Villa Nautica: Luxury Island Resort in The Maldives

As of 2024 there are nearly 200 resorts in The Maldives, so choosing where to stay can be extremely overwhelming. Especially for honeymooners who have meticulously planned in advance and saved thousands, to go on the most special trip of their lives - you don’t want to be disappointed when you arrive.

I was lucky enough to visit The Maldives for my 30th birthday in 2023 - I still can’t believe I can say that! We stayed at the newly upgraded Villa Nautica on the North Malé Atoll, which has been voted the number 1 resort on TripAdvisor for 2024.

I can confirm Villa Nautica has everything you could possibly want from this stereotypical, paradise getaway. Overwater villas, turquoise waters, infinity pool, marine life, delicious food and water activities.

What to expect: arrival, dining & facilities

After arriving at Velana International Airport, you will be greeted by one of the Villa Nautica representatives and welcomed onto their luxury speedboat. (I should mention that you will need to book and pay in advance for this premium service, or you can arrange a ferry transfer from the airport which is cheaper but will take longer.) After a 20 minute journey of enjoying the incredible blue Indian Ocean waters, you will pull up at the resort. Arriving in style, if I may say so.

When it comes to resorts worldwide you can expect a level of different boards and room types. In The Maldives, opting for full board or all-inclusive is highly recommended to make the most of your stay. There’s nothing worse than being left with a huge bill at the end of your holiday, because you over did it on the cocktails. Some of the islands are incredibly small and remote, and for obvious reasons there isn’t the option of ‘let’s have dinner in the local town tonight.’

At Villa Nautica, you'll have access to three bars offering a range of refreshments: Captain’s bar, Beach bar and Cocoon Lounge. Not forgetting six restaurants serving a diverse selection of cuisines: Bageecha, Lagoon, Farumathi, Ristorante al Tramonto, Fukuya Teppanyaki and the Dhaavani Coffee Shop. Every evening we ate at the buffet, which was included in our boarding option. The food was incredible with so many different stations at every sitting. It’s safe to say the mixture of Asian, Indian and European cuisines, completely satisfied us.

On my birthday my husband surprised me to lunch at the Italian restaurant, Ristorante al Tramonto. They went above and beyond! We watched an incredible thunderstorm out to sea, so you could say we had a dinner and a show!

Room Options

At the resort there is a wonderful range of room types, depending on preference and budget. On the island there are 282 overwater and beachfront villas in total. Most visitors will come to The Maldives in hopes of staying in one of the famous overwater villas, and Villa Nautica is no exception to this allure. We stayed in a beach front villa which opened up to our own private beach and lagoon, which was beautifully serene and peaceful. Not to mention the incredible outdoor shower.

Full list of room options as follows: One & Two-bedroom Ocean Suites with Pools, Ocean Beach Pool Villa, Water Villa with Whirlpool, Sunset Beach Pool Villa, Deluxe Beach Pool Villa, Water Villa, Two-bedroom Family Beach Villa & Beach Villa.

Entertainment & Activities

Given the fact you’re on a remote island, the list of water-based activities is endless: jet-skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, paddleboarding and parasailing, to name a few. There are also boat trips for fishing, dolphin safaris and island hopping cruises that can take you to nearby resorts. You can even board a submarine to marvel at the marine life, of course without getting wet.

We spent most of our days lounging around the most incredible infinity pool that we’ve ever seen. It took our breath away.

Land-based activities around the resort include tennis, basketball and volleyball. One showery afternoon, we even took part in a badminton tournament which was unexpected, but so much fun! On site there is a well-equipped fitness centre and a kids club - for those not on their honeymoon.

One of the highlights of our trip was snorkelling in the lagoon, directly in front of our villa. The water is so clear, and is the perfect height to stand or swim. We spent one afternoon following two huge stingrays around the lagoon - at one point they swam in between our legs! We lived to tell the tale…

The evening entertainment is also fabulous with many different activities happening each night. From paddling your feet with the stingrays to watching the feeding of hundreds of sharks, not forgetting the thrilling fire shows on the beach and the hilarious crab racing.

Spa Facilities

As a part of my 30th birthday present, hubby surprised me with a trip to the Araamu Spa. We had full body massages (outside!) under the palm trees which was sensational. We had our own private outdoor area which was both relaxing and unforgettable. After the massages the staff set up a hot bath with flowers, complemented with fruit juices and the natural sounds of the island. We could have stayed there all day!

The Araamu Spa was an absolute highlight of our trip and I would totally recommend adding this to your itinerary. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to.

Summary

If it’s your first time visiting The Maldives then I would say Villa Nautica is the perfect resort to start with. It has everything you could need without being too quiet or expensive - with the close proximity of the airport, abundance of activities, and the natural Maldivian beauty that we all know and admire. Our villa was spacious and incredibly clean, the staff were kind and helpful, and the food was fresh and delicious.

Being at Villa Nautica really felt like we were alone on a remote island in the middle of nowhere, but it also gave us the option to tap into society when we needed to.

Turning 30 wasn’t so bad after all!

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