Ranveli Village

Ranveli Village seems like the kind of place that you will either love or hate, depending on what your expectations are. Under the same Maldivian management for almost 15 years (though you won’t find many locals working here), this small island seems to simultaneously want to fight for independence from tourists and make them feel at home. There is a divide here; half the island is for international tourists, while the other half is reserved for locals, staff, and other non-tourist visitors. Public spaces are also a blend of contemporary and dated, with such a relaxed attitude that no one -- staff nor guests -- seems to mind. The most notably contemporary area is the spa, while some of the rooms, the restaurant bar, and the large TV lounge hut all appear particularly dated. This is definitely a spot for low-maintenance guests who are more interested in unplugging amid the natural beauty of the island than having creature comforts. While the lack of TVs or Wi-Fi may be annoying to some, others can be covered head-to-toe in bug bites and still sing the resort's praises. 

Located in the South Ari Atoll on the tiny Villingilivaru Island, Ranveli Village is about 30 minutes from Male by seaplane -- if there are no additional stops along the way. The islands in this Atoll are quite close to one another, allowing guests on the beach here to look out into the horizon and spot the outlines of neighboring islands. While the house reef here is so-so, the dive center can lead trips out to nearby snorkeling and dive spots where guests can spot a few more fish. There is no speedboat access to Ranveli except in the case of emergencies. 

Ranveli may have only one category across its 56 rooms, but not all Superior Rooms are created equal. While decor -- simple Caribbean-style bamboo rattan furniture, deep orange painted accent walls, and motel-esque bathrooms are par for the course, ground-floor rooms feel much more sparse than those on the second floor. Perhaps this is because of their plain white-tiled floors versus the warming faux-wood floors found on the higher levels. However, grabbing digs on the upper floor means you’ll also get a smaller personal patio space and lose direct beach access. All rooms have empty closets; minibars stocked with water, soft drinks, and liquor; vanity desks; sets of chairs; outdoor spaces; a basic range of generic toiletries; and deep bathtubs. Hot shower lovers beware; though pressure is on point, you may find yourself with lukewarm (at best) temperatures. Entertainment wise, there’s no Wi-Fi or televisions, but you can kill time killing winged bugs that somehow make their way into your temporary home. 

Unlike those at most of the islands in the Maldives, Ranveli’s beach does not come full circle. In fact, the entire western side of the island is without a beach area, leaving most guests to populate either a sundeck by the pool or the few padded wooden loungers on the other side of the island. Also, compared to some other islands, there’s not much of a house reef (though it's not completely absent). But the beach sand is incredibly soft, fine, and white and leads out to clear waters. You can also peep views outward toward neighboring islands in the Atoll.

For its small size, Ranveli still has most of the features you’d find at any other resort, though the clear standout is the Lansimoo Spa. Stretched out in the center of the island, with plenty of serene lounge space, soothing trickling water, a sauna, a whirlpool, indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, and a wooden soaking tub, this spa is contemporary and an ideal space to take a break from the smooth sands and endless views on the beach. Treatments cover head-to-toe and can be done in an open-air palapa hut facing the ocean or in a candle-laden, private treatment room; each comes with a cup of tea. Although the beach area is superb, there is a medium-sized pool with a smaller and shallower attached kids 'pool at the front of the property. This spot has ocean views, a slate-tile deck, and a few curved wicker loungers with padded cushions on top. 

The hotel's only restaurant, Raankani, serves a buffet for all three meals and is attached to the during-food-service-only Raa Bahdi Bar, complete with dated and worn chairs, raspberry velvet topped stools, a lending library, and peekaboo floor cutout to the sea. Easy bar snacks and bites can be ordered at the pool bar -- which stays open long after the sun sets over the pool. There’s also an aptly named Sunset Bar on the western end of the island with a small amount of built-in couch space and bar stools as well as deck seating. 

Other features include a PADI-certified dive center that also offers snorkeling trips, a small water sports center, table games (like pool and ping pong), a shop that is open late but has intermittent hours during the day because of prayer times, an open-air TV lounge area, and a pay-per-day gym that has seen better days. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available in the Pool Bar, though it does not tend to reach to the rooms.