Cerulean sea. Azure sky. Ultra private. And oh-so romantic.
Home to 47 villas, this turtle-shaped (Velaa means turtle) island offers the exquisite diving-snorkeling-water activities expected of the Maldives. But with the feeling guests have the island all to themselves. Villas – both on land and over water - come with private pools and outdoor living spaces. Dining features fresh, local ingredients – fresh-caught fish; tree-ripened fruits. And ‘polite luxury’ reveals itself at every turn – paving stones that don’t absorb the heat imported from Jordan; gorgeous wood panels sourced in Borneo.
“Velaa has all the offerings of a larger resort – golf, tennis, spa, water sports, fine dining,” says JCR founder Janine Cifelli. “But with utmost privacy. I loved the Maldivian touches and the turtles everywhere.”
The island, privately owned, is accessible via a 45-minute seaplane ride, from Male.
