In mid-2021 we learned about a new Hilton property opening in the Maldives, which will be the fourth Hilton-family property in the country. An opening date has been set, and the hotel is now accepting reservations.
In this post:
Basics of the new Hilton Maldives Amingiri
The new 109-villa Hilton Maldives Aminigiri Resort & Spa has started accepting reservations for stays as of September 1, 2022. This complements the three existing Hilton-family properties in the Maldives (including a Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, and Curio Collection).
The Hilton will be located on Amingiri Island in the Male Atoll (which immediately made me think of Amangiri, the Aman resort in Utah), just a 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport (MLE). There are pros and cons to that:
- It’s super convenient to just be able to take a quick speedboat transfer to your resort, rather than having to take a seaplane
- At the same time, proximity to Male usually means that an island is less beautiful, less untouched, and less secluded, and those are largely things that people come to the Maldives to experience
The Hilton’s 109 villas will either be on the beach or overwater, and each will feature a private pool.
As you’d expect, the hotel will also have a shared pool, spa, salon, and fitness center, as well as six restaurants and bars. Dining options will include an all-day dining restaurant serving international cuisine, as well as an adults-only bar specializing in champagne and gin-based drinks.
The resort will even have a teens-only zone, which some parents may appreciate, since not all properties in the Maldives are particularly teen-friendly.
Hilton Maldives Amingiri rates & points requirements
If you’re looking to redeem points, the Hilton Maldives is currently charging 110,000 Hilton Honors points per night, and Hilton Honors elite members can get a fifth night free (so you’re potentially paying an average of just 88,000 points per night). Hilton Honors free night awards can also be redeemed here.
Entry level rooms here are one bedroom overwater pool villas. They have 1,657 square feet (presumably including outdoor space), and feature direct access to the ocean from the deck.
As far as cash rates go, in the low season rates start at well over $800 per night, and in peak season rates start at $1,150+ per night. I’d expect that rates could change quite a bit over time, as hotels often aren’t realistic with pre-opening pricing.
The Maldives has a lot of points properties…
On the one hand, I guess more hotel options is a good thing for consumers. On the other hand, at this point the Maldives has so many hotels (including ones bookable with points) that I can’t even keep track of them.
Going back several years, there were a couple of points hotels in the Maldives. There was a certain novelty to traveling there, since it was hard to get to this paradise, there weren’t that many properties, and actually finding availability with points was challenging. But now there are simply so many properties, and most of the major hotel groups have multiple hotels to choose from.
Is the Hilton as such something to get excited about? I have a few initial thoughts:
- For a “standard” Hilton, this property looks gorgeous; I’m curious if it’s as nice in real life as in the renderings
- Many people will appreciate that every room here has a private pool, which isn’t the case at many Maldives properties
- People will either love or hate that this is just a 20-minute speedboat ride from the international airport; that’s really convenient, but will also mean that the resort won’t be as pristine and secluded as some of the properties that are more of a trek to get to
- While there are more luxurious brands in the Maldives where you can redeem points (Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Waldorf Astoria, etc.), one benefit of staying at a less luxurious brand is that I’d expect prices on property to be cheaper, for everything from food and drinks to spa treatments to transfers
Bottom line
The Hilton Maldives Amingiri is accepting reservations for stays as of September 2022, and it will be the fourth Hilton-family property in the Maldives. The property will be just a 20-minute speedboat ride from the airport, so that will be convenient.
Anyone considering staying at the new Hilton Maldives?
(Tip of the hat to Drew)
DO NOT COME TO THIS RESORT… My partner and I spent over 550000 points to stay here for our anniversary.. housekeeping was absolutely atrocious, (they made a bed using a dirty comforter, left trash behind, and left a dirty teapot and ice bucket filled with crushed sprite cans) it took calling their room service three times to get a completely accurate and complete meal. Their room service and restaurant food is grotesquely overprice (even for...
DO NOT COME TO THIS RESORT… My partner and I spent over 550000 points to stay here for our anniversary.. housekeeping was absolutely atrocious, (they made a bed using a dirty comforter, left trash behind, and left a dirty teapot and ice bucket filled with crushed sprite cans) it took calling their room service three times to get a completely accurate and complete meal. Their room service and restaurant food is grotesquely overprice (even for the Maldives) basic lunch would’ve been over $600 at one of their restaurants… A beach shack!! Three times the hot water did not work in our room. And all throughout this, they refuse to comp anything or return any of the hard earned points for such an abysmal stay.
wow really are those prices in USD? Looking to stay there but not at that cost for food.
I just booked 4 days/3 nights with my free night certificates and points for the extra night. Looking forward to giving a report on it. I've been to Conrad Rangali and truly loved it, but yes, the sea plane is pricey and a pain to do more than a few times!
This resort looks beautiful and I'm hoping for an upgrade! I'll be there in October
I booked Hilton Amangiri water villa for 5 nights@440k points.I can get Conrad beach Villa for 480k pts for 5 nights.I booked Amangiri because it offered water Villa.Does Conrad will be able to upgrade me to water villa for couple of days as Hilton Gold.I really want to stay in water villa even if its just 1 or 2 days.I can clearly see Conrad is a far better property.Any help is highly appreciated.
I stayed at the Conrad 10 years ago, was wonderful especially the Adult island.. I wanted to go back 10 years later with my 4 year old, but sadly the water villas don't allow kids, that and the plane is now $600 per person rather than the 150 we paid back then despite room rates being almost the same about 1200. Water was pristine, but waiting for the sea plane was about an hour wait.
...I stayed at the Conrad 10 years ago, was wonderful especially the Adult island.. I wanted to go back 10 years later with my 4 year old, but sadly the water villas don't allow kids, that and the plane is now $600 per person rather than the 150 we paid back then despite room rates being almost the same about 1200. Water was pristine, but waiting for the sea plane was about an hour wait.
I was initially going to book the Curio which I believe water villas was 275,000 per night (higher then the conrad!) , but instead, I notice the Amangiri was available so just booked it for 6 nights @ 110k a night. The seaplane is 300/pp (seems a bit much for 20 mins, vs the Curo is 120/pp) (almost same distance)
Little worried about the growing pains of this property and if all the dining options (6) will be open and available.
Hey Rishi
Thinking about booking the property for 4 nights at 110k a night. Just like you, I was also surprised at the 300/pp for a speedboat transfer of 20 minutes. Have you completed your trip already? What was the experience and any concerns/feedback before I go ahead with the booking.
@DCS
Would you stay here
I have been to maldives ( on points ) about 5 times. Hyatt. Conrad and Waldorf.
So far Conrad is winner.location for all the reasons mentioned above.
New hotel. Waldorf was not ready for prime time. Boat traffic and lousy sand quality.
Hyatt was most secluded but Conrad more to do.
For advice purposes
Not shabby. I've only been 3 times... to the hotels you mentioned, plus the St Regis.
I agree that Conrad has more to do than Hyatt. More food variety, more boat excursions, more activities in general. In 2016 it was a pretty close competition, but when we went back to the Park Hyatt last year, it became our definitive favorite. Management there is genuine... great people running a precious resort. It had the most...
Not shabby. I've only been 3 times... to the hotels you mentioned, plus the St Regis.
I agree that Conrad has more to do than Hyatt. More food variety, more boat excursions, more activities in general. In 2016 it was a pretty close competition, but when we went back to the Park Hyatt last year, it became our definitive favorite. Management there is genuine... great people running a precious resort. It had the most Maldivian charm of them all. Better base villa at PH than Conrad, too, IMO.
Waldorf and Conrad are similarly matched, as I see it. W.A wins hard product, but Conrad again had more to do, and more charm. Service at Conrad was ever so slightly more refined than W.A.
As I always say, at the end of the day, I recommend trying all 3. They're all great resorts with something unique to offer. The only one I wouldn't return to is St Regis.... not that it was bad, but the others were better.
Why do they always call the boat transfers speedboats? They aren’t, it’s just stupid branding for unsuspecting tourists.
How long until Amangiri sues? Commenter JoePro just accidentally said Amangiri, and I'm betting if you google Amangiri or Amingiri a year from now it will be a mix of both properties showing up in the results.
I suppose that depends on if the hotel created and named the island, or if it named the hotel after a preexisting island.
If anything Amangiri will be the one having to change its name. The island has been named Amangiri before the company Aman ever existed.
Ooops see, I meant Amingiri.
Looking at satellite imagery of Amangiri (shows the resort well underway into the construction), this hotel looks insanely crowded.
Sure the renderings are beautiful, they aren't filled with people
My guess is that anything close to the capital will be crowded, good thing this property has a pool for every room, however how can you tell from the satellite?
they say the boat transfer is 300/pp vs 150 for other nearby properties.
I’m currently staying in a Hilton for 9 months after a fire in my house. I’ve been looking were I could redeem my points and this has made my short list. I think my kids will enjoy this. Probably not as much as the Hilton Hawaiian village but I’d like to try something new.
Sorry about your house. The hilton Hawaiian village with the dolphins? I think i've stayed there some years ago, big rooms kid friendly.. I am sure this new hilton property will be amazing, although you may want to look at the Curio collection by hilton which is connected to the Hard Rock and a village. Probably a lot more to do there.