Anantara Veli Maldives Resort — Hotel in Malé Atoll

Having dreamt of visiting the Maldives since childhood, I can’t even begin to explain how magnificently the entire team at Veli brought the dream to life - Every single second was a “pinch me” moment …meeting at the airport, stepping on the boat, the warmest most genuine arrival at Veli’s dock, meeting the most gorgeous team, entering the room (and view) of dreams, discovering the peace, beauty and tranquility of the island….and so so much more!||I could describe all the things but I urge you to experience them for yourselves and book this incredible exquisite island without delay. Every step of the stay there is a surprise or something they’ve thought of that goes that extra mile….||The 30mins boat transfer really is ideal - we were staying for 6nights in August and a friend suggested it would be better to make the most of our time by boat, rather than lengthy plane transfers etc…and how right they were! The boat team are exceptional-we were on our way within 5mins of collecting our bags, and arrived at the island less than 30mins from leaving the airport!! Definitely the way forward…(also August weather was divine, only 1hr of a small storm during our time there, and that was epic to see!)||Arriving at Veli was so special, but I shall leave that to you to discover! No spoilers here…||We knew from the moment we met The Fantastic Faz (our outstanding Villa Host) - that we’d met a special soul who not only has the best smile & wonderful sense of humour but also thought of everything to make our time on Veli seamless and superb - everything she did for us was from the heart; we couldn’t appreciate her more, a true treasure||As Veli had everything we were looking for (calm, relaxed and chilled) we didn’t spend much time on the other island of Dhinghu however on the times we did hop over on the brilliant pontoon boat (which runs back & forth like clockwork every few mins), it was very nice, quiet and serene but also great for kids, or so we were told by people we chatted with.||You can fill your time easily - with complimentary activities (I recommend the Veli mindfulness healing as we had a sound bath to the sound of the waves -wow!) to the spa, gym, tennis, badminton, giant chess, pétanque, off site dives & many more but honestly, switching off, unwinding and taking in the natural environment was what we needed and boy oh boy did it deliver!! The complimentary snorkel and fins meant jumping in the water to see all the sea locals was bliss (and there are LOTS-I wont spoil your discoveries though but WOW!)||The food and beverage team are exceptional in Veli- the chefs are first class and the food is exquisite - we had the a la carte and beverage package which honestly was unbelievable and incredible value for money! I’ve never had such delicious and 5star quality food, wine and cocktails!!||Breakfast at Cumin each morning was AMAZING - Dema welcomed us each day with the biggest smile, full of kindness & great recommendations, not least to start the day with an ABC + Ginger - we shall be trying this at home! ||Both Cumin and Dhoni were our favs, but this is not saying the others aren’t amazing, they are!! These 2 restaurant just resonated with us for their INCREDIBLE food, stunning views and authenticity…plus the beyond excellent staff who made our time so special; Dema, Bokey, Ibrahim and Nabith, Logu, Dilan, Kamal are wonderful, fun individuals who are brilliant in their roles - a huge thanks to them all (and if I’ve left anyone off, forgive me, you are all amazing!)||All the guests we met were lovely and everyone seemed to be on the same page, to relax, enjoy, be in the moment and do lots of nothing - this place really does attract all the good vibes and good people! Not a party crowd or influencers changing the atmosphere but more about connection and kindness.||Our room (Over Water Pool Villa) was stunning and ticked the bucket list box of where & how I envisaged staying in the Maldives - beautifully designed, spotlessly cleaned and maintained (thank you Adam) and wonderful to spot the “wildlife”from the deck in the crystal clear mornings with a delicious Nespresso! One thing to mention, you can see a couple of other islands in the far distance - I thought this was going to ‘break the spell’ but ultimately, it added an extra element of authentic island life to our time there||The pride, dedication and kindness that Veli is run on really infiltrates your soul. Having travelled and stayed at some wonderful locations around the world, this Island has resonated in a different way - Sajith you have built a superb, seamless world class team, and one to be so proud of.||I have never been as emotional as our last day - from our breakfast table arranged by Dema and Bokey, to saying “until next time” with our friend Faz, even writing this now makes me emotional at all the joyful memories and experiences….this island is a special special place…without hesitation, GO GO GO!||Shukuriyyaa...

2nd time wonderful visit to Anantara Veli (Spa & 1 dinner @ Dhigu)

My husband & I came here 5 years ago, & enjoyed our stay so much, that we decided to come here again for our 1 year wedding anniversary.

Ram gave us a warm greeting (along with a little band of musicians & drummer to liven up our greeting to the resort) & set us up for romance, by informing us of our various interesting options... as well as sent a bottle of champagne & a lovely little cake to our room to celebrate on the deck during the magical sunset.

For dinner, Valentines night, we indulged at “Origami” (which we knew was wonderful from our last visit)... this time the Chef was different.. named Abu... very talented, entertaining, & the food was so delicious!

On day 2, we took the 2 minute boat ride over to Anantara Dhigu for our couples massage. My therapist was Chotika, & my husbands therapist was Nopi. They were absolutely amazing, friendly, & professional. I particularly enjoyed looking down through the clear viewing window (during the therapy) at the fish swimming beneath us! Veli doesn’t have this, so be sure to book your spa treatment at Dhigu.

Upon returning back to Veli, we crossed paths with the F & B Director Fayaz (whom we were especially pleased to meet, since he’s originally from Sri Lanka just like my husband). He gave us a fantastic suggestion of having dinner at “Sea Fire Salt,” (@ Dhigu, since we’ve already tried everything at Veli during our last visit) which was superb! He dropped by our table that evening to make sure we were happy with his dinner venue suggestion... which we totally were...as well as appreciative of his great knowledge & expertise in F&B. My father is a retired F&B director of some well-known chains (such as Ritz Carlton, Hilton, Marriot) so I grew up learning about the industry & became a hotelier/hospitality trainer/facilitator myself (I used to conduct training seminars of 50 people at a time in Los Angeles) so I truly mean what I say. The ambiance & table set ups all around the restaurant was fantastic. Dhigu is a child-friendly resort & it was cute to see how excited they (including myself) got whenever a few baby reef sharks (harmless) were swimming by!

Both breakfast mornings, were very pleasant. The waiter (can’t remember his name) taking care of us both days (tables 23 on the 16th & 24 on the 17th) was very attentive & hospitable.

On the 14th morning, our poached eggs were delayed & my husband was getting a bit annoyed... until Rashmina came to the rescue with our missing eggs. She was very quick & attentive. She was also the 1 to warmly greet us as we entered the dinner the next night at “Sea Fire Salt.”

I did a photo session with 1 of the resorts professional photographers, named Shifu. She was extremely professional, flexible & passionate about taking breath-taking shots for us to keep to remember our WONDERFUL time at Anantara. We were scheduled @5pm on the 15th. She showed up 3 minutes early & eager to get started on the fun. She wasn’t worried at all about getting wet & sandy to capture the best shots (which is exactly what you look for in a professional photographer). When I saw the images on the laptop the next day, I knew the talent she has with the camera. Shifu is exceptional at what she does, & I feel she has a bright future ahead.

On the 17th, we weren’t able to get a late check out, since the resort was fully booked... however we were offered to be able to have a shower using the facilities in the spa before the boat came to take us back to Male (which was a great help). We hung out on the beach & ordered lunch & drinks to the beach bed. Service on the beach was handled by Pradeep, who took very good care of us during our last few hours we had to relax. He was very caring & quickly came back with hot water & salt we requested for my husband to gargle. So attentive

Special thanks to our room boy named Ahmed, who did the most amazing job on our bedding decor......

Gently rising from a sheet of turquoise, at Anantara Veli it’s hard to tell where ocean ends and sky begins. As captivating beneath the waves as above them, we embrace our stunning surroundings, to bring you closer to the sea and its secrets.

This island resort is flanked on all sides by the sapphire waters of the Indian Ocean. Plus with kilometres of white sand beach, you will have no problem finding an ocean front spot all to yourself

All of the villas within the resort feature extensive views of the surrounding ocean plus either private infinity pools or easy access to the sea. Spacious sun decks with daybeds and loungers are also provided. Guests can make use of a wide variety of comfortable facilities including a large oval bathtub for luxuriating soaks. Modern conveniences such as LCD television, iPod docking station and complimentary internet access all come as standard while 24-hour in villa dining is on hand. The resort has over water suites and villas are like that of no other luxury resort in the Maldives.  Simple wooden walkways built above the shallow lagoon connect them, forming a sinuous boardwalk pathway.

The resort discreetly offers a full range of well-managed facilities including Over water Wellness spa, tennis court, water-sports and an inspiring Marine Discovery Centre.

In dinning the most loved options were 73 Degrees casual over-front sitting for breakfast buffet and dinners Offering some of the best dining in the Maldives, the menus are modern, light and steeped in the nuances of South Indian cuisine.  They also offer contemporary interpretations of other Asian and Mediterranean classics, as well as old favourites like pastas and salads. Thanks to Chef Manoj for looking over our special requirements .  Baan Huraa is the Thai restro set over the lagoon with great service and delicious food Thanks to all the staff each one was extra ordinary and Sea. Fire. Salt. offers a crossroad of cuisines and cooking styles. Freshly caught Maldivian favourites such as reef fish, lobster and prawns Thanks to Hanoo and Sonia for making us feel special . To Mr Raj thanks for teaching us yoga everyday for a bright start of the day . A special thanks to Hidha for and Anim for guiding us through and making our experience the best one till yet . No doubt Anantara gives you an extra ordinary experience with their excellent locations and extra ordinary staff .

Dhoni bar  is an easy-going, foot-in-the-sand resort bar where our inventive bartenders put together refreshing cocktails (and mocktails). Fine wines and light snacks also feature, alongside some easy beats at sunset. Dhoni Bar is open from 10am until late, adjacent to the infinity pool .

I don’t need to explain to you anymore that I had the most wonderful time on this very remote island. I can use all the superlatives that I know and it will totally justify my experience on the island. The staff was super friendly, the beaches where almost too perfect and my overwater bungalow was a dream coming true. I simply have nothing to complain about! I am for sure coming back for...