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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Book this, not that: Which far-flung international islands to book with points, which to skip
Benji Stawski is a former reporter for the site, covering all things points, miles, credit cards, travel and aviation.
January 16, 2023 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
The article reviews top international island resorts in the Maldives and Bora Bora that can be booked using hotel loyalty points, highlighting both standout and less desirable properties.
Properties like Le Méridien Maldives, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, InterContinental Bora Bora Thalasso and The St. Regis Bora Bora are praised for value, amenities and unique experiences.
Some resorts, such as Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort, Park Hyatt Maldives and InterContinental Tahiti, are noted for drawbacks like aging facilities, high transfer costs or underwhelming locations.
The guide emphasizes the importance of comparing redemption value, transfer fees and overall guest experience when planning a points-based island getaway.
What to consider
Award availability at top resorts can be limited, especially for premium rooms or consecutive-night stays.
Transfer fees to remote island resorts can vary widely and significantly impact total trip cost.
Point valuations for hotel loyalty programs can fluctuate; for example, IHG points are valued at 0.5 cents each as of June 2024 per TPG's valuations.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed comparisons of specific resorts, including firsthand experiences and tips for maximizing your points-based stay at luxury island destinations.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
An overwater bungalow trip to a remote island like the Maldives or Bora Bora is a staple on many travel bucket lists. And luckily, nowadays, there are plenty of ways to enjoy these once-in-a-lifetime destinations on points. However, the experiences and value you’ll get can vary greatly from property to property. Some have limited lodging options, and some are harder (and more costly) to get to.
Here are the top far-flung international island adventures you can book with points and some that you might want to fly on by.
Book: Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa
MARRIOTT
The Maldives is home to over a dozen points hotels. However, some offer far better redemption value than others, such as the Le Méridien Maldives. This is a relatively new property that opened in 2021.
Rates here range from 48,000 to 56,000 points per night, but if you stay five consecutive nights on points, the least expensive night is free, which could effectively bring the nightly rate to 38,400 points. You can top off your Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point free night certificate with Marriott credit cards like Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.
You can upgrade to a sunrise overwater bungalow for just 10,000 extra points on most nights.
By comparison, most Marriott Bonvoy hotels in the Maldives cost at least two to three times as much per night and charge significantly more points for overwater villas. The Le Meridien charges $420 per person for seaplane transfers, which is fairly low compared to other resorts in the Maldives.
With room rates starting at just 41,000 points per night, the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa is also one of Marriott’s lower-priced properties in the Maldives. However, in this case, you get what you pay for. When the TPG team visited the property a few years ago, there were a lot of flaws, such as trash in the water, disappointing overwater bungalows and a constant stream of air traffic due to the proximity to the airport — the opposite of what you’d probably want from a trip to the Maldives.
If you want to choose a resort on the lower end of the points scale in the Maldives, you’ll likely be better off booking the Le Méridien instead.
Standard awards at the Conrad are hard to come by but cost 120,000 per night, compared to the 150,000 points you should expect to spend at the Waldorf. If you manage to find standard room award space, you should be able to book the sunrise water villa at the standard rate. The hotel is home to an underwater restaurant, possibly the perfect place to use the $250 annual resort credit from the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Park Hyatt Maldives is a solid hotel, and you can certainly get great value from your World of Hyatt points here. However, if what you want from the Maldives is an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime experience, unfortunately, the Park Hyatt may not be the best choice.
The resort is aging. Additionally, many reviews state the food is pricey and just average, which is a problem when you’re on an island in the middle of the ocean. Plus, it’s harder to get to than other Maldivian resorts, as it requires both a commercial flight and a boat ride.
Book: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa
InterContinental Bora Bora Thalasso. JT GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
If you find award space, the InterContinental Bora Bora Thalasso offers Emerald overwater villas for 120,000 points per night. TPG values IHG Rewards Club points at 0.5 cents apiece, so considering these villas go for over $1,000 per night, this redemption is a steal. These rooms offer over 1,000 square feet of space and direct lagoon access.
To get to the resort from the airport, you must take a boat transfer, which costs 7,334 Pacific Island Francs (around $65 per person). This is fairly reasonable compared to other high-end resorts in the area, which can charge well over $300+ per person for transfer fees.
While the Intercontinental Tahiti routinely offers rates under $300 per night, it's dated and doesn't hold a candle to some of the Marriott, IHG and Hilton options on neighboring islands.
Located about two kilometers from Faaa International Airport (PPT), this property is popular for flight crews on rest. When TPG's Kyle Olsen visited French Polynesia in 2021, passengers and crew filled the lobby and hallways, namely, with United Airlines' arriving Dreamliner from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
If you take the United Airlines flight from SFO or the Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), you'll likely arrive after Air Tahiti's last flight out. Consequently, you'll likely spend the night in Tahiti before heading to a neighboring island.
If you find yourself in Tahiti on an overnight connection, consider booking the recently opened Hilton Hotel Tahiti.
No hotel in the Pacific offers overwater bungalows larger than the St. Regis Bora Bora. When the hotel first joined Marriott Bonvoy after the SPG acquisition, you could book it for just 60,000 points per night. Now, room rates start around the six-figure mark and top off with room rates around 120,000 points per night — if you find award space. Finding five consecutive nights here for a free night is difficult.
When TPG's Kyle Olsen stayed at the hotel on points in 2021, the hotel offered him and his family a complimentary upgrade to a two-bedroom overwater bungalow with a private swimming pool, thanks to his Ambassador Elite status. It was, as he said, "the best hotel stay of my life."
A trip to a destination like the Maldives and Bora Bora is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most people.
You’ll likely have a positive experience at any of these hotels. Still, you want to ensure you’re getting the best experience possible, and some remote island hotels fare better than others. After all, if you're using your hard-earned points and traveling the distance, it better be worth it.
Additional reporting by Kyle Olsen.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
