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If you want to be reclined on your sun bed with a cocktail in hand as soon as possible after landing in the Maldives, then I recommend you head to Velassaru island resort.
After touch down in Malé, the capital and international airport hub of the Maldives, onward travel awaits to one of the 1,190 heavenly island atols spread over 900km of the Indian Ocean. Velassaru is situated in the South Malé atol, just a 25 minute speed boat transfer from Malé. And what a way to arrive, James Bondesque speeding over the blue ocean! You’ll pass several atoll resorts before you round the tip of the island, into the clearest azure blue bay, to dock at the island’s main jetty.
From here it's a short walk to the open air reception and just a few further steps to the resort’s main pool, next to the bar and restaurant hub. Pause here for the aforementioned cocktail at the Fen bar, a great way to congratulate yourself on your excellent holiday choice.
Once checked in, next stop is your accommodation. We stayed in a Water Villa, thatched in the traditional style, it felt spacious with high ceilings and a calming wooden interior with blue and white soft furnishings. The private, outdoor deck housed a large circular day bed, so there’s plenty of space to chill. With steps from the deck down into the water, you can head off for a swim or snorkel out to the house reef, or just relax back to the sound of the lapping waves and watch as sting rays float their way past. Other accommodation choices include beach and water villas and bungalows, with pools as an option.
Next up, exploring your new home and finding your way around Velassaru is easy, it's just a 1.2k circular loop and a great way to get your steps in. Feeling social? Hang by the main infinity pool within easy distance of the restaurants, or stroll around the shoreline dotted with beds and umbrellas, to the western beach that feels a little more secluded.
Relaxed island life comes easy here, but there’s also plenty to keep you busy. Pick up snorkels from the water sports hut and launch yourself into one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives and some of the bluest water you’ll ever swim in. There’s plenty of fish to be seen out along the edge of the reef at the lagoon's edge. There's also a range of water sports available from jet skis, wake-boarding, kayaking and wind surfing, as well as dolphin-sighting and fishing excursions. And for romantics, there's an island escape, where you'll sail over the lagoon on a traditional Maldivian dhoni to a secluded sandbank for a private dining experience.
Back on land, there’s a gym and tennis court and complimentary activities include a morning cruise (for early birds at 7.30am), sunset evening yoga and movie nights on the beach. Guests also receive a 30-minute photography package to capture some special take home memories.
At the end of the day, head for sundowners at Chill bar on the far side of the island. It can get busy so arrive a little earlier to secure your spot on the beanbags on the deck for the best sunset view. They also serve a Mediterranean style tapas.
With 5 restaurants and 2 bars on the island, there's plenty of choice on where to refuel, so it's worth considering what you want included in your food and beverage package. Turquoise is a great lunch spot by the pool, serving salads, burgers, wraps and fruit juices, next door is Vela the laid back, all-inclusive buffet that serves breakfast and has a different daily themes for the evening meal.
Out on the beach is Sand, offering a Indian Ocean menu and here you can dine with your feet in the sand in one of the private dining pavilions. Etesian offers Mediterranean fine dining or for Japanese with a twist, head to Teppanyaki on stilts over the water, for delicious sushi, sashimi and hot wok favourites, alongside uninterrupted lagoon views.
The amazing sunsets were undoubtedly one of my highlights of our trip, visible from our west-facing water bungalow. We watched and chatted for hours (with another cocktail in hand) as the sun turned golden then pink, reflected over the azure waters, then disappeared below the horizon and a blanket of stars appeared overhead as day turned to night. Both mesmerising and magical! We also took the sunset cruise one evening to get the view from the water, with champagne and canapes served.
Another highlight was an afternoon spent in the spa. From the divine treatments (from renowned brands Espa and Pevonia) performed in one of the 10 over-water pavilions to the relaxation area, a hydropool suspended over the lagoon, with the most incredible all-blue view of the pool water blending with the azure blue lagoon and the sky beyond. It's memory I like to recall often now I'm back at home.
Sitting here with my book, drinking the delicious post treatment ginger tea and staring out at the blue, I delightedly whiled away a few hours to myself. Upstairs on the top deck there are two sun beds, which also made for the perfect couples spa relax spot.
There’s a real mix here from couples on romantics trips to young families and multi generational family groups. It’s also perfect for anyone on a shorter Maldives trip, as you save on lengthy transfer times, or for those wanting to make the most of the proximity to Malé airport to head off to multiple Maldivian destinations.
This is paradise island at its most convenient, rather than a stranded far from anywhere desert island. Malé is visible in the far northern distance, but you still feel worlds away from the hustle and bustle. Prices are also reasonable in Maldives terms, so it's a budget inclusive option.
Peak season in the Maldives runs from November to April, with Christmas and Easter the busiest times to visit, however the Ocean location and impact of climate change means weather can still be changeable at any time of year. We visited during low season in August, when you’re more likely to experience rainy periods, but we had picture perfect blue sky days every day of our stay.
Velassaru, Maldives - price for 2 adults in a Deluxe Villa with breakfast starts at £272 per night, excluding speedboat transfers.
