Dan and I returned to Rangali Island in the Maldives in November. We, again, stayed at the Hilton Conrad Rangali Island (and we rebooked for a third trip this upcoming November!). Since this was our second stay, I compiled 15 tips that I think many people visiting Rangali would want to know prior to visiting. These are not necessarily “budget” tips, but tips to make your trip more enjoyable!
Maldives!
1. Get the Hilton Surpass or Aspire credit card, both of which gives you Hilton Gold or Diamond status, respectively. Both statuses get you and your room companion free breakfast daily (a $60 USD value) and a 1 hour happy hour (4 – 5) every afternoon, featuring complimentary wine, beer, well drinks, soft drinks and a plate of small bites. This is a great value at an expensive resort – the happy hour booze is a real deal. The bartender served from right at 4 until right at 5.
Happy hour snack bites.
2. While SCUBA diving in the Maldives is generally $$$$, snorkeling at the Conrad is free. Rent fins and a snorkel/mask at the resort’s dive center and keep it for the duration of your stay. Staff can give you instructions and a map with the best snorkeling spots. A $200 hold is placed on your credit card, but it comes off as long as you return the equipment at the end of your stay.
We snorkeled right off our balcony.
3. We found that restaurants generally only serve bottled water, which is quite pricey. The water in your room in the Conrad refillable bottles is free and replaced as often as you want. Don’t waste your money on restaurant bottled water. We started with two bottles on arrival and were getting 6 – 8 per day at the end of our stay.
The glass ones are the re-fillable water bottles.
4. In our opinion, the best “value” blow out dining option is the Cheese Fondue dinner. Served in the Wine and Cheese Bar (complete with a floor filled with New Zealand black sand), the dinner is only $150 USD per person (compared to $350 for many other big theme dinners) and is absolutely delicious.
Blue cheese soup at the Cheese Fondue Dinner. It is incredible.
5. On that note, make reservations for any must do activities, especially dinners, in advance before you leave home. Many of the dinners have a set number of seats and cannot be extended. The Conrad posts a calendar with special events and dinners about a month in advance – you can find this on its website and on the app (keep reading!).
For example, Ithaa Undersea Restaurant has very limited seating.
6. When booking your flight to the Maldives, pay attention to when you arrive and depart. Given that the Conrad is a seaplane ride away from Male, you should know that seaplanes can only take off and land during day light. As such, if your flight leaving the Maldives (i.e. Male) leaves after 3:00 PM or before 9:00 AM, it is likely that you will need to stay the first or last night on Male. Be sure to check with the Conrad to confirm, as this may change based on time of year (and daylight hours). Also, the Conrad will handle your seaplane flights and tickets – you won’t know until you get there (stressful for a planner like me)!
Daylight seaplane rides provide views like this.
7. The Conrad has its own time – 1 hour ahead of Male. Odd, but apparently it’s to maximize daylight on the island. Worth knowing in advance.
The sunrise and sunset are unmissable.
8. The Conrad Rangali Island is home to the first wine cellar in the Maldives, and its quite the beauty! Restaurants at the Conrad offer a small selection of wine from the cellar, meant to compliment its menu. However, guests can look at the master wine list and order any bottle from the wine cellar and have it delivered to their preferred dinner location. Just be sure to do this a few hours before dinner so there is enough time!
The Conrad’s wine cellar – the first in the Maldives.
9. The Conrad’s grand underwater restaurant – Ithaa – is really incredible, and I recommend it if its in your budget. Having been three times, I can confidently say that its best for lunch, as you can see so much more of the sea life and surrounding area during day light.
Ithaa during the day.
10. Bring snacks if you are on a budget. There is really no where to buy “snacks” on the resort – you have to visit pricey restaurants on the island. We met multiple guests who brought lots of snacks and skipped dinner most nights. We tried to skip lunch, but slipped up a few days…
No snacks. These fries, while delicious, are over $20 USD.
11. There is very limited souvenir shopping at the Conrad – an expensive jewelry store, a small Maldives gift shop with a poor selection and a pricey clothing store. Your best bet for souvenir shopping is honestly the Male airport.
Photos are your best souvenirs.
12. There is no ATM at the Conrad. Get any cash you want prior to leaving Male. We brought cash to tip our personal concierge.
Our itinerary prepared by our concierge.
13. The Conrad has its own app – Maruhaba – that lists activities, information and restaurant opening hours. Definitely download this app. It’s free.
A dinner menu on the app.
14. I suggest water shoes. The water off the Overwater Bunngalows is rocky.
You can see some rocks in the water here.
15. While the resort is large and spread over two islands, golf carts cart guests around 24/7. We preferred to walk but its very easy to get a cart by calling reception or asking for one at any restaurant. A boat called a “dhoni” connects the two tourist islands.
You can see one of the golf carts in the right hand corner.
STEAL OUR TRIP
Conrad Rangali Island: Accessible via sea plane from Male.