Review: Capital One Lounge at JFK, New York

August 10, 2025August 10, 2025by milesforplacesLeave a Comment

On a recent flight from New York City to London, we had the chance to check out the new Capital One Lounge at JFK International Airport. It’s located in Terminal 4 near the B gates and is open 24 hours a day—making it a great spot to relax, no matter how early or late your flight is.

Access is complimentary for Capital One Venture X personal and business cardholders. Currently, through February 1, 2026, cardholders can bring two guests for free. However, starting after that date, only primary cardholders who spend $75,000 or more in a calendar year will continue to receive complimentary access, which could limit the lounge’s appeal for many travelers and significantly reduce the card’s value proposition. If cardholders want to pay for guest access, they can do so at a discounted rate of $45 per person ($90 per person is the rate for non-cardholders).

When we visited, the lounge had only been open for a few days, so it was still working through a few minor growing pains.

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the front desk staff, who welcomed us into the lounge. They scanned our boarding passes, verified our credit cards, and gave us a quick overview of the amenities—including directions around the space and instructions for ordering from the dine-in menu. The lounge has all the usual Capital One perks—grab-and-go snacks and drinks, dine-in menu, shower suites, dedicated password-protected Wi-Fi, and a parents’ room. The parents’ room is stocked with diapers, wipes, bibs, bottle warmers, and comfortable seating for feeding your child. No other lounge network accommodates parents with young children to this extent. Capital One gets high marks here.

The lounge offers a bodega-style espresso bar, giving the lounge an NYC feel, with hand-rolled bagels from Ess-a-Bagel, espresso from Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters, and La Colombe cold brew.

Capital One offers its dishes in small plate portions, and I had the Mac & Cheese, Roasted Heirloom Tomato Crostini, Wild Arugula Panzella Salad, and the Rustic White Bean & Spinach Soup. Everything was so flavorful and delicious, and having the small plate portions allowed me to comfortably try multiple items. They frequently replenish their items, and I never had to wait more than a few minutes if something was out.

The Mac and Cheese at Capital One Lounge JFK

Although it wasn’t open during our visit, the lounge also features a cheesemonger station where guests can sample a variety of gourmet cheeses. There’s plenty of space to relax, and during our time there, the lounge was only about 60% full.

For families, there are two private rooms available by reservation. You simply scan a QR code to join the waitlist and receive a text when your room is ready. Unfortunately, both rooms were occupied for the duration of our stay, so we didn’t get a chance to check them out.

Unlike most other lounge networks, Capital One offers a convenient “grab-and-go” option, letting guests take food with them for the flight. The selection can vary, but typically includes pre-made sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, fruit cups, salads, bottled water, and more.

The lounge offers nice views of the tarmac, and if you’re an AvGeek, you will consistently spot larger widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. The Wifi speed wasn’t terrible, but I think Capital One can improve upon the 16.7 Mbps download speed when other lounges around the country are surpassing 100 Mbps. This lounge also has shower suites, and they can be reserved in advance.

Conclusion

Overall, this is an excellent addition to JFK, giving travelers in Terminal 4 another strong option alongside the Centurion Lounge, Chase Sapphire Lounge, and others. For those traveling with an infant, the family-friendly amenities show that Capital One has gone the extra mile to make life easier for parents of very young children. The downside is that Capital One Venture X personal and business cardholders only have until February 1, 2026, before a $75,000 annual spend requirement kicks in for complimentary guest access.

Airport Lounges, Reviews, USA

Review: Capital One Lounge Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

April 29, 2025by milesforplacesLeave a Comment

My family and I had the pleasure of experiencing the Capital One Lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on a connecting flight to Calgary. Located in Terminal D near Gate 22, this lounge is now my first option when connecting at DFW. Dallas-Fort Worth has always been a desirable connecting airport due to its multiple lounges affiliated with credit cards and legacy carriers. Capital One opened its lounge at DFW in November of 2021 and has been gradually expanding its presence across U.S. airports. Capital One offers its own premium credit card, the Capital One Venture X, which grants the cardholder and up to two guests access to its growing network of lounges. Without diving too deep into other benefits the card offers (I will make a separate post for that), this card offers a lot of value for the $395 annual fee. Since my wife and I are both cardholders, everyone in my household had access during this visit.

Dining

The Capital One Lounge features a rotating seasonal menu that varies by city. We visited during lunch hours, and I sampled the Baby Corn Elote & Shishito Peppers, Roasted Pepper Hummus, San Marzano Bruschetta Flatbread, and Surimi Cucumber Canape. All three were very good, and the staff replenished the items every 15 to 20 minutes. The kids loved the Fontina Fondue Mac & Cheese and the variety of cheesecake bites. The banana nut bread, paired with coffee, was perfect.

The lounge offers a beverage fountain with a variety of soft drinks, including cola, diet cola, lemonade, ginger ale, sweet tea, and iced tea. The lounge also has a dispenser for La Colombe lattes. As someone who frequently purchases their lattes in a can, I liked this option.

Grab-and-go options are also available, although I can’t speak for the quality. There is also a bar area for those who want to consume adult beverages.

Seating

This lounge has plenty of seating for groups of all sizes, but it does fill up quickly. We didn’t have to wait to get into the lounge, but by the time we exited, the wait time was about 30 minutes, with a line of people waiting for their turn. The most significant complaint Venture X cardholders have about the lounge is the wait time. It wouldn’t shock me if Capital One implements an AMEX-type system for capacity control, where only the cardholder has complimentary access unless a spending threshold is met.

Amenities

This is where the Capital One Lounge sets itself apart from other lounges. Capital One has done a great job with amenities outside of food and drink. There is a nursing room, a gym, a multi-faith room, a relaxation room, and shower suites.

It was nice to see a prayer rug, an area for ablution, and a sign pointing towards the direction of Mecca for Muslims who wanted to use the room for prayer.

The Wi-Fi speed at the lounge was excellent, and you shouldn’t have any problems streaming video or engaging in data-intensive tasks. If there’s one thing I wish this lounge had, it’s a dedicated playroom for toddlers. This is a great lounge, and it will continue to be my go-to lounge at DFW as long as their current guest policy remains the same. Score: 4.5/5.

Airlines, Reviews

Review: Delayed Flight, Lost Bags, and Poor Communication- Our Forgettable Experience with Ryanair

July 20, 2024April 10, 2025by milesforplaces1 Comment

Background

On a recent trip to Morocco, my family and I were scheduled to fly via Ryanair from Fes, Morocco, to Marrakesh, Morocco. For those of you not familiar with Ryanair, they are the Spirit Airlines of Europe and the pioneer of the low-cost carrier model. When you book Ryanair, you should be informed that you’re getting a bare-bones flying experience at a very low cost to get you from point A to point B. They operate a very successful business due to their cheap airfare and vast network that has them operating several routes with little to no non-stop competition. I knew of the horror stories regarding Ryanair since the internet has Reddit pages and YouTube videos of travelers giving details about their experiences. Ryanair is the only airline that serves non-stop flights between Fes and Marrakesh, and it has prioritized expanding its service within Morocco. Had there been a competitor (I’m shocked Royal Air Maroc, the national airline of Morocco, does not serve this route), I would have paid more or redeemed more miles to avoid flying Ryanair. These two cities don’t link via high-speed rail yet, so that was not an option. Unfortunately, this left us with two options: take the seven-hour car ride with three kids or book with Ryanair and incur the risks of using their service. The tickets for the one-way flight were only 17 Euros, so even after paying for two checked bags and priority boarding, it was still a great deal. I thought it was a risk worth taking.

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Africa Itineraries, Destinations & Itineraries, Hotels, Reviews

Travel Itinerary: African Safari With Toddlers- Three Days at Mopani Safari Lodge near South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

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During the summer of 2023, my family and I took a trip to Zambia and South Africa to reconnect with relatives, have new experiences, and see the sights for which Africa is renowned. We wanted to experience a safari and stay in a lodge that would bring us close to the wildlife, both during game drives and on the lodge premises. We also needed a lodge that was amenable to having a 10-month-old, a three-year-old, and a four-year-old on the game drives. We researched several of Africa’s larger and more renowned game parks, such as Serengeti, Masai Mara, and Kruger. Almost all had an age requirement that would have excluded us from experiencing game drives in an open jeep as a family. My cousins informed me about Mopani, a safari lodge that didn’t have age restrictions and had game drives that toddlers and infants could also enjoy in an open jeep. Upon the strong recommendation of my cousins, who have visited multiple times, we booked our stay at the Mopani Lodge, located outside South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. This was the experience of a lifetime, and our stay was exceptional in every aspect, from the accommodations and service to the knowledgeable tour guides to the delicious food served daily. Here is a detailed recap of both our drive to the location and our stay.

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Hotels

Review: Protea Hotel, Chipata, Zambia

July 6, 2024April 12, 2025by milesforplaces1 Comment

On our way to South Luangwa National Park from Lusaka, we stayed a night at the Protea Hotel in Chipata. Protea is part of the Marriott hotel portfolio and is ubiquitous in Africa. I had never heard of this brand until I was searching on Marriott’s app for hotels in Chipata. About two and a half hours from South Luangwa National Park, Protea Hotel proved an excellent accommodation to break our journey.

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Airport Lounges, Reviews, USA

Review: Polaris Lounge Chicago O’Hare International Airport

May 4, 2024April 12, 2025by milesforplaces3 Comments

On a recent trip to Portugal, my wife and I had the privilege of visiting the Polaris Lounge in Chicago. The lounge was unlike any other airline premium airport lounge we had ever visited in the United States. Before United launched Polaris Lounges in the U.S., American carriers did not have a product that could compete with the business-class lounges of Qatar Airlines, Etihad, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, etc. United has expanded this product to San Francisco, Newark, Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington Dulles. Many travel experts and bloggers consider Polaris Lounges among the best airport lounges in the U.S.

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Airport Lounges, Reviews, South America

Lounge Review: Centurion Lounge Buenos Aires Ezeiza Aiport

January 2, 2023March 4, 2025by milesforplaces1 Comment

Over the last few months, I’ve been fortunate to transit through airports with an AMEX Centurion Lounge. Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, happened to be another one of those airports. Centurion Lounge access is complimentary for those holding an American Express Platinum card during our visit. At the time of our visit, cardholders were also allowed to bring in one guest (and children under 16), so my wife was able to benefit. As of 2023, AMEX Platinum cardholders must spend $75k annually on the card for complimentary guest access.

This lounge is in Terminal C, past immigration/customs and security. Take the elevator or stairs to the second floor right past gate 15, and you will find the lounge entrance.

Upon entering the lounge, the front desk staff will ask for your AMEX Platinum card and boarding pass. Once they have scanned both, you’re good to go.

FoodBA — The food options were sweet croissants, wheat and white bread, cheese, pastrami sandwiches, and banana nut muffins with powdered sugar. It was not quite the selection I’ve seen at other Centurion Lounges, but certainly better than many non-Centurion Lounges I’ve visited. Fresh orange juice and apple juice were also available.

DrinksBA — The beverage cooler was fully stocked with *soft drinks and adult beverages.*

This lounge had plenty of seating and did not suffer from being overcrowded when I was there. Perhaps traveling on a Sunday, which also happened to be New Year’s Eve, had a lot to do with that.

DiningAreaBA — *The dining area of the lounge*

One thing I noticed and appreciated about this lounge was the attentiveness of the staff. They would check on tables every 2-3 minutes to make sure any dishes, soda bottles, and cans were removed.

LoungeBA — Plenty of empty seats in the common area. Big time plus

The lounge was equipped with Apple iMacs. It might be the first lounge I’ve seen featuring Apple, and as a long-time Apple guy, I appreciated this.

They also had a room for the kids. Centurion Lounge is doing a great job making its lounges kid-friendly. I didn’t want to take pics while the kids were there (that would be creepy), so I waited until it emptied out. During my two hours there, it was undoubtedly being utilized for most of that time.

*Great job by AMEX for remembering the population that may become future AMEX Platinum cardholders.*

SpeedTestBA — *Wi-Fi connectivity could have been better.*

Overall, I’d give this lounge a 4.5/5. It could use a slightly enhanced food selection and faster connectivity, but it scored well on everything else: Plenty of seats, spacious Apple iMacs, and a playroom for children. The staff was very friendly and worked hard to keep the lounge clutter-free. If you’re an AMEX Platinum card holder flying out of Buenos Aires (EZE), visit this lounge.

Reviews, Tips

Review: Renting a Car With Turo

March 7, 2022July 2, 2024by milesforplaces1 Comment

I decided to give Turo a shot during my recent trip to The Big Island of Hawaii since car rental prices for a five-day trip were ridiculously expensive. When I entered my travel dates on Kayak, the cheapest rate I found was $568 for a Ford Fiesta. Having a car on The Big Island is almost necessary if you don’t plan on spending your entire time on a resort because the island is bigger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined. If you’re staying near one of their two major towns, Kona or Hilo, on opposite sides of the island, the driving time to get from one to another is about two hours. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is closer to Hilo and a two-hour drive from Kona without stopping. The time will increase significantly if you stop at viewpoints and other points of interest along the way (you really should). You can also take the mass transit bus, but it’s more than 3 hours each way, and you’ll regret not being able to stop at places along the way. But man, $568 for a Ford Fiesta. I was looking for a compact car with great gas mileage and comfortably fit an infant car seat, such as a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. Those types of cars were going for $615 for five days, and since my goal was not to offset my savings on my flight (I redeemed AA miles) by splurging on a car rental, I turned to Turo and saw what they offered.

Booking Process

Turo markets itself as the Airbnb for cars. Regular people make their cars available to rent, and you can often get luxury cars or convertibles for the price of a standard car at a rental company like Hertz. I found a compact car (Dodge Dart) going for $280 for 5 days on Turo, and the car owner had a near-perfect rating with over 30 reviews. I booked the Dodge Dart, which included 500 miles (an extra 45 cents/mile if I went over), and bought their standard insurance coverage for $10 daily. Even after adding that to the rental cost, it was still significantly cheaper than the standard car rental agencies offered. It is important to note that credit card companies will not cover damage on car rentals from Turo. If you decide not to purchase any of Turo’s three tiers of collision coverage, you will be liable for any damages.

Picking Up The Car

Before departing DFW for our flight to Kona, I gave the car owner our flight info, and he responded immediately with directions on how to get the car. Once we landed, he sent me a video that showed me where the car was parked in the airport parking lot and how to walk over to the parking lot. It was right across the street from the baggage claim with the keys in the glove compartment. No lines, no waiting, no hassle. Since he took a ticket to get the car into the parking lot, he told me to pay the total amount upon exiting and keep the receipt. That fee would be reimbursed. He also gave me his cellphone number and told me to give him a call in case any issues would arise.

The Dodge Dart I rented was big enough to fit two suitcases in the trunk and had plenty of space to install the base of the car seat and the car seat itself. Gas was $3.62/gallon for regular, so having a fuel-efficient car was optimal since I knew I’d be driving at least 450 miles in the 5 days we were there. I drove 494 miles, most of that being the round-trip from Waikoloa to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Everything worked as it should, and the AC was very cool and needed for the mid-80s temperatures.

Returning The Car

We were set to return our car to the airport parking lot by 8 p.m., but our flight was closer to midnight. Our car owner (Anthony) said it wouldn’t be a problem if we returned the car at 10:15 pm so we would not have to spend close to four hours at the airport. I got to the airport parking lot, pulled out a ticket, and parked near the same area where I picked it up. I took a picture of the car and texted it to show him where it was parked. This was basically the “checkout” process. The picking up and dropping off process may differ with every car owner. I was very happy with my experience renting from Turo as it saved me both time and money. Turo can be a great alternative to a traditional car rental, especially if you’re going to a destination with high demand.

Hotels, Reviews

Review: The Langham, New York City

February 8, 2022March 5, 2025by milesforplacesLeave a Comment

This was my second time staying at the Langham in NYC, but my first time staying at the Langham as an AMEX Platinum cardholder—a whole new experience! Don’t get me wrong, I had a great first stay; it was what I expected for a 5-star hotel; however, as an AMEX Platinum cardholder, I felt like the experience was so much better. One of the card’s benefits is a $200 credit for booking hotels that are part of Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection. When I checked in, the staff immediately upgraded me to an executive suite with a kitchen on the 21^st floor. Along with the upgrade, I was informed that I had a $100 credit for any of the following: spa, room service, or breakfast for two at their Michelin-star restaurant, Ai Fiori. I was also informed that I could check out at 4pm, which was very convenient since our flight was at 5:30pm on Sunday.

When we went to our room, my cousin and I first noticed the view through the large windows—we could see down 5th Avenue and the beautiful Chrysler building.

*View of Bank of America Tower and the Conde Naste Building (with H&M sign)*

ChryslerBuilding — *Beautiful view of the Chrysler building and looking down on Fifth Avenue*

The second thing we noticed was that we had a powder room—when does that ever happen? Needless to say, we had more than enough room. We even had some of our friends and cousins come up to hang out with us in the room; six adults and a baby were hanging out comfortably. All the cafes around us were closed, so we ordered lattes from room service (using my $100 credit), and they were excellent!

*Full kitchen via AMEX Platinum upgrade*

*Soap, shampoo, and conditioner were all Chuan, a holistic proprietary brand owned by Langham.*

Another huge selling point for the Langham is its location. The hotel is centrally located in Manhattan, so we could walk to most of our destinations on Saturday. We walked to Washington Square Park, Times Square, and the Highline. The next day, we had to check out by 4pm and catch our flight at 5:30pm, so we didn’t have much time to waste. We woke up at 8am and called the doorman to arrange a ride to Central Park at 11am using the hotel car service (which is free!).

Pro Tip: The hotel has a Jaguar that will drop you off wherever you want to up until 59th Street. They start taking appointments at 8 a.m., and they are on a first-come, first-served basis.

After our ride set up, we got ready and cashed in on our complimentary breakfast at Ai Fiori—which was phenomenal! My cousin and I decided to order a couple of things and share. We ordered the buttermilk pancakes, uova in Purgatorio, and the house potatoes—everything was phenomenal. You can see the picture below.

If you asked me what the stay was like after my first time, I would’ve said it was great—all the basics of a 5-star hotel. But staying here as an AMEX Platinum cardholder made this experience next-level amazing, to say the least! It is rare to have a travel experience where you don’t compromise on something, whether it be the room, service, or location. But I can genuinely say there was no compromising at the Langham NYC; everything was at the top of its game—the room, the service, the amenities, the location, and the (free) food were all a 5 out of 5.

Review and pictures by Salma Hatia

Hotels, Reviews

Review: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

June 18, 2021February 9, 2025by milesforplacesLeave a Comment

Maldives is a magical place, and the hotel we stayed at, Conrad, did a fantastic job making us feel comfortable. The Maldives is one of the world’s premier beach destinations, and there isn’t any place like it. Crystal clear waters, abundant marine wildlife, and unparalleled hospitality, regardless of your chosen hotel. This particular Conrad is located on Rangali Island, an island that is part of the Alif Dhaal Atoll. The Maldives have 26 different atolls, some subdivided into two or three.

RangaliIslandMap — The atolls of The Maldives.

Getting There

The only way to get to Rangali Island is via a 45-minute seaplane flight on Trans Maldivian Airways from the capital city of Male. The distance between the two islands is about 59 miles or 95 km. Since my wife and I booked with Conrad, our experience started upon landing at Velana International Airport in Male. The Conrad staff guided us to an exclusive Conrad Lounge as we waited for our seaplane to arrive. It’s rare for a hotel to have a branded airport lounge; this was our first time experiencing one. The lounge was spacious, had a decent selection of food and drinks, and was clean and well-maintained. It also offered free Wi-Fi and couches that could be used as beds. It was much better than most airport lounges we’ve visited.

About 45 minutes later, our seaplane arrived, and it was time to take the much-anticipated flight to Rangali Island.

I apologize for taking this video vertically. The plane seats around 15 people and flies at about 5,000 feet. You get some fantastic views of the other atolls and islands on your way. It was a loud flight due to the propellers, but it was much smoother than I had anticipated. Once we arrived, we boarded a golf cart that took us to our villa. The staff gave us a tour of the villa and the amenities and explained their services to us in detail. We also found a complimentary bottle of sparkling grape juice and a fruit basket left for us. You can see the video of our villa below.

Retreat Water Villa (Overwater Villa)

*The* *stairs lead you straight into the water. I’d say the depth is around seven feet.*

MaldivesPath — *The path to the beach area*

HotTubRed2 — *The various colors of the jacuzzi at night.*

SunsetVilla — *Majestic sunsets are the norm in the Maldives.*

Conrad upgraded us from a water villa to a retreat water villa as a Hilton Gold member. The retreat water villa came with our own jacuzzi and had a more private feel since the neighboring villas were several hundred feet away. The villa itself was incredible. This property has won numerous awards, including the best luxury resort in the world. Each villa also included a private spa room with two massage tables. We didn’t use this service since we wanted to be outside and soak in the sun. Each villa also has stairs that take you right into the water. I would estimate the depth to be around seven feet at the villas, so if you don’t know how to swim, you might want to keep that in mind. It gets much shallower once you’re near the beach.

Dining

As Hilton Gold members, we were entitled to complimentary breakfast, free afternoon tea at Mandhoo Spa Restaurant, and complimentary cocktails/mocktails between 5-6pm. The breakfast had many options, and I had something different every day. The afternoon tea at Mandhoo was more like a lunch since they also had sandwiches. Purchasing meals at this property was quite pricey. I mean, it is a Conrad Hotel, after all. To minimize meal costs, we would have breakfast at the latest possible time, around 10:30 a.m., and then have the complimentary tea and lunch at Mandhoo Spa Restaurant at 4:30. Since this was pretty darn close to dinner time, we only utilized the Atoll Market for dinner once. Dinner can quickly run past $120 a person, so if that matters, it is something to beware of. Conrad Maldives is also home to the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant. Unfortunately, all the daytime slots were reserved during our visit there, and there was no point in making a reservation during the evening hours since you couldn’t see the marine wildlife.

Conradlunch — *Pastries, cookies, and tarts*

ConradLunch2 — *The roast beef sandwich and the fruit tart were delicious.*

LunchConrad — *You can help yourself to as many sandwiches as you want*

Other Areas of Conrad Maldives

This property actually has a total of three islands. Two of them (Rangali and Rangalifinolhu) are used for guests, and a third is used only for employees. To get from one island to another, we just called the front desk, and they sent a golf cart, which brought us from place to place. You can certainly walk the distance if you want to, but it would take 25-30 minutes. You will save a ton of time by using the gold cart below.

I didn’t measure the Wi-Fi speed in the villa, but it was pretty fast, and I had no issues with connectivity. They also have a fantastic business center within a lounge on the second floor if you need one. I only used it for a few minutes to print documents, but it had everything you needed. If you’re a Mac person, they had those as well. Great job, Conrad!

ConradBusiness — *Lounge on the second floor*

ConradBusiness2 — *Business center within the lounge*

People have often asked what we did after sunset. We made it a point to sleep by 8 p.m. every day. Sunset was at 6:20 p.m., so we woke up at sunrise, around 6 a.m., and made the most of our day. If you’re in a place like the Maldives, I’d strongly recommend waking up early and not sleeping in. Regarding activities, you can go on excursions such as swimming with whale sharks or scuba diving and jet skiing. If you’re used to paying a specific price for those activities, you will pay double and triple that here. Seeing the exorbitant costs, I just preferred to snorkel at the reef right off the island and swim in the waters right near my villa. If only they were allowed to book excursions with miles. This Conrad also has two infinity pools, one on each island, which all guests can use. I took full advantage of that as well.

ConradBeach — *The beach area at Rangali Island. Both islands have beaches*

InfinityPool2 — Infinity Pool Two. The Dhoni ferry in the background is another way to get from one island to another.

MaldivesBridge — *The seaplane platform which is also used to connect Rangali Island to Rangalifinolhu Island. It’s beautifully lit in the evening.*

When I made this reservation, I informed them that my wife’s birthday would be on the second day of our stay there. They remembered that housekeeping made a nice gesture when we entered our room after breakfast on the second day.

AyeshaBday — *They also surprised her with a delicious cake during dinner*

ConradVilla5 — *Nighttime was perfect for the jacuzzi*

Final Thoughts

To sum it all up, it is a fantastic resort with pristine beaches, excellent food, excellent service, super friendly and helpful staff, and an experience I hope to be a part of again. If you do decide to book at Conrad Rangali Island, having the AMEX Hilton Surpass card or the AMEX Platinum card and the Gold status that comes along with it will take you a long way. I estimated I got over $700 in value just by having the card.

Departure — *View of the Conrad Rangali Island from the seaplane*

Some of you have asked if you could take a speedboat rather than a seaplane to Rangali Island. From my understanding, the only way to get there is by seaplane. It’s way overpriced for what amounts to a 30-minute plane ride, and unfortunately, if you don’t have miles that can be redeemed for cash (Chase Ultimate Rewards or AMEX Membership points), there really is no way around it. Trans Maldivian Airways monopolizes this route, so it probably won’t change soon. If the seaplane cost is a turnoff, remember that plenty of excellent hotels only require a seaboat transfer from Male. That cost isn’t cheap, but it’ll save you about $500 for two people.