Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

I’ve just retuned from a 6 night stay at Anantara Veli with my wife as part of our honeymoon and we had a memorable time at this wonderful resort. When looking at hotels in the Maldives it can be a bit overwhelming given the wide array of luxury hotels on offer but Veli was recommended to us by our travel agent Scott Dunn (excellent agent for anyone interested). The hotel perfectly met our requirements: short boat transfer from Male Velana airport, wide range of good quality restaurants, luxurious overwater villas, great spa/gym facilities and top quality service. I’d definitely recommend this hotel and have provided some extra details on the various aspects below for anyone interested! Arrival: Upon arrival at Male we were greeted by Anantara staff and quickly taken to the speedboat and whisked off to the resort. The transfer took about 35 minutes. This is a real positive as within about an hour of collecting our luggage we were lounging on sunbeds. For many hotels a seaplane transfer is required which I understand can take hours and comes with other downsides like luggage weight restrictions. Once the boat arrived at the resort we were greeted by staff including our brilliant host for our stay, Fathi. A buggy tour around the resort followed and we were taken to our villa. Room: We booked a deluxe overwater villa with pool for our stay which is the top room category and only added to the resort a few years ago as part of a refurb. The Villa was very impressive and was modern with some Maldivian and Thai influences. The bathroom was huge and the views from the room were incredible looking out across the seemingly endless impossibly blue and clear waters of the lagoon. Outside the room had its own decking area with private pool, sunbeds, hammock and steps down to the lagoon. It was everything you’d want from a luxury Maldives villa without being overly excessive. Restaurants: Anantara Veli has a sister island Anantara Dighu with a pontoon connecting the 2 resorts. Across the 2 islands there are 7 restaurants which for us was a huge positive as it provided great variety avoiding the necessity to eat at the same places multiple times. We had the all inclusive package which I’d highly recommend given the prices in the Maldives. Of the 7 restaurants, 3 are signature restaurants where you have a $60 subsidy per guest. The other 4 you can order any starter, main and dessert plus drinks and it’s all included. All of the restaurants were of really high quality with great food and service. A few things to highlight: - Breakfast is at Cumin and is an all you can eat a la carte concept where you order whatever from the menu and it will be brought to your table. This was the best breakfast experience we have had at a hotel as it was super relaxed not having to wait at the egg station or putting your bread through the toaster 5 times! Plus the food quality was brilliant. There is a buffet option at Aqua on Dighu if preferred. - Lunch we ate at Dhoni Bar every day although you can also eat at Aqua. We loved Dhoni Bar as it was a lovely setting overlooking the sea, the staff were great (special mention to Rashmina & team) and the food was good sized portions and delicious. We particularly like the chicken poke bowl and tuna steak. - The Thai restaurant Baan Hura was a real standout for us. Overlooking the reef it felt like a truly authentic Thai experience and the food was incredible. Great service from Opal too. - The only constructive feedback I would give is that I think the subsidy for the signature restaurants should be higher. $60 barely covers a main and I wouldn’t say these restaurants were significantly better than the non signature restaurants. My suggestion would be either i) increase the subsidy so it at least covers the cheapest starter, main and dessert options on the menu or ii) remove the signature concept and instead add supplements for more premium items e.g lobster and wagyu steaks. - Overall though the food experience at Veli is incredible and I think the diversity and quality of the restaurants is a real USP versus other resorts. Spa & Gym: There is a spa and gym on both islands (Veli & Dighu) so guests have a choice. The gyms are fitted with the same equipment (mix of cardio and weight machines, dumbells and cables) but I particularly liked the outdoor boxing ring and bags at Dighu. Both spas are lovely. Veli is more of an inland rainforest experience while the Dighu spa is overwater. Both have sauna, steam and hot/cold pools. We didn’t have any treatments but I’m sure they would be lovely. Service: The service was excellent throughout the resort and all the staff made you feel very special. We particularly liked the host concept and our host Fathi was brilliant. We had WhatsApp contact with him and he helped us with everything from restaurant bookings to buggy transfers and changing our pillows! He was super responsive and helpful and again it just added to the feeling of it being a special trip. Pool, Beach & Lagoon: Veli has its own pool by Dhoni Bar which looked very nice as well as beds sprinkled across the beach. The hotel lagoon is beautiful with crystal clear waters and really expansive. Walking around and from our villa we saw loads of marine life from rays to black tip sharks and various fish. The hotel provides complimentary snorkelling equipment and I’d definitely recommend snorkelling the various reefs across the resorts. There is also a 3rd picnic island that you can get a boat transfer to which has good snorkelling, a few sun loungers and a food truck (well worth visiting 1 day). Excursions: As this was the final leg of our honeymoon we just relaxed and didn’t partake in any excursions but there was a great offering from the hotel. This included snorkelling with nurse sharks, fishing trips, scuba diving etc. Conclusion: Overall we had a wonderful stay at Anantara Veli. Having access to multiple islands, high quality and diverse restaurant offering, modern overwater villas and excellent service were just a few key highlights for us. We’d love to come back 1 day in the future :)

The stay was excellent, from start to finish. All the staff that we met were friendly and wonderful- especially Ali our host and the instructors at Aquafanatics (Mata, Mostafa). Husband however feels that the fullboard alcohol offers were limited. Indian food was on point but the western food choices weren't the best.

This hotel and its wonderful staff really lived up to expectations and gave us such a wonderful week in paradise. I can’t thank them enough. Stayed in. Deluxe Overwater Villa which was beautifully appointed and finished and nicely positioned in the resort at a gorgeous part of the lagoon. Perfect for snorkelling with wonderful marine life. The food at all restaurants was very high quality and tasty. Origami is the only one which has some hilariously expensive items on the menu ($27 miso soup anyone?) but from breakfast to dinner, every single meal we had was delicious with great portion sizes and in a gorgeous settings Somewhere like this though where the hotel ‘is’ the experience, the staff quality and service really makes a vacation. The overall feel from everyone was one of warmth, happiness to be working here and a want to get you the best experience possible…from housekeeping to the spa to the restaurants and bars. Management should be really pleased with the culture cultivated (although they themselves were weirdly absent our whole trip…surely with a relatively small hotel where people spend a lot of money and a lot of time and where service is so important, management would want more direct feedback on guest experience?) Specific mention to the following who were simply standout welcoming, polite and happy and went the extra mile: Rifau: Butler extraordinaire! Constantly in touch, nothing too much trouble, hugely polite and keen to make sure we maximised our time Origami: John (so wonderfully happy, great banter, fantastic customer service) supported by Hassan who was very sweet Dhoni bar: Shafi and rosalina - every day remembering our names, preferred drinks and hosting wonderfully. Cumin & Others: Bokey (huge personality), Elanda (so friendly and smiley), Joe and Opal from Ban Hurasl. We cannot thank you enough! And will be back!

Heaven on earth. Impossible shades of blue. Immaculate gardens. It really felt like a simulation of the ideal holiday one could possibly imagine. Our room liaison person - Nount - was exceptional. Contactable 24/7 and was able to accommodate any request. Made my wife feel really special on her birthday by organising cake and champagne to our room without me even asking. My wife thought I was the most thoughtful best husband ever. And yes, I took all the credit (thanks, Nount!). With the Aussie dollar being smashed, the USD pricing made everything really expensive, but the quality and service was so good that I didn’t at any time feel like it was a rip off. Happy hour at Dhoni bar from 4-5pm was a highlight. Kareem and his team are exceptional. A tip is to ask them for their bottle menu and buy a bottle of gin or vodka. You can drink it over days and they keep it for you behind the bar. More economical. We enjoyed both the adult breakfast at Veli and the buffet breakfast at the other Island. Best restaurant was the Thai restaurant (superb) followed by the Indian restaurant (crab curry was one of the best Indian dishes I have ever eaten). All up, an unbelievable amazing holiday. Can’t wait to come again.

We had the most amazing experience at this resort! From the moment we arrived, everything was perfect. Our villa host, Ibrahim, was truly exceptional—he made our stay extra special with his warm hospitality, attention to detail, and personalized service. The overwater spa was a highlight, offering breathtaking ocean views and the most relaxing treatments imaginable. The serene ambiance made it an unforgettable experience. Every detail, from the pristine beaches to the delicious dining options, was exceptional. The resort staff were attentive and always greeted us with a warm smile. We highly recommend this resort for anyone looking for a luxurious and memorable getaway. A big thank you to Ibrahim and the entire team for making our vacation truly special!