Choose this, not that: The best far-flung international islands to book with points, and those to avoid

A stay in an overwater bungalow at a remote island like the Maldives or Bora Bora is often on many travelers' bucket lists. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to experience these dream destinations using points today. However, the value and experience can differ significantly from one property to another. Some offer limited accommodations, while others may be more challenging and expensive to reach.

Here are the top international island getaways you can book with points, along with some that you might want to pass on.

Reserve: Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa

The Maldives features numerous points hotels, but some, like Le Méridien Maldives, provide significantly better redemption value. This property opened its doors in 2021 and is relatively new.

Nightly rates range from 48,000 to 56,000 points, but if you book five consecutive nights with points, your least expensive night is free, effectively lowering the nightly rate to 38,400 points. You can enhance your Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point free night certificate with Marriott credit cards such as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.

For just an additional 10,000 points per night, you can upgrade to a sunrise overwater bungalow on most nights.

In contrast, most Marriott Bonvoy hotels in the Maldives charge at least two to three times more per night and require significantly higher points for overwater villas. The Le Méridien has a seaplane transfer fee of $420 per person, which is relatively low compared to other resorts in the Maldives.

Avoid: Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa

With room rates beginning at just 41,000 points per night, the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa ranks among Marriott's more affordable properties in the Maldives. However, you often get what you pay for. During the TPG team's visit a few years ago, they noticed numerous issues, including debris in the water, lackluster overwater bungalows, and incessant air traffic due to the resort's close proximity to the airport — quite the opposite of what you'd expect from a Maldivian getaway.

If you're considering a more budget-friendly resort in the Maldives, opting for the Le Méridien may be a better choice.

Reserve: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

If you're aiming to redeem Hilton Honors points for a getaway to the Maldives, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is your best bet. While Hilton also boasts the breathtaking Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, it's a lot pricier in terms of both room rates and dining options.

Standard awards at the Conrad can be elusive, costing 120,000 points per night, whereas you can expect to shell out 150,000 points at the Waldorf. If you can find standard room availability, booking the sunrise water villa at the standard rate is possible. The hotel features an underwater restaurant, which might be the ideal spot to utilize the $250 annual resort credit from the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been independently gathered by Dinogo. The details regarding the card on this page have not been reviewed or authorized by the card issuer.

Avoid: Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa

The Park Hyatt Maldives is a decent hotel, providing good value for your World of Hyatt points. However, if you're seeking a truly extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Maldives, the Park Hyatt might not be the ideal option.

The resort is showing signs of age. Furthermore, numerous reviews mention that the food is expensive yet mediocre, which poses a challenge when you're on an isolated island. Additionally, it's more difficult to reach than other Maldivian resorts, requiring both a commercial flight and a boat transfer.

Reserve: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

If you can secure award space, the InterContinental Bora Bora Thalasso offers Emerald overwater villas for 120,000 points per night. TPG values IHG Rewards Club points at 0.5 cents each, making this redemption a bargain since these villas typically cost over $1,000 per night. Each room provides over 1,000 square feet of space and direct access to the lagoon.

To reach the resort from the airport, you'll need to take a boat transfer costing 7,334 Pacific Island Francs (approximately $65 per person). This price is quite reasonable compared to other luxury resorts in the region, where transfer fees can exceed $300 per person.

Avoid: The InterContinental Tahiti Resort and Spa

Although the Intercontinental Tahiti frequently has rates below $300 per night, it feels outdated and pales in comparison to several Marriott, IHG, and Hilton properties on nearby islands.

Situated about two kilometers from Faaa International Airport (PPT), this hotel is a popular choice for airline crews during layovers. When TPG's Kyle Olsen visited French Polynesia in 2021, the lobby and hallways were bustling with passengers and crew from United Airlines' arriving Dreamliner from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

If you take the United Airlines flight from SFO or the Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), you will likely arrive after Air Tahiti’s final flight has departed. As a result, you may need to spend the night in Tahiti before continuing to a nearby island.

Should you find yourself in Tahiti during an overnight layover, consider booking a stay at the newly opened Hilton Hotel Tahiti.

Reserve: The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort

No other hotel in the Pacific boasts overwater bungalows as spacious as those at the St. Regis Bora Bora. When the hotel first became part of Marriott Bonvoy following the SPG merger, it was available for just 60,000 points per night. Currently, rates start at around the six-figure range and can reach up to 120,000 points per night — if you can find award availability. Securing five consecutive nights for a free night here is quite challenging.

During TPG's Kyle Olsen's stay at the hotel on points in 2021, he and his family received a complimentary upgrade to a two-bedroom overwater bungalow with a private pool, courtesy of his Ambassador Elite status. He described it as "the best hotel stay of my life."

In conclusion

Visiting destinations like the Maldives and Bora Bora is a rare opportunity for most travelers.

You can expect a good experience at any of these hotels, but it’s crucial to ensure you’re receiving the best possible service. Some remote island resorts perform better than others. After all, if you’re spending your hard-earned points and traveling such a distance, it should be worthwhile.