Cinnamon Velifushi

We came here for honeymoon and it was a fantastic experience! The place is like a paradise. The staff and customer service was exceptional, very hard working and welcoming and went over and above. It’s like being in your own private island as it’s not too big or busy, perfect for honeymoon. We had a water villa with jacuzzi. Because we were on honeymoon they decorated the bed on arrival and and left bottle of Prosecco for us. I would highly recommend going for all inclusive premium: the food is wonderful anyhow. But with the premium you get extras like freshly squeezed orange juice, branded alcohol and and more snack options. Read less

I have a personal rule when it comes to traveling - never travel to the same place twice. After my stay at Cinnamon Velifushi, I think I might have to break that rule! My recent stay was an incredible experience. While writing reviews is a rarity for me, I felt compelled to share how awesome this place is. Please keep in mind that what I was looking for this vacation was a private-ish, quiet, serene and peaceful place to rejuvenate and take a mental break. I was not looking for a huge party scene. First off – after exiting the airport terminal, finding the booth for Cinnamon was super easy. The guys working there were really friendly, and offered to watch over my luggage while I waited for the speedboat to the resort. After a while, they told me that one of the flights carrying other guests was delayed – so the resort made arrangements for me to have access to a special lounge that had air conditioning, complementary lunch, a shower, and comfy seats. Fortunately the wait wasn’t terribly long at all. Speedboat ride – pretty straightforward. I opted for the speedboat in lieu of the seaplane because I had just spent a month in Mumbai on business and had two huge, stuffed suitcases – it was definitely cheaper to take the boat given the weight of my luggage. The boat itself was clean, and the crew made sure we had water for the ride. It took about an hour and a half to get from Male to the resort island, but it goes by pretty quick. Besides, you’re surrounded by the most gorgeous water and occasional island views along the way. Arrival/Reception – super cool open concept. You literally walk on sand from the beach to and in the reception hut. Cozy seating area. The foliage surrounding the hut was so green and lush. Thank the powers that be that they also have ceiling fans in the hut to cool things down. Eema and Shama (sorry I am horrible at spelling) welcomed us to the resort, gave each guest/group an envelope with our name and room number. They also had us fill out a quick questionnaire. After the questionnaire and a tasty, refreshing welcome beverage Shama advised that they really wanted me to sample/experience their Water Suite (I had reserved a Sunset Water Bungalow), and were giving me an upgrade for the first few nights. Eema and Shama made my day. Kind, relaxed, and very welcoming. The Water Suite – Eema offered to give me a tour of the suite, so I walked with her. The gym is really nice. They also have a great store on site. The path to get to the water bungalows/suites was so tropical – lined on both sides with beautiful plants – well-groomed sandy paths – you definitely feel the island vibes. All of a sudden you turn left onto a wood walkway and lose your breath at the stunning village of bungalows over the crystal-clear water. I was put in suite 502. If you get a chance to stay in one of the suites, I highly recommend 502. I feel like, given the corner location and that it faces away from the beach cabins and the main restaurant, it has the best privacy you can get. Truly made me feel like I was alone on an island paradise. The direction the deck faces also provided views of both sunrise/sunset. I took a panoramic picture one day at sunrise where on the left you could see the sun creeping up through the clouds and on the right you could still see the moon. Gorgeous. THIS SUITE WAS INSANE. The door opens into a huge foyer/living room with two sofas you could easily turn into two smaller beds. Tall ceiling. The SMELL – absolute heaven. I don’t know what they use, but it smelled amazing. On the other end of the foyer are double sliding doors. When Eema pushed the doors open my jaw hit the hardwood floor. Super high ceilings, beautiful blackout drapes, Italian designed interior décor with lovely wooden shelves/furniture. Just after entering you see the bed facing the wall of drapes. It looked SO DAMN LUXURIOUS. Eema then opened the drapes. Paradise. Total, mind-blowing, paradise. Sliding glass doors led to a HUGE deck with a private pool and a view of the ocean. This view…this VIEW?! I don’t think I will ever be able to find the words to describe how incredible this view was. Just. Amazing. Bed is comfortable. Three a/c units in total. A closet that I easily could fit my entire apartment back home in. A bathtub that could fit three of me. Shower to DIE for – and the shower had a glass door that opened straight to the back deck – so clutch! Also, this suite was CLEAN. Like clean clean – I was almost too scared to touch anything it was so well kept. The pool was only 2.5ft deep, but was quite big – it was super clean and was salt water not chlorine so it didn’t smell horrible and I spent HOURS just floating on my back in that baby. The deck furniture was impeccable, and the deck itself was very well kept. In terms of housing, this place is EASILY a 15 out of 10. Absolutely spoiled. HUGE shoutout to Kabir for taking care of the suite while I was there. I wanted for nothing, and the suite was extremely clean the whole time. The Food/Restaurant – I probably gained 15 lbs in the 6 night stay – it was delicious. Everything from the premade salads, make your own salad bar, fresh cut fruits, and foods from India, Sri Lanka, and global fare, not to mention the desserts. Exceptional breakfasts in the morning. Lunch was always on point. Dinner never disappointed. Best part of the dining is they mix things up so you aren’t eating the same thing over and over again. There is some serious culinary artwork going on here. For dinner they offer these little ‘shooters’ or small, tapas-style bites that take your tastebuds on their own vacation. My compliments to the Chef and the kitchen staff! I’d like to say a special thank you to a few of the restaurant staff: Husam was the person who took care of me on a regular basis, and was truly hospitable. He took such good care of me. Maan was super kind and very helpful as well. The entire service staff really goes above and beyond as a team to make sure every guest is well taken care of. Lastly – make sure to say hi to Pooja if you can. She is the sweetest and kindest person ever. I don’t think I ever saw her not smiling, and she was very welcoming. Thanks to her suggestion, I went snorkeling later in my stay and am SO grateful. Fen Bar: insanely chill. Great place to grab a cocktail/mocktail and some small plates. Comfortable couches and lounge chairs. The beach/ocean views are like nothing I’ve ever seen. Again – thank god for the ceiling fans – that beach gets toasty. The bar area is very well kept. Just outside is a gorgeous pool that was never crowded while I was there. Ask for Zaid – the guy literally does everything and does everything well. Fun fact – his name is traditionally spelled with two A’s but his parents chose to only put in one A. Also – if you have the chance please ask for Humaid (spelling?). Insanely nice guy, and very attentive. I was craving an iced coffee with almond milk (I can’t drink regular dairy milk). He had almond milk brought from the other side of the island just so I could have this iced coffee. Epitome of guest service. THANK YOU! Spa: I opted for the full body massage. It was my first massage ever, and they did not disappoint. You are welcomed to the spa with some calming ginger tea and a cool cloth for your face/hands that smelled like mint and (maybe) eucalyptus. Heavenly. The massage itself left me unable to form full sentences. Absolutely the best experience ever. And the spa is gorgeous. Snorkeling: If you are on this resort island and you do not take advantage of the snorkel rentals (about $21 for full kit for a day, including the service charge and taxes) you are robbing yourself of an incredible experience. The water is SO clear, and the house reefs offer a free pass into an entirely different world. The process of renting the equipment was super easy – took maybe 5-10 minutes and the dive center was very helpful. Cleanliness: I defy you to find a single piece of garbage or trash anywhere on that island. No, like good luck finding any. The walkways, the paths, the beaches, the lounge, restaurant, bar – everything was clean. The suite, pool, everything absolutely immaculate. Beaches: this is a smaller island, however there are multiple beaches to choose from. All of them are very clean and groomed every day. The beaches by the bar have comfy lounge chairs and umbrellas for shade (wish is crucial – you will need it). The water is just…like I can’t wrap my head around how amazing the water is. The price for what I got was a steal. The staff was warm and inviting. The suite was absolutely incredible; I was swaddled in luxury. The beaches are amazing. There are plenty of options for different types of adventures and excursions. Snorkeling is epic. Food was sublime. My stay was quiet, peaceful, and rejuvenating. Cinnamon Velifushi is a gem in the crown that is the Maldives. Cannot recommend this place enough. Read less

A 3-star hotel To celebrate our daughter's birthday, we stayed here for 7 days. The hotel's website was either overrated or untrue. The website's postings were incorrect. The check-in process was a nightmare. It was a slow and dated process. It is impossible to give a rating of 5 stars. Shiela, the front-line front office staff, and the rest of the team were both inexperienced and quite rude. I found the taste of the welcome drink to be unpleasant. Our stomach becomes uncomfortable due to it. The restaurant services an and the room and all the resort are definitely not 5 stars. We give 3 stars for your generosity. Despite everything, we paid more for what we got. It is quite shameful nowadays that this resort is still trying to do the wrong things and taking money away from others by having a fake website and no qualified staff. Read less

This resort is breathtaking and beautiful! The beaches are stunning with crystal clear turquoise water. We stayed 9 nights in the water bungalow and it was amazing. The food was excellent with lots of choices. The staff is incredible—everyone was so helpful and kind. Thank you to the diving staff for taking us to swim with nurse sharks and manta rays; without them, we would never have seen these beautiful animals. Thank you to the restaurant staff for always taking care of us and to the housekeeping team for keeping our bungalow clean every day. As I mentioned before, we travel a lot, and we've never experienced this kind of service anywhere else like we did in the Maldives. Thank you, Cinnamon Velifushi, you're the reason we always want to come back to this beautiful country. Read less