Velidhu Island, North Ari Atoll

This place has to be paradise on earth. If you want to totally unwind and relax Velidhu is a must. The beach, accommodation (although a little dated), food, staff, snorkelling etc. etc. is all brilliant. I couldn't recommend this place highly enough. I've worked in Customer Service for over 25 years and I'd hire everyone of the staff tomorrow !! The weather was a little mixed (but expected) with rain most afternoons but even that didn't matter. Put your head under the water just 10 metres from shore and it's like being in an aquarium. I've read some older reviews that were concerned the resort had changed hands earlier this year. Well if was better than our stay under the 'old' regime then it must have been some place!! Just a couple of quibbles, but not the fault of Velidhu. We travelled with Monarch who were excellent going out but on our return the drinks trolley service was laughable taking 2 and half hours to get to us. We pre-booked the seaplane with Travel Collection for £70 each one-way, on the island it costs $70. Similarly, we upgrade to a water bungalow once on Velidhu for $50 per night, Travel collection wanted £50. So, they are basically applying a 100% mark up !!

Going back to North Ari Atoll, Velidhu Island next year, can't wait. The people are fantastic and so is the food. The location is fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone. There are no bad points.

The scenery, marine life, clean beaches and no noise were all massive plusses for our perfect honeymoon, we had a fabulous time, so very relaxing, we even got to see baby reef sharks swimming just feet away from the shore and Rays floating by amongst all the amazing colours of all the other fish! the accommodation was lovely, every day our room boy made our bed in different shapes it added a real personal touch, nothing was too much for them. The thing that really stands out to us both was having the opportunity to swim with manatee rays on one of there many excursions.

We both really recommend this destination to anyone who loves to relax and explore! The only let down was the food, it was very samey

The Island of Velidhu is paradise on earth, please go soon before John Keels hand over the resort to new owners.

The staff are wonderful, I spent the two weeks trying to work out how to take them home with me as they were so helpful and polite.

The snorkeling was out of this world, like jumping into a tropical fish tank

Beautiful, paradise, wonderful, magic and a lot more words like that.

We took a speed boat to the island, which took just over an hour and it was great fun, dolphins were swimming alongside us. We got the seaplane back, which only took us 20 minutes, with fabulous views. It is hard to describe how wonderful the island is. You work, possibly 50 weeks a year flat out, then you go to Velidhu and chill immediately. We stayed in a beach room that was very stylish and cool. We decided to do pretty much nothing, although there are enough trips and excursions to keep the really energetic satisfied.

We took our own snorkeling gear because just a few feet off the beach is the reef. It's a different world, absolutely amazing. This is all we needed, although some Italian friends we made went on scuba trips most days and showed us amazing photos of Manta Rays and Nemos.

Choice of food in buffet style restaurant is impressive. You will always find something you like, although you really should immerse yourself in the fabulous fish dishes.

My wife took advantage of the huge range of spa treatments available, they were sensational.

The bar on the beach is good fun. We did not participate every night in the activities, it's very tiring doing nothing but the crab racing should not be missed.

Back to the people, I guarantee that you will not find a more genuinely friendly group of people anywhere in the world.

Two weeks seemed like a very long time for us because on normal holidays you stay somewhere but go somewhere else at least every other day. Not here.

In summary, do not hesitate. Go to Velidhu. We plan to sell our souls, if that's what it takes to return.

Well what can I say, I would do anything to go back there! Our waiter was brilliant and he did everything he could for us. We also became good friends with the bar staff and still stay in contact with them to this day. I cannot express just how beautiful this island is; the beach was spectacular, the tropical fish, baby sharks and dolphins just add to the magic. It was clear that the staff on Velidhu really cared about how you were settling in and were only too happy to do anything to make your stay more pleasant. We were lucky enough to be in Velidhu during the Sri Lankan new year. The celebrations were absolutely fantastic with games and music that made the resort buzz. I have made so many memories that will remain with me for the rest of my life! The entertainment was also excellent and crab racing has to be one of the funniest things I have ever experienced in my life! Absolutely hilarious! As was the banana boating and the night fishing trips from the island. I would thoroughly advise anyone to visit this resort if they get the chance; they will have some of the best experiences of their life, once they discover Velidhu.

A beautiful island, you can walk around it in 20 minutes at a casual amble. The staff show traditional excellent hospitality and there is plenty to keep you occupied if you like diving/snorkeling and water sports or just want to step out of your front door onto a beach. The beach bungalows were spacious and well enough equipped if you weren't planning to spend long periods of time there. The lack of room service can be annoying and the lack of phones in the rooms even more so. Having said that, at a determined walk you're only a couple of minutes from anywhere on the island. There seemed to be surprisingly little damage from the Tsunami, even when diving and snorkeling.

Overall, thoroughly good value for money. If they improved the food and a few room facilities it'd be absolutely amazing. We both had an excellent honeymoon.

Recommendations, take some anti-diarrhea tablets (remember that this is still, for all its mod cons, a tropical island) some footwear that can handle sand and dead coral pieces, a snorkel that works and use the sea plane.

This was our second visit to Velidhu Island in the Maldives. We went with friends we met on our first visit. The staff remember you and make you feel very welcome, especially the second time around. One of our waiters even got us one of the few phrase books available for the local language (Devehi). This had to be flown out from Male, but it came as promised. We got a free water bungalow upgrade for 3 nights due to a booking issue, and they try to give you the same room if it's your second visit. The water bungalows were nice, but the beach rooms are fine. The all inclusive drinks were better this year, so they have obviously listened to feedback. Apparently, in a couple of years time the franchisee changes, and I think they're trying to drum up some customer loyalty.

We flew with Qatar, as we tried Monarch the previous year, not again thanks!! Quatar is worth the money, but they are not as good as Emirates, but we couldn't get Emirates flights to match the holiday this year.

On arriving at Velidhu Island in the Maldives the sun was just setting. Our first thoughts were "what an amazing place"! We were taken into the reception area and received a complementary fruit drink. Our luggage man took us to our rooms and showed us how to use everything. What a room! We had a water bungalow. If you have the chance to upgrade, even for night, I suggest you do. The next morning the true beauty of Velidhu Island hit me. What a difference the sun shining made to the colours of the water and the scenery.

Our waiter was a great guy!! He made us laugh every meal time, every day. All the staff were amazing. Our room boy was lovely, and he made me origami fish and birds out of leaves!!

We will definitely be going back to Velidhu, and I will take my two children next time I do.

The only suggestion I will make is if you are flying with Monarch - upgrade for your own sanity.

If I could, I would go back to Velidhu Island in the Maldives now and refuse to leave. It's paradise! The man at the Windsurf Centre is 'the man'. Our waiter was a genuinely nice guy, and nowhere in the world will you find a nicer group of people and be spoilt in the way we were. If you get the chance you have to go!!