Set in the South Malé Atoll just half an hour from Malé International Airport, The Anantara Veli Resort & Spa brings every guest the island paradise of their dreams. Nestled between a group of other islands operated by Anantara, Veli is specifically designed for a couples retreat. Either for a honeymoon or a romantic vacation, Anantara Veli is designed to make sure you enjoy your time spent in the Maldives in elegance, luxury and class.

Neighboring its sister resort, The Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Veli is more of a place to go with your significant other.

When it comes to the accommodation options at Veli, the concept at Veli is one of over-the-water villas and bungalows and the resort offers 36 in total.

The over-water bungalows and deluxe over-water villas are a fusion of rustic island charm with modern conveniences. The over-water Bungalows are just a few metres from the clear waters, home to lush coral gardens. Lounge in your elegant thatched residence or unwind in the terrazzo tub for two while enjoying the fantastic vistas across lagoon. Your open-air shower leads into an expansive sundeck. There is a personal surround-sound stereo with flat screen TV, high speed internet, an espresso machine and a mini bar in every villa.

When it comes to wining & dining The Veli Resort & Spa offers its guests a wide choice of outlets and cuisines. 73 Degrees is a light and airy Maldivian-style thatched-roof pavilion facing the lagoon of Bodu Huraa. Dine at the sumptuous breakfast buffet of fresh tropical fruits and juices, cereals, homemade breads, grilled meats and vegetables. Select seafood plucked right from the Maldives at the Seafood Market or choose from international favorites on the a la carte menu.  At Baan Huraa inspired Thai cuisine comes to the sublime beauty of a teak house over-water. Set on stilts above the reef edge, the house opens to sweeping views across the Indian Ocean. With internationally acclaimed Thai chefs, Baan Huraa offers a unique dining experience of authentic flavors of the Orient.  In the evenings relax at the poolside Dhoni Bar, sipping a signature cocktail as you watch the sunset on the horizon.

There are also many things to do in terms of leisure and water sports activities including windsurfing, kayaking and exploring nearby islands and of course the diving and snorkeling are world-class too.

Last but certainly not least, The Veli Anantara Resort offers a first class Spa experience to its guests.

Anantara Spa at Anantara Veli offers 5 sumptuous treatment suites over the lagoon, nestled in the island’s abundant greenery. Treatments draw from the wisdom of the earth, using natural ingredients and their healing properties to enrich, detoxify, polish and rejuvenate.

Visit the Anantara garden spa to restore balance and harmony between body and mind in an oasis of beauty, grace and tranquillity. Intoxicating aromas of the world’s most exotic elixirs and oils are used in treatments designed to deliver radiance, healing and a quiet sense of inner and outer well-being.

Treatments range from facials, to body massages, bath & steam rituals and salon treatments to their famed Elemis Treatment experience – click here for a full overview of options and check out too their Spa Journeys and Special Offers.

Want to see what it looks like? Have a look at their spa gallery here.

So how do guests rate this Maldivian resort? Here are some extracts from recent visitors.

A honeymoon couple from the UK seemed very pleased with their experience :

We spent 10 days in January 2009 at Anantara Veli Resort & Spa for our honeymoon and it exceeded our expectations. The Maldives is Paradise, the resort was excellent, the service was the best. We absolutely fell in love with this place. White sand and clear blue sea and you’ll see amazing fish so take a camera. We stayed in a Deluxe Overwater Bungalow and the view was breathtaking. The main difference between the Over water bungalow and the deluxe one is they are slightly larger with a dressing room, larger baths and a lower sunbathing terrace. We saw both rooms and although the OWB were still lovely we spent every day on the lower terrace and would have missed it. The resort is over 3 islands one of which is private and you can use the facilities on both islands. There is a boat (taxi) which runs all day and night so you can Island hop as much as you like. It really is Paradise and feels like you are the only people there. Veli is the smaller island and only has OWB. There is a gym, spa, tennis courts, numerous restaurants, pool table, internet room, gift shop, volleyball/badminton net. We took lots of books and magazines and did not get bored at all. There’s lots to do if you want to but we wanted to relax. We spent most of the day on our lower terrace or swimming or snorkeling and the afternoons walking around Dhigu or at the infinity pool.

Another happy visitor from Dubai :

We spent 4 days on the Veli Island in an overwater bungalow. There were 3 Islands, one was a private island,the other you took a short boat trip to or in the day you can canoe.

The staff were all very friendly and helpful.

The standard of our bungalow was fantastic, we looked out over a coral reef and there was always fishes swimming around and the odd reef shark.

We used the over water spa and the treatments and ambiance were amazing, I would recommend the experience.

The weather was a mixture of sun and storms and it was always a perfect 30 degrees all of the time.

I would recommend the Lobster by Candle light dinner at the Dhoni pool bar. Also ate at the Fuddan grill which was equally good. On the last night we had room service which should be experienced as they set the table on the balcony. It  is a good alternative to paying for the private dining as there is no extra charge for this.

This resort is incredibly romantic and July is low season so it is very peaceful. We could go hours and hours without seeing anyone which adds to the experience – everywhere you go is on sand and for the last two days neither of us put shoes on once!

For a romantic holiday, honeymoon, chill out I would recommend Anantara to anyone.

Read more reviews from the Anantari Veli Resort & Spa here, most of which are very positive but some are quite critical too.

Finally, watch one guest’s video from the Veli Resort below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdHm55cwC4Y

Contact details:

Anantara Veli Resort & Spa, Maldives
P.O. Box 2014
Veligandu, South Male Atoll
Male, Republic of Maldives

Tel:        +960 664 4100
Fax:       +960 664 4101
Email:     velimaldives@anantara.com or sales@anantara.com

The guests can choose from four types of deluxe accommodation, all tastefully furnished and equipped with the latest technology. In addition to the standard conveniences of an electronic in-room safe, individually controlled air conditioning and IDD telephone, enjoy your own personal surround sound plasma screen TV with DVD, MP3 player, gourmet mini bar, and the spectacular indoor/outdoor bathrooms. The Deluxe over water Pool Suite welcomes to complete bliss. Indulge in one of the 2 exclusive pool suites, offering an expansive 182sqm of signature Anantara luxury.

 Work out in the fully equipped air-conditioned fitness centre. If you need to cool down but want to stay off the sand, enjoy a freshwater feel with a saltwater view in the beachfront swimming pool. Snorkel leisurely on the edge of the lagoon or peruse the Maldives’ fabled coral gardens on our daily snorkeling trips.

Here, stylish villas, over-water suites and luxurious beach bungalows fringe tranquil lagoons. Celebrate the Maldives with Anantara, discovering the ultimate tropical island getaway with brilliant coral reefs and water sport adventures. Experience a healing massage at Anantara Spa, as you peer through the glass floors revealing the puffer fish, sting rays and baby reef sharks swimming underneath. Settle into luxury, impeccable style and Anantara’s gracious service at Anantara Dhigu Maldives. 

When it comes to their Spa, the Anantara experience wants its guests to :

Pamper. Enliven. Release. Unwind. Spoil your body, soul and mind with a selection of Anantara Spa’s world-renowned signature treatments, alluring bath and steam rituals and holistic therapies. Anantara Spa Dhigu is a true oasis of tranquillity, with over-water treatment suites nestled on one of the world’s most remarkable tropical island settings.

An idyllic retreat amongst azure waters and sweeping horizons are the backdrop for Anantara Spa at Anantara Resort Maldives. Escape the cares of everyday with indigenously inspired luxury treatments for your body and soul. Choose between 14 sumptuous treatment suites over the lagoon on Veligandu Huraa or nestled in a lush garden on Dhigufinolhu. Our spa menu features timeless rituals designed to enrich and detoxify, all while you relax and take in your perfect island holiday.

The Anantara Dhihu Spa is very proud of their Treatment Spa, The Anantara Detox, which begins with a fragrant floral foot bath to set the tone for the soothing treatments that are to come. This is followed by a rich Moor Mud Therapy, which draws from the healing powers of mineral-rich muds for a full-body detoxification. Next, healing rahssoul clays from Morocco are massaged onto the skin for toning and enrichment. Click here to learn more about this.

Their full Spa menu is as always very comprehensive and includes Salon Spa, facials, Body Treatments and Massages and their famous Elemis Treatments – click here for a full overview of the Spa Menu.

What visitors say about their experience at this resort & Spa :

First up a Swiss traveler from Geneva :

Anantara is a resort which is based on an atoll surrounded by a barrier reef with 3 islands. Dhigu is the main one. The surrounded beaches all around are in pure white sand with a scenery view on the white and turquoise sea or on the fish passing by. The beach front villas are great, perfect size, beautifully designed (especially the bathroom) with all comfort. The terrace is also beautiful. The Thai SPA is amazing and the massages are done by truly graduated experts with a choice of oil, perfumes etc. and relaxing area is just superb facing the ocean. A window-paneled floor allows you even to watch the multi-colours fish swimming by.

A UK female traveler is also quite taken by the whole resort experience and of course its Spa :

Anantara Maldives is a fantastic resort. We stayed in a deluxe overwater suite, which was out of this world. Definitely the best room I have ever stayed in. It had an infinity bath overlooking the lagoon and you get your own private balcony/decking area with sun loungers and steps to walk straight into the sea!

The food is amazing here, we were on full board and ate so much! Drinks are expensive though throughout the Maldives.

The facilities were wonderful – lovely infinity swimming pool, great restaurants and bars, free internet cafe! Watersports galore but this is very expensive. However, you can rent a kayak for free. Snorkelling is another option but I must say the lagoon around the hotel is not great for fish watching.

The spa is amazing too, go for the couples package and share a coconut milk bath! Pure indulgence!

Many more reviews here.

Watch a great video from the Resort & Spa here :

www.youtube.com/watch?v=41JPZkGjZYw

Contact details:

Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Maldives

P.O. Box 2014
Dhigufinolhu, South Male Atoll

Republic of Maldives

Tel:    +960 664 4100

Fax: +960 664 4101

Email: dhigumaldives@anantara.com or sales@anantara.com