I am sure we have all seen the pictures of beautiful bungalows over the water in the Maldives and thought, “This is my YOLO trip”… Think again because I just found an insane deal! Round trip airfare on Etihad Airways(often voted one of the best airlines in the world) for under $2,000! Lets dive into the flights and also my recommendations for where to stay!
The Flights
You have several dates and length of trip to choose from, but for this crazy of a deal… I’d stay two weeks! The flights leave from many major cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC. I chose JFK as my airport of choice, since I can get there nonstop from my local airport, TPA(Tampa International Airport). Leaving June 21st with a layover in AUH(Abu Dhabi International Airport), these flights are a total of 24hrs… so make sure you take plenty of trips around the cabin to stretch your legs! The flight back home has plenty of date and time options as well, with a slightly longer total flight time of 29 hours, due to headwinds. I would highly recommend using your American Express Platinum Card to take advantage of 5X points for these flights, as well as using your $200 airline incidental credit for upgrades or additional checked bags!
Don’t forget, if you want to take advantage of all that Etihad has to offer, upgrade to first class or business class seats…. you wont be disappointed!
The Hotels
Arguably some of the most breathtaking hotels are located in the Maldives, from the Waldorf Astoria to the Conrad, both offer breathtaking overwater bungalows! Both of these hotels offer plenty to do both on and off property, however the key is going to be maximizing your “points game”. If you are looking at the Waldorf Astoria, make sure you sign up for the Hilton American Express Aspire which gives you Hilton Diamond Status and unlocks a bunch of free perks! These perks include free breakfast, early check-in, late checkout, free WiFi, and most importantly Enhanced room upgrades! These room upgrades can often save you thousands of dollars a night by allowing you to book a normal suite and being upgraded to an overwater bungalow.
The Conrad Maldives offers you another great option, as this hotel has won “Best Hotel in the World” twice! Using your Hilton American Express Aspire again you are able to unlock stunning accommodations most of us only dream of! Comparing the two, most of my research has pointed me to the Conrad over the Waldorf Astoria, but neither will disappoint!
Anyone planning a trip to the Maldives or any other aspirational journeys? Drop a comment below and I’ll be sure to keep a look out!
The Points Authority: Mastering The Points Game 