Maldives, one of my favourite destinations, is paradise on planet Earth. It has so many luxury resorts, that it could be very difficult to choose the right one for you. However if budget isn’t an issue, please consider Velaa Private Island. The Lux Traveller assures that you won’t regret it. This incredible resort is owned by a Czech financier Jiri Smejc, who designed Velaa as his private home. US $200 million investment insured that Velaa’s 43 private villas are amongst the most luxurious in the Maldives, designed for the most discerning travellers. Villas start from USD $2,000 per night and I came to visit the island to find out what makes Velaa so special.

Arrival

As our flight arrives in Male International airport, we get welcomed by Velaa’s staff and a limo is waiting outside to take us to the seaplane terminal. It is only a ten minutes ride and prompt check-in takes place in Velaa lounge. Within 10 minutes our flight is ready for departure and unlike other resorts’ guests, we get treated like super stars, boarding Velaa’s private plane decked out like as a jet with leather sofas, expansive business class seats, B&O noise cancelling headphones, minty lollies and drinks.

The flight to Noonu atoll takes approximately 45 minutes, but on this plane time literally flies. Before we know it, we arrive in paradise and our butler is here to greet us.

Villas

Our butler shows us around the villa – there is a lot to see and a few modern gadgets to familiarize with like the music system and electric controls for curtains and lights. The second the butler is gone, my kids squeal with joy and do star jumps in the pool– this is one of the most exquisite villas we’ve experiences on our travels and even the little guys are super excited!

Villa comprises of a bedroom pavilion with a huge indoor and outdoor bathroom for two. Outdoor shower is incredible, set up in a garden with a double bathtub in the coveted cabana. While very relaxing during the daytime, it turns mysteriously sexy and romantic at night.

Living room pavilion has a large day bed, swinging designer chair suspended from a ceiling, surprisingly very comfortable, mini bar and wine fridge. A glorious fruit platter and a bottle of champagne await us on arrival and fruit gets replenished every day – a healthy snack for my little guys during the day.

Outside we have a large pool set a private garden and, what seems like, endless white sand beach in front. We feel like Robinson Crusoes on a deserted island, yet we find ourselves cocooned in the ultimate luxury.

Our dining setting outdoors is perfect for lingering in-villa lunches and deck chairs are so inviting for a lazy afternoon by the pool with a good book. By the way Velaa has an incredible library with books in many languages – a great collection of art, architecture books as well as classics and biographies. So if you forgot to pack a book for your holiday you’ll surely find something here.

Other villas on the island are Beach Pool Villas, same as ours, just without the living room and Water Pool Villas, luxurious sanctuaries suspended above the Indian Ocean, and Four Bedroom Residence Homes, ultimate billionaires’ retreat.

All villas are similar in style and only differ in size and location.

Facilities

Jiri Smejc designed Velaa as a private home, so it has everything a modern family can desire or require. For teenagers there is a fantastic gym, watersports centre with every water toy imaginable and the only in Maldives undercover tennis court.

For golf enthusiasts there is a golf course and gold pro on site to help you fine tune your handicap.

Younger guests can enjoy entertainment programs in the kids club complete with water slides and playground.

Ladies might like to book a few sessions in the spa – Velaa spa offers not only relaxation treatments but also highly effective Clarins facials and high tech treatments like HiFu contouring. Leave your holiday looking younger and slimmer!

I am not a diver, but saw many guests leave every morning on diving trips. Most of the year the water in the Maldives is crystal clear and there is a lot to see. We went on a snorkelling trip by boat to a nearby reef and saw lots of pretty fish and coral. House reef in Velaa isn’t the best, but white sand beach and turquoise lagoon is gorgeous for swimming.

Dining

Velaa has three restaurants – Japanese Tavaru, all day dining Athiri and signature restaurant Aragu, suspended over water.  If you would like a more personal experience, butler can arrange a romantic dinner set up in your villa or in various other places on the island. The options are endless and only limited by your imagination.

The food in Velaa is incredible, there wasn’t a single dish we tried, that we didn’t enjoy. Beachfront Athiri serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfasts are plentiful with any request possible. Exotic fruit like mangos and pomegranate arrive to the table beautifully served. Strawberries and blueberries are so juicy that you can’t help to wonder how does the resort in Maldives manages to bring them across the world and have them looking and tasting so good.

For lunch at Athiri I couldn’t go past the truffle pasta, a signature dish served with generous shavings of black truffle or, for a lighter meal, Italian burrata melts in your mouth.

While spoilt for choices for dinner, you have to try Aragu at least once during the stay. This open-air restaurant has magical atmosphere and if you happen to sit by the water you might see a shark or an eagle ray passing by your table to wish you ‘bon appetite’.

Wine list at Aragu can compete with some of the top restaurants in the world and cuisine is exquisite and delicate. Small portions of elaborate dishes are guaranteed to delight even the fussiest of gourmands. My suggestion – tell the chef your food preferences and let him surprise you with a gourmet meal designed just for you.

The Lux Traveller Loves

It sounds simple yet often isn’t the case even in the most luxurious resorts – in Velaa everything is new and of the best quality. Every device works and every design element is functional. It is reflected in big and little things. For example the spacious gym is has everything one would require for either a cardio or weights workout. Tennis courts have anti-slide spray, so your racket doesn’t slip out of a sweaty hand. TV has a multitude of complimentary movies from different countries. These are just a few touches that make you feel at home in Velaa.

Attention to detail, complete privacy, latest say in design and technology, very spacious home-like villas – all of the above is why Velaa stands out from most other luxury resorts in the Maldives.

Splitting Hairs

The only thing I could think of is that house reef isn’t as good as in some other islands. The lagoon is better suited for swimming rather than snorkelling.

All In All

Incredible resort – true millionaires’ retreat. Try to get here for Christmas and New Year celebrations – I hear they are spectacular!