Hotel Review: Villa Nautica Resort & Spa, Maldives (Formerly Paradise Island)

On our last trip to the Maldives, we were invited to experience Villa Nautica Resort & Spa (Frm. Paradise Island), a Villa Hotels property, as they are undergoing an exciting renovation just 15 minutes from Malé. We'll tell you everything you need to know about Paradise before you go!
In the review, we’ll tell you everything you need to know:
00:00​​ - Paradise Island Intro
00:33 - Paradise Island Location
02:44 - Paradise Island Lobby & Check in
04:50​ - Paradise Island Rooms
07:10​ - Paradise Island Service
08:35 - Paradise Island Dining
12:15​ - Paradise Island Facilities
12:51​ - Paradise Island Style
For the full written review, check it out here:
www.voyagerguru.com/hotel-rev...
Paradise Island is located just a quick 15 minutes from Malé and Velana International Airport. It also sits directly facing Gili Lankanfushi resort and can be seen from half the overwater villas and one half of the beach. On the main beach of the resort, the water is a stunning teal blue with calm water for swimming. The side of the water villas does have a view of Gili Lankanfushi but also has much shallower water with a bit of coral at low tide.
Due to the proximity to Malé and the surrounding heavily populated islands, Paradise has a solid amount of boat traffic, seaplane traffic and light pollution. That being said, it’s also incredibly convenient to access and is a great location for a shorter stay, in particular.
We were greeted on the dock by the management team and a welcome beverage that was a lovely treat after that boat ride. The management team introduced themselves and told us all about the hotel and welcomed us with open arms. Our butler met us to begin the check in and took us to the main bar for another beverage and an explanation of the property and amenities. Shortly after, we headed to our overwater villa.
If you are debating which room type to book, we would absolutely recommend booking their renovated Deluxe Beach Villa until the rest of the property is renovated thanks to the fun, quirky new style that has really brought a refreshed style to the hotel. The beach where the Deluxe villas are located is also fantastic for swimming and enjoying what the Maldives is known for: the stunning white sand and teal water.
Paradise Island recently underwent a full Forbes service training for the entire staff and it shows. The service across the property, regardless of the team member being a manager or a bartender, was excellent and extremely refined. It is very clear that the staff are well trained and very happy to be there to serve you - proud is a great word for the service at Paradise.
Personally, we feel the a la carte option is stronger than the all-inclusive plan due to the limitations. We feel the price of that package add-on is too high and too restrictive compared to comparable properties in the area and what they offer all-inclusive guests. A la carte pricing is generally a better choice for those looking to experience the higher end restaurants at Paradise and not feel as restricted.
Overall, Paradise Island is a solid choice for guests looking for a quick stopover from Malé and it truly has an incredible amount of potential. If you are looking to book this property, we would recommend booking the newly renovated Deluxe Beach Villas to experience the best of the property as it stands today.
If you're looking for our Destination Guide on the Maldives, check it out here:
www.voyagerguru.com/destinati...
So check it out and let us know what you think in the comments below!
Have you been to the Maldives? What was your favorite hotel?
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Maren Engh & Max Jallifier
#luxuryhotelreview​​ #luxurytravel​​ #beautifulhotels

Пікірлер: 98

  • @dudeofchicken
    @dudeofchicken Жыл бұрын

    Max looks like a samurai in this, Maren lovely as usual. Another great review.

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    😂😂😂 right?? His hair is so long now!! Aww thanks so much :) appreciate you!!

  • @shopalian
    @shopalian10 ай бұрын

    Always rock! again added this review on our website.

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    10 ай бұрын

    Thanks so much, we really appreciate it!

  • @dianareardon7333
    @dianareardon7333 Жыл бұрын

    Gorgeous pool !

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    The pool was incredible!! I can’t wait until the whole renovation is done

  • @where_next_
    @where_next_ Жыл бұрын

    ❤ this. You inspired me to travel more and I hope this year will be a year full of traveling for me.

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much!! Safe travels to you and let us know if you need any help!!

  • @SandyMakesSense
    @SandyMakesSense Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for this useful video! We are going! :)

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Amazing!! We hope you have a great time ❤️

  • @jorged4763
    @jorged4763 Жыл бұрын

    Very useful video !!. Thanks 🙏

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for your comment!!

  • @concho22
    @concho22 Жыл бұрын

    Hi, another great review. Can't see your review of Sun island though?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey there! Thanks for your comment! It will be live Sunday morning at 7am EST!

  • @Raw_video
    @Raw_video Жыл бұрын

    Hey guys 1st of all love your content, my question to you is about all inclusive bar menu is it worth it. also if in any case I could know about all inclusive bar menu

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey there! thanks so much for your comment!! The all inclusive is worth it if you plan to drink at least 4-6 cocktails per day- or if the price is less than $200 to upgrade. They do also include water and soft drinks, coffee etc so that is positive. My favorite cocktail is the Thyme to Unwine. So good!! I hope this helps :)

  • @kusumithac-ww4ly
    @kusumithac-ww4ly9 ай бұрын

    Hi guys, Thank you for detailed review. I am planning to visit villa nautica in October. After booking I am getting a doubt if I did a wrong choice. What is the overall rating you give?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    9 ай бұрын

    Hi there! Thank you so much for your comment :). Honestly it really depends on how long you’re going for, what you paid and what you’re looking for out of a vacation. Feel free to DM me on instagram (@voyagerguru) or email me at team@voyagerguru.com and I’m happy to help!

  • @eva_ronda
    @eva_ronda Жыл бұрын

    Hi may I ask how much is your boat transfer going to Paradise Island? And where to purchase it?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi Eva! Thanks for reaching out :). I believe the transfer is $130 USD per person to get to paradise! It will be booked through the hotel so after you book, the hotel will get your flight details and organize it :)

  • @MarHru
    @MarHru Жыл бұрын

    Love ❤your videos. Please I still can not decide which resort… Which resort Did you like the most? Villa nautica or Villa Park Sun? If case you should return… Thanks🎉

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi Marek! thank you for your comment! Of the two, Nautica has better service and is better for a short trip like 3 days. Park has poor service and facilities, but the lagoon is unbelievably beautiful! If you're looking for comparisons to other resorts, let me know or send me an email at team@voyagerguru.com with your budget and I'll send some of my favorites :)

  • @gokyuzugokturk4946
    @gokyuzugokturk4946 Жыл бұрын

    i read a comment at tripadvisor. we have to pay extra fee for alcolhs even if we pay all inclusive. is it true ?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hello! Thanks for your comment - if you are on the all inclusive plan, you can drink anything off the all inclusive menu for free :). If you want something off the regular menu you have to pay but there is not extra fee on all inclusive

  • @guptavipul15s
    @guptavipul15s Жыл бұрын

    Hi guys, I find your reviews to be perfect spending time on all categories we can judge a resort on. Just one request, pls also review more of some affordable 5 star resorts like Taj Coral Reef, Coco Bodu Hithi, Lily Beach Resort.. Thanks

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi Vipul! Thank you so much for your comment! Don't worry- we are working our way through the Maldives as quick as we can, haha! Our goal is to cover every 4 and 5 star hotel in the Maldives :). Taj, Coco Bodu Hithi and Lily are all great 4 star options that we hope to visit in the next year! Next month we will be heading to a handful of new properties so stay tuned!

  • @guptavipul15s

    @guptavipul15s

    Жыл бұрын

    @VoyagerGuru Great, always looking forward to your reviews. Also, in Marriott Bonvoy Maldives properties, I've seen mostly that Ritz Carlton pampers their guests the most with respect to free upgrades and surprises. As a frequent traveler, do you feel Ritz Carlton & St Regis are both at same level in Maldives or one is better than the other? I'm planning a stay in RC Maldives, hence the curiosity. Im not much of a diver, just like to enjoy classic luxury with personalized experiences with great view.

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much :). Re Marriott Bonvoy, so far we have only stayed at Ritz-Carlton Fari and not St. Regis yet. However, we had a friend recently stay at St. Regis and W and said the W was a much better value and better service overall so personally, I'd say go with RC if you are looking for a higher level of service. The architecture is also just absolutely insane. Their snorkeling and diving is not great, but the hotel itself is amazing. Points bookings will likely be the best value there but worth it none the less.

  • @guptavipul15s

    @guptavipul15s

    Жыл бұрын

    @VoyagerGuru hey, thanks guys. Yes I heard the same that's why thought will consult with you once. I heard St Regis isn't great and lacks little of extra mile service that you expect in this category of resort.

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Yea 100% and if there’s anything you notice when spending that kind of money for a 5 star experience, it’s the service. Of course we can speak to our own experience at st Regis but that’s just what we’ve heard from fellow travelers.

  • @gokyuzugokturk4946
    @gokyuzugokturk4946 Жыл бұрын

    should we buy sim card to get internet at this hotel ? or is there wifi in the rooms ?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    There is wifi is all the rooms :) it is not amazing so it is hard to make video calls during busy hours but it does work pretty well

  • @tahermaazoun8762
    @tahermaazoun8762 Жыл бұрын

    Could you please include in house reef snorkeling quality or footage as it's important for some of us ? Thank you

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi Taher, thanks for your comment. We unfortunately don’t have any footage as since we did not snorkel the house reef. However, as we mentioned in the video, there is a decent amount of fish life but mostly dead coral. The quality is really dependent on where you’ve snorkeled before, but we were personally not enthusiastic about the house reef. They do have some great trips off property though and we really enjoyed the turtle snorkel! 🐢

  • @bentennet3113

    @bentennet3113

    11 ай бұрын

    ​@@VoyagerGuru how much were the extra excursions like the turtle snorkeling?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    11 ай бұрын

    @@bentennet3113 Hey! I can't 100% remember, but I do remember most of the prices were around $150-250

  • @Raosankalp1
    @Raosankalp19 ай бұрын

    Hello Sir, please let me know which one is better between Villa Nautica or Adaaran Club Ranaalhi?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    9 ай бұрын

    Hi Sankalp! Thanks for your comment- I just replied to your email so hopefully that will help! Looking forward to connecting :)

  • @BruhBruh0512
    @BruhBruh05123 ай бұрын

    Hi, I love your video as I am also going there! Could you please tell me how much the transfer costed?? Thanks!

  • @BruhBruh0512

    @BruhBruh0512

    3 ай бұрын

    Also, I probably will book the Water Villa - All Inclusive off Makemytrip, just to let you know.

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    3 ай бұрын

    Hey there! Thanks so much for your comment :). The transfer is about $185 per person the last time I checked! it's approximately a 15 minute boat ride to the hotel. Let me know any other questions you have!

  • @ilabhat13
    @ilabhat13 Жыл бұрын

    Hey guys, nice video! So my husband and I are staying here later this month for our babymoon. We picked this place because of proximity to Male and therefore shorter connecting time. After watching your video I'm a bit concerned about you mentioning the speedboat transfer being uncomfortable (given that I'm pregnant) Was the ride too bumpy? Also, someone prone to motion sickness is better off taking precautions? I guess the waters being choppy on a certain day is unpredictable but overall, I hope that it wasn't too bad? I'm wondering if we could request the resort to arrange for a bigger boat..Thanks in advance!

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey Ila! Thanks for reaching out- first of all, congratulations :). so we did take two different ways to get to the airport. The way to the hotel was pretty rough and terrible, but the way back was actually MUCH smoother and was a totally different route. I would recommend letting the hotel know you are pregnant and to advise on the best way forward. If they know, they will make sure to take the least bumpy route at the right speed! It's a pretty short ride thank goodness!

  • @ilabhat13

    @ilabhat13

    Жыл бұрын

    @Voyager Guru really appreciate your swift response! :) thank you so much. This really helps a lot!! Will specifically put in a request to the staff before we arrive..Watching your other videos now! 😀 great job, guys!

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Aww thank you!!! We hope you have safe and excellent travels!! Xx, maren

  • @bollampallyrekha9594
    @bollampallyrekha9594 Жыл бұрын

    Hi lovely video 😊 can you please suggest which island is better for couple with 1 year old baby and visiting for first time:)

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi there! Thank you so much for your comment :). Are you looking for other alternatives in the same price range or are you looking at paradise versus sun island for example? Let me know and I'll recommend something :)

  • @bollampallyrekha9594

    @bollampallyrekha9594

    Жыл бұрын

    @Voyager Guru yeah other alternatives are also fine..basically as it's our first trip, wanted a nice resort in medium budget range

  • @wanadib1016
    @wanadib1016 Жыл бұрын

    Hi guys, love your video. May I ask how much is your boat transfer from male airport going to Paradise Island per person and the price is one way or return price?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi there! Thanks so much for your comment. I believe the cost is $185 per person (with tax included) and I know for certain that is the rountrip fare. The ride is only about 15 minutes from Malé so it's quite pricey. I hope this helps!

  • @wanadib1016

    @wanadib1016

    Жыл бұрын

    @@VoyagerGuru thank you for your respond. $185 per person for roundtrip? Is there we have any other option like other boat go to this place?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    That's correct- it's per person round trip. Unfortunately, there is no other way to get to the resort so that's how they get you lol. We actually had some friends go to their sister resort but they arrived from a dive liveaboard vessel and the property still charged them a fee for arriving, even without their transfer so I would not waste time trying to find a way around it, to be honest. It's fairly standard to charge this fee. There are a few exceptions- Ozen Life Maadhoo for example includes it in their packages, but that is a rare exception

  • @wanadib1016

    @wanadib1016

    Жыл бұрын

    @@VoyagerGuru Thank you so much for this comment. It really help me a lot!

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    My pleasure- anytime! safe travels!

  • @mayursastry1992
    @mayursastry19922 ай бұрын

    Do they charge extra for speedboat tranfer?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    2 ай бұрын

    Hello there! Yes, they do charge for the transfer. It’s around 200 USD per person round trip

  • @parhamhemmati6057
    @parhamhemmati60573 ай бұрын

    Hi guys thanks for the video, I am planning to go to this resort with my wife, how many kinds of water villas are there? I want to have the one with the pool and privacy and also is there any local shops on the island?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    3 ай бұрын

    Hey there! Thanks for your comment! Villa Nautica has 40 semi-detached water villas. Most of the villas share a wall, with the exception of the suites that have the small plunge pools. They have a few different options and they are still not renovated. We were in the water villa with a tub which was nice, though the walls are quite thin. The last room we were in was a suite and that was very nice and spacious and had a small plunge pool that is not heated. The suites are more private since they do not share a wall with the neighbors. There are a few souvenir shops on the island- they're not quite local but they do have some sunscreens and things like that. If you're looking for more shopping, I'd recommend taking a look at the Hard Rock / SAii lagoon due to their amazing marina concept :).

  • @parhamhemmati6057

    @parhamhemmati6057

    3 ай бұрын

    @@VoyagerGuru How far is hard rock from the resort? And is it worth it to travel to Male from the resort to see the city , Is there any tours that we can get to go to Male? I do want the all inclusive and since Villa Nautica is the closest to Male we are booking the resort, the reason I am asking for the tours to the city is that We do want to spend a day exploring other areas and Male city aside from staying on the island the whole time, Thanks in advance

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    3 ай бұрын

    Hey there! So hard rock may be a better option for that as they run shuttles from the marina for a lot less than the round trip transfer from Villa nautica. Hard rock is a 15/20 minute boat ride from male. I don’t know of any tours specifically on male but there are lots of coffee shops and perhaps check viator.com for tour options

  • @parhamhemmati6057

    @parhamhemmati6057

    2 ай бұрын

    @@VoyagerGuru I have one last question because it is hard for me to contact the resort so, sorry for asking you here, for the Saii Lagoon and Paradise Island resorts does the all inclusive offer 24 hr drinks and how many restaurants can we use? Are they buffet style? Thanks again!

  • @anselmomendes1341
    @anselmomendes1341 Жыл бұрын

    Hi how much is a speedboat from male to this place ?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey Anselmo! The transfer I believe is $180 per person for the quick 15 minute ride and the return. I hope this helps!

  • @lambel2291
    @lambel22912 ай бұрын

    hello pleause more information for the transfer price times

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    2 ай бұрын

    Hi there! thanks for your comment. The transfer times are based mostly on incoming flights. They do have multiple transfers throughout the day so I would expect to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on how many people are coming and going that day. The price is around $200 per person round trip and it takes about 20 minutes to get to the hotel :)

  • @Sanrio123abc
    @Sanrio123abc2 ай бұрын

    Ive been there before with my family

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    2 ай бұрын

    Wonderful! We hope you had the best time!

  • @Ishan0906
    @Ishan090611 ай бұрын

    Hi guys, could you please suggest some good resorts for honeymoon ?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    10 ай бұрын

    Hey Ishan! There are a lot of amazing resorts in the Maldives at any budget depending on what you’re looking to do! Are you looking for all inclusive properties? Happy to recommend some

  • @Ishan0906

    @Ishan0906

    10 ай бұрын

    Yes, I am looking for all inclusive properties. Thanks@@VoyagerGuru

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    10 ай бұрын

    Awesome! So depending on the time of year, the prices fluctuate a lot so I would recommend sending me an email with your dates so I can provide you with some comparable options :). Feel free to email me at team@voyagerguru.com

  • @ankitkadian1485
    @ankitkadian1485 Жыл бұрын

    Sun island or paradise? Which is better?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi ankit! Thanks for your comment. The service was better at paradise, but the lagoon at sun island is remarkable. Also you can see whale sharks! If you’re going to the Maldives for the first time, it’s worth the effort to go to sun island if only for the beautiful lagoon

  • @user-ji1jm2de5x
    @user-ji1jm2de5x8 ай бұрын

    hi i have just booked flights to mali and i have to book 7 nights in an resort and i cannot decide on one.Can i email you my budget and what i am looking for to help me decide?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    8 ай бұрын

    Hey there! Absolutely! Send us an email at team@voyagerguru.com :)

  • @goppohoyejaak
    @goppohoyejaak10 ай бұрын

    I am my honeymoon planned for next year Feb, though your videos helped me a lot to see through properties but need a few advise if you can connect with me ?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    10 ай бұрын

    Thanks @goppohoyejaak! We’re so glad to hear you found them helpful 😊 Yes, of course we’d be happy to help, just email us at team@voyagerguru.com or dm us on Instagram, whatever is easier ❤

  • @natalianeycheva1294

    @natalianeycheva1294

    3 ай бұрын

    how did it go

  • @mohamedluqman6187
    @mohamedluqman618724 күн бұрын

    Whats the cost for boat transfer ?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    24 күн бұрын

    hey there! Last time we checked with was $187/person for the round trip boat transfer from Malé, but you'll want to make sure to check with the hotel for the most updated pricing. Are you booking a trip soon? If you want to compare rates for this and other hotels, DM us on instagram or email us at team@voyagerguru.com, and we'd be happy to help 🤗

  • @user-lp6oq4ou5x
    @user-lp6oq4ou5x3 ай бұрын

    Hello, what month you went to the maldives? I am planning my honeymoon for June 2024

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    3 ай бұрын

    We’ve been there in May, June, September and December/jan - anytime is a good time to go to the Maldives honestly :) if you need any help planning feel free to DM me

  • @user-lp6oq4ou5x

    @user-lp6oq4ou5x

    3 ай бұрын

    @@VoyagerGuru Thank you! Where can I DM you?

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    3 ай бұрын

    Feel free to message me on instagram at @voyagerguru or shoot me an email at team@voyagerguru.com :) xx maren

  • @dangrova101
    @dangrova1016 күн бұрын

    How annoying was the plane noise flying over? It’s putting me off a bit

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    6 күн бұрын

    It's certainly closer to the airport than a lot of hotels, but there's a give and take since that makes the transfer much easier from Malé. Properties to the west of Malé, like the crossroads complex seem to get less air traffic than this side does. It didn't bother us a huge amount, but it's certainly something that happens on occasion. The boat traffic is also heavier in this area.

  • @dangrova101

    @dangrova101

    6 күн бұрын

    @@VoyagerGuru I really appreciate you getting back to me with a detailed answer. I think I will avoid it, as great as it looks, I feel it may spoil the beauty of it for me if boats and planes are constantly zipping around.

  • @moawn1051
    @moawn10519 ай бұрын

    Paradise Island is a rip off, last yr spent my honeymoon there at their best water villa and its a huge ripp off, food is only Indian & disgusting, weather was good 70% of time and that is their best season and everything is overpriced. Think Maldives as a whole is for ignorant tourist esp guilable honeymooners. Just go to an amazing resort at the Mediterranean, US or Mexico and u will save thousands of dollars

  • @VoyagerGuru

    @VoyagerGuru

    9 ай бұрын

    Hey there! Thanks for your comment. I can certainly understand your frustrations with Paradise. That being said, there are some AMAZING properties in the Maldives that are nothing like Paradise. The nice thing about the maldives in general is that every hotel is a completely different vibe. That's why we do what we do :). We try to uncover the best resorts so you can make a confident choice. There are certainly bad hotels in the maldives, just like there are bad hotels in the US, mexico and Mediterranean as well. It has everything to do with the hotel management and nothing to do with the location itself. If you're looking for some better properties, don't hesitate to reach out anytime!

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