Words by Lauren Murphy
Stepping foot into the Male airport, you’ll immediately be basking in the luxury of your tropical getaway. With Velassaru Maldives’s guest services team waiting in the arrivals, ready to whisk you away to paradise, you’re immediately left feeling like a VIP. You’ll board one of their luxury air-conditioned speedboats from the airport as you journey onto the perfect tropical hideaway.
Think picture-perfect white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters where you can see sharks and abundant marine life simply by standing on the boardwalk above it. It doesn’t take long for you to feel the Velassaru’s ‘luxury undressed’ atmosphere as you’re welcomed to the beautiful island and taken on a tour of the sights and facilities on offer.
Watching the other guests at the resort, you can see the serenity on their faces as they indulge in all the resort offers and relax in a blissfully private environment. As I wandered barefoot along the sandy shores, cocktail in hand and stress melting away, I immediately understood why this was such a popular holiday destination.
Hotel
Set on its own private island, Velassaru transports you away from everyday life to the ultimate exotic experience. Whether you’re looking to recharge your batteries or challenge yourself with an adrenaline-fuelled adventure, whether you’re super social or prefer solitude, there is something for everyone here.
The resort benefits from round-the-clock guest services, laundry services, free Wi-Fi, a boutique, complimentary cruises, snorkel and diving tours, and yoga classes. It also has a fully equipped gym and tennis court for those who feel a holiday is only complete with a workout to compensate for the delicious food and drink that’s so hard to resist!
Room
The rooms at the resort are just as stunning as the views, with their range of private shore-front and water bungalows and villas dotted around the island, allowing you to choose what best suits your needs. There are seven deluxe shore-front bungalows, 44 deluxe shore-front villas situated on the picturesque white sand shore, and a further 17 water bungalows complete with a pool, 24 water villas, and four water villas with a pool where you can drift asleep each night to the peaceful sounds of waves lapping around you. All villas and bungalows feature plush bathrobes and slippers, luxury tea and coffee-making facilities, Velassaru beach bags, beach towels, a mini-bar and L’Occitane products.
Whichever accommodation you choose, you’ll find it furnished to the highest standards and complemented by minimalist and bright accents. With the high-end room choices – the pool villa and the water suite – you are treated to even more indulgence, as they come complete with butler service, a private bar, a home theatre system, and a private infinity pool, meaning if outings and adventures aren’t your thing, you can relax in your own well-pampered bubble instead.
I was lucky enough to stay in one of the water villas, and I was overwhelmed by how serene and peaceful it was to sleep above the water. My favourite part of the evening was soaking in the freestanding bath, overlooking the water and feeling centred, calm and ready for the adventures ahead.
Food and drink
One of the things I love the most about travelling is the food and being able to sample a variety of foods, eating local dishes exactly how they’re meant to be prepared. So, the five different restaurants to choose from immediately appealed to me, and the promise of delivering a memorable dining experience sealed the deal.
During your stay, you can choose to dine or drink at any of their restaurants. Turquoise focuses on international cuisine with continental and Asian influences and offers guests an authentic dining experience in a charming, relaxed setting amongst the tropical palms of the island.
The Etesian restaurant provides an intimate, sophisticated dining experience with a Latin American-inspired menu to tantalise your tastebuds. You can indulge and experiment with new flavours at the laid-back but beautifully presented world cuisine buffet at Vela. Here, you’re transported to all the corners of the world with high-quality, locally sourced foods, including succulent meats and fresh seafood.
For a more private meal, you can dine with family and friends in your private dining pavilion or sit by the water’s edge at Sand as you enjoy one of the chef’s Pan-Indian Ocean specialities. This is the perfect setting for watching the sunset over an incredible meal. Their last restaurant truly works the hardest to make every aspect of your meal a feast for the senses.
Teppanyaki is located on its own over-water dining pavilion, where you’ll be treated to a spectacular culinary show with a Japanese twist. The waterside setting is the perfect way to relax as you indulge in delicious food while the master chefs showcase their impressive skills with their cooking demonstrations. Here, you can have fresh sushi, wagyu steaks, vegetarian options, and so much more – nobody will leave the restaurant feeling hungry!
The aptly named Chill Bar is the perfect place for a midday pick me up or to relax with a drink as the sun sets over the clear waters. In addition to having a variety of drink options, the bar also offers a selection of delicious tapas such as arancini, salads, flatbread, and seafood. The Fen Bar is also available to serve a combination of Asian and European treats. At the same time, you enjoy a glass (or three) of your favourite wine from the modern oceanfront setting in a laid-back atmosphere, allowing you to melt away in one of their luxury day beds or cuddle up in their snug seating areas.
Guests can choose to pay as they go for drinks and dining or book the Indulgence Package to be able to explore all of the delicious food and drink on offer. The package includes lunch at either Turquoise, Fen Bar or Chill Bar and dinner at any of the stunning restaurants, along with a wide range of quality alcohols, mixers, and cocktails.
Spa and wellness
One of my favourite parts of travelling is checking out the spa and the different treatments they offer around the world, and the spa at Velassaru did not disappoint. Situated in an over-water pavilion, the beautifully transparent water below sets the mood, helps you clear your head, and fills you with calmness.
The spa features a wide range of authentic Maldivian treatments and experiences – I particularly loved the Velassaru Ritual, which encourages guests to embrace the essence of the Maldives. Using natural ingredients inspired by the environment, they use the finest Maldivian coral sand to scrub away your dead skin (and your worries) whilst finishing off with an island radiance facial, leaving you feeling grounded, refreshed and about 10 years younger.
The spa also benefits from a hydro pool perched over the lagoon and plenty of serene lounging areas, making it all too easy to spend the whole day in the ultimate relaxation mode. For guests wanting to connect with the sun, sea, and their inner zen, Velassaru offers complimentary sunset yoga classes three times per week.
To do
If I had a penny for every time I heard someone say, “I’d be bored alone in the Maldives for a week”, I’d have about 5p, which wouldn’t make me rich, but it does mean I proved five people to be very, very wrong. There was so much to do in this tropical paradise that I didn’t have time to be bored. It’s so easy to structure every second of the day around activities. Before I knew it, it was time to go home!
On my first day at Velassaru, I got to learn from a master mixologist how to make cocktails like a pro and boarded a sunset boat tour to see pods of dolphins playing in their natural habitat as day turned into night before returning to a well-needed dinner at Vela.
Unsurprisingly, many activities are water-based – which is my idea of heaven. From the highly skilled diving instructors who will guide you through the most stunning reefs you’ll ever experience to the romantic sunset cruise – an authentic Maldivian cruise which takes you around the crystal clear waters of the Maldives while indulging in delicious canapés and champagne – the resort found the perfect balance of adrenaline and relaxation.
Speaking of adrenaline, for a real rush, you can head to the water sports centre and hop on a jet ski, wave runner, or SUP to navigate the island. Or, for something even braver, you can venture out to snorkel with sharks!
If fishing is your idea of a good time, there’s plenty of that on offer, too, as the resort offers multiple fishing trips, including night fishing and big game fishing out in the open sea. Will you land the catch of a lifetime?
In a nutshell
Life at the Velassaru wasn’t just about being active 24/7, as there were plenty of opportunities to kick back and relax by the pool, mingle with other guests, share travel stories, and even relax with a film at their cinema beneath the stars. I left the Velassaru feeling refreshed, accomplished, and ready to conquer my daily life. The Maldives will stay with me forever, and there is no question or doubt in my mind I will be back for more of this amazing island paradise.
Factbox
Address: 39 Orchid Magu, PO Box 2015, Malé 20-02, Republic of Maldives
Phone: +960 665 6100F +960 664 3041
Email: info@velassaru.com
Website: velassaru.com
Lauren travelled with Kuoni Travel, for more information visit kuoni.co.uk
