Hi Kiang,
For my trip to Hilton yr 2005, I booked direct with Hilton Maldives thru their webby, and booked my own SQ flight.
For Mirihi, I booked with
www.mal-dives.com(Impex), they are online agent for lots of resort. PLease check out their website as currently they do have free night stays with a couple of resort, such as Conrad aka Hilton, W-hotel, one & only, banyan tree, angsana etc...
http://www.mal-dives.com/maldives/holidays/resorts/special_offers.html
I'm currently planning for my 2008 trip to Maldives again, and likely to book with
www.mal-dives.com again.
Cannot compare Hilton with Mirihi as they're of different class. Mirihi is really value for money, and they do have very nice Water villa interior for the price. It used to be about USD260 nett per nite for their Water villa. Now is about USD420 liao.
Hilton Water got 6 category, water villa,superior, deluxe, premier, spa water villa & Sunset water villa. Their price now range from USD1K onwards for their normal Water villa.
My personal opinion is that it's overprice liao, although it's nice(branded stuff inside the villa), but I might as well go for Mirihi at USD420 or W-hotel Ocean Oasis or One & Only Reethi Rah Water villa.
Mirihi is no longer that cheap but infact all resort rates in MAldives sky rocketted from last year onwards. However, Hilton rates is worse, it went up at least 2 fold since my trip(probably due to name change to conrad). It is still worth to go if u choose the beach villa(USD660 nett), at 150sqm in floor area, 2 big island for u to explore, superb breakfast range, nice water sports centre n gym, and off course the underwater restaurant.
However, do bear in mind that I've quote u based on Mal-dives.com July rates, Oct rate will be more ex across the board for most resort. Conrad seems to be the same, while most I think shld be up b 25%.
Ok.. 1st I think do set a budget for your trip. If no budget it's the best la..kekeke... but if you do, must go thru with you on varies expenditure such as food, transfer, excursion etc... Do let me know if you need help.
Cheers!