03/03/2019
A few notes on our last fantastic holiday to the Maldives!! More pictures at https://bit.ly/2NH2GRM. Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa
Built 10 years ago at $150m USD - 70% Chinese (Shangri-La Resorts) money and 30% Maldivian Gov money, Shangri-La Maldives has a range of 132 villas, most over water, others on land facing either the reef or the Ocean, including two Presidential Villas. The island is notable for having the highest natural elevation in the Maldives, Mount Villingili. Which happens to be the eighth hole on the only golf course in the Maldives as well, it peaks at 17ft AMSL. Getting here from OZ is not easy. SriLankan airlines fly’s to Gan Island, a 10 minute boat ride across to Villingili (Seenu Atoll) but strangely none of the flights really line up, you’ll find significant delays or deviations somewhere to make this work, then the A320 from Columbo lands at 8 am - right in the middle of changing out guests, and another delay ensues, ours a 1.5 hour wait in reception. Weird timings.
First impressions, spectacular with beautiful fine white sandy beaches, definitely a 5-star look and feel about it. You’ll find no Bintang singlets here, this is boat shoe territory. Prices for activities: $150usd for a 60-minute massage, $65usd for golf, $90usd handline fishing, $900usd deep sea fishing, Jet Ski’s $190usd for 30 min. Food too is expensive, red thai curry with prawns $58usd, $70usd rib eye steak as examples, however, all food and beverages are covered in our Luxury Escapes package fortunately. Prices I guess not unreasonable for an isolated 5-star resort and, let’s face it, it’s to be expected. Traveling here without some sort of food/beverage package would become very expensive very quickly. At our last night’s dinner for 6 of us with 3 glasses of wine each totaled nearly $1000usd, (see pic) so you can see how important a package is.
We had a dinner at one of the two high end restaurants (still included in the food/bev package) Fashala. What an absolutely awesome restaurant, beach/ocean views to die for. Fashala would have to up there with any hatted restaurant we’ve been to anywhere in the World. The executive chef, Marek, couldn’t do enough for us.
Speaking of the luxury escapes deal, most of the booze is covered, so long as you consume it in a bar or restaurant and stick to the approved list, which is quite extensive to be fair. Importantly, the well-stocked bar and cold mini bar in the villas are NOT included in the Luxury Escapes deal, (nor probably any deal…despite a YouTube video to the contrary) you can buy bottles of booze over the bar for the room but it’s very expensive. The resort has a very extensive wine list from all around the World, familiar Australian wines around $90usd and up. Just be a little careful, wine must be by the glass, “…leave the bottle” – it will be charged. The LE bold print would have you believe all booze / food during your stay is included, read the fine print.
Plenty of very polite and cheerful staff, 600 staff in all – 150 gardeners alone, who all look very happy to be here. Management team including the GM, Philippe, his management staff led by Mei, and the Executive Chefs all take a very active, visible and obvious interest to see things are as to be expected. It’s great to see and seriously, nothing is too much trouble for them.
A mix of clients from all over the World, no dominate geographic or age demographic.
The over water villas are huge and amazing – on the reef. Dive off your deck into the crystal-clear warm waters. We took a tour through a ‘Tree House’ and the ‘Beach House’ villas, all in a similar style to the over water villas’ but these two have their own swimming pools – but either of those two could be done anywhere else as well. The over water / reef villa’s is why we’re here, and after seeing the other two, definitely the pick in our opinion. Getting from our overwater villa, right down near the golf course, to the main resort to eat / drink could be problematic for some, particularly if it’s raining. It would have to be a good 1.5 km journey each way. Walk or bikes are provided or buggies if your prepared to wait to be picked up, it’s no biggie, but something to consider. We have called for a buggy a few times and never been a long wait or an issue. Bikes are very handy and used regularly. The pick of the overwater villas are in the 100’s – the most Northern villas - shallower water at the villas but they close access to the reef drop off – for best snorkeling. The other two arms to the South start at 200 have deeper water at the villas but the snorkeling is not as good. The resort amenities in general are amazing, the infinity pool, the bars and the resort food is all exceptional - including as much lobster as you can eat, food constantly changed up and themed up.
A magnificent resort, friendly and very well run by a passionate management team. An absolute delight. Highly recommended.
