As a couple who are torn between the Le Meridien (we are Bonvoy Titanium members) and Movenpick Maldives, this was a terrific and informative video! I noticed toward the end of the video that you mentioned the water was 1 - 3 ft deep under your villa. Does it go deeper with the overwater villas that are further out on the jetty? As well, my wife likes to swim but isn't a big snorkeling fan, and wants to avoid areas with a lot of coral. Are there a lot of overwater villas that have more sand and less coral right by the deck? Also, is there less Coral with the overwater villas on 1 side of the island over the other? Thanks for any help with these questions. We're really excited for our trip to the Maldives in Feb!
Corals aren’t an issue at all near the villas we stayed at. The water gets a little deeper further out and obviously fluctuates with the tides but outside the villas I don’t think you will need to think about it at all.
@@traveldavid2709 Thanks so much for the quick response, David! You've earned my subsciption! We're definitely pumped to do a full board experience there for a week now 😄
Thank you for this video! I'm planning to take my family to this resort on points in 2023 and we just watched the whole video together. You provided a lot of information that typically isn't available in articles about the resort. A great insider look!
They had activities like volleyball and yoga that were in a group setting where you could definitely meet people and there was one bar in particular that always had a crowd. It’s a small island and everything is pretty intimate but we had several great conversations there one in particular got me to finally go to Egypt.
Sorry I didn’t realize people were even looking at the video. On the paid side we did the fishing. It was ok. It went at dusk so we had a sunset cruise and the fishing so it’s good value in that sense.
Love the place, service is top notch, room is clean, and well designed of course speaking for the overwater bungalow . Stingray on the west end, turtle on the east end of the island.
Thank you very much for this! I’d love your opinion, I have a reservation for 12 nights at the St. Regis Maldives. I am debating switching to Le Meridien a week later, which works better for me slightly and also saves roughly 150k points in flights, and staying here for 20 nights. Did you feel the service and experience overall here was great or do you feel the St Regis may be a better option? The cost savings here is slightly pushing me to Le Meridien. Thank you!
That’s a tough one Trevor. I’m sure st Regis has a much more luxury vibe if that’s your thing. I think 20 nights at Le meridien would be a lot as you are stuck there. I don’t know if you have ability to go to other resorts form st Regis. I would tend to think the food costs would also be much cheaper at Le meridien. 150k points is a lot in airlines miles if that’s what you are referring to which it sounded like you were. We really enjoyed it, Le meridien is more our vibe. I’ve only stayed at a st Regis once, and it was beautiful and had every touch imaginable.
Nice to have come accross ur video. Maldives has been my home for 12years and been to most properties as part of my job. I'm trying to see guest feedback for Le Meridien..thank you for making this. Should you need to know more about other properties feel free to let me know. I'm happy to share my feedback about them. ( Or should u need more guidance on ur next Maldives vacay..I'd be happy to guide you through)
@@traveldavid2709 You and your wife sound alot like us on travelling with points. In March we are going to Al Maha for 5 days on Marriott points, then Emirates Bus. Class to MLE and then 5 days on points at LeMeridian. I do not lament paying for things when you can get those business class flights and these type of accomodations. We are just back from staying at the Hyatt Big Sur Ventana (amazing), and then Maui of 5 nights at the Marriott and then a couple nights at the Hana Hyatt. All those were on points, and about 1/2 the flights. Sometimes its eating at the food trucks that you remember most. We have a trip out west in May, and hardly any of that is on points.
@@amayer349 I think it varies a lot..I read an article recently about most points redemption hotels and I’ve been to many of them. Some of this will be more difficult to navigate now that Marriott is also switching to dynamic pricing.
If you’re on a plan they have tip included but we still tipped above that. When we were there was automatic service charge added and then we just added some to it.
@@novascroller they charge 10% service charge if I remember right and we would just add another 5-10% depending on level of service. I don’t know that’s it’s expected or required but definitely appreciated.
Eagerly awaiting this video too. I know breakfast is buffet, lunch is regular service order and dinner is restaurant service or buffet. Curious on how you did it and the difference and love to see prices and menus
Thank you for humble review! Appreciate your efforts!
Thanks for the kind words
Is breakfast including with the stay by using points?
If your status was where you get free breakfast you got it when we were there. We had to weigh that in the decision math.
Thank you so much for the our feedback. I’ll be arriving soon so I’m very happy you did this review.
As a couple who are torn between the Le Meridien (we are Bonvoy Titanium members) and Movenpick Maldives, this was a terrific and informative video! I noticed toward the end of the video that you mentioned the water was 1 - 3 ft deep under your villa. Does it go deeper with the overwater villas that are further out on the jetty? As well, my wife likes to swim but isn't a big snorkeling fan, and wants to avoid areas with a lot of coral. Are there a lot of overwater villas that have more sand and less coral right by the deck? Also, is there less Coral with the overwater villas on 1 side of the island over the other? Thanks for any help with these questions. We're really excited for our trip to the Maldives in Feb!
Corals aren’t an issue at all near the villas we stayed at. The water gets a little deeper further out and obviously fluctuates with the tides but outside the villas I don’t think you will need to think about it at all.
@@traveldavid2709 Thanks so much for the quick response, David! You've earned my subsciption! We're definitely pumped to do a full board experience there for a week now 😄
Thank you for this video! I'm planning to take my family to this resort on points in 2023 and we just watched the whole video together. You provided a lot of information that typically isn't available in articles about the resort. A great insider look!
Thank you for saying that! That’s what I try to do!
You will love it there!
Thanks for the video. How was the tip process, for example did you use USD, credit card or local currency? Who all do you tip?
We added to the bill with credit card.
I'm going in November and I'm so excited! As a solo traveler, I'm wondering if there were any opportunities to make friends at the resort?
They had activities like volleyball and yoga that were in a group setting where you could definitely meet people and there was one bar in particular that always had a crowd. It’s a small island and everything is pretty intimate but we had several great conversations there one in particular got me to finally go to Egypt.
What a great and helpful review! Thank you for the transparency.
Thank you that means a lot!!
Thanks for the candid review! So helpful! What paid water activities did you do? Were they worth it?
Sorry I didn’t realize people were even looking at the video. On the paid side we did the fishing. It was ok. It went at dusk so we had a sunset cruise and the fishing so it’s good value in that sense.
Love the place, service is top notch, room is clean, and well designed of course speaking for the overwater bungalow . Stingray on the west end, turtle on the east end of the island.
Thank you very much for this!
I’d love your opinion, I have a reservation for 12 nights at the St. Regis Maldives. I am debating switching to Le Meridien a week later, which works better for me slightly and also saves roughly 150k points in flights, and staying here for 20 nights.
Did you feel the service and experience overall here was great or do you feel the St Regis may be a better option? The cost savings here is slightly pushing me to Le Meridien.
Thank you!
That’s a tough one Trevor. I’m sure st Regis has a much more luxury vibe if that’s your thing. I think 20 nights at Le meridien would be a lot as you are stuck there. I don’t know if you have ability to go to other resorts form st Regis. I would tend to think the food costs would also be much cheaper at Le meridien. 150k points is a lot in airlines miles if that’s what you are referring to which it sounded like you were. We really enjoyed it, Le meridien is more our vibe. I’ve only stayed at a st Regis once, and it was beautiful and had every touch imaginable.
Thanks for saying that Stevie. You’re going to love it!
Are the special meal nights available as part of the all-inclusive meal plan?
Only if you have the top one, they weren’t part of the full board option we chose.
Nice to have come accross ur video. Maldives has been my home for 12years and been to most properties as part of my job. I'm trying to see guest feedback for Le Meridien..thank you for making this. Should you need to know more about other properties feel free to let me know. I'm happy to share my feedback about them. ( Or should u need more guidance on ur next Maldives vacay..I'd be happy to guide you through)
Awesome thanks!
enjoyed the video, great info 👍🏼
Thank you!
Did the food plan for $125 per person cover the lobster and special meals.
No it did not.
@@traveldavid2709 You and your wife sound alot like us on travelling with points. In March we are going to Al Maha for 5 days on Marriott points, then Emirates Bus. Class to MLE and then 5 days on points at LeMeridian. I do not lament paying for things when you can get those business class flights and these type of accomodations. We are just back from staying at the Hyatt Big Sur Ventana (amazing), and then Maui of 5 nights at the Marriott and then a couple nights at the Hana Hyatt. All those were on points, and about 1/2 the flights. Sometimes its eating at the food trucks that you remember most. We have a trip out west in May, and hardly any of that is on points.
@@coasttal123 awesome have a blast!
Love to hear more abut visiting other places, frugally.
I’m going to Cancun next week I will do one about it as well. Then Egypt In February.
hi david ,is there any other way to get there other than a seaplane ?
Sorry just now seeing this…it’s too far out seaplane is only option.
Any guesses on % breakdown between the cash vs points visitors to Maldives?
Virtually everyone we talked to that was there from the US was on points. Others were pay customers from conversations.
@@traveldavid2709 lol. Do u think that’s true with other hotels/resorts?
@@amayer349 I think it varies a lot..I read an article recently about most points redemption hotels and I’ve been to many of them. Some of this will be more difficult to navigate now that Marriott is also switching to dynamic pricing.
what's the etiquette for tipping while at the resort??
If you’re on a plan they have tip included but we still tipped above that. When we were there was automatic service charge added and then we just added some to it.
What was the typical dollar amount?
@@novascroller they charge 10% service charge if I remember right and we would just add another 5-10% depending on level of service. I don’t know that’s it’s expected or required but definitely appreciated.
@@traveldavid2709 perfect, thank you. we have a 30 hr layover in cairo then we're off to the maldives.
@@novascroller I just got back from Cairo I have a couple tips videos I did from there. Are you going to the pyramids?
I’d love to know more about the the a la carte and full board options. Great video!
Charlie I just saw this post I will make one and discuss that this weekend or sooner!
Eagerly awaiting this video too. I know breakfast is buffet, lunch is regular service order and dinner is restaurant service or buffet. Curious on how you did it and the difference and love to see prices and menus
The video is up now hopefully it gives some insight but please ask any questions.
Video is up now
@@traveldavid2709 saw the video thanks for helpful info
coool, i had a good time too, but problem with HR director Uday Nayak
That’s too bad, what happened?
You are calling yourself a clever Traveller but stayed 9 nights on points instead 10 😂
Ever heard of vouchers? I stayed 5 on points and the rest on vouchers but thanks for playing!
@@sirid2987 yes we have 3 credit cards with Marriott