In recent years, the makeover of the Anantara Veli Maldives Resort has been so magnificent, you could be mistaken for thinking you’ve arrived at a brand new hotel. Here, the hospitality, style and experience is so good, you’ll want to book your next trip before you depart. To find out why, James Wilkinson checks in and catches up with Anantara Veli Maldives Resort and Complex General Manager, Michael Parker.

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort is popular on so many levels, from the location to the pools, design, rooms and food and beverage on offer. Tell us about your favourite things of the property.

The vibe on Veli always makes me smile, an amazingly diverse mix of guests from around the world enjoying time away from the hustle and bustle of life for a break. The approach on Veli is super casual, flip flops or shoes are optional, barefoot is the best way to wander around the island.

The restaurant and bar offerings are also unbeatable, with 10 options to choose from and special events every night you can stay for two weeks and not having the same dining experience twice during your stay – unless if you choose to, of course.

Our Michelin guest chef series is fabulous, each month we bring a different Michelin-starred chef to the resort who cooks dinner for 20 guests. I love that guests are now looking at the dates for the event on our website and booking their holidays around this. They are the most fantastic dinners and a fabulous opportunity for our team to work and learn from a different Michelin-starred chef every month.

Tell us about the stylish rooms and suites on offer, which recently had a makeover.

All the villas were fully refurbished recently and offer a fantastic blend of Maldivian tradition and modern requirements, the new beach villas have large private pools with direct access to the lagoon from the beach whilst the overwater villas offer a more traditional Maldives experience with options with and without pools.

The key is the attention to detail, the in-room bars always have ice in the cooler, a cocktail shaker for the perfect espresso martini and a fresh lime for the best G&T.

Tell us about the fantastic food and beverage on offer, which is some of the best in the Maldives.

The day starts in Veli with the most amazing breakfast in Cumin, a la carte service with every dish imaginable served freshly to your table, the traditional Maldivian breakfast is a must! For those that prefer a fantastic buffet this is also an option in Antara Dhigu Maldives Resort which is a two-minute pontoon journey away.

Lunch is a chilled affair at Dhoni bar with a lively vibe from Friday to Sunday with brunch and our resident DJ from mid-day to 4pm.

Veli has three amazing restaurants from Japanese at Origami, tapas at Dhoni Bar and the fabulous South Asian cuisine in Cumin which serves Maldivian, Indian and Sri Lankan foods – the tandoori lamb chop starters are fabulous.

Guests also have access to Anantara Dhigu which is a two-minute pontoon journey away offering Aqua with Italian cuisine, internationally-themed buffet at Fushi Café and the newly refurbished Sea.Fire.Salt. which serves premium dry aged beef, flown in freshly from Australia along with local fresh catch of the day and lobsters. Our new adults-only bar, The Yellow Fin Club sits above Sea.Fire.Salt., where our resident mixologist, Don makes the most amazing cocktails using fresh ingredients from the sea.

What’s your x-factor at Anantara Veli Maldives Resort?

Sitting on the deck in front of the sea at Cumin enjoying breakfast, watching the early morning surfers out on the wave (and the sushi and sashimi Dhoni boat platter for dinner in Origami!)

How important is the loyalty, particularly given the high return guest percentage?

Anantara Veli only re-opened in December 2022, but already has a large loyalty base. On most holidays, you’ll spend the first two or three days finding your way around and what’s happening. But when returning to Anantara Veli, you are welcomed home, and your friends are at hand to welcome you back.

Time, even more now that ever is incredibly precious, so arriving back to your home in the Maldives at Anantara Veli means you can maximise every moment of your valuable time. Our Villa Hosts will offer a suggestion for everything to ensure you don’t have to worry or think about anything and are a quick WhatsApp message away for any requests.

Favourite activities to do at and from the resort?

That’s easy, the nurse shark snorkelling, it’s a quick 30-minute journey from the hotel and to swim with these majestic creatures is incredible, added that you see an array of other fish and a few stingrays, and the odd turtle makes this a trip you will never forget.

GETTING TO MALÉ

The best way of getting to Malé in comfort and style.

Malaysia Airlines’ brilliant Business Class cabin features one of the best seats in the air

WAYFARER flew to Malé via Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines, one of the top carriers in Asia which launched flights to the Maldives on August 1 after a 10-year absence.

Malaysia Airlines offers daily flights to Malé from Kuala Lumpur and in business class, you can expect amazing hospitality, comfortable and spacious seats and top-quality inflight dining headlined by the airline’s legendary satay skewers.

It’s an exciting time for Malaysia Airlines at present, with the oneworld carrier continuing to rebuild its global network alongside launching new routes to Malé in the Maldives, Da Nang in Vietnam and Chiang Mai in Thailand.