Visiting the Maldives doesn’t come cheap, even when booking stays with points or free night certificates. My wife and I celebrated our 20th anniversary at the Conrad Maldives in August and despite being able to redeem free night certificates for the entire stay, we still had somewhat significant costs due to the seaplane transfers, dinners, excursions, etc.
Thanks to Hilton’s new partnership with SLH (Small Luxury Hotels of the World), there are several more properties in the Maldives bookable with points and/or free night certificates, several of which allow you to book into overwater villas.
One of those new – to Hilton – properties that lets you book straight in to an overwater villa is Milaidhoo Maldives. That’d be a big enough selling point for many people, but it becomes insanely good value when you take into account the fact that seaplane transfers are included within the award price.
You can see this policy when booking an award stay. The search results have a banner at the top of the page stating ‘Return seaplane transfer is included in the Total Price’, with that same wording being displayed when clicking through to select your villa.
The cost of seaplane transfers can vary depending on which Maldives resort you’re planning on visiting. Let’s say the average is $500 per person though – this policy at Milaidhoo Maldives would save a couple $1,000.
The potential savings don’t end there though because it sounds like dinner might get included in your rate too. There are conflicting data points with this though; some people are reporting that half-board is no longer included on award stays, but another reader reports that he just returned from this hotel a week ago and half-board (i.e. breakfast and dinner, but not lunch) was indeed included.
If you book a stay at Milaidhoo Maldives, it’d be worth dropping an email to the hotel to get confirmation in writing that seaplane transfers are indeed included just in case they decide to change their policy in the future. You could also verify if breakfast and dinner are included. Breakfast definitely will be included if you have Gold or Diamond status with Hilton Honors, but having the cost of dinner covered would be a massive bonus too.
Award availability is, understandably, hard to come by at this hotel, but there are overwater villas still bookable with points. When doing a three night award search, there were several arrival dates from July 2025 onwards that are bookable with points/certificates.
h/t Joshua in Frequent Miler Insiders
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Had Milaidhoo been available on points when I went to the Maldives, it would have been my first choice. Not just for its reputation for superb accommodations and food, but because it is close to a manta ray “cleaning station”, where sometimes hundreds of those massive, magical beings congregate.
Snorkeling with the Mantas was my main reason for going to the Maldives, and while my wife and I adored the Westin Miriandhoo (more luxurious than I expected) the boat ride to get to the cleaning station is a lot longer.
@ Roger ….
I understand that the government is trying to balance between the morality allowed by their religion and allowing tourist to experience a vacation that is not within the structure of that religion.
But I must ask. How would this same government feel about other countries applying the same rules and punishments as they impose, on followers of their religion, their citizens, for entering a country with one of the Islamic Holy Books (Many more than the Quran).
Some cultures (not religions) believe the strengths of a belief will be decided freely by individuals and not intimidated by fear.
I sincerely believe that those who wish to live their lives under those laws, should be able to. It is their choice. I believe that because I believe in freedom. I simply choose to live and travel to countries that believe in in freedom. But that is MY choice.
The government of the Maldives can go to hell. Christians and Jews should boycott travel to their country. They have banned people with Israeli passports. Bringing a bible, wearing a cross or a star of David are all illegal, as is any pork product.
I don’t want to get into this but are you a US citizen? Your nation is about the least to speak on morality and war? Until you renounce citizenship your moral ground is quicksand.
I was there a few weeks ago. Points bookings after July do not have half board