Which Hotel to Stay in Maldives

Yesterday I was talking to my friend in Atlanta, I called him up checking up on how he was dealing with the Crazy Cold weather in Hotlanta. During the conversation he asked me how he can get/earn spg points because he wanted to stay at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa for 3 nights. Places like Maldives, Bora Bora etc. are very expensive and the hotel stays are very expensive too. When I looked up on spg website there were two spg properties W Retreat Maldives and the Sheraton Maldives. The W Retreat is on a private island which is amazing but its crazy expensive, room rates in December are over $1000/night and it looks like W Retreat participation in starwood perferred guest program is limited. 

Limited Participation in spg

The Sheraton Maldives does have a lower rate but it's also of a lower category and requries 25000 spg points per night, so for a 3 night stay he is looking at 75,000 spg points. And in order to obtain that he will have to apply for Amex Spg Card, both Personal and Business version, which will give him 50,000 spg points after spending $10,000 in 5 month. So with min spending met he will only have 60,000 spg points still short of 15,000 points. 

My suggestion to him was to stay at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island which is also in an island separate from the main island and is Hilton Category 10 also cost over $1000 a night. I asked him to apply for the Citi Hilton Reserve Card for himself and his wife, which will give him 2 weekend night free, and his wife 2 free weekend nights at any Hilton property. So with 4 free weekend night on his pocket he can book the say for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Also having Citi Hilton Reserve card will give Hilton Gold status, which is very useful as the benefit provides free internet and free breakfast. When you are stuck on an island you have very few option when it comes to food as you might end up spending lots of money eating in the hotel becayse sometime that is the only option.   

It is expensive, even if you book with points

So readers.. let me know what you think.