The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is a pretty good redemption deal, even though Marriott Bonvoy doesn’t offer breakfast at Ritz-Carltons to Marriott elites which is a real omission. There’s even availability at the ‘standard’ 85,000 points price as you enter peak November 2021. Naturally 100,000 points a night is more common.
Compared to a $1715 room rate, you’re getting 2 cents a point in value before taxes at the hotel which is really good – I generally value Marriott points around 7/10ths of a cent apiece, perhaps now down to $0.0065 each.
Some – not enough – Marriott properties let you redeem additional points for upgraded rooms. It’s often not a great value, but still a nice option. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives lets you redeem all the way up to its 3 bedroom Presidential Suite for a mere 4.3 million points per night.
Frequently you’ll see crazy prices from online booking engines, such as millions of dollars for flights. About a week ago the American Airlines Vacations site was mispricing package itineraries in the billions of dollars. This though isn’t a mistake.
This room runs 22,295++ per night (member rate). You’re only getting half a cent per point against the room rate, which isn’t very good, but it’s also non-crazy for Marriott redemptions.
Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Credit: Marriott
I love the Maldives. I’ve been meaning for some time to redeem at the St. Regis there. I’ve booked it 3 times and had to cancel. I’ve stayed at the Park Hyatt 5 times.
The distance and travel time for me is a feature, not a bug, because by the time I get there I’m exhausted and ready to fall into relaxation. The time change is also a benefit. All day long there is the evening and overnight in the States. As a result I can relax without pressing work catching up with me.
However I think in terms of value I’d just book North Island at 365,000 points per night.
(HT: W.U.)
@ Gary — Marriott is a ripoff. I am so thankful that I do not business with them.
And there I was hoping that I’d earn 4.3 million points for a night from the headline.
That’s before the new category change in Feb which will then become 8 million points per night without breakfast
Book it while you still can for as many weeks as possible
Some use a gun to hold you up Others call themselves Marriott
its a third world country with a hotel staffed by slaves
this is a grift
in contrast 2 the Seychelles where at east the government pretends 2 care for the ppl healthcare- they spend high % GDP n heath care and medevacked sick locals, and environment, or at least that endemic double coconut that they regulate like a hawk
I mean, you meet the $20K spend in 1 night for Ambassador. Now need to stay 99 more nights.
Which point plan company makes you wanna go on a VACA? I use to be a Ritz Carolton girl, but hate the Bonvoy, havent used my 2million points
For 4.3 million points a night, it better come with breakfast and a happy ending. Who even has 4.3 million points for a single night?