Vilamendhoo

Vilamendhoo, formerly one of the uninhabited islands of Alif Dhaal Atoll (South Ari Atoll) of the Maldives, has been developed into a 184 room 4 star plus resort, called Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa, managed by CCR (Crown & Champa Resorts). Some of the best diving points in Maldives are located in Ari Atoll.

Location

Vilamendhoo Island Resort, surrounded by a beautiful lagoon, an excellent house reef and long stretches of white, sandy beach, is the only Resort on the island of Vilamendhoo, South Ari Atoll. It is 900 meters long by 250 meters wide, about 5 acres. Mostly transfers are by Seaplane from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport is a scenic, 25 minute flight

Accommodation

184 Rooms include 30 Jacuzzi Water Villas, 30 Jacuzzi Beach Villas, 111 Beach Villas and 13 Garden Villas. All feature tropical décor, a king size or two twin beds, wood or tile floors, private porch with furniture, air-conditioning, overhead ceiling fan, sitting area, stocked Mini Bar with refrigerator, complimentary tea/coffee, espresso machine, IDD telephone, 32 inch flat screen cable TV, DVD/CD player, high speed broadband Internet connection, personal safe, partially open-air bathroom with double sinks, a rain shower, bath accessories, hair dryer, nightly turndown service, bathrobe, complimentary use of chaise lounges at the pool and beach and beach towels. Electricity is 220VAC, 50HZ.

Jacuzzi Water Villas

(85 sqm) are located over-the-water, in the lagoon…a short walk along your private jetty to this secluded hideaway featuring a larger bedroom, wood floor, an iPod docking station/sound tower, a tea/coffee/espresso machine; a spacious bathroom with a private, walled-in outdoor area featuring a Jacuzzi for two “under the stars”, a wooden sundeck with chaise lounges, a shade umbrella, tropical plants, a private sundeck with stairs into the sea and the most magnificent views of all...

Jacuzzi Beach Villas

(65 sqm) are spacious, with wood floor, an iPod docking station, a private, walled-in outdoor area featuring a Jacuzzi for two “under the stars”, a wooden sundeck with chaise lounges, a shade umbrella, tropical plants and a beautiful view of the lagoon.

Beach Villas

(55 sqm) are like the Jacuzzi Beach Villas but with tile floor and neither a Jacuzzi nor sundeck

Garden Rooms

(55sqm) are the same as Beach Villas but located in the garden, not on the beach. They are in 3 blocks of 4 or 5 rooms, and have a privacy screen between each room.

Reception

For check-in/check-out, Guest Services and near the Gift Shop, Sifani Jewelry and Internet Café

Restaurants

Two main “sister” restaurants featuring the same “all you can eat” buffet style meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, served in traditional open-air, sand floor, thatch roof dining room with a separate table for each guest room. The Funama Restaurant is for guests in the Garden Rooms and Beach Villas and the Ahima Restaurant is for adults only, guests in the Jacuzzi Beach Villas and Jacuzzi Water Villas

Also, “optional” à la carte restaurants including the over-the-water Asian Wok Restaurant, specializing in Asian cuisine and Teppanyaki; the Hot Rock Restaurant on the Sunset Bar beach, featuring seafood, steak or chicken cooked at your table on “hot rocks”, for adults only; and 3 other “optional” á la carte choices; a Snack Menu at the Bars and Pools; Room Service and a selection of special Dinners served on the Beach!

Bars

The Bonthi Bar, on the beach beside the Funama Restaurant, with satellite TV coverage of international sporting events and a Disco; the Boashi Bar beside the Boashi Bar Pool, at the Eastern end of the island; the Sunset Bar beside the Ahima Restaurant for adults only; and the over-the-water Asian Wok Bar at the Eastern end of the island for adults only

Sports and Recreation

1.5 km of Beautiful White Sand Beach, a Magnificent Lagoon and Excellent Snorkeling on the House Reef just off the beach; 2 Sparkling Clear Fresh Water Swimming Pools overlooking the Beach - the Boashi Bar Pool with a Children’s Wading Pool and the Sunset Bar Pool for adults only; a Lighted Tennis Court, Putting Green, Beach Volleyball, Badminton, Petanque, Bicycles, and Football Grounds; Fishing Excursions including Morning, Afternoon and Deep Sea trips; Fitness Center, a Children’s Playground by the Boashi Bar Pool and a Children’s Games Room next to the Jewelery Shop

The Games Room with Table Tennis, Billiards, Snooker, Foosball Table, Darts and Board Games

Euro-Divers

SCUBA Center featuring Guided Diving and Snorkeling Boat Trips, Equipment and Accessory Sales, Rental and Repair, and a complete PADI Instructional Program

Vilamendhoo Windsurf & Sailing Center

For rental and instruction, including Catamarans and Kayaks. Two beach locations, by the Sunset Pool Bar for adults only; the other by EuroDivers for families with children

Duniye Spa

Over-the-water provides a tropical spa experience for women and men, focused on wholeness, simplicity, purity and quality. The Therapist’s healing energy combined with Asian massage techniques and using only chemical free, pure organic compounds, follows a natural, holistic, personalized approach to caring for each guest’s health, beauty and well being

Entertainment

Includes a nighttime program of Maldives Culture & History Presentation, Marine Preservation Slide Show, Bodu Beru Cultural Dance Show, DJ Disco, Divers’ Video, Movies, Crab Races, Live Band, Table Tennis Tournament, a Lending Library where you can take or donate a book and more!

Activities

Include Guided Excursions such as Snorkeling, Sunset Cruise, Island Hopping, Photo Flight, Robinson Crusoe Island, Whale Shark, Manta & Turtle and more! Weekly program includes Water polo and Sports Tournaments. Board games available at Reception including Chess, Checkers and Scrabble and more!

Internet Café in the Gift Shop, for high speed, broadband connection for email, web browsing and making phone calls. There is also highspeed broadband wireless connection in all guest rooms and most public areas

Shopping

At The Gift Shop features a complete selection of Swimwear, Sportswear, Batik, Vilamendhoo Logo Wear, Books, Music CD’s, Jewelry, Artwork, Crafts, Sundries, Snacks, Magazines, Cigarettes, and more!

Sifani Jewelers

Offers a complete selection of Gemstones and Jewelery at reasonable prices

Meeting and Banquet Facilities include 2 air-conditioned rooms, for seating up to 20 guests

All Inclusive Plus Package

The exceptional value of this “optional” plan, which includes unlimited “all you can drink” alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages “all day - all night”; plus water, soft drinks, beer, iced coffee and iced tea from your Mini Bar; 24 Hour “Afternoon” Tea; one ½ bottle of Champagne; one Sunset Cruise; a half hour group lesson for Snorkeling, Windsurfing and Tennis; Fitness Center, daytime use of the Tennis, Volleyball and Badminton Courts; the Games Room; Kayaks and Windsurfers

Child Policy

Children are accommodated only in the Garden Rooms and Beach Villas. Adults only (age 18 years and older) are accommodated in the Jacuzzi Beach Villas and Jacuzzi Water Villas. Adults only facilities are for guests of 18 years age and older

Reef

Due to the rise in temperature caused by La Niña, the coral had died but is starting to recover. Also, as the sea life returns, so do many sea creatures such as sharks and turtles. The island boasts the fully equipped Eurodivers centre, offering many courses for divers with a range of experiences. Courses in many languages are available, including English, Dutch, German, and French.

Wildlife

Whilst there is much life in the ocean, there are also many exotic creatures living on the island. Many types of birds can be seen, and are very docile. There are also large fruit bats, which hang from the trees, eating or sleeping during the day.

External links

• Resort website