Angsana Resort & Spa Maldives Velavaru

For our second trip to the Maldives we wanted a resort that ticks all the important boxes but that doesn't break the bank. We ended up going for the Angsana because of its positive reviews about snorkelling (our priority), the laid-back vibe and interesting All-Inclusive package. Rooms: We stayed in an infinity pool beach bungalow first. Although we didn't find the decor dated (as some of the reviews previous suggested), the furnishings are rather simple and unassuming. Considering that you hardly spent any time in the rooms however, it didn't bother us too much. My husband found the mattress a touch hard and the instant coffee is a no-go for a hotel that supposedly has 5 stars (the overwater villas have Nespresso machine – please implement these across all rooms!). The biggest negative though was the noise coming from the room next door. The insulation is so poor that you can hear your neighbours using the hairdryer. (Ours also liked to listen to music until the early hours of the night...) Unfortunately based on missing out on a good nights' sleep due to this issue, I would not choose this room again. After the first night we brought this up with resort management who dealt with it promptly and professionally - but the problem remains that you will hear everything (!) from next door if you have neighbours. The big positive and reason we chose this villa type was the infinity pool outside from which you could look out onto the ocean. The area isn't very private and you will have quite a bit of people walking past you villa and your pool. However, after walking around the island and comparing our room to others, we found that room 156 was one of the more private ones. If snorkelling is important to you, choose a room on that side of the island (sunrise). We chose to stay in an overwater villa at the end of our trip to explore the snorkelling from over there. Wow, this was surely the highlight of our trip! Choose a room on the sunset side for direct access to snorkel to the reef wall (50-70 meters I’d say). The currents can be strong but once you get to the vertical drop off you’ll be rewarded with an absolutely magical experience of pristine corals and fish soup. Again, the room is underwhelming in terms of decor but spacious and functional (i.e. has everything you need). Service: This was a bit of a letdown overall. Although some staff were very polite and attentive (Afzal comes to mind as a standout), many seemed demotivated and lacking a customer-oriented approach. This was especially the case at Kaani, the main restaurant. Housekeeping at the beachfront villa was also a bit odd, as the main cleaning was usually done quite late, around 4pm, and then around 6pm they’d come back for turndown. That didn’t really make sense. Restaurants: The main customers at Angsana Velavaru are Chinese and Russian travellers, so the F&B selection is quite focused on those markets. Overall, the food was fine but nothing that overwhelmed us. The quality at Kaani was good, especially Asian dishes were well executed. However, some of the buffet themes really didn’t appeal to us (i.e. Pasta night) and we missed fresh fish and seafood. Breakfast was a bit lacklustre and I am glad we changed to the overwater villas after 4 nights as I would not have known what to eat for breakfast on the 4th day. The music at breakfast (think Eurotrash) was terrible in my opinion. But I guess it appeals to the main crowd of this hotel. The concept at the overwater villas is a bit different and you can order in-room breakfast, including eggs benedict, etc. Azurro, the restaurant near the overwater villas is Mediterranean- inspired but in our opinion slightly style over substance. The vibe was also a bit lacking. Our favourite restaurant was Funa, both in terms of setting and food. It serves Asian fusion in an intimate overwater setting. As wine aficionados, the All-Inclusive wine selection was a bit of a letdown. From a value point of view and considering how expensive alcohol is in the Maldives in general, it is somewhat understandable. We didn’t really make use of the lunch offering and would probably opt for a half-board package next time so we can just pay for our own drinks and have something a bit more decent. Spa: The spa therapists were great, the setting was lovely and the prices reasonable. This definitely made up for some of the negatives across the board. Snorkelling: 10/10, the highlight of our trip. From titan triggerfish to numerous reef sharks and a moray eel, we saw an abundance of marine life a few steps away from our villa. Think about what you want out of your holiday. The rooms and F&B are not the strongest points of this resort in my opinion, but the snorkelling is great, and the spa and overall value are good.

We spent five days and four nights at Angsana Velavaru in the Maldives, and it was a truly relaxing and enjoyable vacation. We especially want to thank our Chinese host Sophie, who provided thoughtful assistance and arrangements from the moment we arrived at the resort until the end of our stay. Her attentive service truly allowed us to enjoy a stress-free and carefree holiday. From the very first day, Sophie demonstrated exceptional professionalism and reliability. Upon our arrival on the island, she personally welcomed us and accompanied us through the check-in process. She gave us a detailed introduction to the overwater villa and explained how to use all the facilities. She even checked every detail in the room in advance to ensure our stay started smoothly. When it came to dining and accommodation, Sophie’s arrangements were especially thoughtful. We had chosen the Soft All-Inclusive (SAI) package, which included three meals a day and selected beverages. Sophie also played a key role in organizing our activities. We had booked snorkeling, diving, sailing, and a sunset cruise. For each activity, she made reservations in advance, reminded us of meeting times, gave tips on what to wear, and explained safety precautions. On one day when the sea conditions weren’t ideal, she proactively helped us reschedule the activity and rearranged the rest of our plans so everything flowed seamlessly. She even advised us on the best times and locations to take photos based on the weather, helping us capture many precious memories. Throughout our stay, Sophie was almost always available and responsive. Whether we needed room supplies, wanted to adjust our schedule, or book a spa session, she responded promptly and coordinated everything efficiently. Having such a dedicated Chinese host on the island made language barriers nonexistent and significantly enhanced our overall experience. All in all, this trip to Angsana Velavaru was perfect. The environment is beautiful, the facilities are excellent, but what impressed us most was the outstanding service from Sophie. She is not only professional and efficient, but also warm, patient, and incredibly detail-oriented. We’re truly grateful for

This was our fourth trip to Angsana Velavaru and the place never ceases to impress with its natural beauty, gardens and fantastic shoreline together with the friendly staff and delicious food from around the world. A special mention needs to be made of our wonderful waitress Leila who looked after us in the absence of our old friend Appa who was taking a few days break at the start of our holiday. Cold refreshing drinks were always on our table as we arrived to quench our thirst during the heat of the day. Appa had a great memory for our preferences in respect of drinks and food and created beautiful table decorations for us in the last week of our stay. Our room was made each day with care and consideration by Azee and our morning breakfast omelettes by Rohim who seemed to have them ready as we got to his counter. All the team at Velavaru are welcoming from the moment you step off the tender with a warm greeting to the morning stroll for breakfast meeting the grounds men and room staff as you walk through the manicured gardens. The daily complementary snorkelling is amongst the best we have ever encountered with knowledgeable support from the snorkelling team who also gave instruction on planting new corals to expand the reef. On this visit we were fortunate in seeing at least one turtle on every excursion. A real treat. The resort was relatively quite during the low season but the weather was beautiful and staff went the extra mile to ensure we had a memorable stay. As it was our fourth visit, the hotel had had put on a special meal on the beach for us one evening, introduced and designed by the executive chef, Prasong. We can not wait to return for our 5th visit which will be in the near future.

My wife and I stayed here for our honeymoon and loved it. Wish we bought the all inclusive food and drink package rather than the half package. Our room was lovely we were in the infinity pool beach villa and was always keep clean and tidy thanks to Naru, he also made towel animals and wrote messages for us on the bed. Food is nice, it’s a themed buffet that changes every night. The chef who cooked eggs for us every morning was great and beat eggs I’ve ever had. Staff are friendly and do a great job.

We arrived from the UK to Male airport and were greeted by a guide from the resort. He took us to the seaplane check in, got our bags weighed and got us checked in. We then took a shuttle to the business lounge where Shamil the worker from Angsana stayed with us until it was time to board the seaplane for our flight to the resort. This VIP experience was amazing with it setting the mood for the two weeks ahead of us. By the way at the end of the holiday when the seaplane dropped us off at Male airport we were again met by Shamil who guided us through check in, security etc. There were guests from two other island on the seaplane with us but we were the only ones that had this, they were left to fend for themselves. VIP treatment from start to finish. When the seaplane landed at the island we were welcomed by numerous members of staff waiting and smiling at the dock. We were shown to reception where check in went so smoothly. We were then shown to our villa which was situated directly on the beach just feet from the vivid blue sea. This recently refurbished villa was amazing. Loads of space, huge comfortable bed, twin sinks, indoor and outdoor showers, outdoor private bathtub. Not forgetting our own private infinity pool directly facing and feet from the sea. We spent so much time in there, if only we had the weather in the UK for one of these. This by the way was our second visit to Angsana, were were here last year at around the same time. The food if possible was even better this time around. New menus to suit every taste, the variety was exceptional. The tender meats could easily rival that of a five star restaurant. There was wagyu steaks at the buffet, in all my travels I have never seen this. I have dined at some amazing restaurants throughout the world but I can honestly say the food here was on par if not better than many of them. The free daily trips to the house reef are a must. We saw so many colourful fish, turtles and rays. What sets the resort apart are the staff. They are so friendly, always smiling and so vey helpful. Special mention goes to Sumeth, such a nice, warm and friendly man. Laila the waitress, so very nice. Appa, Afzal from the restaurant. The head chef. The food and beverage manager. Shamil the airport guide. Amjad and Maria from the front desk and Zair who leads this wonderful team. My apologies if I have left anyone out. I can honestly say that Angsana Velavaru is the best holiday destination we have been to. We genuinely loved every minute and cannot wait to return. We still talk so very fondly of our time there but above all, the people. Thank you guys and girls.