CBR.
What is this obsesson with getting bored whilst on vacation in the Maldives? What is it that people are doing all the time at other beach resorts that you can't do in the Maldives? Would have thought most people know what the Maldives involves if they are spending that amout to go there, points or cash regardless. The fact its seculded and not near lots of large scale activity would be a selling point for many. You can't hike up a mountain while there...err...good, I'm on vacation not an outbound Army exercise thanks.
Thank you, this is really useful. We’re going next year and are deciding between this, Four Seasons and St Regis. Sounds like this trumps the others
I did some Googling and I still can't tell if there is any reef. I'm guessing there either isn't one or not one worth discussing. I'm guessing you aren't into snorkeling or diving, which is my primary interest, but might want to save folks the trouble by noting one way or the other.
This is nice in an L.A./Vegas/Miami bada-bling way ... in which case, why bother flying so far away?