Vilamendhoo Maldives Resort Island

The reef was a big part of what made our six nights work so well. We could snorkel and dive right from the beach, and our spot on the island’s south side was quiet, close to the restaurant, and ideal for getting into the water. We’d happily stay in that part again. We had a semi-detached jacuzzi villa in the adults-only area. We were initially disappointed it wasn’t detached, and the resort offered a detached one on the north side. We stayed put because of the reef access, and our neighbors turned out to be lovely. The villa was a good size, with a private walled outdoor area at the back. We never used the jacuzzi since we were in the sea all the time. The island is on the southeastern side of Ari Atoll, and getting there was easy, a 30-minute seaplane ride from Male airport. The buffet had very few gluten-free and dairy-free choices for my wife. After we spoke to the staff, they prepared her meals separately, which we really appreciated. The food was great otherwise. Service was excellent overall, though our assigned waiter was grumpy and kept forgetting our orders and preferences during the first couple of days. We gave feedback and the resort quickly switched us to Samir. After that, restaurant service was excellent. Reception, the dive centre, and housekeeping were consistently great too.

The breeze on the north side was lovely, and we had spectacular views. The house reef and dive center were great, the food was good, and it was so relaxing. We stayed five days and could easily have spent longer. Highly recommend for families!

The house reef is amazing, so if that’s what you’re there for, it’s well worth it. But after visiting the Maldives many times, this was probably the worst island we’ve stayed on. If it’s your first visit, you may still find it lovely. We wouldn’t return. We booked our Beach Villas a year ahead, then arrived to find they weren’t ready. We were moved to a water villa for one night, so there was no chance to unpack before moving again the next day. The new Beach Villa was misleadingly named: there was no beach outside, just palm shade and then the sea. After two unhelpful staff members, we finally spoke with the manager, who moved us again. That made three moves in three days. Much of the island has very little beach left, with the sea having taken over areas where you might walk or sunbathe. The all-inclusive setup also felt more focused on getting extra money from guests than other islands we’ve visited. Snorkel masks usually come free for the stay elsewhere, but not here. Mojitos and Cosmos cost extra too, though there were some good cocktails included, so we can’t complain too much. Checkout was another muddle. We were told to be at reception before 9:30 am, but the seaplane didn’t arrive until 10:40. We waited over an hour without any information. We expected a mad rush at the airport, but Male airport has been updated and getting through was much smoother. Maybe that sounds like nitpicking, but we spent the best part of £20K for four people and expected better. Decent island, great reef, poor customer service, and a bit disorganized.

So many guests we met were returning for more than four visits, which made us feel we’d chosen well. The service, food, facilities, and island were fantastic. It’s the ultimate beach, activity, and food holiday, and everyone can relax. The house reef is spectacular. A must visit.