Conrad Maldives vs. Conrad Bora Bora [Detailed Comparison]

Updated: July 7, 2023, 6:29am CDT

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Conrad Maldives vs. Conrad Bora Bora [Detailed Comparison]

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It’s no secret that Hilton has a handful of ultra-high-end hotels. You’ll find these scattered all over the world, including such exotic locales as the Maldives and French Polynesia. Perhaps 2 of Hilton’s most exclusive — and most popular — properties include Conrad Bora Bora Nui and Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. These 2 hotels regularly charge upwards of $1,000 per night for a room but can be booked with Hilton Honors points.

Let’s take a look at an in-depth comparison between these 2 hotels, including service, elite benefits for members, and the properties themselves.

Earning Hilton Honors Points

Conrad Bora Bora — Hilton Honors points can get you some pretty amazing places. Image Credit: Carissa Rawson

The majority of Upgraded Points readers are likely looking at booking these hotels with points — which is one of our favorite ways to travel. Fortunately for those looking to travel either to Conrad Maldives or Conrad Bora Bora, earning Hilton Honors points is easy, thanks to a handful of co-branded credit cards and a transfer partner.

Hilton Co-branded Credit Cards

The simplest way to earn Hilton Honors points is by signing up for one of Hilton’s credit cards. There are a total of 4 cards from which to choose; each card offers varying levels of perks depending on its annual fee:

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Card

U.P. Rating

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$400

Annual Fee

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

You can’t beat a comfy king-sized bed and room service. For many travelers, it’s the hotel that really makes or breaks an experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably stayed at a Hilton hotel.

Whether your visits are for work or pleasure, the Hilton brand has you covered with more than 6,200 locations in 100 counties and territories.

To enjoy a host of great benefits, you may want to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.

Pros

7x points per $1 on Hilton stays
5x points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
No annual fee (rates & fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Cons

Not great for those who want multiple redemption options
Offers the least benefits of all Hilton cards

Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
No Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors Loyalty Program

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

U.P. Rating

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Welcome OfferEarn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
130,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$650

Annual Fee

$150

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status to up to $200 in Hilton credits every year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.

Pros

12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
6x points per $1 U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
4x points per $1 at U.S. online retail purchases
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Cons

Annual fee of $150 (rates & fees)

Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card.
Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card.
Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club^® program is required. Terms apply.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
$150 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

U.P. Rating

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

Welcome OfferEarn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Aspire card from American Express after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
180,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$900

Annual Fee

$550

APR

20.74% - 29.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

Pros

14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Hilton Diamond status
Up to $400 in annual statement credits on purchases with participating Hilton Resorts (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually)
Up to $200 back annually on eligible flight purchases (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter)
1 Free Weekend Night Award each cardmember anniversary
$100 credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties

Cons

High annual fee of $550

Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Aspire card from American Express after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership. Plus, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal.
Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants.
Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Enjoy complimentary Diamond status.
$550 annual fee.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.74% - 29.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

U.P. Rating

An excellent option for business owners and business travelers who stay at Hilton properties often and want perks like Hilton Honors elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

An excellent option for business owners and business travelers who stay at Hilton properties often and want perks like Hilton Honors elite status.

Welcome OfferLimited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 6/5.
175,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$875

Annual Fee

$195

APR

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

For frequent business travelers who regularly stay in Hilton hotels, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a great option.

Not only will the card help you earn more points on all of your Hilton stays, but you’ll also receive automatic elite status and travel protections.

Here’s a detailed look at all the benefits this card offers so that you can determine if it’s a good fit for you.

Pros

12x points per $1 on eligible Hilton purchases
Enhanced: 5x points on other purchases made for the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter.
Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, and the ability to spend your way to Diamond status
New: Enjoy up to $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton.
New: Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club^® program is required.
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

$195 annual fee (rates and fees)

Limited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 6/5.
Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases.
ENHANCED: Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter.
NEW: Enjoy up to $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. With Hilton Honors Gold status, you can enjoy benefits at hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. As a Gold member, earn an 80% Bonus on all Base Points you earn on every stay getting you to free nights faster.
You may receive an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status if the total eligible purchases on your Card Account during a calendar year reach $40,000 or more.
NEW: Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club^® program is required. Terms apply.
Terms apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors loyalty program

Hot Tip: The Hilton Aspire card offers complimentary elite status as long as you hold the card, which entitles you to benefits such as room upgrades, premium Wi-Fi, early check-in, late checkout, and free breakfast.

Transfer Points

If you’d rather not get a Hilton credit card, Hilton is an American Express transfer partner at a 1:2 ratio. This means that 1 Amex point becomes 2 Hilton Honors points. Keep in mind, however, that Amex often has transfer bonuses by as much as 30% that can help bump up that ratio.

Earning Amex points is easy, too, with plenty of different credit card options for both consumers and small businesses:

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
Access to Amex International Airline Program
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

$695 annual fee (rates and fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card^®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card^®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card^®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card^®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,320

Annual Fee

$250

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros

4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

$250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
No lounge access

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $250.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Business Owner? Check out our article on the best Amex business cards that earn Membership Rewards.

Earn by Staying

Of course, you can always earn Hilton Honors points the good old-fashioned way, which is to stay at a Hilton hotel. The number of points you’ll earn during your stay will depend on your elite status; those with top-tier status will earn a 100% bonus on points compared to regular members.

Bottom Line: There are plenty of ways to earn Hilton Honors points for your stay, including co-branded credit cards, transferring points over from Amex, and staying in a hotel.

Price

Now that we’ve talked about how to go about earning Hilton Honors points, it’s time to talk about spending them. We’ll start off this comparison piece by talking about the price per night for each of these hotels. Spoiler alert: it’s rough.

Prior to March 2022, Conrad Maldives cost 95,000 points per night, while Conrad Bora Bora cost 89,000 points per night. Unfortunately, due to a no-notice devaluation, the price for both hotels has jumped significantly.

Conrad Maldives

These days, you’ll pay 120,000 points per night for Conrad Maldives:

Including taxes, the rate for a 1-night stay jumps up to $1,700:

Conrad Maldives cash price — Image Credit: Hilton

At this rate, you’re redeeming your points for a value of 1.44 cents each, which is nearly triple the value we give Hilton Honors points.

Conrad Bora Bora

Conrad Bora Bora also charges 120,000 points per night, but the hotel has been blocking out its standard rooms for both cash and points redemptions, meaning it’s not possible to find these rooms online.

There is word, however, that you can call the Hilton Honors line and have these rooms unblocked for you (your mileage may vary on this). Otherwise, cash rooms start at around $1,000 per night before taxes and fees.

Award Availability

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Villa — Conrad Maldives. Image Credit: Hilton

It seems silly to mention award availability when only one of these hotels is offering standard-level rooms, but it’s worth noting. It’s unusually difficult to find award space at either of them right now.

Although Hilton Honors doesn’t have a published award chart, it generally tends to stick to a 120,000-point cap on its standard room redemptions. Premium room rewards, however, have no cap and can often exceed a million points per night.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island will usually have decent standard-level availability as 2 of its room types are considered base level. Overall, the hotel is larger and features 150 rooms.

Conrad Bora Bora Nui, meanwhile, only has a few rooms that price out at base level, which means it’s significantly more difficult to find reward space among its 116 rooms.

Location

One of the reasons these hotels are so popular is because they feature far-flung idyllic locations on private islands. Despite this, they are located in wildly separate locales.

Conrad Maldives

Conrad Maldives is located on its own island within the atolls of the Maldives. This is a very popular tourist destination, with over 1,400 hotels sprawled across its 26 atolls. Geographically speaking, the Maldives are located off the coast of India, meaning any flights from the U.S. will take upwards of 14 hours and include at least 1 layover.

Conrad Bora Bora

Conrad Bora Bora is also located on its own private island just off the coast of Bora Bora. Bora Bora is one of the islands located within the country of French Polynesia. French Polynesia as a whole is much more exclusive, with just a few hundred hotels located across Bora Bora, Tahiti, and Moorea. Geographically speaking, Bora Bora is located 8 hours west of Los Angeles in the middle of the ocean. Flights from the U.S. land in Tahiti, which means you’ll need to change planes for your puddle-jumper flight to the island of Bora Bora.

Bottom Line: Both hotels are located on remote islands, but it can be much faster to fly to Bora Bora than the Maldives.

Accessibility

While both of these hotels are located on their own private islands, the ease with which you can travel to them varies greatly.

Conrad Maldives

Conrad Maldives is located on a series of far-flung islands off the coast of India. Despite its remote location, you can find plenty of service here from a variety of airlines, which makes finding award space to Malé (MLE) easy. A number of notable airlines flying to the Maldives include:

Air France
Emirates
Lufthansa
Qatar Airways
Turkish Airlines

As you can see, there is representation from all 3 major airline alliances, including Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam. There aren’t any direct flights from the U.S. to Malé, which means you’ll need to have at least 1 stopover. Big hubs for this route include Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), and Istanbul (IST).

Once you’ve landed in the Maldives, you’ll still need to get to your resort. The cost for this will depend on how remote the property is; many require a seaplane, while others can be reached by speedboat.

The cost of the seaplane can range anywhere from $360 to $1,000 per person roundtrip. Speedboat transfers, meanwhile, are much cheaper and can be as low as $100 per person. Conrad Maldives charges ~$800 roundtrip for its seaplane transfers.

All this travel comes at the cost of time — a journey from Los Angeles (LAX) to Malé (MLE) rings in at 24+ hours of travel.

Conrad Bora Bora

French Polynesia is a small cluster of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Located 6 hours south of Hawaii and closer to New Zealand than anywhere else, you’ll find far less service here than than to the Maldives:

Air France
Air Tahiti Nui
French Bee
United Airlines

Despite the relative lack of carriers, you’ll still find representation with the 3 major alliances; although Air Tahiti Nui is not part of an alliance, you can book flights with Oneworld carriers American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Like the Maldives, you’ll need to board an additional flight once you’ve reached Papeete (PPT), French Polynesia’s international airport. This flight will be operated by Air Tahiti (not to be confused with Air Tahiti Nui) and must be paid in cash. Rates tend to hover around $400 roundtrip.

Fortunately for U.S. travelers, there are nonstop options from both San Francisco (SFO) and Los Angeles (LAX) to Papeete (PPT). These flights take just 8.5 hours, while the hop over to Bora Bora (BOB) takes a further 40 minutes. All in, your total travel time can be fewer than 10 hours, making Bora Bora much more accessible for Americans (though certainly far superior for those who are West Coast-based).

However, once you’ve landed at Bora Bora you’ll also need to take a speedboat to the hotel. The cost for this is around $150 per person roundtrip.

Hot Tip: Looking to fly to Bora Bora? Check out our handy guide on the best ways to fly to Bora Bora with points and miles.

Amenities

Both of these resorts offer amazing amenities. As they are both located on their own private islands, each is fully self-sufficient. You’ll find similar amenities at both locations, including top-tier restaurants, infinity pools, and excellent snorkeling. There are a few differences between these properties, however.

Conrad Maldives is a standout when it comes to snorkeling. The house reef is well-developed and features a variety of marine life, including turtles, octopuses, and even reef sharks.

Although Conrad Bora Bora also has some reef development, it is nowhere near the same scope as Conrad Maldives. Snorkels, fins, and other non-motorized water activities are included in your room rate at both properties.

Of course, one can’t mention Conrad Maldives without mentioning Ithaa, its underwater restaurant. Although it’s no longer the only underwater restaurant in the world, it does feature an absolutely spectacular view while dining.

Ithaa Conrad Maldives — You don’t have to eat at the underwater restaurant. It’s possible to head down for just a glass of Champagne and canapés. Image Credit: Carissa Rawson

Conrad Bora Bora, meanwhile, has the luxury of being near the main island of Bora Bora, which means a $15 transfer can get you into town for sightseeing and cheaper food.

Affordability

Conrad Bora Bora beach — Both resorts feature picture-perfect scenery. Image Credit: Carissa Rawson

When it comes to affordability, Conrad Bora Bora beats Conrad Maldives. Although both are located on remote islands, Bora Bora still manages to keep prices lower than the Maldives, perhaps because of its larger resident population.

There isn’t a huge difference overall in pricing when it comes to activities — you can expect to pay upwards of $70 for a snorkeling tour, for example. However, you will see some notable differences when it comes to dining, especially in the evening.

For example, the cost of a sirloin steak at Sunset Grill, the more casual dinner option within Conrad Maldives, will run you $68. At Iriatai, the upscale French restaurant located within Conrad Bora Bora, you can order the filet mignon for $62.

Hot Tip: Most everything charged to your room will earn you Hilton Honors points — and when paying with the Hilton Aspire card, you’ll earn an additional 14x points per dollar spent.

Both hotels include a service charge on all your bills, but this, too, is different. The total service charge at Conrad Maldives is 10%; the service charge at Conrad Bora Bora is 5%.

Anecdotally, after having visited both of these locations, we’ve found the tipping culture to be very different between the pair.

While tips (in addition to the 10%) at Conrad Maldives were frequent and pretty universally expected, tips at Conrad Bora Bora were not. In fact, an employee actually refuse a tip, explaining that it was not culturally appropriate.

In practice, this meant that most food and activities were significantly cheaper in Bora Bora compared to the Maldives, with a 15% to 20% difference based on the cheaper pricing and lack of tipping culture.

Standard Award Rooms

Conrad Maldives handily wins this comparison with the ability to book directly into an overwater villa using your points. Let’s take a look.

Conrad Maldives

Conrad Maldives has 2 different room types you can book with points. This makes it much easier to find reward availability overall. The first room type you’ll find is the 1,600-square-foot beach villa, which can accommodate up to 4 adults:

The second room type you’ll find is the overwater villa, which is much smaller at just 925 square feet. However, the room includes a private whirlpool on the deck and stunning views. Note that the water villa is located on the adults-only island at Conrad Maldives, which means guests must be older than 16. This room accommodates up to 2 adults:

Conrad Maldives Sunrise Water Villa. Image Credit: Hilton

Both of these options can be booked using 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night, which leads to much greater flexibility depending on how you travel. Notably, the overwater villa at Conrad Maldives is one of a handful of properties that can be booked as a base room — most other locations will require more points or a cash copay.

Conrad Bora Bora

Conrad Bora Bora is a smaller resort than Conrad Maldives. Unfortunately for those looking to head to Bora Bora, just 1 type of room here qualifies for a standard room reward. You can book a king lagoon view suite using 120,000 points per night. This room is 1,087 square feet and can sleep either 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children:

Elite Status Benefits

The competition between the 2 properties heats up when it comes to elite benefits. Why? Because the offerings for both resorts vary greatly — and can make or break your experience (though you’ll never feel left out as an elite member!).

Conrad Maldives

Conrad Maldives is one of very few hotels that will not grant complimentary room upgrades to its elite members. This means that if you book a garden villa, you’ll be staying in the garden villa unless you’re willing to shell out cash for an upgrade.

In terms of other elite benefits for members, you’ll receive a free buffet breakfast each morning, which includes Champagne. There is also a daily afternoon tea from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a happy hour at the pool bar. Both of these feature free food and drinks for those with Hilton Gold or Diamond elite status. Theoretically, if you’re looking to save as much money as possible, you could fill up at breakfast, have a small lunch, and then take advantage of the afternoon tea for more snacks.

Hot Tip: Looking to earn Hilton elite status? It’s easy — check out our guide on how to get Hilton Honors elite status!

In practice, while the buffet breakfast is massive and excellent, the afternoon tea is a sad affair — although there were finger foods set out, hordes of hungry elite members gobbled up each refill. It’s not a pleasant experience.

Finally, Conrad Maldives offers a welcome amenity of sparkling wine, fresh fruit, and chocolate. Also of note: we traveled while celebrating a birthday and were pleased to find a complimentary chocolate cake in the room.

Conrad Bora Bora

Unlike Conrad Maldives, Conrad Bora Bora will offer complimentary upgrades to its elite members. When we booked the lagoon view king suite for a 7-night stay, we were upgraded 6 categories to a deluxe overwater villa. Of course, room upgrades are not guaranteed; you’ll have the best success when occupancy is low.

However, a 6-category jump on such a long stay represents a very significant financial benefit — the deluxe overwater villa costs more than twice as much as the standard king suite at $2,000+ per night.

Elite status at the resort is denoted by colored wristbands guests wear (that also function as room keys). In addition to a breakfast buffet (without alcohol), elite members at Conrad Bora Bora also have their own dedicated beach.

You’ll also receive a welcome amenity as an elite member that includes fresh fruit juice and chocolate.

Hot Tip: Check out our in-depth review of Conrad Bora Bora Nui Hotel detailing the room, amenities, food and beverage, and more!

Friendliness to Families

Conrad Bora Bora kids' club — Conrad Bora Bora kids’ club. Image Credit: Carissa Rawson

There is a fairly large difference when it comes to how families are treated between Conrad Bora Bora and Conrad Maldives. Although both resorts feature a kids’ club, only Conrad Bora Bora is completely open to children. This means the overwater villas, restaurants, and pools are all family-friendly. In practice, this means you’ll likely see quite a few children splashing around the infinity pool.

While Conrad Maldives also allows children, they’re restricted to just 1 of the resort’s 2 islands. Rangali Island is devoted exclusively to adults, which means that no one under 16 is permitted access. Instead, children must stay at the family-friendly Rangali-Finolhu island.

Note: The overwater villas that are considered standard room rewards at Conrad Maldives are located on Rangali Island, which means no children are allowed. Although there are some overwater villas that provide access to children, they’ll charge you premium room reward prices, which can cost upwards of a million points per night.

Final Thoughts

Both of these hotels are spectacular options for those looking to use their Hilton Honors points. Before the Hilton devaluation, there was a price difference to redeem points at each resort, but now both will run you 120,000 points per night. Despite both being located on remote islands, the overall feel and amenities of these properties are very different.

Conrad Maldives costs more and can be much less accessible for U.S. travelers, but there’s no denying the allure of a guaranteed water villa and fabulous snorkeling. Conrad Bora Bora, meanwhile, is much smaller and feels more exclusive. However, reward availability can be more difficult to find and it doesn’t offer free drinks or an underwater restaurant.

Wherever you choose to redeem your points, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking ocean views and the satisfaction of knowing that you’re staying at one of the most fabulous resort properties around.

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.
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Featured Image Credit: Carissa Rawson

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Conrad Bora Bora all-inclusive?

Although Conrad Bora Bora is not all-inclusive when using points, it may be possible to book an all-inclusive stay when paying with cash or using a travel package.

Which is better, Conrad Maldives or Conrad Bora Bora?

While both Conrad properties are exceptional, the one that works best for you will depend on your travel style. Conrad Bora Bora is more accessible and less expensive than the Maldives, but you’ll find superior snorkeling at Conrad Maldives’ house reef.

Which is better for a honeymoon, Conrad Bora Bora or Conrad Maldives?

Both properties are excellent for honeymoons, but the adults-only Rangali Island at Conrad Maldives provides a much more exclusive feel to those looking for romance.

Which is cheaper, Conrad Bora Bora or Conrad Maldives?

Both Conrad Bora Bora and Conrad Maldives can be booked using Hilton Honors points, making your hotel stay free. However, the overall remoteness and tipping culture of the Maldives means that it will be much more expensive than Bora Bora.

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About Carissa Rawson

Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and more.

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