Velaa Vani - The Turtle Hive Maldives

The staff were the part I liked most. They helped us with everything, from arranging boats and making reservations to giving advice. The room was clean, breakfast was delicious, and the price was affordable. The location sits between two beaches, which worked well for us. Wi-Fi was a bit weak at first, but they fixed it after I mentioned it once. Thanks for all the help, and lots of love from Russia! I’d definitely recommend this guest house.

We had to carry our luggage to the port ourselves when we left early. We’d agreed in advance that staff would help us get it there and prepare breakfast to take along, but nobody came out and there was no breakfast. Other tourists at the port had help from their hotels. Communication was difficult throughout our stay because none of the hotel staff could speak English, so even asking for a fresh towel was a struggle. They also advertised a gym and spa on Booking, but neither was there. That was misleading.

Our early departure had been arranged in advance: staff were supposed to help with our bags and provide a packed breakfast. No one showed up, so we carried everything ourselves and got no breakfast. It was also hard to sort out even basic things because none of the staff spoke English. The hotel advertised a gym and spa, but neither was available.

The owner really made this place special. He was friendly, always ready to chat or help, and even took us on a private excursion around the island. The manager and the guy from the Water sports were lovely too. We were happy we chose Velaa Vani, and it felt like great value for a comfortable stay on a budget. We booked half board, with breakfast and either lunch or dinner. The beachfront restaurant is on the west side, so breakfast came with a lovely sea view and dinner at sunset was beautiful. For breakfast you can pick Maldivian or American; I preferred the Maldivian option with tea and fresh juice. Lunch or dinner includes a drink, soup and a main course, with five meals to choose from. The menu food was quite okay, and we especially liked the fresh fish and seafood. There’s water sports right next to the accommodation, and Velaa Vani guests get discounts on excursions. We went turtle point snorkeling and shark snorkeling. Both were beautiful experiences, and our nice guide made short videos for us. Dhiffushi Island has my heart. I won’t forget it. ❤️ The guesthouse itself had clean rooms, really nice bed linens and towels, and a very comfortable bed that gave us that hotel feeling. The AC worked well, and there was a TV and kettle, though no tea or coffee bags. After I booked, the manager contacted me through WhatUp to arrange our arrival. They organized a transfer from the airport to the island, so we didn’t have to figure it out ourselves, and after we arrived we got fresh watermelon juice as a welcome drink. I fell in love with the island for its beauty and its wonderful people and service.