Honest review
One of the most thought-through all-inclusive set-ups on North Malé Atoll: at Varu the list of services honestly grows with the number of nights, and everything really is included. Here is how to get the most out of this resort.
The categories are simple: the overwater villas with and without a pool are identical inside — there are 39 and 29 of them respectively, and you pay extra only for the pool itself. If a pool is not essential to you, this is a legitimate way to save. The beach villas face two different beaches, and the sides differ noticeably — which one to book, we will sort out in a consultation. A third guest is easier to place in an overwater villa: a beach villa has no room for an extra bed, only a daybed for a child.
On the drinks we get asked about most often: the package includes French and Spanish brut, Italian prosecco, cocktails and spirits, and the Bottega wine fridge in the villa is restocked free of charge once a day. The main restaurant, Lime & Chilli, is a buffet on the shore with Maldivian, Indian and Chinese stations; at dinner, ask for a table on the sand by the water.
Logistics: 45 minutes by speedboat from Malé. The resort has no lounge of its own in the new Velana terminal, and the wait for the boat can reach 90 minutes, so plan B is the food court or the benches by the sea terminal. Complete registration in the app on the way over, and all that awaits you on the island is check-in.
Three more small things worth knowing in advance: the only tennis court needs a reservation (playing on your own is free), the gym admits you only in sports shoes, and the wedding ceremony costs extra. The resort is first of all for couples and honeymoons, but billiards, volleyball and football with the staff will keep the active busy too.
First-hand experience of the Maldives Expert team — we have been here ourselves
Video review
