Velassaru Maldives
The Maldives has no shortage of unique and incredible resorts. Some focus on a jungle vibe while others have dreamy beaches. Velassaru is a mix of both – and it’s a great resort for those looking for five-star luxury on a budget.
Location and Transfer
Located in the South Male Atoll, Velassaru is located a short twenty minutes boat ride from Male, the capital – and where you’ll arrive by air. After arriving at the international airport in Male, we were warmly welcomed by the airport staff and escorted to the beautiful Velassaru boat, where we boarded and departed nearly immediately. On the boat, we were served a quick refreshment and watched the beautiful scenery.
The Resort
Many of the villas at Velassaru offer a private plunge pool, but there’s also a gorgeous main pool that is surrounded by palm trees right at the main beach, restaurant, and bar of the resort. You can either relax in one of the sun beds or the cabanas while sipping on cocktails and watching other resort guests.
Velassaru has 75 gorgeous villas, an overwater spa, five restaurants, and a resort shop. We chose a beach villa with a plunge pool because we wanted direct access to the beach, but the resort’s water villas are also a great choice. While we would have loved to have a bicycle to get around the island, walks to the main area and restaurants weren’t too long.
The Food and Drink
There are five restaurants at Velassaru. My husband and I were positively surprised about the moderate prices for food and beverages in combination with the great quality of the food – it’s hard to find prices like this in the Maldives. At other resorts, such as the InterContinental or the St. Regis, we would have paid way more.
Vela Restaurant
The resort’s largest restaurant, Vela, is opened daily for a breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet and the options are changing daily.
We were positively surprised by the breakfast offering, with an egg and pancake stations and a fresh juice bar. The staff was always extremely kind (and remembered my double espresso, black order).
Turquoise
This restaurant is located in the main area, set back from the beach with incredible lighting for a pleasant atmosphere.
Chill Bar
During our stay at Velassaru, we visited Chill Bar every single day. This establishment offers incredible cocktails, delicious bites of food, and the best sunset atmosphere possible. For a prime seat for sunset, arrive at the bar early and enjoy a piña colada.
Overwater Restaurant Teppanyaki
Teppanyaki was by far our favorite restaurant! It’s located over water – and you’re able to watch the sea life swimming around you. The cuisine is a fusion of Asian delights with Maldivian influences. The ingredients of all dishes go really well together and the dishes are presented in a beautiful way. Be sure to make reservations because the restaurant has limited seating.
Beach Villa with Pool
We stayed in a wonderful Beach Villa with Pool with direct ocean access and a private beach area. All of their beach villas are surrounded by a lush greenery; however, they do sit close to each other and we often heard our neighbors speaking. There are many palm trees at the beach which offer shady spots to hide from the strong midday sun.
The villa’s outdoor area consists of a roofed terrace, a table and chairs, sun beds, and a plunge pool to refresh. We spent our time taking dips in the pool and swims in the crystal-clear ocean.
Inside the Beach Villa with Pool was one large bedroom with a huge bed, seating area, and mini bar. Right behind it was the incredible outdoor bathroom – which was the star of the room.
Our villa, number 202, was located near the resort’s sunset bar, which was great for an evening cocktail.
Bathroom
A double door leads outside to the amazing outdoor bathroom, which left us speechless! It reminded us of a Zen Garden with a shower, two sinks, and a luxurious bathtub. Indulging in a bath under lush tropical trees was everything.
This insane bathroom and the fact that you’re so close to the beach is one of the biggest advantages of sleeping in a Beach Villa with Pool!
Activities
All non-motorized water sport equipment, such as snorkels, fins, kayaks, or paddle boards, are available for use free of charge during your stay. You can also rent a jet ski or join one of their many tours for a fee – and pricing is extremely fair for the Maldives!
For the best snorkeling, we recommend the gorgeous reef drop by Chill Bar or behind the water villas.
Overall
Velassaru offers all aspects that make a vacation in the Maldives so special: Perfect paradise beaches, tropical palm trees, amazing snorkeling conditions, and beautiful villas. No matter if you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with family – you’re going to have a great time. The staff at Velassaru are welcoming and do everything possible to make your stay wonderful.
What We Loved
- Due to its proximity to Male, Velassaru is a quick boat ride from the international airport. Being able to put your feet in the sand so quickly after arriving is invaluable.
- The resort’s service is gracious, friendly, and quick. We enjoyed the staff and appreciate the thoughtful “extras” we received.
- The villas are well equipped, spacious, and offer a great minibar selection (at fair prices).
What You Should Know
- The negative side of being so close to Male: Some villas at the resort have views of the steaming trash heap near the capital.
- Our Beach Villa with Pool offered some privacy, but there were often groups of people walking on the beach in the front and we could hear our neighbors conversing.
- At the time of our visit, there were a lot of families with children – which made breakfast at Vela quite a noisy experience.
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