55. From Points to Paradise: Our Maldives Adventure on a Budget

Points Talk with the Travel Mom Squad

Alex, Pam and Jess

Places & Travel, Education, Society & Culture, How To

4.9 • 734 Ratings

🗓️ 19 December 2023

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this podcast episode, Alex and Pam are setting our sights on the stunning Maldives—a dream destination that might seem out of reach but is surprisingly attainable with savvy points and miles techniques!

The Maldives, with its peaceful islands and crystal-clear waters, is the perfect example of a tropical paradise. Each resort offers an exclusive retreat into luxury and serenity. Imagine snorkeling in vibrant reefs and basking in the endless sunshine, all in the comfort of a secluded haven.

Traveling to the Maldives is an adventure in and of itself. Utilizing points and miles, you can embark on a flight that is both comfortable and economical. By choosing the best airline options and being flexible with your travel plans, we show you how you can transform your trip.

Staying at the exquisite Le Meridien Maldives, a Marriott jewel, is always a highlight! Booking entirely with Marriott points, this property epitomizes the luxury Maldivian experience with its iconic overwater villas. Thanks to Marriott's dynamic pricing, a night here can range from 52,000 to 70,000 points, offering incredible value for such luxury.

The Maldives isn't just about where you stay; it's about embracing the entire experience. From dining to leisure activities like paddleboarding or resting in the serene beauty of the shores, every aspect is a testament to the joys of travel. The privacy and peace we experienced were beyond comparison – it was like having our own slice of paradise.

Exploring the Maldives is a shining example of the wonders of traveling on points. We maximized our credit card points, chose the best airlines, and leveraged hotel loyalty programs to turn a dream destination into a memorable reality.

Inspired to embark on your own Maldivian adventure? Hit play to discover how you can make it happen. Let's turn those travel dreams into realities! Safe travels!

Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad

Links For This Episode:

Travel Zoo: https://www.travelzoo.com/
VIP Traveler: https://viptraveler.com/home?access_token=iFV8uYTWx69r6Yia
Sun Siyam: https://www.sunsiyam.com/
Le Meridien Maldives: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mlemd-le-meridien-maldives-resort-and-spa/rooms/
Park Hyatt Maldives: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/maldives/park-hyatt-maldives-hadahaa/mldph
Alila Maldives: https://www.alilahotels.com/kothaifaru-maldives/rooms/
Hilton Conrad Maldives: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/mlehici-conrad-maldives-rangali-island/

Episode Minute By Minute:

01:53 Understanding the Maldives: Where is it Located?
05:09 Traveling to the Maldives: Flight Options
05:51 Booking Flights with Points and Miles
10:10 Experiences with Qatar Airways
13:29 Experiences with Singapore Airlines
20:47 Arriving in the Maldives: Seaplane Experience
24:57 Accommodation Options in the Maldives
26:37 Experience at Reethi Faru Resort: A Luxurious Escape
27:05 Booking Siam World through VIP Traveler
27:44 Tips for Financing Your Trip to the Maldives
29:13 Hear Our Impressions of the Siam World Resort
30:35 Stay at the Le Meridien Maldives
45:23 Options at the Hilton Conrad Maldives
48:29 Comparing the Maldives and Bora Bora

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to Points Talk with the Travel Mom Squad, previously known as the Travel Hacking Mom Show.
0:05.8	Follow the links in the show notes to stay up to date with what the Travel Mom Squad has been up to.
0:10.6	Is visiting the Maldives one of your dream bucket list destinations?
0:15.3	If so, keep listening to hear how you can make that dream a reality.
0:21.1	Welcome to the Travel Hacking Mom Show.
0:23.2	We are three moms who've discovered how to leverage credit card welcome offers
0:26.6	to get hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel expenses for nearly free.
0:31.1	We've used credit card points and miles to take vacations to places like Hawaii, Paris, Greece,
0:36.4	the Maldives, Italy, and so much more. And the best part,
0:39.8	we each still have an 800 plus credit score. Imagine being able to book a vacation without having
0:44.7	to check your bank account. It's totally possible and we're here to show you how.
0:49.0	Hey, I'm Alex. And I'm Pam, Alex's mom. We are travel hacking moms. As you can tell, Jess isn't here with us today.
0:57.9	But Alex and I are super excited to be able to talk with you all about how to visit the Maldives on
1:03.3	points. So as you can tell, my voice does not sound so great. So I apologize to all of you that you have to listen to me, talk like this.
1:14.8	Ideally, we would wait until I didn't sound so terrible, but we would get behind schedule
1:22.6	and we figure the show most go on. So the Maldives was my ultimate travel hacking goal. To me,
1:30.8	that was like the pinnacle of the trips. Like that was the number one thing on my bucket list. And I never
1:37.4	thought it would actually be possible or at least be possible maybe till someday I had retired and saved up enough money to do it.
1:47.3	But thanks to travel hacking, I was able to make that possible.
1:52.3	Literally a dream vacation come true.
1:54.5	So we hope after listening today that you can see that whatever bucket list vacation dream you have, that travel hacking
2:02.3	can help you make that possible. So let's get into it first. Mom, why don't you tell us a little
	...

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