How We Stayed 6 days at Hilton's Top Rated Amingiri Resort for only £1885/Person

One of the first things after retirement was to start to action that bucket list of travel destinations that we'd built up over many years. Near the top was the Maldives - which frankly had been too expensive for us cost conscious value seeking travellers to consider without some major travel hacks.

Making it even more difficult is that March is in peak season for visiting the Maldives - in both terms of availablity and cost. Significant pre-work would be required to ensure that it would be both an affordable but memorable holiday - you only do it once - right?

TL;DR

With the right strategies and a little resourcefulness, I knew that I would be able to take the dream and transform it into a reality without draining my bank account.

Utilising loyalty programs like British Airways AVIOS and Hilton Honors points was the game-changer. Here’s how I made it happen and tips to help you save as you plan your own excursion to this stunning paradise.

Laying the ground work

With British Airways - I would need both status and points.

Status - I won't go into this in any detail - as that ship has now sailed - and the method of acquiring status has changed significantly. However just to say that it involved a series of cheap business flights in a not so direct manner from Budapest, sleeping on the floor in JFK overnight for a few hours, and teamed with a couple of nights in Hawaii and the reversed. That along with a few other specifically chosen flights netted me GOLD status with BA.

Points - I collect these through signing up with credit cards that reward with AVIOS bonus offers when spend targets are met. I have a rule of never carrying a balance and thus never paying any interest.

With Hilton - I would again need status and points.

Status - I contacted Hilton and asked for a status match with my BA status - this was granted with a reasonable target of 14 stays in 3 months. Thankfully as I was already retired - I had the time to combine this with a long distance cycle. The cycle route was purposely designed around staying at Hilton hotels to hit the total. That netted me DIAMOND status with Hilton, and pretty strong legs as I cycled UK to Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and back.

Points - I tend to buy these through the Hilton site. A point, when on promotion will cost $0.5 cent, or roughly 0.3p, and you can buy up to 480,000 points in a calendar year.

The Plan

Flights

With British Airways - there is one daily flight leaving from London Heathrow that arrives early in the morning Maldivian time. The cost of an economy return flight is just 60,000 AVIOS + £150, but seats are limited in number to 8 per flight. When the flights were released 01:00 UK time, I was awake and jumped on them straight away. I then used my GOLD status to select our preferred seats - two together, beside the window, at the back where the plane narrows. We also had access to the first class lounge in Heathrow and with an AVIOS booking there was no charge for our bags.

Accomodation

5 nights at a Hilton

A single night in an iconic over water villa at the Hilton Amingiri was approx $1300, so $6500 for 5 nights - if we were to have paid cash. However with Hilton Honor points the price per night was a much more palatable 110,000 Hilton Honors points. With my Diamond Status, I could take advantage of a points promotion of 5 nights for the price of 4 - so a total of 440,000 Hilton Honors points for 5 nights. I purchased the 440,000 points for $2200 or £1650, and booked. The additional benefit was that these reservations could be cancelled up to 2 weeks before travelling.

With my status we got free breakfasts, and lovely evening cocktails, wine or beers together with some simple snacks. We paid for other food and drinks - which were on the expensive side - but every meal was memorable.

There was also a mandatory charge for the speed boat transfers of $360 each.

1 night in Male

We opted for an overnight in Male so that we could stay most of the day at the Amingiri resort, and it worked well with a late checkout.

We stayed at the Premier Beehive - to be honest it wasn't more than a bed for the night - but included in the price was collection and return from the airport and breakfast.

The Execution

The BA flight landed in Male on time and we were seated comfortably on one of the dedicated Hilton boats out to the resort in no time at all, and settled late morning.

A great 5 night stay.

We left the resort late in the day, and stayed overnight in Male, taking the mid-morning flight home.

Not yet accounted for...

We spent approx £1300 between us on activities , memorable meals and excellent cocktails whilst at the resort.

I received back approx £200 of Hilton points.

Additional notes

There was no need for specific travel insurance as I get that with my AMEX card.

The overnight in Male allowed for a visit to the capital.

With my GOLD BA status we could have taken 2 large suitcases each - but honestly you don't need a lot of clothes in the Maldives. The Maldivian climate is tropical, so lightweight clothing, swimwear, and protective beach gear were at the top of my packing list.

Conclusion: The Art of Budget Travel

In conclusion, planning a holiday in the Maldives on a budget is entirely feasible with a strategic approach. By leveraging British Airways status, AVIOS, Hilton Diamond Status, and Honors points paired with savvy travel tips and opportunities for cashback, I created an unforgettable experience without overspending.

For those keen to explore this tropical paradise economically, the key lies in smart planning and utilizing the benefits of loyalty programs. With some research and the willingness to seek out deals, your dream holiday to the Maldives could be just within your reach!

Colorful coral reef teeming with diverse marine life