This Water Villa at the Shangri-La Villingili in the Maldives is 70% off—if you book through Condé Nast Traveler's Maldives travel specialist.
Fellow Dealer Julia Bainbridge names the Maldives as her dream destination in her Jauntsetter of the week interview. Her dream stay? The Shangri-La Villingili, which opened last summer and is one of the top resorts in the Maldives—quite an honor in a place with no shortage of ultra-luxury resorts. It's on one of the largest islands in the archipelago (great for those looking for more space and activities than most resorts offer), and all accommodations are in individual "villas," the smallest measuring 1,400 square feet.
Lindsey Wallace, the Maldives travel specialist on our annual list of Condé Nast Traveler's top travel specialists, has negotiated some truly amazing special rates at this resort. A pool villa (the lowest room category) will normally run you $1,336 per night (double occupancy, including taxes and service charges); Wallace can get you the same thing for $515...and a complimentary upgrade to a water villa if available, which he loves for their direct access to the gorgeous lagoon. Those over-water lodgings usually go for $1,776 per night, so his rate saves you over 70%. The best deal, though, is the rate he's negotiated for a "tree house villa"—these ultra-private, 2,350-square-foot hideaways ordinarily cost $3,096 per night, but just $598 through Wallace: a discount of over 80%.
What makes this deal even more impressive is that these special prices are offered during high season: February and March are the best months to visit the Maldives, Wallace says, because there's almost no rain and the seas are calm, making for great diving.
Do note that to reach the resort you need to take a domestic flight from Malé and then a brief speedboat ride. Roundtrip transfers are $330 per person.
Dates: Good for stays February 1-10, and February 20 through March 26, 2010.
How to book: Contact Lindsey Wallace, the only person who can get you these special discounted rates—and check our our article on last year's dream trip winner for more examples of how Wallace can arrange a true "dream trip."
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