For many people, the Maldives is a bucket list destination. For me, the Maldives will be a regular destination that I plan to visit once every two or three years. For my first trip to the Maldives, I really wanted it to be special.
I spent months researching where to stay in the Maldives. Plus, because I knew this trip was going to require a decent spend, I wanted to stay where I'd get rewarded. That is, at either a Hilton, Marriott or InterContinental property, three of my favorite hotel chains. I wanted to earn points for my stay that I could then turn around use for free stays in the future.
Figuring It Out
There are so many options to choose from in the Maldives, I mean there are a dizzying amount of options. Which atoll? What amenities were important for me? Not to mention deciding whether I wanted one of the coveted overwater bungalows or if I wanted to save a bit and choose a beach bungalow.
In order to help narrow down the options, the first thing I did was get clear on what I wanted my experience to be like.
Wishlist
Here is what my list of wants looked like:
I wanted luxury, I wanted to be pampered, I wanted the experience to be easy.
I definitely wanted an overwater bungalow.
I didn't want to worry too much about food, costs, etc.
I wanted to pack as many perks in as I could. I looked for a resort that provided a wide range of options to guests as part of the stay.
I didn't want to be too far from Male, the main island. I wanted a short flight/boat ride to my atoll.
I wanted to do absolutely nothing while enjoying the ocean and beautiful scenery.
Budget
Then I thought about what I wanted to spend. Having compiled my list of wants I could then create a budget range that was realistic. In most cases an overwater bungalow costs more than a beach bungalow so I knew I'd need to be willing to pay a bit more. I made sure my budget included my flights and incidentals. I also gave myself a range, so that I had some flexibility in my budget. My budget also impacted the length of stay. Of course, a 2 week stay would cost more than a 3 day stay. I knew I wanted to stay at least 5 nights, anything less than that (to me) would have not have been worth it.
So, now that I was clear on what I wanted and what I wanted to spend I was able to use that information to select where I wanted to stay.
Now, I my initial thought was that I could possibly stay at 2 places during my time in the Maldives; however, I changed my mind because I really just wanted to go someplace and sat down (yes, SAT down). There are so many great options in the Maldives and I didn't want to miss out. I realized didn't want to deal with hotel hopping. I didn't want my experience to feel hectic or rushed. Plus, this would give me good reason to return.
Decision Time
With that, I decided on the InterContinental Maldives Maamungau Resort. And I am SOOOOO glad I did! Located on Maamunagau Island Raa Atoll in the Maldives. I opted for an overwater bungalow with a private pool (yes, I'm fancy lol). The InterContinental is literally its own island (not unlike other resorts in the Maldives) and the amazing experience started long before I arrived with a series of welcome emails from the staff. These emails welcomed me to the InterContinental and also served to take note of my preferences to prepare for my stay. From a logistics standpoint, they also asked for my flight information to arrange seaplane transfer and to meet me at the airport. Now, the InterContinental Maldives has its own airport lounge and this makes me think I should do a post on the InterContinental Maldives experience. Maybe soon!
For many, the Maldives is a trip of a lifetime, and not the cheapest trip to take. Whether you plan to make it the most luxe trip ever or if you're looking to ball on a budget I highly recommend to (1) create your wish list that articulates the experience you want and (2) create a realistic budget based on your wish list. Having said that, there are ways to maximize the value even when staying at high end resorts. I'll be doing a money breakdown for this trip soon, so stay tuned.
Get Money!
In the meantime, I will share that I got a rebate on my stay! Yes, to the tune of a bit over a hundred dollars (brushes shoulder). How? Through one of my favorite cashback websites, Rakuten. Rakuten is free to join and use and you can get hundreds and maybe thousands of dollars in cash back on the purchases you were going to make anyway. Sign up through my referral link here and get $30 to get started (and I get a lil' sumthin' sumthin' too!)
Rakuten Referral Link: www.rakuten.com/r/TCFREE5?eeid=28187
But wait, there's more!
I now can stay at the InterContinental Maldives in an overwater villa with private pool for 5 nights (same length as my original trip and same accommodations) for FREE! Yes, FREE! How is this possible? Two words: Loyalty points. I'll be sharing all about what loyalty points are and how to get them in a future post.