VELASSARU MALDIVES REVIEW

When you picture a Maldives Island white sand beaches, turquoise water and luxury resorts likely come to mind. With thousands of islands and crystal clear waters, the Maldives is the place for rest and relaxation. A stay at Velassaru Maldives includes all of this and more. Velassaru is paradise! Located in the South Male Atoll, the island is a quick ride from the international airport in Male.

BIf you’re planning a trip to the Maldives then you’ll want to see below for my honest opinion of our stay at Velassaru as this is not a sponsored post.

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The Maldives is one of those places you can visit all year long due to the warm sunny weather. While the weather is warm and sunny year round, there are two distinct seasons, the wet and dry season. The wet season is from May until October whereas the dry season is between November and April. With that said, peak season tends to be between November and April. Max and I visited the Maldives during the wet season and the weather was perfect! We spent almost two weeks in the Maldives and had 1-2 days of LIGHT rain! It would rain for a few minutes before clearing up.

Budget Friendly Tip: Prices during the “wet season” are significantly less expensive. If you are on a budget or just like a good deal, I highly recommend visiting during this time.

Like most Maldives Resort, Velassaru provides a ferry transfer from the airport to the resort. A team will be awaiting your arrival at the airport to escort you to the ferry. From the second you’re greeted at the airport, you’re treated like a VIP. During the quick 25 minute ferry ride, you’ll receive a water and cool towel before arriving to the luxurious resort.

Upon arrival to the dock, a few friendly staff members will be there to greet you. They’ll walk you to the front desk for a cool complimentary drink. During the check in process you can enjoy your drink on a comfy couch. The front desk staff is great! We arrived early and they were extremely accommodating since it was off-season. We were escorted to our room via golf cart.

I’m going to be honest, one of the most expensive things about Maldives travel is transportation to the resort. I know this sounds absurd but it’s true. Transportation is priced per person and gets expensive quick. Some resorts require a sea plane which can be $900 (or more) roundtrip per person. With that said, in comparison to other hotels in Maldives, the transportation at Velassaru is reasonable.

Transportation Fees: Currently the round trip transportation fee is $172 per adult and $86 for kids (over 2). The cost was slightly lower when we visited so fees may change seasonally.

Let’s get into what you really want to know, pricing! Resorts in Maldives are notoriously expensive as most resorts throughout the country are luxurious. With that said, Velassaru is by no means “cheap” however, I found it to be reasonably priced in comparison to most Maldives resorts. Velassaru offers a lot for the price but I’ll dive into the amenities in a minute.

As I mentioned, pricing in the Maldives is seasonal. Prices generally sky rocket during the dry season. Max and I visited Velassaru Maldives in August and paid 200 USD per night which included breakfast. We booked their standard accommodation which is the Deluxe Bungalow and were actually upgraded to a Deluxe Villa! Since we visited off-season, we paid on the low end. The Deluxe Bungalow is generally around 400 USD per night during peak season. While we booked their base accommodation, there are also plenty of options for a luxury traveler. During peak season, an Overwater Bungalow is anywhere from 800 to 1500 USD depending on the room you choose.

Booking: Velassaru Maldives
Please note: Prices change drastically in the Maldives, so if you have a flexible schedule, try a few different dates.

Velassaru Maldives offers a range of accommodation so there is something for every price point (keeping in mind this is a luxury resort). There are 10 options within three categories of accommodation. All rooms come with a pool bag, beach towels, sandals, a robe and slippers, and L’Occitane products. I’ll do a quick overview of the accommodation starting with Velassaru’s standard room to their most luxurious room options. As I mentioned, we stayed in the Deluxe Villa which we loved.

The Deluxe Bungalows and Villas are considered the standard rooms at the resort. While these are the standard accommodation, these rooms are anything but standard. Both options include an outdoor and indoor sitting space as well as an indoor-outdoor bathroom. The Bungalows are the least expensive option whereas the Villas are slightly pricer and more luxurious. With that said, both options are spacious with incredible amenities. My recommendation is to request a Deluxe Villa on the lagoon side of the island. We found this area to be extremely relaxing with some of the Island’s best snorkeling and swimming areas. The room numbers for this stretch of Deluxe Villas are 105 to 134.

A step above the Deluxe Bungalows and Villas are the Beach Front Villas. The front porch of these secluded Villas leads to a private beach. You can choose between a Beach Front Villa with or without a pool. Both options include an indoor-outdoor bathroom and a spacious room.

If you have researched the Maldives at all, you’ve likely seen bungalows and villas sitting over the piercing blue waters of the Maldives. To reach the overwater Bungalows and Villas, you’ll walk over a private wooden pier. There are a few options to choose from including villas with or without a pool. Oftentimes these rooms will have glass windows in the floor allowing you to see fish swim under your room. These rooms are the definition of luxury. If you can swing it, I highly recommend booking something over the water.

I’m not going to lie, my favorite part of our stay at Velassaru was the food! Most stays include a phenomenal breakfast buffet. The buffet is unlike anything I have experienced and I’ve had my fair share of fancy breakfast buffets! From an omelette bar to a fresh juice station, there is something for everyone. My personal favorite was the fresh salad station with a variety of vegetables and yummy toppings. My husband, on the other hand, looked forward to the breakfast tacos, hash browns, and of course, bacon. Velassaru offers a wide range of cuisine which changes regularly.

While the breakfast buffet was my personal favorite, there are approximately 6 restaurants on the island. There are a few high end restaurants as well as dining experiences over the water or along the beach. Two of the restaurants serve drinks and small bites in a relaxed atmosphere with a great view. We ate at Turquoise a few times which has a good menu. It was reasonably priced in comparison to the other restaurants and the food was excellent. There is also a dinner buffet which looked incredible! Unfortunately, I did not experience the dinner buffet but, I can only imagine it’s well worth the splurge.

Keep in mind food in the Maldives is extremely expensive. Most islands import the food daily from nearby countries such as Sri Lanka which is why it can be pricey. The food is absolutely delicious so it’s hard to believes it’s imported.

Velassaru is a pristine island surrounded by crystal clear waters. One side of the island houses a large lagoon where residents can swim and snorkel. The pure white sand leading into the piercing blue water makes you feel as if you’re looking at a postcard. The island is relatively small as you can walk the island in about 15 minutes. Although the island is small, there is plenty to do.

For starters, there is a fitness center equipped with up to date equipment to help guests stay active during their stay. Inside the gym there is complimentary cold towels and water bottles for their guests. There is also a tennis court next to the gym and you can rent rackets from the staff. One of my favorite amenities that Velassaru offers is their walk-in infinity style pool. The pool overlooks the perfect white sands and crystal blue water on the front of the island. It’s the best place to relax and soak in the island vibes. There are also a several areas around the island where guests can lounge and and enjoy the Maldives beach. In fact, they have lounge chairs set up for guests to lay at while soaking in the sun and enjoying the dreamy views offered Velassaru.

The spa is arguably the most peaceful place on the island with ten overwater treatment rooms. The spa offers a variety of treatments including massages, body scrubs, manicures, pedicures, and more. With everything from a steam room to a hydropool over the lagoon, the spa has you covered. You’ll find pricing and a list of treatments offered here.

I wasn’t really sure where to put this but feel it’s important to mention. I was a little worried about mosquitos in The Maldives. I wasn’t sure how buggy it would be and am always weary of tropical diseases. I have to say, Velassaru does a phenomenal job keeping mosquitos at bay. My husband and I are the type that get bit no matter how much we douse ourselves with mosquito spray and did not get one bug bite! The room comes with mosquito plug-in as a precaution however, the island doesn’t have a bug problem!

While swimming in the turquoise clear water of The Maldives is an excursion in itself you can also book excursions at the property. My husband and I were on the island for four days and an excursion wasn’t necessary for us. We spent quite a bit of time snorkeling, swimming, and lounging at the pool! But, if you get a little island fever, there are a handful of excursions to choose from. A few options include a sunset cruise, night fishing, and dolphin discovery.

One of the best things about staying at Velassaru Maldives is the number of amenities included in your stay. One of the best amenities is the ice cream bicycle that rides by twice a day. Let me tell you, my husband and I looked quite forward to the ice cream bike! It can be hot in the Maldives so cooling down with refreshing ice cream is necessary. Speaking of free treats, if you hang by the beach or pool you’ll get some goodies. Throughout the day, a staff member comes by with juice, a cool towel, and a fruit skewer.

Don’t worry, if you’re not a snacker, Velassaru has plenty of complimentary activities. Upon arrival, you’ll receive snorkel gear for the entirety of your stay. This is a great amenity as many of the other resorts require guests to pick up snorkel gear daily on a first come first serve basis. The lagoon is great for snorkeling so I highly recommend utilizing the equipment! If you aren’t comfortable snorkeling, they offer a few complimentary group snorkels. There is also a complimentary morning cruise offered Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. We took the cruise and it was nice, I always love being on the water. That being said, it got a little toasty because we went very slow on the way back.

Guests are able to partake in a complimentary sunset yoga class twice per week. I went to the yoga class which was nice and relaxing! It was slower than the yoga I am used to so it’s great for people of all fitness levels. There are also events hosted for guests throughout the year. The events are listed in the quarterly issue of Velassaru Moments as they change from month to month. Past events include a white party, beach BBQ, and meeting Santa. If you’re thinking about booking a trip to Velassaru, take a look at Velassaru Moments, occasionally discounts and promotions will be listed.

With all that, if you’re looking for luxury, head to Velassaru Maldives! As I mentioned, it’s a great deal considering the amenities included. The water is crystal clear and the atmosphere is fabulous. I don’t always recommend spending money on accommodation but, a Maldives vacation is an exception in my mind. It’s one of those countries meant for snorkeling and relaxation.

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)

Below I’ve included my favorite travel essentials for the Maldives. For more essentials, go to our travel shop which includes baby travel gear. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, I’m happy to help!