Want a villa on stilts overlooking a turquoise lagoon? Check. Or maybe your own beach house is more your thing? It’s all yours. In the Maldives, each resort is located on its own island, so you’re sure to have a piece of paradise all your own.
Perhaps best known as one of the ultimate wedding and honeymoon destinations, the Maldives certainly has plenty of romantic spots, but many resorts have been redesigned to offer a range of activities, from family fun to clubbing. There are also venues dedicated to top-notch watersports, epic spa and culinary experiences. But there are more than 130 resorts currently operating in the Maldives, how do you choose? We took a risk and tried two of the best of them.
Anantara Veli Island
Although Viliana Tara was already gorgeous, a recent refurbishment brought a Hamptons vibe to the water villas and beachfront villas to great effect. Why not just go straight to the Hamptons? Because obviously, you don’t get the tropical waters, coral reefs, and calm serenity you get from beautiful, remote silversand gems when you’re on the continental United States.
With five stars, Veli is gorgeous and also stands out for its sister resort, Dhigu, next door. In practice, this means you can explore even more, hopping between the two in a small boat; or borrow a kayak to Gulhifushi, their own picnic island complete with a tiki bar. Dhigu welcomes families and Veli itself is adults only, so it’s really peaceful here.
Stroll along the sandy path and enjoy breakfast by the sea in Cumin, where tropical fruit is an ideal start to the day on the island, but you can also choose from a variety of creative pastries and delicious fish dishes, such as the crab omelet, which will be launched soon. favorite. You can then choose between bars and restaurants on both islands, which include Maldivian, Japanese, Thai and Indian-inspired dishes as well as seafood and steaks. On one memorable evening, the team prepared dinner on the beach as we dined on delicately spiced dishes by the light of a torch under an exotic starry sky.
We visited the Chef’s garden, where the herbs were thriving, and everywhere indicated that people spend a considerable amount of time dreaming up more layers of cuteness. The swing seat is parked in a sensible location. The hammock is placed on a pair of wooden supports in the sea. Swim there and snap an instant Instagram photo. Someone asked me a question before going to Maldives: don’t you feel bored? I do wonder, since I’m usually the kind of person who incorporates activities into travel. but I am not. You may be on a small island, but you certainly won’t be short of things to do. Here are just a few ways to get you started – assuming you can leave the villa, of course.
Anantara Veli Highlights
- Start the day with yoga in the gazebo by the water. Or go to a Tibetan singing bowl later for sound healing.
- Reef snorkeling: Snorkels and fins are provided free of charge, and the reef near Picnic Island has been replanted with corals that are in the early stages of growth and are in good condition. See brightly colored fish and maybe even baby reef sharks and a turtle or two.
- Swim with nurse sharks and stingrays: Our short boat trip was accompanied by dolphins and flying fish, and the experience of snorkeling with all these beautiful creatures was unforgettable.
- Take surfing lessons: the lagoon waters are calm enough to give you a head start.
- Rejuvenate the body with a range of treatments, including topical massage techniques, acupuncture or traditional hammam treatments.
- Sunset Cruise: Enjoy champagne and canapés on a boat at sunset.
- Cinema Under the Stars: Pick your favorite movie and sit back and watch it on an outdoor screen by the sea, with champagne and popcorn – what a combination!
Pro tip: Put your swimsuit in your hand luggage. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as jumping straight into turquoise waters before your bags even arrive.
Willie Health Center
Want to rejuvenate and relax? Anantara Veli offers personalized wellness programs that can focus on areas of your choice such as detox, weight loss, mindfulness and wellness. Programs range from three to ten days, and a sample three-day detox and weight management retreat starts at $1,267 per night and includes:
- 3 nights accommodation in an overwater wellness villa
- Five Senses Enhancement Room Features
- All inclusive healthy minibar.
- 1x healthy cooking class
- 1x health assessment
- 1x epigenetics test and consult a nutritionist
- 3x Personal Training/Boxing Lessons
- 1x Medi-Spa treatment with choice of Colon Hydrotherapy or VelaShape Anticellulite
- 1x 60-minute Ayurvedic treatment
- 1 x 60-minute customized detox massage
- Health gift box
live in ville
Stays at Anantara Veli Overwater Villas start at $750 per room per night, with decked villas offering direct access to the lagoon and half board with standard restaurant meals. You’ll also earn $60 per person toward specialty dining at select restaurants. From there, you can upgrade to villas with plunge pools, infinity pools and beach villas with private pools.
anantara.com/en/veli – Maldives
Niama Private Island
The two islands of Niyama are connected by a small bridge and form one of the larger resorts in the Maldives, although you’ll never feel crowded. Instead, the two islands known as “Relax” and “Play” are filled with blissful tranquility, lush tropical scenery and incredible beauty. In fact, the accommodation is so well designed that you could (and likely) be next door to someone very famous without you necessarily knowing it.
Everything has been thought of: from the bikes outside your beach house (each with your name engraved on them) to your Takuru (Picture a host/concierge/butler in one) He is always there to pick you up in his buggy whenever you need him.
Where do beach houses start? Picture a very comfortable queen bed overlooking a deck beyond which is a plunge pool and then the perfect white sand of the beach. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a spacious outdoor bathroom offering open-air and horizontal showers, reflecting pools and soaking tubs. Inside is the largest minibar I’ve ever seen, complete with popcorn machines and tempting exotic fruit.
We arrived in the ocean view treatment room in time for a relaxing massage and one of my traveling companions was amazed by the array of advanced treatments as she is an expert and I take her word for it. Since I wasn’t looking for a plasma facial, my therapist suggested I smell different essential oils. I chose a spot that was energizing, which was convenient because the next stop was the Surf Shack, on the play end of the island. They host weekly ribs and reggae with live music, BBQ and all the rum cocktails you can dream of, or a refreshing caipirinha (if you’re in the mood when the sun goes down).
Of the two resorts, Niyama may be the more vibrant and Veli the more romantic, but we’re really being picky here because both are special. In Niyama, I experienced a moment of envy on the island – my villa is located in Chill, but does this mean that I miss out on Playtime? Not at all, the different vibes of each location are subtle enough to be missed, and there’s plenty to do in both places – plus you’ve got your trusty bike to take you there. So where do you start?
Niama Private Island Highlights
- You can choose to do morning yoga at Flow, or just jump into the ocean. Or lying in bed with the door open and imagining how lovely it would be to do something, only to realize that there is nothing lovelier than where you are right now.
- Reef Snorkeling: Cruise around the Great Coral Reef with Niyama’s resident expert guide, pointing out sea turtles along the way. Should not be missed. On the way back, we stopped for a lobster picnic lunch on an uninhabited island, and I feel like if I made my own wish list, my wish list would be all done by now.
- Surfing: Niyama, the home of Vodi, has its own surfing. Known by surfers as a “powerful but sometimes hollow southpaw,” it has a short paddle. Or hop on a speedboat to Kasabu, “a hollow steerer boat that rips apart” – now you know.
- Jet Ski: Experience James Bond’s trip to the lagoon. Put on sunscreen, and rip off. Absolutely exciting.
- Dining in the trees: Nest serves up modern Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian dishes on a series of haphazard treehouse decks: magical and delicious.
- Or underwater: Subsix is an underwater restaurant, accessible by speedboat, where fish fly by as you nibble on (sorry) fish! If the time is right, you can also attend the weekly underwater glow party.
Pro tip: Early bird or night owl? Maldives holiday villas face either the sunrise or the sunset. Sunset villas tend to be expensive.
live in nyama
Rates for a Niama Private Island Beach Pool Villa in Maldives start from US$1,040 per night for half board for two. Feeling luxurious? Villas range from over-water villas with pools to epic villas like the three-bedroom Beach Pool Pavilion that sleeps nine and features two swimming pools, outdoor showers, private treatment rooms, cocktail bar, sunken conversation pool There is also a kitchen with dining facilities. From about $4,000 per night.
nyama.net
reach there
There are no direct flights to Male, the capital of the Maldives. British Airways will take you to Male via London, the flight time is approximately 11 hours. Alternatively, fly via Doha with Qatar Airways, or fly with Etihad, Turkish Airlines or Emirates with an approximate stop along the way. From Male, you will take a speedboat south to Anantara Veli (approximately 35 minutes) or a seaplane north to Nyaama (approximately 45 minutes). Your transfer in Male was hassle-free and you are well looked after from the moment you are greeted to the moment you are dropped off at the airport.
What to bring, when to go and what to expect
Being in the Maldives can feel a bit like living on Instagram, although being ready for a photo is not a must. Expect temperatures to range from 25°C to 32°C, so pack light. There are no roads on the island, and they are all sandy roads, so wearing high heels is definitely not acceptable. High season is December to April, which means rates are lower from May to November, although you may experience the occasional sudden downpour. However, the rain is warm, but that doesn’t stop you from enjoying the spa treatments these resorts are good at. Veli and Niyama provide snorkeling gear for free, and bug spray in the room, but you probably won’t need that as the sea breeze does wonders. One thing to note is that the Maldives is an Islamic country, so while guests are allowed to drink alcohol and it is provided for free, it is forbidden to bring any alcoholic beverages into the country. Topless sunbathing is also taboo.
