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I’m currently updating this post from my awesome overwater villa at Le Méridien Maldives! This Marriott resort currently (and incredibly) costs only 35K points standard (30K off-peak, 40K peak) and offers an overwater villa as one of its base rooms for booking with points! And, of course, 5th Night Free award rates apply, so you only need to pay with points for four nights in order to stay 5. That brings the daily rate for a 5 night stay down to 28K points standard (24K off-peak, 32K peak). That’s incredible! See this post for more about my current stay: Le Meridien Maldives first impressions: Wow!
But Le Méridien isn’t the only Marriott property in the Maldives. This had me wondering… which other Marriott resorts in the Maldives allow booking an overwater villa with points without having to pay for an upgrade? I did a bit of research and here’s what I found…
Le Méridien
Le Méridien’s sunrise overwater villa is bookable at the hotel’s category 5 award rate of 35K points per night (or 30K off-peak, or 40K peak).
Other info:
- $420 round trip airport transfer fee per person
- Suite Night Awards cannot be used at this property
- I guarantee that this property will increase in category by next March or April. If you want to book at the current low rates, do so soon if possible.
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
Sheraton’s overwater villa (Water Bungalow) is not bookable at the hotel’s category 6 award rate of 50K points per night (or 40K off-peak, or 60K peak). Instead, points book into a “deluxe” room like the one shown above.
Other info:
- Free speedboat transfers (they used to charge $139 per person, but apparently dropped that)
- Suite Night Awards can be used at this property to try to upgrade to a Water Bungalow.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort
The Westin’s overwater villa is not bookable at the hotel’s category 7 award rate of 60K points per night (or 50K off-peak, or 70K peak). Instead, points book into an Ocean View Beach Villa with a private pool, like the villa shown above.
Other info:
- $500 round trip airport transfer fee per person
- Suite Night Awards can be used at this property to try to upgrade to an overwater villa:
W Maldives
The W’s “Fabulous Overwater 1 Bedroom Villa” (with pool) is bookable at the hotel’s category 8 award rate of 85K points per night (or 70K off-peak, or 100K peak).
Other info:
- $505 round trip airport transfer fee per person
- Suite Night Awards cannot be used at this property
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
JW’s Overwater Pool Villa is bookable at the hotel’s category 8 award rate of 85K points per night (or 70K off-peak, or 100K peak). I think this one look amazing!
Other info:
- $600 round trip airport transfer fee per person
- Suite Night Awards cannot be used at this property
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
St. Regis’ Overwater Villa is not bookable at the hotel’s category 8 award rate of 85K points per night (or 70K off-peak, or 100K peak). Instead, points book into a 1 bedroom Garden Villa like the one shown above. Not too shabby looking in my opinion!
Other info:
- $745 round trip airport transfer fee per person
- Suite Night Awards cannot be used at this property
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
The Ritz’s overwater Ocean Pool Villa is bookable at the hotel’s category 8 award rate of 85K points per night (or 70K off-peak, or 100K peak).
Other info:
- $900 round trip airport transfer fee per person
- Suite Night Awards cannot be used at this property
Summary
The following Marriott resorts in the Maldives book standard awards into overwater villas (when available). Note that not all overwater villas are considered standard rooms:
- Le Méridien (category 5… for now)
- W Maldives (category 8)
- JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa (category 8)
- The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands (category 8)
These do not book standard awards into overwater villas, but they do allow using Suite Night Awards to try to upgrade to overwater villas:
- Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa (category 6)
- The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort (category 7)
This one does not book standard awards into overwater villas and does not allow using Suite Night Awards:
- The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort (category 8)
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[…] is a nice Frequent Miler’s overview of overwater villas in the Maldives bookable with Marriott points. I have no idea why […]
Hmmm, looks like the overwater bungalow is 85k/night-35k base rate plus 50k “upgrade”…from Marriott website:
Redemption with Points Upgrade
1 room(s) for 5 night(s)
That’s because the standard sunrise overwater villa isn’t available all 5 of those nights so you are looking at an upgraded room (probably one with a plunge pool)
Just to be a tad contrarian, I’ve found the upgrade prices to be rather reasonable to go from the base room to an overwater room when using Marriott points. Take for example, the St Regis Maldives. I need a room that would fit 4 people (2 adults, 2 kids) for 5 nights. My options were:
1) book two base garden rooms (85k night, or 680k total for 2 rooms, 5 nights each)
2) book 1 two-bed overwater bungalow for 540k points for 5 nights (or 200k over base)
3) book the option listed in #2 for 340k plus $1000 (in essence, buying 200k Marriott points for $1000, or half a cent each)
Option 3 felt by far the best option and I’m able to buy the points more cheaply than Marriott sells them during their sales. Just note it can be difficult seeing this option on the Marriott app. Use the website.
Also, if you’re looking for a simple upgrade from the base garden room to an overwater villa, it’s a very small points increment. If you’re dropping 340k Marriott points for the base room for 5 nights and you want that overwater villa, you only need 25k more total. That’s a far more reasonable upcharge than I’ve received for a similar room at the Conrad Maldives before that one started offering overwater villas as a base.
Great points!
I booked 10 night in JW Maldives but I am torn between rebooking for W and Ritz. Does anyone have any thoughts on pro’s and cons for each (I am Titanium LT so even free breakfast for 10 days is one of many considerations as it’s a 6 week trip).
One factor is that it’s reported W has one of the best reefs for snorkeling among chain hotels (along with Park Hyatt). From my understanding, this is because construction of the resorts causes a lot of stress and damage to the reef so older hotels tend to have better reefs that have been recovered. Does Marriott offer any transit arrangements between member hotels? Transit is going to be a big cost if you are going to switch hotels.
So it just depends on availability in being able to book Le Meridien Maldives overwater villas? Because when I search it says only beach rooms available.
Did you guys fly Etihad business class to The Maldives? You guys inspired me to do almost the same trip. I booked Air France business class to Dubai and flying from Abu Dhabi to Seychelles.
Hyatt, Conrad, or one of these?
I’d recommend checking reviews of each
Should we vote on which one is more boring? OMG when the wind isn’t blowing you don’t want to be outside except in the water. It’s impossible to relax outside when it’s 100 + and humid .
Park Hyatt better at 30k.
Are the fees round trip? Or one-way?
Round trip. I’ll update post to note that.
Westin does not allow SNA’s. There was just a very brief period when they did
The image of SNA options at the Westin was taken (by me) yesterday. For each of these properties, I booked a night and tried to apply SNAs. Only the two listed allowed them: Sheraton and Westin
I’d actually like to read a disinterested trip report about going there…. At the moment, your due emphasis on the horrendous airport transfer fees render this a non-starter.
Disinterested?
if you think the airport transfer fee is high, wait till you try to eat something…meals start above $50 per person at nearly every property and not like you can just “go into town” to eat.
Looking at the picture of Le Méridien, of course it’s cheap. There’s no roof!
LOL!