Dreaming of the Maldives? These new and updated points resorts are waiting for you

We all have our dream list of places to visit, right? I've been lucky enough over the years to check a bunch of those destinations off my list including Japan, Bora Bora and Kenya.

One place that's still on the to-do list is the Maldives, an absolutely breathtaking collection of islands in the Indian Ocean, a world away from my Brooklyn apartment.

For years, my family and I have been plotting when we'll visit, what resorts we want to book and what airlines we'll fly for maximum comfort. It's overwhelming, in the best and worst ways, because there are so many choices to make. Plus, for the time and money we'll spend, we want to make sure the trip is as perfect as it can be.

And thanks to my role as a senior hotels reporter at TPG, I continuously find more reasons to finally make that Maldives trip happen — in the near future, at least.

Nowadays, there are even more places to stay in the Maldives using hotel points, especially for Hyatt and Hilton loyalists. A brand new Maldives Hyatt resort will open fully in August, for example, and Hilton recently gave a multimillion-dollar makeover to one of its most classic island properties in addition to opening a brand new resort in the area. So, if you want to avoid paying potentially sky-high cash rates, now might be the time to lean into booking a trip with World of Hyatt or Hilton Honors points.

Related: The best ways to get to the Maldives on points and miles

Whatever your travel style, there's something for you and yours in the Maldives. Here are just a few reasons to trade in some points and visit the Maldives right now.

Hyatt's new Alila

World of Hyatt is known for being one of the best programs when it comes to redeeming points for stays, and now the brand has a new option in the Maldives where you can take advantage of those favorable rates: the Alila Kothaifaru Maldives.

Earlier this year, I reported that Alila Kothaifaru Maldives was ready for a soft open and was accepting reservations starting in April for rates as low as $350 a night. Unfortunately, that time has passed. But just because rates are now at their normal levels doesn't mean you should pass up this exciting new property.

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Just a 45-minute seaplane ride from Malé, where the main international airport is located, this resort is set on a private island and comprises 44 beach villas and 36 overwater villas; all accommodations come with a private pool and sun deck, a bathtub, indoor and outdoor showers and a 24-hour personal host.

There are a handful of restaurants and bars to choose from while at the resort. Seasalt is an all-day beachfront restaurant that serves Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare. Umami, a Japanese restaurant with a teppanyaki grill, and its sister establishment Yakitori Bar, which serves Asian-inspired cocktails, are the perfect places for nighttime dining. There's also the Pibati Café for grab-and-go options as well as The Shack, which hosts private picnics, sunset barbecues and candlelit dinners.

In true resort fashion, this Alila has a spa with four double treatment suites, a 24-hour fitness center and a beachfront infinity pool.

How to book: Right now, cash rates hover around $660 during the wet season (mid-May to November) and $900 or more during the dry season (January through March). However, the move here is to book with points, considering Hyatt's favorable redemptions. Award nights cost between 25,000 and 35,000 points at this Category 7 World of Hyatt property.

An all-new Hilton

Hilton's flagship brand just opened a stunning new property in the Maldives that has us counting our Hilton Honors points: the Hilton Maldives Amangiri Resort & Spa, the fourth Hilton property in the nation.

Just a 20-minute speedboat ride from the international airport in Malé, travelers don't have to worry about connecting via seaplane to get there. Plus, they don't have to worry about going hungry, as the property boasts six bars and restaurants (venues include a "cocktail lab" where mixologists handcraft bespoke drinks, a beachside snack bar, a Champagne and gin bar — my kinda place! — and a romantic upscale restaurant serving sustainable seafood).

When the food coma hits, guests can relax in one of 109 beach and overwater villas, all of which have a pool and bathtub with ocean views. Is there any better way to use points than for a bungalow over the crystal clear waters of paradise? Probably not. If there is, it might just be for a hydrating body wrap or facial at the luxe but laidback Amangiri Spa.

How to book: Right now, you can snag a Hilton Honors member cash rate of $793 for a one-bedroom overwater villa, but those rates jump up to well over $1,000 a night during the busy season in January. Award nights start at 110,000 points.

The Conrad's new look

A little more than 25 years after the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island changed the resort game in the Maldives, the iconic property got a stunning refresh — and I personally cannot wait to see the changes. Earlier this year Hilton shared photos of the renovation, including new interiors of the overwater villas in the adults-only portion of the island. Other changes to the resort include a refresh of the all-day buffet alongside the Rangali Bar and the open-air restaurant, Vilu; a new teen's club and an updated kid's club; a new gym and dive center; and a totally refreshed overwater spa.

And don't worry, the most iconic portions of the resort are still very much there: The Muraka, the world's first underwater villa and Ithaa, the underwater restaurant.

How to book: Award nights at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island start at 120,000 points for a beach villa but cost easily more than 400,000 points for an overwater villa, which is a premium room reward. For cash rates, you can snag a beach villa during the low seasons for $779 per night. However, when things get busy during the dry season, you're looking at more than $1,600 a night — but at least that rate gets you an overwater villa.

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