Some links to products and partners on this website will earn an affiliate commission.

When you think of the Maldives, you probably think “expensive”…  It might well be worth it, especially if you are points and miles rich and want to celebrate a special occasion.  But even the biggest Hilton fan amongst us doesn’t have enough points for a long stay at the Waldorf Astoria in Maldives.

However, if you collect Marriott points, you might want to jump on this opportunity. The Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa is opening in August 2021. The new resort is located on the Lhaviyani Atoll nestled on Thilamaafushi Island. As with most Maldives resorts, you will have to pay a hefty price for a seaplane transfer.

I can only assume that this is a placeholder mistake that will soon be rectified – if not soon… certainly when the pandemic abates – but this hotel has been placed in award category 5.  As such, it will cost you 30,000 to 40,000 points per night.

Moreover, you wouldn’t be booking the room next to the garbage bins; you can book an overwater villa!

And just in case you think that cash rates are low in order to build up a clientele, they aren’t…

Stay for Five, Pay for Four

As with all Marriott rewards, you can also receive the fifth night free when booking award stays (essentially the cheapest of your five nights is free). You might not be able to find 10 consecutive nights at 30,000 points per night, but you could potentially pay as little as 240,000 Marriott points for a 10-night stay.

Marriott isn’t running a “buy points” promotion at the moment, but you could restock those 240k points for roughly £1,400 the next time the promotion comes around…

The Bottom Line

I don’t really think that Marriott intends to keep this hotel in award category 5 long term. So, if you are thinking about a special post-COVID getaway, now might be the time to consider the Maldives!