Anantara Veli Maldives Resort review: 8/10

Why book Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

In a sea of Maldivian resorts, it can be hard to stand out. All benefit from the same blue sky, the same powder white sands and similar overwater villas, but many are not going against the grain, looking to reinvent the way travellers see this island nation. It is no longer just a fly-and-flop land for indulgent breaks fueled by its all-inclusive food packages, but a place to step away from the world and not just to mentally reset but physically too. This is the mission of Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, which 18 months ago underwent an eight-month closure to reinvent it as a leading wellness destination. The adults-only island was totally overhauled, including the decor, dining concepts, villas, and mindset. Six new overwater villas were built, the culinary offering amped up and one of London’s leading skincare clinics moved into the new spa and wellness centre. Anantara Veli Maldives Resort has emerged like a butterfly from a chrysalis: polished and modern.

This is a resort almost exclusively designed for couples and regarded as one of the most romantic escapes in the Maldives – with an adults-only policy, an array of beautiful overwater and beach villas and stand-out destination dinings – like romantic beach dinners, couples treatment rooms, sunset boat cruises and more. We’d highly recommend it for a proposal, honeymoon or general romantic escape. Plus, there’s a regular range of offers specially designed for couples to make every stay above and beyond expectations. Take this and the fact that it’s just a 30-minute speedboat from Malé International Airport, and guests get full access to sister resort Anantara Dhigu, and you’ve got one of the best resorts in the Maldives.

The location

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort forms part of one of the most encompassing resort complexes in the Indian Ocean archipelago – Anantara’s trifecta of five-star resorts Veli, Dighu (popular with families) and Naladhu Private Island (an exclusive residents-only escape with just 20 villas). Each is its own unique little microcosm – Veli, a romantic escape for couples young and old; Dighu, loved by families and lively groups; and Naladhu – an ultra-exclusive escape largely designed for privacy-loving contingents. The complex is just a 30-minute speedboat away from Malé International Airport, which is a huge draw over a seaplane resort as these boats operate throughout the day, and don’t need to rely on changing, and restricted to daylight, seaplane schedules. All this makes Anantara Veli Maldives Resort also perfect for a long weekend escape from the GCC.

The vibe

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort is a child-free destination, so as one would expect, the crowd is almost exclusively couples. The atmosphere is peaceful and reserved, with guests largely staying to themselves in their villas, but there’s a lovely buzz around the social spaces during breakfast, sundowners, and dinnertime. Two neighbouring islands share Veli’s facilities, and guests can hop over by boat to use the restaurants, so there’s always a lovely buzz in the evenings – welcome after a peaceful day on Veli.

Rooms and suites

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort has just 67 villas across the small island, ranging from the Beach Pool Villa with its garden and plunge pool to the Deluxe Overwater Pool Villa with a six-metre infinity pool and overwater hammock. All have lovely thatched roofs and are modern, minimalistic and soothing in their decor – with thoughtful touches to Maldivian traditions and architecture. The renovation saw the building of new overwater villas, including the addition of an all-new experience villa – where guests checking in get a wellness consultation with the in-house nutritionist. And healthy mini bea – no crisps or chocolate. New overwater villas have white marble bathrooms drenched in sunlight with soaking tubs and French doors, as well as decking with a private infinity pool and ladder into the shallow ocean beneath. We swim across the lagoon most days, and all the way round to neighbouring resorts for lunch.

Food and drink

Eight restaurants and bars are available to guests of Anantara Veli Maldives Resort – a vast amount compared to the island’s petite size. This is because all guests have access to neighbouring island Dighu’s dining offerings, allowing you to enjoy a different restaurant and vibe each day. On Veli itself, there’s Cumin, a journey around Maldives, Sri Lanka and India and the setting for waterfront breakfasts; the slick beachfront Doni Bar, for light bites and cocktails by the beach and pool and Orginami – an upscale Japanese and teppanyaki restaurant with wine room serving dishes fresh sushi and sashimi, Wagyu beef and Alaskan king crab. Perfectly befitting of a romantic escape, there’s also Baa Huraan – perched in the middle of the lagoon surrounded by waters serving delicious Thai cuisine. Head over to Dighu for more casual, beachy venues like all-day Aqua and Anantara’s signature Sea.Fire.Salt, or book into a cookery class. Anantara’s Dining by Design is also alive and well on Veli and adds an extra special layer to the typical Maldives resort – allowing guests to dine on a private sandbank, on the beach under the stars and more – the ultimate romantic experience.

Spa and facilities

At the centre of the newly revamped resort is the Balance Wellness Centre, a discreet, typically Maldivian thatched offering the brand’s new roster of treatments. A new partnership with 111Skin offers incredible treatments, plus there’s a shiny new white hammam, complete with warm white marble slabs for soaping and slathering. Hot and cold showers, plunge pools, saunas, steam, and open-air treatment rooms so guests can hear birds chirping and crashing waves are a highlight. One day, we wait for a tropical rainshower to pass in the hammam, the other, we recover from a cocktail-fuelled night with an IV trip. There’s also Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine – plus visiting practitioners. With a beautiful location in the South Malé Atoll waters, watersports are also available: snorkelling, scuba diving from the Padi-certified centre, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, parasailing, electric surfboarding and so much more. Above the ocean, there are romantic cruises, outdoor cinemas on the sands, and even excursions to local islands to experience real Maldives culture.

The verdict

Anantara Veli Maldives resort is ideal for couples – young, engaged, married, old, or groups of friends looking for a peaceful but sociable escape. Its unique position as a stand-alone island, though part of a wider complex, makes it appeal to pretty much every traveller, and its location just 30 minutes by speedboat from Male makes it one of the Maldives’ most accessible.

Beach villas from around AED2,500; anantara.com, @anantaraveli

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