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Travel Expert Poppy is almost halfway through her trip to the Maldives and next up she’s spending two days at Sun Aqua Vilu Reef Resort. Named ‘Indian Ocean's Leading Villa Resort’ in the World Travel Awards 2017, we had high expectations for the property and Poppy was thrilled to report that she was not disappointed. So, let’s hand over to her to find out what she experienced during her stay there…
After arriving back into Male, I found that there was a short wait before our seaplane flight to the resort but luckily, the Sun Siyam lounge was there to help us relax. Here, you can help yourself to drinks and snacks, chill out on comfortable chairs and even enjoy a complimentary shoulder massage. I hadn’t realised what an amazing experience the seaplane flight would be, but with panoramic views of the atolls, I would highly recommend it for anybody looking to start their trip to the Maldives in style.
One 45-minute flight later and we touched down to a traditional Maldivian welcome, complete with drums, a fresh coconut drink at the Nautilus Bar and a delicious buffet lunch. Then, it was time to explore my Sun Aqua Pool Villa and I couldn’t wait! The room was massive, finished to an incredibly high standard and included an outdoor shower as well as the crowning feature; a private 25sqm infinity pool with a beach cabana and swing overlooking the sunset. I happily could have spent the entire trip lounging in this area alone, but I decided to take a look around the resort.
As a whole, the boutique resort is much smaller than some of the other islands but this gives it a really natural and authentic island feel. For a 5* resort, it makes you feel at home quickly which is perfect for couples looking for a tranquil escape. I then spent the afternoon trying out kayaking and paddle boarding in the beautiful lagoon area. Up to two hours of non-motorised water sports are included on the regular all-inclusive package or you can upgrade to the extreme all inclusive for unlimited access!
After a quick change, it was time to watch the daily sting ray feeding before a cocktail and dinner at the fine dining Sunset Restaurant. I’d highly recommend heading here for a meal as the Asian-inspired seafood was phenomenal. But as amazing as it was, I almost couldn’t wait to get back to my luxurious pool villa to relax before bed.
The next day, I was up bright and early for an amazing breakfast buffet. I was so impressed with the amount of choice on offer! I then went out on an excursion to the nearby ‘Farm Island’ owned by the hotel. A large amount of the produce used in the restaurants is grown here and I think it’s fantastic that so much of our delicious food was locally sourced. After a look around, I couldn’t wait to check out the Sun Spa and headed back to the resort for an utterly wonderful hour-long Balinese massage.
After lunch, the hotel reef was calling and I honestly think it’s the best I’ve seen in the Maldives! Along with an abundance of fish and corals, a pod of dolphins swam up to us as they played in the waves, which was such an incredible experience. I never wanted to leave the water but my final evening at Sun Aqua Vilu Reef was approaching fast. Dinner that night was a great buffet selection served in the main Aqua Restaurant and it only seemed fitting to round off the evening in the hotel’s own karaoke lounge!
I was sad to leave the resort the next morning. The small island created a really nice, authentic feeling and I would definitely love to return one day. However, for now, it was onto my final destination in the Maldives, which I’ll be writing about very soon…
To speak to Poppy or our other travel specialists about booking your holiday to the Maldives, call 01244 957 708.
Did you miss our last post? Read Poppy’s review of Olhuveli Beach and Spa here.
