Maldives

[dnsfpl]

thinking of Club Med - Kani or Finolhu Villas

Finolhu Villas worth the extra premium?

app $3k more for 2 pax, $4k vs $7k

any others to recommend? any on going promo now?

planning to go oct 16

 

[dnsfpl]

tried expedia, trivago, agoda all dont have

anyone got lobang or know any ongoing promotions to sic

my current best lobang is via uob travel

thanks

 

[oceanicmanta]

stack with Shopback, get 8% on Expedia
if registered for DBS GOSF, can get at least 10%

 

[dnsfpl]

not listed in expedia lei

how to book thru them?

 

[oceanicmanta]

sorry, thot u meant Club Med was in Expedia only no promo ...

I have been to Club Med Kani, many years ago. That time, rooms dont have hot water one, but its naturally heated from the sun (quite sure they have upgraded).
I would say the food is good, with free flow of wine, oven baked pizza, wide buffet spread. Could not remember how the rooms were. They offered 1 free scuba dive per day, but their dive operations a little laid back. White beaches were fantastic.
If not wrong, Kani is the one closer to the airport (& maybe sold to Chinese investors now?).

 

[dnsfpl]

checked with them

scuba dive is no longer free

 

[dnsfpl]

btw maldives use what currency?

can use usd or euro? or sgd?

 

[oceanicmanta]

btw maldives use what currency?

can use usd or euro? or sgd?

usd & euro are accepted at resorts

i know usd is widely accepted

local currency is the ruffiyah, which u dont need unless buying stuff from locals in Male

 

[dnsfpl]

thanks for the info

how about airport? if can i just bring USD and maybe some EURO

 

[oceanicmanta]

thanks for the info

how about airport? if can i just bring USD and maybe some EURO

At airport, Prices r in USD so pay in USD ... probably Euro can pay too with FX change.

At airport, Recommend to eat before checking in. There is Burger King & more choices. But do not try this restaurant called Aqua?, which serves as a staff canteen but overcharges tourists.

Inside, after check-in, there is Dome but v long q & sloooooww.

The PP lounges are also located outside, before check-in ... not v big place. simple snacks & drinks.

 

[dnsfpl]

thanks for the detailed info

my flight is at 11.30pm, most likely i will leave the resort at 7pm

reach airport 8pm, then grab some snacks/drinks

do you think this planning is viable?

 

[oceanicmanta]

thanks for the detailed info

my flight is at 11.30pm, most likely i will leave the resort at 7pm

reach airport 8pm, then grab some snacks/drinks

do you think this planning is viable?

Yes. Clearing airport & immigration checks usually quite fast.

If its on a weekend, they show EPL matches both inside & outside the check-in areas.
Outside, many people watching, & quite interesting to see different nationalities supporting different teams & their reactions.

 

[oceanicmanta]

... shld try the scuba dive, though not free now, if its not too expensive
one of the dive site is pretty famous/good, called Banana Reef iirc. or maybe its HP Reef or Sunlight Thila ... cant recall exactly ... but these are all good sites

 

[dnsfpl]

anyone can scuba dive? or need to learn?

both of us never scuba dive b4

 

[oceanicmanta]

no lah ... need proper training & license to scuba dive. dont play play.

i thot u have, cos u asked resort about free scuba

 

[dnsfpl]

guess i will go for snorkeling then

 

[Dusky01]

guess i will go for snorkeling then

Also must be careful when snorkel the current can be quite strong there

 

[dnsfpl]

noted, will wear life jacket then

better be safe than sorry

 

[kaysee]

anybody have nice hotels to recommend for budget of about $400 per night with nice beaches and crystal clear water and sea view from the room? I know cannot compare to those like club med as i'm looking to go Maldives for a short pre-honeymoon trip in early January as cannot take long leave to go Europe, so budget abit first.

Was looking at centara ras fushi but seems like sold out for my holiday period already. Tried looking at other hotels but too confused on which part of Maldives to stay.

 

[oceanicmanta]

do u mean Club Med is more than $400 a nite ? wow ?

they have some promo from bro dnsfpl below

I wld say most resorts in Maldives would have decent sand & clean water ...