Enchanting Stay at Villa Park Resort

My mother and I had the delightful experience of staying at Villa Park Resort from April 27th to May 4th， 2025. After more than a day of travel， we arrived feeling exhausted， but from the moment we set foot on the island， we felt genuinely welcomed and cared for. Accommodation We had the opportunity to experience two types of beach villas: Sunset Beach and Deluxe Beach Villas. The Sunset Beach Villas， while less expensive， offer a charming retro vibe—not quite what you might expect at the price， yet they are quite comfortable， spotlessly clean， and ideally located. They were serviced twice daily， and the outdoor shower was a particularly delightful feature. In contrast， the Deluxe Beach Villas were breathtaking—modern， well-designed， and even better situated. Both types of villas had wonderfully comfortable beds with soft sheets. Housekeeping was consistently excellent—quiet， prompt， and thorough. We also appreciated the villa's initiative to use bins for used towels to conserve water， and glass bottles for complimentary water. The Island & Sustainability The island itself is enchanting. You can walk almost around it to see the changing coastline， meet parrots， fruit bats， crabs， and soak in the serene atmosphere. Strong currents and deep-water warnings are clearly posted， and while there aren’t lifeguards， guest safety is evidently a priority. The central medical center was easily accessible， which was comforting—even though we didn’t need it. The environment is beautifully kept: lush alleys， pristine greenery， a local organic garden， and a banana plantation. Villa Park makes commendable efforts toward sustainability: paper straws， efficient waste management， and striving to be paperless. Logistics & Comfort Everything from shops， the spa， and activities like snorkeling and diving could be charged directly to the room—extremely convenient. Payment was smooth with card and in various currencies. The island's layout was well-planned: quiet and lively zones were distinct， ensuring tranquility even in central areas. Beach bars， cafés， a gym， tennis and basketball courts， and a central pool were always nearby (though we preferred the ocean!). The buggy transport made it easy to navigate the heat. Guests received a daily program with a variety of free and paid activities for adults and kids. Food & Drink The dining was outstanding. Buffets were constantly refreshed， with vegetarian options clearly marked. The range was vast: Western classics， authentic Asian dishes， rich Indian cuisine， and fresh produce. We were never hungry or bored! Spa & Activities The Araamu Spa was another highlight. We had two treatments—Araamu and Voyager—in a serene， tropical setting. Our Balinese therapists， Rita and Mayora， were excellent. Warm， attentive， and highly skilled， they ensured our sessions were restorative. At the Oceanus diving/snorkeling center， I participated in the Marine Explorer trip， and it was fantastic. The guides were professional， ensuring safety and enjoyment while being environmentally responsible—something I greatly valued. Their firm stance on respecting marine life reinforced my confidence. A Note: Future travelers should be aware that a significant number of guests during our stay were Russian-speaking. While this might be neutral for some， for others， particularly those from countries affected by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict， it could be emotionally challenging. Resort staff were respectful and inclusive， and we had no issues， but it's something to consider in light of current geopolitics. Criticisms Two aspects fell short. 1. Environmental & Animal Welfare: Despite the resort's sustainability claims， two practices conflicted with this image: Manta & Shark Feeding: Although claimed to be avoided， we observed feeding at sunset， which is not only harmful but ILLEGAL in the Maldives since 2021. It disrupts natural behaviors and should be stopped. Crab Racing: This activity—held in the main bar—was deeply unethical. Hermit crabs were removed from their habitats， stressed by loud environments for human entertainment. Unnecessary and sad. 2. WiFi Security: Internet across the island， including rooms， was unsecured， forcing us to urgently arrange and pay for a VPN. This was disappointing for a resort of this caliber. And the biggest highlights... Staff Villa Park truly shines because of its staff. Their warmth， professionalism， and authenticity elevated our stay. Sana， our host， was outstanding. She set the tone for our entire stay—inviting， composed， always helpful without intruding. Her emotional intelligence meant she always gauged whether we wished to chat， ask questions， or have space. We never had to wait for anything; Sana's responsiveness made us feel secure and cared for from start to finish. Rauf， who served us during meals at Maniyya， exemplified ideal service. Professional yet warm and knowledgeable， he made us feel like familiar guests， sharing stories about the Maldives， making each meal special. Joynal， who manned the coffee station， brightened our mornings. He remembered our coffee orders without us asking twice， always serving with humor and grace. It was a simple but meaningful touch. Supul， who worked both at the coffee shop and served ice cream， stood out for his radiant energy—his positivity was contagious! Lily， our server at Al Pontile， was amazing and kind. Professional and attentive， she made our dinner special， knowing the menu well and making sure everything flowed smoothly. Mishal， also at Al Pontile， blended fun with excellent service. His relaxed approach and helpfulness left a lasting impression. Zainab， from the coffee shop， impacted us deeply. Her warmth and sincerity in each interaction made us feel welcomed like friends. Her care and attentiveness will not be forgotten. Finally， Josh and Raymond (hope the spelling is correct) from the Villa Park Jazz Vipers Band were a memorable part of our evenings. Despite missing a member， they created a special atmosphere each performance. Their rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey” gave chills， and songs like "Let it be" and "Wonderwall" will be fondly remembered. Beyond their talent， they were warm and humble， bringing joy to the space. Wishing them the best! Final Thoughts Our stay at Villa Park was magical， thanks to the Maldives' natural beauty and the incredible staff who made it feel like home. What we thought would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip has now become a place we intend to revisit. It's no longer "if we return to Villa Park"—it's "when."