The Radisson Blu Maldives finally opens after a 7-year delay
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here – World of Hyatt Credit Card
If you've been collecting points and miles for a while, you've probably heard about the fabled Radisson Blu Maldives resort. Back in 2013, Club Carlson (now known as Radisson Rewards), announced plans for two resorts in the Maldives: the Radisson Blu Maldives Hulhumale and the Radisson Plaza Naagoshi. The Radisson Blu property was set to open in November 2013, while the Plaza would follow a month later. I was a newbie back then and had more than 500,000 Club Carlson points saved up from a bonus point promotion -- and I never got to cash them in. Until now.
Get the latest points, miles and travel news by signing up for TPG's free daily newsletter.
Free night awards at the Radisson Blu Maldives
Imagine my surprise when the Radisson Blu Maldives began welcoming guests on Aug. 4, 2020 – seven years after its planned opening. Back then, a free night would have cost 50,000 points, but Radisson has since increased its top-tier award rate to 70,000 points per night. Unlike some Maldives properties, where a standard award gets you a beach villa, at the Radisson Blu Maldives you'll get an overwater villa and free breakfast.
Don't knock the free breakfast either. When you're staying at a resort in the middle of the Indian Ocean where everything is imported, breakfast for two can easily top $100 a day. So kudos to Radisson for including it on award stays.
If you want to give your Radisson account balance a boost, the cobranded credit cards are some of the most rewarding hotel cards out there. For example, the Radisson Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card earns 5 points per dollar on all spending. So you can score a free night at a property like the Radisson Blu Maldives after spending $14,000 on your credit card. Compare that to The World Of Hyatt Credit Card, on which you'd need to channel $40,000 in non-bonus spending to earn a top-tier free night award.
The Radisson Rewards Premier Visa's sign-up bonus is currently 50,000 points after your first purchase, plus 35,000 points after spending $2,500 within the first 90 days. You also get Gold elite status, 40,000 bonus points when you renew the card each year, and the ability to earn a free night at U.S. hotels for every $10,000 spent (up to three times).
The information for the Radisson Rewards Premier Visa Signature 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.
Related: Where to stay in the Maldives using points and miles
Radisson Blu Maldives promotional rate
While the sign-up bonus from the Radisson credit card isn't enough for more than a free night at the Radisson Blu Maldives, the resort is currently offering 40% off the best available rate along with several freebies and discounts:
- 50% discount on spa treatments booked before arrival
- 25% off spa treatments booked on-site
- 25% discount on a domestic flight or seaplane transfer
- 25% off food and beverages
- Complimentary bottle of sparkling wine at check-in
- Free yoga classes
- Complimentary non-motorized water sports, bike and snorkeling gear rental
- Free wine tasting and cooking classes
Some of these freebies come standard at high-end resorts. For example, when I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives last fall, they offered free group yoga and pilates classes, snorkeling gear and two bikes stationed outside each villa.
Regardless, the discounts are pretty substantial. Using Radisson's low-fare calendar, I found the lowest rates of $453 through September 2020. Beyond that, promotional rates range between $500-$650 through December 2021.
The Maldives is not a cheap destination. Even after you book your hotel and airfare with points, you'll incur huge expenses on dining, activities and transportation to the hotel. It's not uncommon to pay $500 for a round-trip seaplane transfer, which is why the 25% discount offered by the resort is so substantial.
The resort typically charges $450 per adult and $225 per child for either a seaplane or domestic flight transfer. This is reduced to $337 and $168 when you factor in the discount. This is a mandatory charge since it's the only way to get to the property. It's also important to note that you need to make your transfer flight reservation at least five days before arrival. In other words: No last-minute bookings like I did when I flew to the Maldives two days after booking.
Related: The best ways to get to the Maldives on points and miles
My history with the property
Back in 2012, a little-known rewards program called Club Carlson made a big splash with a bonus point promotion: Stay one night and earn 50,000 bonus points. I was one year into my points and miles journey and something about this deal triggered me to do an insane thing: I booked an 11-night stay at a hotel in Wisconsin for around $650, just for the points. I called up the hotel and asked if they would check me in remotely and they were all too happy to do it.
Once the points were in my account, I began researching ways to redeem them. Istanbul was on my list, but rates at the Radisson Blu Bosphoros were too low to justify a points booking. Then I eventually came across an announcement: Radisson was opening two new properties in the Maldives.
The Maldives, you guys. Back then, only one blogger I knew had traveled there, and it looked impossibly beautiful. I decided I would wait until November 2013 to spend 50,000 points at the Radisson Blu Maldives Hulhumale. Or I would hold out for the Radisson Plaza Naagoshi, which would open a month later. Neither of those options materialized and I still have a few hundred thousand points in my Radisson Rewards account from those days.
Club Carlson's big bonus point promotion was my first foray into mattress running and the rush I got afterward, when my balance increased from zero to 582,000 got me further hooked on this hobby. I began obsessively researching Club Carlson hotels and even created a "best redemption" series on my fledgling blog that got me thousands of new readers at a time when I was ready to throw in the towel. And now here we are.
Related: Your complete guide to earning Radisson Rewards points
Bottom line
The Maldives is one of the few destinations still accepting tourists from the U.S. and seems to be doing a good job of containing the pandemic. As much as I'd love to check off a seven-year-old bucket list item, I'm going to wait a while longer until it's safe to travel again. With COVID testing being difficult to come by where I live, traveling abroad is challenging right now. But I'm ok with waiting a while to experience this resort. Hopefully, it won't be another seven years.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.