My dream of visiting the Maldives came true
Dec 24, 2024 Gabbella28 Brasov, Brasov, Romania
Overall, I can say that we had a dream honeymoon; the island is stunning, and visiting the Maldives was my dream come true. I did extensive research on locations, and working in tourism, I know every location has its pros and cons.
Cons of Villa Park (though there are fewer of these):
Entertainment: The resort doesn’t excel in this area. There…
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Overall, I can say that we had a dream honeymoon; the island is stunning, and visiting the Maldives was my dream come true. I did extensive research on locations, and working in tourism, I know every location has its pros and cons.
Cons of Villa Park (though there are fewer of these):
Entertainment: The resort doesn’t excel in this area. There are few activities, with occasional evening events like live music or karaoke that end early. Daytime activities are mostly limited to things like yoga at the pool.
Transfer from Malé Airport to the resort and back: Transfers are done via small planes (approx. 20 minutes flight), followed by a 5-minute speedboat ride. The issue is that there are only three flights a day, so you might have to wait a long time at the airport depending on your transfer schedule. For example, our return flight was at 11:00 PM, but we were picked up at 2:00 PM from the hotel. At the airport in Malé, a representative tried to scam us by directing us to a contact they had an arrangement with for tours in Malé. There was a lounge for those with long waiting times like us, but when we asked where we could leave our luggage, they sent us to a paid counter. Only after insisting did they mention the lounge.
Room keycard issues: One day, our room keycard stopped working. We notified three different staff members but waited 40 minutes outside the room before someone came to help. Even then, the keycard only worked for a few hours before failing again.
Housekeeping issues: On one occasion, housekeeping took one of our wet beach towels but didn’t replace it, leaving us with just one. In general, cleanliness wasn’t great. I had to request shower gel when it ran out, along with other missing essentials.
Pros:
Spacious island: The island is large enough that it never felt crowded, except in the restaurant.
Food: The food was excellent and varied. I recommend booking at least full board. With full board, unlimited water is provided during meals and in your room (at least 1 liter per person/day). Drinks are relatively pricey: $6 for soft drinks, $8 for beer, $10–20 for cocktails, and $10 for milkshakes. We particularly enjoyed the service provided by Manik at the restaurant.
Best accommodation location: I recommend staying on the southern side of the island (sunset side), where the water is calmer, with fewer waves and less wind compared to the northern side. Most rooms are renovated, with major changes made in 2022. Renovations are ongoing, but even the unrenovated rooms are in great condition. We stayed in Room 288 and were extremely satisfied.
Snorkeling: This is a fantastic location for snorkeling, with many spots in both shallow and deep water. There is a specially designated area for this.
Daily wildlife feeding: At 6:30 PM every day, you can participate in feeding the stingrays and sharks for free.
Amenities and features:
Mini zoo and botanical garden, where the staff eagerly explains the plants and flowers.
Bicycle rentals for $7/day make it easier to get around.
Free buggy rides are available to transport guests to their rooms or elsewhere on the island. You can request one from the reception or call from your room.
If it rains, umbrellas are provided for free.
Excellent internet connection throughout the island, including in the rooms and bars.
Beach: Fine, soft sand with a gradual entrance into the water on the southern side. On the northern side, the water entry is steeper. You can sunbathe anywhere on the island.
Sandbank: There is a picturesque sandbank, which is one of the resort’s highlights.
Tides: While noticeable, the tides are not particularly disruptive.
Water supply: Having unlimited water in the room was a huge plus.
Minimal insects: Other than mosquitoes, flies, and dragonflies, we didn’t encounter other bugs. There are also free-roaming parrots and flying foxes (fruit bats), but they pose no danger.
Children’s facilities: There’s a kids’ club with various activities.
In conclusion, despite some minor inconveniences, our overall experience at Villa Park was fantastic, and it truly felt like a dream vacation.
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