Maldives times two at the Sun Siyam Resorts

I mention the Maldives and already you are conjuring up a far away paradise, powder white sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise sea and the bluest of blue skies you have ever set your eyes on. Yes certainly it is paradise but what sets the Sun Siyam resort group apart from the others is the staff. The minute you arrive the staff greet you with the words “welcome home”, well if your home is heaven you have returned. 

We started our Maldivian journey at the Sun Siyam Olhuveli resort. Upon arrival, we were assigned a Sun Siyam Ambassador, his job for the week was to ensure our every need was looked after, and our every wish fulfilled. Mohammed or MoHo as he was affectionately nicknamed by his mentor did not disappoint. Each day he greeted us with his megawatt, infectious smile and each evening he ensured we were all deposited back to our beach villas safe and sound. His sunny disposition set the tone of the day. 

MoHo whisked us away in his little golf buggy, along the tree lined, sandy pathways and we were shown to our individual beach front villas, large and roomy, they each had a exterior bathrooms out the back with a sumptuous free standing bath tub to soak in and also thoughtfully an indoor one as well as outdoor shower, and a separate toilet. 

The bedroom area was the largest space, offset by a small indoor living area and an exterior living area, next to which was an individual pool area overlooking the beach. Trees and shrubs shielded the villa from the neighbours on either side affording privacy. 

The resort offers several different packages; we opted for the Premium all inclusive dine around meal plan. The package is based on ‘Indulge, explore and value additions’. Indulge covers the food: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and unlimited selected beverages. The package also includes complimentary mini bar which is restocked on a daily basis. Explore covers: non-motorised water sports, motorised water sports (including 15 minutes complimentary Jet Ski), selection of excursions, a $50 per adult spa credit and also a $50 credit that can be used across diving activities. The value additions include: meet and greet at Velana International Airport, complimentary snorkeling equipment and various different additional extras. 

Once we were checked in we stopped off at Island Pizza, a relaxed eatery where the staff encourage you to go barefoot as it is a true joy to feel the sand between your toes as someone serves you lunch. The menu has a range of pizzas, salads etc, and the homely food washed down with a perfectly chilled glass of fizz was just the treat after our long journey; I could see that Island Pizza would become a favourite. With my toes dipped in the golden sand, and a view of the clear blue sea, could life be any better. The waiting staff were on excellent form and gave us a very warm welcome. This was our first meal on the island and the perfect way to kick start the week. 

Hospitality is top notch at Olhuveli and from our very first experience onwards, the staff did not disappoint. 

Over the course of the week, we breakfasted at The Sunset restaurant, and had our lunches at Island Pizza, and usually had dinner at one of the other three options including: Magrib Grill which specialises in seafood, Namaste (delicious Indian cuisine) and The Siyam Orchard (fabulous Thai food). 

We boogied the night away at the ‘High Tides Pop night’ at the Lagoon Bar, even attempting Karaoke, which should be left to the experts! We tried our hand at the water sports including Jet Ski and seabob, both thrilling experiences. 

Before we knew it our time at Olhuveli came to an end, and we set off on our next adventure to the sister resort Sun Siyam Iru Veli. Again we had such a warm welcome, with a live band on hand to serenade us, such a lovely touch. After a very smooth check in, we were transported by golf buggy to our over-water villas, which were simply stunning. Ahmed Rilwan was tasked with looking after us and he did a superb job of being punctual, ferrying us around and assisting with just about everything and anything that we asked him for. An all round good egg! 

We opted for the Premium all inclusive signature package, which including endless dining options within the six restaurants and bars, spa, diving, motorized sports credit as well as guided snorkeling and sunset cruises. 

After checking out the villa, Ahmed was on hand once again to whisk us away to Aqua Orange for lunch. It’s a buffet restaurant and on offer you will find cuisines from all over the world. I am very fussy about my Indian cuisine and have to say across both the resorts I experienced some of the best Indian cuisine I have had the pleasure of enjoying. 

The mistake we made was booking a cooking demonstration after indulging in a sumptuous and plentiful lunch, forward planning would have been apt at this point. 

The Maldivian culinary cooking class was everything it promised and more, such a delightful way to spend the afternoon. Chef Aafaag was a patient and talented teacher. We all very much enjoyed the demonstration and most importantly we enjoyed the fruits of our labour. 

I am a die hard foodie, the first star of the show at Sun Siyam is the outstanding hospitality and a close second is the delicious cuisine, whether we indulged in Indian, Maldivian or Thai, we were always fully satisfied. 

Our time at the Iru Veli had kickstarted with an informative and enjoyable culinary cooking class, and this was a theme which continued throughout the visit. We ate at Grouper Grill Beach, which specialises in seafood and fish and has a large array of meat dishes and we dined at Roma which specialises in flavours of the Mediterranean.

The highlight of my stay at the Iru Veli was without doubt the massage treatment I indulged in. I have had numerous massages in my time, however hands down this was right up there in my top five. The spa offers a range of treatments, from traditional Maldivian massages to modern wellness therapies. The over-water treatment rooms provide a serene setting where I could listen to the soothing sounds of the ocean while being pampered. I had an appointment booked with masseuse Chami Lakmal don’t be fooled by the tiny little package that is Chami; he managed to work every nook and cranny of my weary body. Chami did not have an easy job, I have notoriously bad neck and shoulder tension, the result of hunching over my laptop on a daily basis, however I left the massage table, revitalized and rejuvenated, and it was a magical experience.

It is a minefield trying to decide on which resort to visit in the Maldives, they all look idyllic. We were super pleased with our choice of Sun Siyam resorts and it was lovely to experience both the Olhuveli and the Iru Veli. The Maldives isn’t just a destination for honeymooners, families and solo travelers are all welcomed with open arms at Sun Siyam. With solo travel trending at the moment, I would recommend these resorts to solo travelers because the staff treat you like family from the moment you arrive. 

The only piece of advice I would give is to pick and chose the time of year to go carefully. We went in May and the weather wasn’t at its best which resulted in cancelled excursions, however the team always had back up plans and we were never bored and always entertained. 

Thanks to the outstanding hospitality and delicious food, excellent spa treatments and overall stunning location, we are most certainly looking forward to returning to Sun Siyam resorts. 

FACTBOX:

Sun Siyam Iru Veli:  Sun Siyam Resorts has five private island resorts in the Maldives and a boutique beach resort on the east coast of Sri Lanka.  At Sun Siyam Iru Veli prices start from $1,200 / £925 per night for two adults sharing a Beach Villa with Pool on premium all-inclusive including three excursions, spa or scuba diving credit and jet-ski credit, as well as all F&B and a la carte dining.  Two kids under 12 stay and eat for free when sharing with two adults.  Book at sunsiyam.com to unlock exclusive offers.

Sun Siyam Olhuveli:  located a 45 minute speed boat resort from the international airport in Male, this multi-island resort is surrounded by crystal clear lagoons with access to some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling sites in the archipelago.  Prices start from $570 / £440 in a beach pavilion on all-inclusive sleeping two adults and one child.  The all-inclusive includes a la carte dine-around, two excursions and a host of non-motorised watersports.   

Qatar Airways: offers multiple daily flights from Doha to the Maldives, with return fares starting from £643 per person in Economy Class and £3,057 per person in Business Class, subject to change and availability. Business Class passengers have access to a choice of world-class lounges at Hamad International Airport in Doha, ranked the ‘World’s Best Airport 2024’ by Skytrax.

Book now via www.qatarairways.com

All fares subject to change and availability