Name: Anantara Veli Maldives Resort
Address: P.O.Box 2098 Veligandu, South Male Atoll Male, ., South Male Atoll, MV

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2026

SYLVAIN

Simply awesome. The villa, the speedboat transfer, the wonderful staff and the beautiful site is out of this world.
The staff is a big WOW, they really take care of you with a beautiul smile.
Spent three days and three days I will never forget.
Thanks so much :)

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Feb 2026

Tarun

Fabulous staff and facilities - delicious food and very hospitable

10/10

Exceptional

07 Feb 2026

Hanif

Absolutely wonderful resort. All the staff, from the breakfast place to the bars and dining facilities were fantastic! Special thanks to Ibu, our personal concierge!!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2025

Ruth

Worth revisiting

Veli is an amazing resort to visit. I cannot say enough about the staff at Veli. They were all so attentive to our needs and did everything in their capabilities to keep us happy. I really appreciated the management cocktail party because it gave us a chance to meet everyone who makes Veli such a wonderful experience. Loved Rifau, Prem, Ruth, and all the others who made our experience possible.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

28 Feb 2025

Keval

8/10

Very good hotel, food options good. Service generally very good let down once or twice especially in origami restaurant waited 45 mins for food. Also all inclusive is not really an all inclusive limited on options and certain dinners only 60 dollar credit. Other than that all good. Watch out for sneaky charges aka left sunscreen out no mention of charge till checkout time $19 dollars. Left out seemingly to be used as arrival gift. Placed smartly. Generally overall good stay.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Dec 2024

Verified traveler

Great

Great

8/10

Excellent

04 Nov 2024

Michele Julia

I absolutely loved the islands Anantara Resort had to offer but they are small, so excursions are a must unless you don't mind getting bored and just relaxing. Our assigned host, Ali, was super helpful & fun to talk with! The staff overall are amazing!! I did book the Adults Only resort but was definitely not Adults only LOL It just means your villa and the ones around you are for adults but once you leave that specific island to go to another you're surrounded by children, also your island is open to families for dinner. So if you're looking for something truly Child free or id you're triggered by them do not book here. Otherwise you will still have a blast & yes you will be spending a lot of money as there is tax & services charges.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Apr 2024

Florence Gwenaelle

We had an excellent stay. The resort is adult only and quiet. Food was outstanding and the staff was incredible. Guests have access to Dighu resort which is larger and offers more variety. I would highly recommend the hotel.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Feb 2024

Balram

The best holiday ever

We had an amazing time at Anantara Veli, the property was spotless and so so charming. the staff were the best, ever so kind and helpful. Chef Subodh took such good care of us and made so many special dishes for us. Absolutely loved all the restaurants and cant wait to go back again. Thanks a million to Anantara team for making our anniversary a one to remember!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Sep 2023

john vincent

We had our absolute, perfect, dream honeymoon! Every staff member was extremely friendly, helpful, and just a joy to interact with. Our villa host, Ali, went above and beyond to make sure we had the best experience possible, and we did! Couldn't recommend this resort more highly. From the rooms to the beaches, to the views, to the food, to the people, this was the most superlative honeymoon we could have asked for! Thank you!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2023

Alfredo

The property is very nice and not so far from Male Airport. After a long trip we valued this very much. Dining options were ok although some can be improved. However the staff was very kind and friendly, specially at breakfast in the Cumin restaurant. We found the wine pricing expensive, despite that we understand that transporting supplies over there is not an easy task. Feruza our Buttler was very kind and nice to us. Her service was really outstanding. Regarding snorkeling activities, the swimming with sharks was wonderful. The turtle and reef, not so great. Also outstanding the service in the Spa. We had the Moroccan hammam and enjoyed it very much. All together our stay was excellent !!!!!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2023

Joy

Very friendly and efficient staff. They always have a smile and take care of customers very well

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

27 Dec 2022

Verified traveler

Terrible Communication

The hotel gave us the wrong room the first 2 nights, not what we were shown/paid for based on hotels.com. When I asked them at check-in, they told me it was the same room and made me feel like I was crazy. When I checked again on hotels.com 2 days later I checked the pictures of the room I was shown, my booking information and told the hotel that they did in fact give us the wrong room, the wrong view but still charged for the superior room. They said they would move us the room I had booked and did so after 2 nights. I have been waiting for a resolution regarding the price difference for over 3 weeks now and nothing has been done. The hotel never responded to any communication from us or hotels.com. Hotels.com has not been much help in resolving the issue either.

Additionally the hotel has terrible communication within their spa. We had our treatments changed on us 2 days in a row without any prior notification or approval, but rather during mid-treatment. It caused a lot of frustration and surprise as this was supposed to be our babymoon. Really ineffective communication from the hotel, the spa, and even our villa host regarding what was going on.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jan 2022

suksan

Pampered to total relaxation

Incredible vibes in a 5 star peaceful hideawsy with supercusine and pampered service.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Dec 2021

MATTHEW

Exceptional service, food, activities, and scenery

The level of service here was exceptional, the scenery above and below water were incredible, and it was like walking around inside a post card. Special shout out to exceptional staff members we encountered during our stay who made it extra special: Sulvaan, Razeen, Shafi, Nang, Philippe, Thilan, Vaan, Dipak, Katya, Mohammed (dive masters)

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Aug 2021

Verified traveler

A welcoming oasis during a turbulent time! The staff are amazingly helpful and friendly, and the food was Michelin- inspired for every meal. The resort is also ultra-convenient to the airport via a 30 minute speedboat ride...an added bonus!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Apr 2020

Verified traveler

Resort is stunning and amazingly kept. Very quiet and staff are all friendly and helpful.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Feb 2020

Jose

Great staff, friendly, helpful, beautiful location.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Nov 2019

AndersonSantos

This place is a total amazing experience, they really take care of the costumers, from since you get out from the airport that already will be someone from the hotel with you every step of the way to guide and help you with any question you may have. I simply fell in love with their staff.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

Everything is magnificent, it’s like you are in another world. My only concern is for solo travelers like me, it’s Kinda awkward to see couples everywhere in the resort , or maybe it’s just me.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

09 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

Good I had a lot of fun very clean and beautiful place I recommend it

Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2019

Verified traveler

Adults only excellent, staff are lovely and very helpful

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 May 2019

Verified traveler

I travel all over the world. What i liked about this property is everyone is friendly. A hello or good morning makes it a friendly environment to spend your money. Mahir did a great job at making sure everything was taken care of. Great job!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

18 Apr 2019

Chris

Excellent property, you also have access to a sister resort island.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

30 Mar 2019

Jetlei

Location for the purpose I need was perfect.. I little bit too open, anyone can walk in. Cctv yes but no security.. Bit of solicitors but maybe that's the environment since it Has a public bar at the top.. Great view at the top. Would I recommend. Yes a night or weekend is good... My room didn't have window so previous stay overs I could tell they were there.. Clean room. Yes.

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

27 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Amazing islands

Beautiful

Partner

8/10

Excellent

04 Mar 2019

Michael

Short stay March

Very nice hotel.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2019

Kat

Hotel staff were very friendly. Hotel was very clean and the views were just breathtaking!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Feb 2019

Abdullah

Amazing over-water villa with outstanding services

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Feb 2019

Rainer

The Anantara Veli Maldives is a dream location !
Wonderful hotel with amazing villas and view over the atoll.
The staff is exceptional and makes your stay a true hospitality experience.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2018

ROBERT

Paradise indeed

Absolutely beautiful!!!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2018

Liza

An absolute paradise. We had a problem with our first room, so we got changed with a room upgrade (though in the beginning, they wanted to charge us for the upgrade they offered even though no rooms of the same category were left - I found it ridiculous). The second room, however, was amazing. We liked the service and breakfasts were wonderful. There are problems with the dinners, as most of the restaurants get fully booked (but they are really empty when you pass by, so it's strange), so you have to go to the remaining restaurants (not all are good). I could only recommend the Japanese restaurant

10/10

Exceptional

07 Oct 2018

Rob

Very nice resort with excellent location. The staff was always concerned about our experience during our stay. We received a room upgrade for half of our stay. Can only recommend to stay in this little paradise.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Sep 2018

Mary

Maldives Honeymoon.

We stayed here for our honeymoon. So romantic and beautiful. We loved every bit of it. A surreal experience.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Aug 2018

Verified traveler

Great hotel with lits of activities. The ocean pool villa I stayed on was amazing

10/10

Exceptional

11 Aug 2018

Karen

We had a great time at Anantara Veli

There are so many things to do at Anantara resorts. We stayed at adults only island at Veli which was relaxing and very quiet. We could hop on their complimentary speed boat and took us to their sister island Dhigu in just one minute where more activities going on with bigger beach, bars and restaurants. Staff are friendly and helpful and we would love to return to this paradise next year.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jul 2018

Sa

Amazing hotel and very nice staff

10/10

Exceptional

19 May 2018

Verified traveler

My husband and I loved everything about our 6d5n in Anantara Veli. We've rated it 8/10, and 1 points went to the rooms that can have some face lifting and another 1 point is that the attitude of the staff at the aqua centre can be improved alot more. Apart from that, it's everything we needed for a relaxing holiday at Maldives.

We booked the overwater bungalow, which was facing the pontoons that shuttle between Veli and Dhigu every few minutes, but we're not affected by it. We borrowed the complementary snorkeling kits and there were so many fishes at the area around our bungalow! The bed is comfortable, complementary drinking water are replenished twice a day, and our room boy always kept our room clean and decorated every morning and evening.

Food wise, there are 3 restaurants each in Veli (Thai, Jap and Buffet) and Dhigu (Italian, grill and buffet). It gives us lots of options and flexibility to decide what we'd like to eat! We tried Thai, Jap, Italian and grill, and our favourites is Thai @ Baan Huraa.

We took a snorkeling trip out , and the experience was much more than we expected! We saw hundreds of dolphins along the way, the crew on board caught a tuna, we also saw 5 sea turtles while snorkeling! We also did 2 massages at the overwater spa in Dhigu and the therapy was perfect to help us release the tension from work!

The staff are thoughtful, attentive and helpful to ensure that every guest have a very pleasant holiday experience.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Dec 2017

Verified traveler

Wonderful staff!!! Great atmosphere. Limited food options, but everything else makes it all worth it!

8/10

Excellent

22 Oct 2017

Vicky

Not new and sparkly but very nice.

We stayed in the entry level overwater bungalows. We were happy with the room but some are closer to the beach and there is a little boat to the other island that comes and goes regularly near some so if you are bothered by privacy do not stay in these rooms. People can see in to them a bit. We didn't mind and we liked to watch the comings and going a bit too. The staff were all well trained, polite and helpful.
This is not a big flash 5 star resort like some though. But they were a lot more expensive. However it's a beautiful island and has the extra bonus of being able to go across to the other Anatara island for something different. I would recommend it as long as you don't expect Shangri la standards.
There is a tiny bit of reef around the resort but more so the fish are lovely and colorful. Otherwise it's a free boat across to Picnic island for some better snorkelling and snorkelling gear is free for your stay.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Oct 2017

Verified traveler

Everyone is friendly and the service was wonderful.

10/10

Exceptional

20 Sep 2017

Verified traveler

Fantastic vacation

Truly a memorable vacation. Staff is Phenomenal. Location beautiful. Definitely going back!

10/10

Exceptional

24 Aug 2017

Nat

Beautiful hotel, like a dream!

We had the most amazing vacation for my birthday at Anantara Veli! The food was phenomenal, the rooms were large and comfortable, and the staff was very attentive and acoomodating.

It was like a dream the entire time! My boyfriend and I loved being able to take the pontoon boat over to Dhigu island to use the pool, spa and water sports. The snorkeling, pool and land games (tennis, bocce, badmitten, chess) were great on Veli too!

We stayed in three room types, the overwater bungalow, the deluxe over water bungalow and the ocean pool bungalow. Turns out our favorite was the deluxe over water bungalow. The location is a bit more private, yet still close to shore. It also has a huge outside deck that sits over sand and not coral, but still swimming distance to the coral when you want to explore.

The food was equally amazing on both islands. Make sure to make a reservation where you want to eat, as they book up fast!

we got engaged on this trip and it was everything we could have imagined. We can't wait to go back!

10/10

Exceptional

14 Aug 2017

Gina

First Class

Everything here was amazing! Staff was super friendly, room was fabulous. Would most definitely recommend a stay here.

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2017

Verified traveler

Beautiful Retreat. Excellent Service

Beautiful location. Fantastic beaches, extraordinary service. Rooms are perfect, cozy, clean with clear blue waters just outside your terrace. Excellent options for eat

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2017

Marcos

Any negative reviews are unfounded

This place was literally paradise on earth. The service was unbelievable, the food (albeit somewhat pricey) was amazing, we didn't have a single bad meal the entire time we were there. I've been to other resorts in the Maldives and this one raised the bar far and above all else.

10/10

Exceptional

16 May 2017

Verified traveler

very romantic place for honey moon

we spent 3 nights here for our honey moon. my wife and i are happy with romantic view, enjoy the good food. the staff people are friendly and helpful.

10/10

Exceptional

27 Apr 2017

shades

Perfect!

Our experience in Anantara was simple out of this world. Heaven! It is the best resort with the outstanding service, along with the friendliest staff. You check out of the resort leaving your heart there. We can start with the friendly staff from the front office office Meryu to mahmoud, Saeed, Mamdouh and many more workers that show you the real taste of maldives and politeness. You feel you are at home, always greeted and they make sure you are always satisfied. We stayed in the delux over the watet bangalo and its worth every peny.
They even provided us with complimentary breakfast since we arrived early and on our last day they gave us a late check out till 16:40! It was a flawless experience and we will be definitely coming back!!
Perfect for a couple's gateway!

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2017

Verified traveler

Paradise

Absolutely no faults - complete paradise from the time we arrived until we left.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Feb 2017

sandy

My Dream Vacation

Anantari Veli service was impeccable. The staff went above and beyond to make sure they made your stay unforgettable. They can get a 10 across the board in every aspect you can think of. My friends and I were blown away by the food, the room (space and cleanliness) and the staff who took time out to pay attention to details. Whatever you need and they didn't offer they were accomodating your needs by the end of the day. I will be returning and spreading the word about this place.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Oct 2016

Carmen

Clean hotel, all staffs are warm and friendly.

Hotel staff provides excellent service to guests

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Sep 2016

Carliati

Paradise

Awesome resort. Everyone was super... Genuinely friendly and we were sad to leave. Cannot wait to return next year.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

05 Jun 2016

Verified traveler

Thanks a lot ,,we really injoy and relaxing good for cubles or friends ,good spa and food

8/10

Excellent

19 Jan 2016

Deborah K.

Romantic Honeymoon

We had a great time at Veli.It was very private and secluded but Dhigu was easily accessible as well which gave us more options ie restaurants etc.

Special thanks to Prashrit who kindly helped us with all of our queries as well as Andre who gave us lots of good advice for water activities.

Will definitely come back here!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Nov 2015

Verified traveler

Beautiful honeymoon spot!

Hotel was beautiful and staff were so helpful and friendly. Our stay was amazing. The only downside was how expensive dining/activities were. I have stayed at many resorts and the prices were almost double. I would recommend doing an all inclusive package for sure.

Partner

2/10

Poor

02 Oct 2015

Sam

Not worth the Money

Bad food, ant in pizza, dirty prawns, hair on bread in breakfast buffet. I've been to conrad rangali hotel before and it was a different level for a similar price.
They did try compensate the bad experience by giving us a free massage but it just wasnt a good experience.
Some staff weren't friendly. Nature is amazing in maldives but the experience was ruined.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Sep 2015

TSHT

Wow, Wow, Wow!

Staff was outstanding and made us feel very special as we celebrated our 10th anniversary. Cannot say enough about the incredible views each day looking out into the clear water and being able to snorkel right from your own bungalow. Diving was great, spa was great, all the food we had was very good. Beds and pillows very comfortable.
Very friendly and welcoming staff, always greeting us with a smile.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Sep 2015

Mikail

Food way to overpriced

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Sep 2015

Don

This is our 2nd visit the resort, and it was also wonderful staying at this time. We spent the days so comfortably. There are wonderful viewing, excellent ocean, and beautiful corals! The staff are pretty friendly, they must help you to stay enjoyable.
Especially, I recommend the hotel to people loving snorkeling. There are corals just under the bungalows, and we can go into the sea directly from the rooms.

Unfortunately, The boat crossing between Veli and Dhigu sails too many times, that could be seen from my bungalow and sometimes I feel it noisy.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Aug 2015

Verified traveler

Absolutely beautiful surroundings. Loved that the resort provided access to several islands, all of which were stunning yet provided a unique and varied experience.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2015

Atilay

Paradise

This is the most beautiful place to visit, their customer service is excellent, the food was great and I even got a little surprise from the hotel on my birthday. I really enjoyed my stay and I look forward to returning to Anantara Veli Resort and Spa

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jun 2015

naz

Extremely good staff

Really enjoyed our stay at anantara, amazing island, really good food, try to get half board or full board because the food can be expensive, made our honeymoon perfect!

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2015

Charlie

First Class!!

This is an absolutely FIRST CLASS resort with superb staff, facilities, and outstanding food. It offers plenty of activities from snorkeling to ping pong to simply relaxing in a hammock by the lagoon. I highly suggest working with the surf pros onsite at Tropic Surf for a lesson and an outing on some of the best waves of your life!

8/10

Excellent

23 May 2015

Verified traveler

good but not exceptional for that price

very expensive for that size of room
It is much smaller than expected And the over water bungalows are very close to each other.
Service is gréât though And the view is. Wonderful
Nice pool And food

Partner

8/10

Excellent

16 May 2015

Verified traveler

Nice hotel

Good location near to AirPort half an hour by speed boat , staff very kind but not professional , some time they keep knock the door in the morning even if you but don't disturb 😊 , some of restaurants are over price .

10/10

Exceptional

05 Apr 2015

mohammed

Great Resort

Anantara Veli is a great resort. Rooms, restaurants, spa and all the activities are excellent. Staff are friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this hotel to COUPLES ONLY. If you will travel with your kids I recommend Anantara Dhigu Resort (just 2 minutes by boat from Anantara Veli).

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Mar 2015

Head

Great birthday trip for wife

Everything from arrival to departure was an excellent experience. The wife really enjoyed spending her birthday on the island.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

13 Mar 2015

KARLA S.

GREAT! loved it!!! excellent Hotel

Great Hotel! we went there for our Honeymoon. Absolutely loved it. The rooms are very clean and comfortable. The staff are very friendly. We only had an issue with the room location but the manager was very supportive and changed our room twice until we were satisfy. Restaurants and food are great!! The staff are very nice and want to make your stay as pleasant as possible. recommended 100!!!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jan 2015

Verified traveler

Great staff, service, and location

First time to Maldives on our honeymoon and and it was a great experience! Staff were super friendly, and their service was excellent. We even got upgraded to the over water pool bungalow which was a pleasant surprise.
Would definitely recommend this destination to all couples. It's such a private and personal location where you can sit down and just enjoy the sights for a whole day.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jan 2015

Patricia

WHAT AN AWESOME HONEY MOON.

WOW WOW WOW!!! THIS HOTEL IS AMAZING!!!!
From the moment we arrived at this Hotel, we felt like we had just arrived at another world! The place is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! And the service is top notch! That's why Anantara is considered one of the best resorts chains in the Maldives. They have 4 or 5 properties throughout the Maldives and 3 of them are right there. You have the convenience of being able to enjoy 3 islands at the same time, so you never do anything twice (we stayed there 5 days).

From the moment you arrive at the airport, you will see the difference. Anantara is 1 of ONLY 4 hotels in the Maldives with Arrival Lounges at the Airport.

Make sure you get an Over Water Deluxe Bungalow. 174, 175, 176. The ones with the best view.

The water sports center will provide you with FREE full snorkeling gear during your stay, which is awesome. You will also have 2 hours per day to use FREE of charge the Sea Kayaks.

The Breakfast Buffet, included in the room price, is WOW! Delicious!!! They have pretty much EVERYTHING! Enough said about that.

Beware of the food prices and the night buffet prices. If you are not a big eater, stay away from the night buffets because they are EXPENSIVE!!! Something like $ 140-180 USD per person!!! Better go to any other of the 8 restaurants on the 3 islands and order a la carte.

Again, Overall, EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jan 2015

WALEED A

amazing resort

so good resort

Family

10/10

Exceptional

31 Dec 2014

Raynell

Lovely resort....

We had a great stay at Anantara Veli, the resort is lovely, we can see fish swimming in the clear water. The room is clean and comfortable, staff are really friendly, we will come back again.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Dec 2014

Mohammed

A piece of paradise!

This hotel is truly a piece of paradise on earth. it would be a perfect choice for honeymoon or a romantic getaway.
The only thing to keep in mind is to be ready to loose a LOT of money there if you want to enjoy your stay doing the activities you choose or having a privet dinner on the beach or going to the spa or just eating at their different restaurants.

8/10

Excellent

23 Nov 2014

Laurie88

AMAZING but not sure if it's worth the distance & price

First let me say I'm from California and I travel a lot. My review might be more abt the Maldives than the hotel. I went to the Maldives to celebrate my friends marriage. It was beautiful there! Clear waters. If money isn't an issue and u just like to stay at nice resorts then this is for u. However I think I flew a long way just exactly for that- nice resort. There was no culture. I didn't go back to the main city to explore because the boat ride would have cost us roundtrip another $450. So we stayed on the resort grounds. It did get boring after a week. Breakfast buffet was delicious at first but the items are the same everyday. Average meal price is $30ish per plate (like a sandwich or burger) plus 22% mandatory tax/service fee. So per couple for a cheap lunch meal with no alcohol is about $100. Dinner is of course much more. The Thai restaurant is very good though! We ate there about 5 times during our stay. They didn't have much authentic Maldivian dishes for us to try. Resort seems tailored to Americans. Anyhow service was very good. Resort was amazing the first few days but it did get boring since u can't go anywhere. For my stay per couple for 1 week including airfare, hotel, food, activities totaled to about $10k. I would have rather used that and traveled around Asia or Europe. But still worth it nonetheless to be able to say I was in the Maldives. The water and snorkeling was the best I've ever seen. I haven't been to another resort at the Maldives so I have nothing to compare it to

Partner

8/10

Excellent

12 Aug 2014

Verified traveler

Experience spoilt by over-the-top liability waiver

On arrival, the first thing they ask you to do is sign a waiver of liability for *anything*. I can understand their wanting no liability for risky activities one decides to do, such as diving or snorkeling, as clearly they have little control in such cases.

However, when was the last time you went to a hotel that asked you on arrival to sign away your rights if the building collapses, or you are given food poisoning, just to pick two obvious examples? Worse, it even required you to affirm that you'd informed your heirs and that they would also waive any rights to hold the company liable. Again, for anything at all! How ridiculous. I was left wondering what they knew about the resort that I didn't.

Being asked to sign that piece of paper, when I'd already paid and had nowhere else to go, left a very bad taste in the mouth and a poor initial impression.

Everything else was good: excellent breakfast, reasonable but expensive dinners. The Thai dinner and setting was excellent. Staff were all genuinely friendly, polite and wanting to help. The water villa was clean, spacious and comfortable.

8/10

Excellent

30 Jul 2014

shaz

great resort

great resort, great location, comfy room, but wifi is really weak and the air con not so work

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jul 2014

vmax

excellent

great, an experience a person must fell rather then talk about

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jul 2014

Jonah

amazing place

The place was amazing. The staff were very accomodating. I will definitely go back and stay again.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2014

wal

beautiful water villa

The water villas are excellent. the balcony is great for sunbathing.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 May 2014

June

amazing hotel with very nice facilities

i stayed in over water bungalow, very comfy with a day bed for suntanning, the only bad is that is rather close to pontoon veli, so there will always be the pontoon going back and forth.
dining options were aplenty. i would strongly suggest not to go for half or full board, but rather a la carte would be more worth it. baan hurra and terrazzo and fuddan are amazing. but grill buffet at fushi were not what i was expecting, especially with the price. however, breakfast spread is amazing, so many different dishes to choose from.
hotel staffs were very friendly and helpful. with special mention of Vivi from veli reception, she was a delight!
went for dolphin cruise and got to see a lot of dolphins, worth every single penny spent.
would definitely go back again.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2014

Verified traveler

Honeymoon review

Anantara veli was the perfect honeymoon destination. My wife and I are from the US and I can honestly say that the number one thing that impressed us about the resort was the customer service/ friendliness of the entire staff. I would definitely recommend splurging on the deluxe villa vs the standard just becuase your views are a little more private plus your not as close to the water vegetation as you are with the standard villa. Overall I would say that from a value perspective, since any resort you stay at in the Maldives is relatively pricey, this resort had the most bang for our buck. I couldn't have asked for a better honeymoon experience.

10/10

Exceptional

31 Mar 2014

Alieeeson

Brilliant Overall Stay

Overall we thought it was brilliant. Service and food were great all round and we felt the prices were very reasonable. We stayed in the most basic room/hut - it was clean, large and we loved the fact we could go straight into the sea via the balcony. Another great thing about the Anantara is that the Veli island/resort is connected via a very short free shuttle boat ride to their Dhigu island/resort which seemed a bit bigger, livelier but more family oriented whereas the Veli is more couples and quieter - giving us twice as many options for restaurants and activities. We took part in the free meditation class, the morning yoga class and went on a snorkelling trip - all which were great. Things that weren't as good as they could be was that the resort in general looked a bit old and worn, the wifi connection kept dropping, and the resort didn't seem to adopt many eco-friendly policies such as energy saving.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Mar 2014

ALATIQI

Just WoW

I'll back to this hotel .. dont forget villa no. 181 overwater WoW !!

10/10

Exceptional

23 Feb 2014

Henri

perfect!

amazing place. bungalows over the water recommended as located among corals and thousands of fishes. the breakfast was impressive and the service was great. the catering staff made upa minor mistake in our room service by offering 2 glasses of champagne, a special breakfast table and an upgrade of the room; very classy. overall the place is a dream.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jan 2014

Andy Khuu

BEST VACATION EVER!

Just like the title... BEST VACATION EVER!!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Dec 2013

LC

Very comfy

This is our first time stay with Anantara and on an island. My husband and I enjoyed our trip so much that we will definitely recommend this hotel to our family and friend. Not only it's comfy but hotel stuff are super nice. They tried their best to make us feel welcomed and happy.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Nov 2013

Joe

Great villa over the sea

First time staying in such a villa, great to see corals and fishes and sea urchins just outside of the balcony. Exceptionally clear waters and picturesque view completed the experience.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Oct 2013

lyndsay

perfect honeymoon

We stayed here for our honeymoon and couldn't have been happier. Very easy to get here from airport. Very reasonable price for overwater bungalow. We loved the restaurants, pools and service. Would absolutely recommend.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Sep 2013

Sharon4473

Paradise

Service was excellent. Food was delicious. The view was breathtaking. The water was gorgeous.

Few suggestions: Make sure to get the BB package - it's definitely worth it. The spread they had was excellent and you can choose to eat either at 73 degree (on Veli) or Fushi Cafe (in Dhigu.)

Dinners:
Bann Huraa (Thai) is a must for dinner. Their wraps was delicious.
If 73 degree is having seafood night, make sure to take advantage of it. It's \"all you can eat\" fresh seafood for $89 a person. You pick what you want from the buffet and the chef will either grill and fry it for you. Lobster is an additional $55 but it was well worth it - especially if you have 5-6 of them like I did haha.
Our dinners averaged out to $300 a night.

For lunch: Tuna pizza (their signature pizza) and Grilled Veggie with Feta pizza were our favorites. It's more than enough to split between a couple.

For the pool, go to Dhigu. The pool is bigger and has an amazing view. They provide cold water and apples- nice touch. The pool bar (Aqua) is also better. Dhigu is a minute boat shuttle ride over. They go back and forth from 7:30am until 11:30pm. We never waited more than 3 mins for a ride.

Service was exceptional from the second you arrive until the second you leave!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Sep 2013

Gs_Us

Exotic Getaway!

The stay ? Simply wow and that would an understatement !A home away from home is what they said...and they did just that to make us feel so relaxed and comfortable esp. with our food (we are vegetarians).They cooked us some excellent fare like even a rajma pulav...The staff so courteous and concerned ..we were totally overwhelmed by their hospitality! The amazing weather coupled with the natural scenic beauty, super hospitality and an awesome resort sure made our stay a memorable experience!

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jun 2013

Verified traveler

Excellent

The over water bungalows are very beautiful. The amenities are great. The entire island is actually very beautiful. All areas of the beach are swim-able.

10/10

Exceptional

05 May 2013

Haru

Suitable for a couple

We are accepted for early check-in anc late check-out. Breakfast is superb but mango was always out of stock due to someone take them a lot. In room, coffee maker and CD player did not work, but was replaced. Environment is wonderfull. Very suitable for a couple to stay for a few days.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Apr 2013

Alhasan

Honeymoon@ Anantara Veli

I decided to spend my 1st week of the honeymoon at Anantara Veli. It was just perfect.
And here is what I like the most:

1) Very friendly staff, with smiles from the heart. They are not just doing their job, they made us feel we are home.

2) Anantara chain has 3 hotels in 3 Islands very close to each other ( one of them is exclusively for its resudents), so you can move around the islands with boats provided by Anantara every 5 minutues (for free).

3) There are around 7 resturants in the islands, with different cusines: Thai - Asian - Italian - grill - Japanese ..etc , each one is a totally different experience.

4) Sport centre offering: Kayak (free for less than 2 hours), jetski, seabob, parasail, diving ... etc.

5) Availability of different villas: Beach, sea bungalow, Ocean Pool.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Apr 2013

Verified traveler

Awesome Paradise....;.

We had been there for five days.....it was superb...service was excellent...

10/10

Exceptional

25 Mar 2013

Stuart

Worthy of the great reviews

The Anantara Veli lived up to the great reviews and the hotel's web site images. The staff were amazing - probably the best I've experienced. They hit a perfect mix of being friendly, efficient and professional. The resort must have an excess of facilities because despite being full the place felt completely uncrowded. We stayed in a deluxe over-water villa and I'd have preferred to be at the end of the jetty which has better views and is more peaceful and secluded. Despite asking with my booking, a villa at the end wasn't available.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2013

Omier

so much fun in anatara ,

i had soo mych fun there ,,it was my honeymoon and everything was great ...

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Mar 2013

Verified traveler

Great place for couples getaway

Food and cost is only things that could be improved.

10/10

Exceptional

09 Mar 2013

Jim & Harika

Paradise found

We looked at a lot of resorts, and specifically wanted an over-water villa with swimming and snorkeling off the deck, which we found in spades here. The Deluxe Water Villa is everything we wanted. The Deluxe villas have a two level deck, the lower is the 'upgrade' along with the very large soaking tub that is part of the bathroom. Very large villa for the price, and I would have given it all 5's except just a little bit of tlc maintenance is needed. I understand the resort will be closed this summer to refresh so its all good! Great choice, no disappointments. We also love Thai food, and the over-the-water restaurant was excellent, romantic (except shared with families) with great service. This resort does have great coral in the lagoon, and a house reef (contrary to some reports). Another bonus is the close proximity to the island of Male with the airport, so a short 35-40 minute boat ride ($350 per couple, r/t) is all that is required.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2013

Verified traveler

absolute bliss!!

from the moment we arrived it was wonderful...the beach was breathtakingly beautiful...the rooms large and very comfortable. the bathroom had a huge tub for two. we had a wonderful 5 days.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Feb 2013

Mary

Paradise, great resort

Everything about this place was easy, and it is the perfect paradise vacation. I chose it because it was attached to the other part of the Anantara resort Dhigu, for completely different choices for food- all of it was delicious, including fresh breakfast buffet. This was a great way to see more than one of the islands. The rooms were lovely and spacious- we stayed in an overwater bungalow. The activities were plenty- we snorkeled, jet-skied, and kayaked. Best infinity pool with great poolside service!

Wifi was reliable. People were quite helpful. Highly recommend!