Once you arrive at the Conrad Maldives, you’ll be filled with tons of emotions.  You’ll almost feel schizo.  You’ll be elated with joy, wonder and amazement.  One one hand though you’ll want to just drop all your bags and do a whole lot of nothing but at the same time you’ll want to go and explore and see what everyone’s been raving about.

So this post is dedicated for everyone that wants to know what’s up at the Conrad Maldives and what you can do to on either island of the resort.  I want to help you answer “What is there to do at the Conrad Maldives?”

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Let me tell you, there’s a whole lot of nothing to do but time will fly by so fast.  By the end of it you’ll be wondering, like we did, how we ended up being so busy.

The Conrad Maldives Island Map
The Conrad Maldives Island Map

Plan it out

Always the project manager, after we settled into our suite and laid out all of our luggage, my girlfriend and I went out the back of our lovely Beach Villa, we brought our Weekly Planner (they provide one for you) out with us, notepad, pen and started sketch out our week.

These were the questions that helped us figure out what our 10 days was going to look like:

  • Which days can we dive?  Which days we can’t?  Do we want to do consecutive days of diving?
  • Which days are available for us to do the Whaleshark excursion? (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday only)
  • Which free activities do we want to participate in?
  • Which nights do we want to do fancy dinners?  How many fancy dinners do we want to do?
  • Considering our move to the King Water Villa, do we want to plan more time to enjoy our villa?
  • How much time should we factor in for packing?
  • Which island do we spend more time on and can we do it based on where we’re staying?
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Our little plan.
Our little plan.

Ultimately this is we sketched out.  It was pretty rough but it gave is a good idea of what we needed to book with our Island Host and the SubAqua dive shop.  Certainly spend a bit of time to plan out your week so you don’t miss out on anything!  For instance a couple we met really wanted to do the Whaleshark excursion on the day we went but they decided to sign up too late so they had to cut it out of their trip which was unfortunate.

The main island (Rangali Finolhu)

As we started of our stay on the main island with the King Beach Villa for 6 nights we got to know this side very well.  This is the main island for a reason.  It has most of the main facilities and a majority of your activities will start out on this side.  We enjoyed this side quite a bit and here’s why.

Pros

  • Best beaches are on this side, particularly the side the faces the house reef.
  • There’s the amazing house reef for snorkelling.
  • Close to all the action –  dive shop, Rangali Bar, Mandhoo, free entertainment in the evening, water sports.

Cons

  • If you’re not a fan of kids, you may find parts of the island a bit more noisy.  This is particularly true of the main pool.

Places to play

Exploring the house reef.
Exploring the house reef.
  • Diving – All dives depart from the dock on the main island side.  The orientation dive is also done right off the beach by Sunset Grill.  More on Diving with SubAqua at the Conrad.
  • House reef – See my post on epic snorkelling in the house reef (coming soon).
  • Water sports center is right in front of main reception.  Peddle boats and kayaks are free.  Things like paddle boarding, windsurfing, catamarans and jet skiis are extra.
  • Fitness center was well stocked with equipment so if you’re looking to do a work out or attend one of the fitness classes, you’ll be able to do it here.
  • Ping pong table is right below the fitness center.  Rent the paddles and ball from the recreation team at beach level.
  • Tennis court – The tennis court is available for complimentary booking from 7AM – 11PM.  Bookings can be made 24 hours in advance.  Equipment rental is complimentary as well but of course you have to have your own shoes and clothes.
  • Beach volleyball can be played with the recreation team Sunday and Thursdays between 5:30PM and 6:30PM.

Places to chill and relax

Enjoying time on the beach just in at the backyard of our beach. villa.
Enjoying time on the beach just in at the backyard of our beach. villa.
  • Beach Villa – Your villa is as good as any place to chill and relax, particularly that outdoor terrace
  • Beach – Whether or not you stay in a beach villa facing the sunrise side, the beach chairs and umbrellas are more or less first come first serve so just bring your beach towels out, a magazine or book and that Conrad glass bottle to keep you hydrated.  Lay out and get your tan on!
  • The Spa Retreat – We never did any spa treatments here but I did come here to use the bathroom in one emergency situation (Won’t divulge the details here) but from my charging in to find the toilet, the setting was very zen and the staff incredibly friendly.  We took a look at their menu and they provided quite an array of options including some specials around holistic and naturopath health with their specialist Christelle Stockdale.
  • Hammock – There’s one giant hammock right by the fitness center on the beach which is great for lounging around.
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Places to eat

Maldivian Lobster at the Rangali Bar.
Maldivian Lobster at the Rangali Bar.
  • Rangali Bar – One of favourite restaurants because it was super casual and the prices were lower than the fancier restaurants.  Service was always good.  Happy Hour between 6-7 was awesome for half price drinks.  Their smoothies were the bomb and Maldivian Lobster even more amazing.
  • Wine & Cheese Bar – Never got to try this restaurant but we heard that they have quite the selections of wine in the cellar.  Cuisine is tapas style.
  • Mandhoo – We came here for both afternoon tea and dinner and loved the food, location and staff.  Everyone here was extremely attentive.  The tea the served during afternoon tea was premium TWG (Some of the best Camomile tea I’ve ever had) and the cakes and cookies were always yummy.  My girlfriend got a bit sick of the place after our third or fourth visit mainly because the sandwiches were always the same but I didn’t mind it.  Mandhoo for dinner is unique because they focus on the five elements of Air, Earth, Fire, Waterand Plant with an angle of healthier and more nutritional foods.  Lastly I’ll mention that the location of the restaurant always brought us joy because it was here where we could always spot eagle rays and sting rays.  For our evening dinner we were constantly distracted with a sting ray that would make passes around the water just by the deck of the patio where our table was situated.
  • Sunset Grill – As the name implies, this restaurant has amazing views of the sunset.  It has a nice mix of meats, seafood and salads but for us we had to pick and choose where to eat and unfortunately this was cut out.
  • Ithaa – Last but not least is the famous underwater restaurant.  If your’e looking for a one of a kind experience, this is it.  Imagine yourself having cocktails and some delicious foods in a fully submerged glass dome with an abundance of fish curiously roaming about.  The price is steep of course since dinner is a set menu.  We opted instead for the afternoon cocktails which is only between 11AM-12PM for $55.  This is more or less the price of admission as it comes with a basic champagne and 3 canapés (similar to Vilu during Happy Hour).  And to be brutally honest, since we’re divers, the view of the marine life was interesting but nothing different than what we had been seeing during our dives.  For us it was the kind of place that we wanted to check out and say we did but in the grand scheme of the trip, it wasn’t that special.

Places to take photos

Here is a compilation of some of the best shots to shoot on the main island.  What better way to show you than through some of the photos I took.

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Sunset view from the sunset side of the main island is absolutely beautiful. Capture the dhoni in your composition to make it even more interesting.
Sunset view from the sunset side of the main island is absolutely beautiful. Capture the dhoni in your composition to make it even more interesting.
I found shooting outwards from the beach to be a bit dull but as you walk towards Mandhoo, you'll see this breakwater barrier and umbrella.
I found shooting outwards from the beach to be a bit dull but as you walk towards Mandhoo, you’ll see this breakwater barrier and umbrella.
Capture a bit of foreground with the crystal clear waters. This was taken from the beach chair right outside our villa.
Capture a bit of foreground with the crystal clear waters. This was taken from the beach chair right outside our villa.
Mandhoo is great to shoot in the late afternoon.
Mandhoo is great to shoot in the late afternoon.
Prototypical Maldivian Water Villa shot with the Retreat Water Villas behind.
Prototypical Maldivian Water Villa shot with the Retreat Water Villas behind.
Woke up early for our first sunset but because of the extreme change in temperatures from our AC filled suite to the humid outdoors, my lens was fogging up like crazy. Very sad! I wanted something interesting in the foreground so I picked Mandhoo for this composition.
Woke up early for our first sunset but because of the extreme change in temperatures from our AC filled suite to the humid outdoors, my lens was fogging up like crazy. Very sad! I wanted something interesting in the foreground so I picked Mandhoo for this composition.
With the bridge to the staff island to the right, I found a nice entry-way shot to the beach.
With the bridge to the staff island to the right, I found a nice entry-way shot to the beach.
The main pool when empty and calm waters is absolutely stunning. I would recommend shooting either early in the morning before the pool opens or after the pool closes. Otherwise you'll be photobombed left, right and center.
The main pool when empty and calm waters is absolutely stunning. I would recommend shooting either early in the morning before the pool opens or after the pool closes. Otherwise you’ll be photobombed left, right and center.
Stroll along the beach is always nice :)
Stroll along the beach is always nice :)
And last but not least is this awesome fallen palm tree right in front of Rangali Bar.
And last but not least is this awesome fallen palm tree right in front of Rangali Bar.

The small island (Rangali Island)

This is the adult’s only side of the resort and because of that was truly a great place to get some peace, quiet and enjoy the natural beauty of the resort.  This side was definitely much more mellow and just felt a lot more slow paced than the main island which just felt a lot more action packed.

Pros

  • Quiet and peaceful.  No kids are allowed here.
  • Less people here than on the main island if that’s what you’re looking for.
  • The Quiet Zone Pool is the best in the resort.  It has infinity views outwards to the main island and the Spa Villas which is picture perfect.  There are different depths for you to either lay down on or even just sit down to read.  They have 7 chairs and umbrellas and we found that most of the time less than half were being used by guests.  The bar is right behind so if you need any snacks or refreshments, they’re not that far away.
  • Vilu Happy Hour is the best thing ever and it’s on the small island.

Cons

  • We found that most times, we still found a need to get back to the main island so that required either a bit more walking, taking the dhoni ferry or calling of a cart which took some time.
  • Not the island to be on if you’re looking to lounge on the beach or snorkel.

Places to play

The small island is truly a place to relax.
The small island is truly a place to relax.
  • This island really isn’t so much about the “play” side of things so you’ll find this side a bit lacking on the activities.
  • The small island is truly a place to kick back and do nothing.

Places to chill and relax

Quiet Zone beach loungers.
Quiet Zone beach loungers.
  • Water Villa – If you have a villa on this side, you really don’t have that much incentive to leave.  The deck has it’s own pair of beach loungers, umbrella, table with chairs and of course the nice infinity plunge pool.
  • The Over-Water Spa – Like the Spa Retreat, this is a beautifully designed spa that is completely zen.  In comparison, we found that the Over-Water Spa treatments were more expensive than the
  • Quiet Zone Pool – Like I mentioned earlier, the nicest pool of the property.  Great place to go for a swim to cool down in the afternoon, do a little suntanning or just read a book on a lounger.
  • Quiet Zone loungers – There’s an assortment of canopy-style loungers scattered across the beach so if you’re looking to lounge around and perhaps grab a drink from the nearby bar, this is it.
  • Lounge chairs by Ari Lounge Reception – Right outside the reception area, there are a bunch of chairs and even a few swinging chairs.
  • Cinema Under the Stars – Once a week on Wednesday at 9:15PM they literally set up a big screen outdoors and rearrange the Quiet Zone loungers to become movie seats.  When we were there, the movie was The Fox and the Child (a bit of a snoozer).  I was pretty impressed with the screen size and booming speakers.
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Places to eat

The DIY bruschetta experience at Vilu.
The DIY bruschetta experience at Vilu.
  • Vilu Restaurant – By far the most raved about restaurant on the resort.  Our Island Host recommended this one and other guests raved about it too.  The emphasis is a bit more on the meats here which was totally fine by us.  Everything about this restaurant impressed us.  From the service, to the make-your-own bruschetta with fresh tomatoes and grilled garlic cloves, to the exquisite selection of exclusive olive oils with a selection of breads to the impressive meat entrees we tried (10 hour slow roasted suckling pig + Beef tenderloin with the biggest slab of foie gras ever) and the highly touted Signature Fondant dessert.  All must-try’s!
  • Koko Grill – This restaurant was often mentioned as one of the favorites but unfortunately we didn’t a chance to try this one out.
  • The Wine Cellar – A bit of a secret on the island because it’s not often talked about.  There’s a huge collection of wines in the cellar and apparently there’s a bottle that’s worth tens of thousands of dollars.  The sommelier here from chatting with other guests is very knowledgable.
  • Beach BBQ – This happens every Wednesday for $225 per person.  Everyone was trying to sell this one hard to us but unfortunately it was a bit out of our budget.

Places to take photos

I did a bit of shooting out here too and here were some of my highlights.

Lots of great shots on the wooden platforms leading out to the water villas. This was taken at sunrise.
Lots of great shots on the wooden platforms leading out to the water villas. This was taken at sunrise.
This was the northern tip of the island where the sunset water villas were. I tried a few shots with the bridge platforms in view.
This was the northern tip of the island where the sunset water villas were. I tried a few shots with the bridge platforms in view.
I then walked along the bridge to the sunset water villas to snap these shots during sunrise.
I then walked along the bridge to the sunset water villas to snap these shots during sunrise.
These shot is probably one of my favorites. I shot a bunch of angles from the bridge platform but views of the Retreat Water Villas were the nicest.
These shot is probably one of my favorites. I shot a bunch of angles from the bridge platform but views of the Retreat Water Villas were the nicest.
The Over-Water Spa is highly photogenic.
The Over-Water Spa is highly photogenic.
If the water is calm, try to capture some reflections in the Quiet Zone Pool.
If the water is calm, try to capture some reflections in the Quiet Zone Pool.
Take advantage of hot models at the Quiet Zone Pool ;)
Take advantage of hot models at the Quiet Zone Pool ;)
Had some fun with hair flinging in the pool.
Had some fun with hair flinging in the pool.
Hopefully you get to meet this friendly neighborhood Heron at the Quiet Zone Pool.
Hopefully you get to meet this friendly neighborhood Heron at the Quiet Zone Pool.
Loved this couch at Vilu. Nice couch and even better background.
Loved this couch at Vilu. Nice couch and even better background.
These Quiet Zone beach loungers are magazine worthy.
These Quiet Zone beach loungers are magazine worthy.
Sunset from the water villa.
Sunset from the water villa.
Another angle of the Over-Water Spa at sunset.
Another angle of the Over-Water Spa at sunset.
The ladies working the Over-Water Spa are really nice so don't be afraid to ask to take some photos.
The ladies working the Over-Water Spa are really nice so don’t be afraid to ask to take some photos.

As you can tell there are a ton of things you can do at the resort.  It’s really up to you how you went to spend your time!

At the end of the day, it’s your vacation so the most important thing is to have a good time. Whether that’s going around exploring various parts of the island, going out to snorkel, sipping on cocktails at the bar, suntanning or just staying inside your villa, the resort is your oyster.

Tips And Tricks

  • Best times for house reef? – That’s a really good question and honestly we never quite figured it out.  Folks that had seen some bigger things like turtles, octopus and eagle rays were seeing them all throughout the day.  Some in the morning, some in the late afternoon and some in the middle of the day.  We snorkelled through all those times and didn’t see anything crazy.  I would say it’s more luck than anything.
  • Humidity and lens fogging – This caught me a bit off guard actually.  What I was noticing was that because our room was always air conditioned and cold, every time I stepped out of the villa with my camera, my lens would immediately fog and it would actually take quite some time for the lens to acclimatize to the humidity.  The only solution to this is to bring a lens pen and account for extra time if you’re looking to shoot right away.  I made this mistake for one of the sunrise shoots I wanted to do and all my photos turned out foggy because of the condensation that just wouldn’t go away.
  • Book the Whaleshark Excursion early – This one fills up fast.
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Book the Conrad Maldives

Check out the prices for the Conrad Maldives for when you want to go.

Travel Resources For Your Next Trip

If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.

Credit cards: Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card. Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.

Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature. Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.

Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.

Rideshare: For new Lyft users, use code WILLIAM4825 to get 50% off your first 2 rides (max $10 USD per ride). Offer valid for 14 days after you take your first ride. For new Uber users, use code psuqbjg4d7rn for the same offer except it’s valid for 30 days.

Airport Parking: You’ll need a spot to leave your car at the airport so why not book a spot at a discount. Use code AWESOME7 to get at least $5 off at Airport Parking Reservations or Park Sleep Fly packages.

eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. We’ve tested several over the years and we have access to a few special promotions.

  • AmigoSIM – Use GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 25% off. Code is re-useable.
  • Gigsky – Use TANG149 to get $3 USD when you sign up, then use code GOINGAWESOME to save 20% on all eSIM orders.
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  • Airalo – Use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase.
  • UbigiAWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order.

Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.

Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).

Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.

  • HeyMondo – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks. By booking through our link to get a 15% discount (from June 19-29)!
  • RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
  • SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
  • Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
  • InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.

If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

William Tang of Going Awesome Places
About The Author

Will Tang

Will Tang, founder of Going Awesome Places, has traveled to 51 countries. He shares his insanely detailed itineraries, travel guides, and packing lists. Will’s travels have been featured on Huffington Post, Men’s Journal, and Entrepreneur.

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The Discussion

  1. Love the blog! Can you share a bit about tipping while at the property? Are you expected to tip with each meal? What about when they service the room? I’m concerned about unexpected tipping expenses.

    1. Hey! That’s a great question. In regards to tipping, we usually left $2 USD in the room each day for the house cleaning when we did it although for most of our stay, we just kept the “do not disturb” sign on. In terms of meals, if I remember correctly, we added tips onto the check when signing it with our room number. Otherwise, there weren’t any other tips I remember paying. The good thing is that they aren’t in your face about tips so there never really feels like there’s pressure. The one area where we probably weren’t the most consistent was with breakfast since it was included with our status. There were a few days where we didn’t bring cash and so we left without tips. There’s certainly no pressure but we left $1-$2 on a few of the days. That might be why we never got any special service from our breakfast experience whereas others that probably tipped a lot were loved by the staff but that’s to be expected. That said, we didn’t get worse service just because we might’ve missed breakfast tips for a few days. I hope that helps!

  2. Great post. But we found the Conrad way tooooooo expensive! :-(
    Took Vilamendhoo instead and loved the experience!

    1. Yeah I totally agree the Conrad on cash is pretty pricey. It’s all in the points :) But love your recommendation for the Vilamendhoo. Must look into that if I ever go back to the Maldives!

  3. What great, in-depth tips! Really helpful to have. You did a great job breaking it down for someone who’s never been. Thanks! And wonderful eye-candy photos too :D

  4. Nice pics!!!!!!!!!!! looking a delicious food and fantastic market.I will surely plan my upcoming vacation to this place.