Vilamendhoo Island Resort and Spa

T Z

I had the pleasure of staying at this incredible resort with my family, marking our second visit after many years. The outstanding experiences here are what keep bringing us back. Below is my review based on our recent stay: Check-in/Check-out Process The entire process, from the airport to the sea-plane and boat transfers, was flawless. Right from the arrival boat transfer, the staff recognized and warmly welcomed our family. When we reached the resort, Jully greeted us personally and even addressed us by name, which made us feel truly valued. She walked us through the resort and updated us on its latest features. As returning guests, we were delighted to receive a bottle of red wine as a special gesture. The check-out process was equally seamless. Resort representatives were present at every transfer point to ensure everything went smoothly. Villa We stayed in a standalone beach villa facing the north. The villa was spotless, cozy, and well-maintained. Its excellent soundproofing ensured a peaceful stay, with only the faint sound of waves breaking the silence. The air conditioning was powerful enough to keep us comfortable during the hottest days, and the bed was incredibly comfortable. While items like shavers, toothbrushes, and vanity kits are not provided by default, we were well-prepared, knowing this is a remote island resort without a mini-mart. However, they can probably be obtained from the housekeeper, too. The villa’s location was perfect, with a snorkeling reef exit just a short walk away and a stunning beach right in front. The turquoise waters were mesmerizing, and the occasional sight of sea planes landing and taking off added a unique charm. House Reef Like many reefs worldwide, this one has experienced coral bleaching due to global warming, especially in the warmer shallow waters near the beach. In 2014, I remember vibrant corals and abundant marine life, including stingrays and blacktip reef sharks, closer to shore. Now, the vibrant corals and diverse marine life are mostly found at the reef drop-off, where the water is cooler. During our snorkeling adventures, we encountered a variety of colorful reef fish, blacktip reef sharks, eagle rays, and even a sea turtle. Food We chose the full-board package and enjoyed all our meals at the Funama Restaurant. The food was outstanding, with a different international theme every day. We were spoiled for choice and particularly loved the curries and Maldivian-style dishes. Special Mentions A big thank you to Jully for arranging the perfect villa for our family and for her exceptional hospitality. She truly made our stay unforgettable. We also want to express our gratitude to: Lamiu, who ensured our villa was spotless and refreshed twice a day. Rifath, Shah, and Chandana at the restaurant for their attentive and friendly service. A special shoutout to Rifath, who impressed us with his energy, efficiency, and quick service. This resort continues to exceed our expectations, and we look forward to returning for another memorable stay in the future.

Grant Beaney

FANTASTIC. Outstanding service. Outstanding and respectful staff. The GM Zahir and all his management team are superb. See you next year

John Lim

A Culinary Voyage at Vilamendhoo While Vilamendhoo’s stunning location in the Maldives and its awe-inspiring marine life are celebrated far and wide, there’s another aspect of this resort that deserves equal praise - its culinary prowess. Yes, you’ve read that right. The food at Vilamendhoo is not just good, it’s extraordinary. This isn’t your standard resort fare. Here, three buffet meals a day take you on a delightful journey around the world, and if you’re staying for a week, just imagine the variety of experiences your palate gets to enjoy! No one wants to endure lackluster food, especially when you’re on vacation. At Vilamendhoo, you don’t have to. Every day, you’re treated to an assortment of international cuisines, all beautifully prepared and authentically delicious. From the fragrant spices of local Maldivian dishes, the hearty comfort of Mexican and Italian meals, to the intricate flavors of Chinese, Sri Lankan, and Indian cuisines, there’s something for every food lover here. Barbecued delights tantalize your senses, while the Western corner provides familiar comfort. Vegetarians are well-catered for, and there’s even a thoughtful kids’ corner. The salads are fresh, vibrant, and varied - a testament to Vilamendhoo’s commitment to providing healthy, balanced meal options. And for those with a sweet tooth, the dessert section is heaven-sent. In short, Vilamendhoo’s dining experience is a veritable feast for the senses, equally as impressive as its vibrant marine life and breathtaking views. So, come for the whale sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles, but stay for the extraordinary food. It is truly an experience to savor!

Andreia Esteves

The resort is just amazing, everything I espected and more: white sand, clear and warm water. It has a house reef with many colorful fishes, rays and sharks where you can swim every time you want. Even from the vilas you can always see fishes. They have also excursions (snorkeling or diving) to see the manta rays, the whale sharks and the turtles. The food was every single day very good, I was quite surprised. All the staff treat the guests so kindly, that make you feel welcome and at home. Thank you to all the staff, specially to our waiter Thao. It was an amazing experience and I definitely want to come back :)

Balázs Boldoczki

We had a wonderful week on Vilamendhoo last week. We are a couple with a baby boy (1,5 yrs). We selected this island because of the house reef, hidroplane transfer and its detailed homepage. We had a standalone beach villa on the north side with a great view. The island is very nice when it comes to the vegetation and the number and sort of fishes in the water. I had just one small disappointment with the turtle excursion starting time. It was at 14:00 in the printed materials but it started at 9:00 thus I did not have the chance to join. Also it would be nice to have a kids corner with supervision to have some free time without the baby. Babysitting service possibility was not mentioned during the checking process. The staff however made great job continuously. They did their best to make the vacation unforgettable. Special thanks to Ibrahim, Shiyaz, Suchulu and Phamila in the restaurant, Ayaaz who kept our room clean and also thanks to the barist in the Boashi bar. It was a really great vacation!