Anantara Veli Maldives Resort - Adults Only

The gym is well equipped, the spa team was fantastic, and Aree was wonderful. We also had a great nurse shark snorkel trip, thanks to the outdoor activities staff member who explained everything clearly. Ali, our host, was easy to reach and checked in often. The villa was spacious and well maintained, with very good cleaning and turndown service. The overwater setting is beautiful, and having the ocean right there, plus a private place to sunbathe, made the villa worthwhile for our first Maldives trip. We chose half board, which lets Veli guests use the other Anantara hotels' facilities and restaurants. The main disappointment was the food and drink. Baanhuraa was the exception, and we ate there twice, with lovely staff both times. Origami's sushi was mediocre at best. The pool bar's lobster salad was overloaded with mayonnaise, and Sea Salt and Fire was uneven: I liked the grilled tuna, but my fiancé found the surf and turf hot plate portions disappointing for the price. We sent the ceviche back because it had potato and lettuce but no leche de Tigre, so it didn't feel like ceviche. Cumin had a good breakfast selection, though the coffee could be better and the matcha needs a lot of work. We hope to return, and hope the culinary team reviews the dishes so they better match the prices. Thanks to the Anantara team for a great trip.

Baanhuraa stood out for us. The Thai food was excellent, especially the curries, and the staff were so friendly that we enjoyed their company. On our second visit, they remembered what we had liked and gave us special attention. We also enjoyed the range of Asian food elsewhere. We came to Anantara Veli for a private, relaxing honeymoon as a Muslim couple, and the Ocean Pool Villa gave us the privacy and quiet we wanted. Before booking, I contacted David, the resort manager, to find a suitable option. He responded promptly, arranged honeymoon decorations in the room, and organized welcome drinks. Our villa host Ibrahim was outstanding too, friendly, responsive and always willing to help. The hospitality felt personal, and the honeymoon was unforgettable.

The range of places to go was a real plus. Guests could use the facilities at both resorts from 7am to 11pm, with seven restaurants and two very different spas, one on land and one over the water. Moyo is another island with a natural feel, and Picnic Island adds yet another option. The connection with Dhigu gives guests more room to explore than you'd usually have at a single-island resort in the Maldives. Even at full occupancy, we hardly noticed other guests. Veli is adults only, which added to the calm, and its large beach, together with Dhigu's, made it easy to find a secluded-feeling spot. Jason, David and their team set a very high standard for hospitality and leisure. Farangiz, our villa host, made the stay even better and managed to arrange a private sand table dinner despite the uncertainty about the weather. Our holiday at Anantara Veli was spectacular.

Snorkelling from the sister island was great, with lots of different fish, plus sharks and an octopus. The sunset dolphin trip felt like a once-in-a-lifetime chance. We saw loads of dolphins, and they came right up to the boat. Our overwater villa and private pool were beautiful, thoughtfully designed and had everything we needed. The host was quick to help arrange things, and all the staff were friendly. There was a panel that fell down in the room, but it was fixed right away, and we were offered a massage to make up for it. There were lots of restaurant choices, though some dishes were only average for the prices. Much of the food was high quality, especially the steaks and seafood at Sea Salt and Fire. I'd recommend the resort.