Tourist numbers down

www.haveeru.com.mv/english/鈥?/a>

Surprise surprise - we%26#39;re all skint!

Tourist numbers down

Maybe they should think of bringing the costs down, afterall its not like they are not making any money off the costs as they are. I can%26#39;t even begin to understand how they can justify putting prices up to 10% let alone 30% when inflation is only 3%.

Tourist numbers down

I have been desperately trying to justify going back to Reethi beach next year, but the price increase is huge! Maybe if the figures go down even more they will listen and stop the silly 30% increases.

Softail

It wouldn%26#39;t exactly take an Einstein to figure out that this was going to happen. Surely now they will start to re-think their %26#39;Make everywhere flash and charge silly prices%26#39; phlosophy. Let%26#39;s hope so.

Thanks for the link, nakatcha

Wid

Thanks for the link...interesting reading!!

I am inclined to agree with the article, it does make you wonder what percentages will be like come late April to early July! Again like the rest of the world they need to stop, take stock of what is happening globally and adapt to the new situation that everybody is in....

Just my opinion though..

We went in Feb 06, 2 adults,1 child, 拢3800 AI, flying with Emirates.

The very same holiday this year is over 拢5k !!!

No wonder numbers are down if prices are 30%-50% more!!

Hi

Just been looking at various resort websites...as you do when you%26#39;re an addict..and on Komandoo%26#39;s guestbook there%26#39;s a ';newsflash'; - 20% off their B%26amp;B prices on the website for direct bookings between April %26amp; July 19th (approx. when UK schools break up).

They wouldn%26#39;t do that if bookings were at their normal level. Maybe there%26#39;s going to be a price war! :-)

cheers

Ian

When are they going to realise that irrespective of this economic climate they can%26#39;t get away with bumping up prices 20 - 30% a year! We would normally book now for December and this year we%26#39;re playing the waiting game. Quite a few resorts are doing mealplan and free nights but nothing goes further than about May, yet.

Looks like the decline in bookings is starting to bite...

for anyone looking to book Kuredu - they are also offering 20% discount from their B%26amp;B rates between April and December - or 25% if you are a repeat visitor.

Komandoo are offering the same 25% discount for repeat visitors...if they make that price for AI instead of B%26amp;B, we may return there after all..

only snag is you have to book direct to get the discount.

cheers

Ian

Hi Nakatcha

Interesting thread. Can%26#39;t say I am too surprised - this forum has been talking about escalating prices for ages. The strengthening dollar has a lot to do with the price increases but that alone can%26#39;t account for some of the massive price rises being reported.

The current trend for upgrading islands to 5* will also do nothing for holiday costs.

OD

Hi one and all.

For those of you with nerves of steel and who are prepared to risk the weather I think this summer could see some real bargains in the Maldives. And for that matter the rest of the world.

I%26#39;ve just come back from Thailand and by holding my nerve saved 拢200pp on the flights and 拢40 per night on the hotel - a total of nearly a grand. I booked the flights just after Christmas and the hotel a week before we left, both direct with the respective companies.

As the ';credit crunch'; bites deeper across the whole of Europe (easily the main source of tourists to the Maldives), bookings will fall further. By putting a holiday together separately with say Emirates (already offering significant price cuts across most routes) and negotiating with the resort for their ';best price';, all at the last minute, I%26#39;m willing to bet some real bargains could be had.

I guess it all comes down to the level of gambler in you and your flexibility in resort choice.

I don%26#39;t take holidays in the summer, but if I were going to do it, this is what I%26#39;d do.

1). Book your time off work. If you can make it a midweek flight it%26#39;s likely to be cheaper.

2). Enrol in two or three airlines loyalty programmes (those who fly to the Maldives obviously). It costs nothing and you get newsletters e-mailed to you detailing upcoming fare promotions, usually before they hit the press.

3). Choose four or five resorts and e-mail them directly now for prices. It%26#39;ll give you an idea of cost and availability. If most or all have space now they%26#39;re likely to still have some from June onwards. This is best done if you can access several e-mail accounts eg a works one, a home one and say a Hotmail one. If your partner has similar access you%26#39;ll have at least six different e-mails and the resort will not realise it%26#39;s the same person asking the questions. In my experience of booking late they can dig their heels in if they think it%26#39;s one person requesting a holiday - on the principle that you%26#39;re very keen on that resort and likely to blink first.

4). The difficult part. Disconnect all computers you might be tempted to use until May. Oh all right then, sit on your hands.

5). Approximately two months before proposed departure check flight availability across your chosen three airlines. If they all have some sit back on your hands again. If one or more are full it%26#39;s time to move.

6). A month before the holiday (preferably later if you%26#39;re feeling really brave) start e-mailing the resorts again and compare the quoted prices with those you originally got. If they%26#39;re the same it%26#39;s probably worth booking there and then. If there%26#39;s been any fall then there%26#39;s possibly going to be a further drop as the deadline approaches. Once again availability here is key. If they all still have places it%26#39;s hugely unlikely they%26#39;ll all be booked up in the remaining time.

7). Remember to keep an eye on flight availability.

8). One to two weeks to go, and still availability across the board? Go for it. But negotiate hard across the resorts. They will not be confident of getting any more bookings so late in the day and may well accept a reasonable offer. If they won%26#39;t budge try getting extras thrown in. Say perhaps a room upgrade or conversion from full board to A/I etc. Or maybe free nights.

9). Bob%26#39;s your father%26#39;s brother. A holiday in Paradise at a fraction of the brochure prices.

Throughout all of this it%26#39;s very sensible to have a back up plan eg the Middle East, the Red Sea or the Caribbean. For differing reasons all are less booked in the summer months. No they%26#39;re not the Maldives obviously, but that%26#39;s the risk you take.

Good luck, take care, DrMike.

PS. Brown trousers are an essential fashion accessory during the whole process!