What’s It Like To Stay In A Maldives Water Villa? Our Experience

Come with us as we experience, first-hand, what it’s like to stay in a Maldives water villa. We’ll show you exactly what to expect so you know if a Maldives overwater villa is the perfect high-end escape for you.

Aerial shot of Maldives water villas
It looks idyllic, but what’s it like to stay in a Maldives water villa?

Have you ever seen fantastic images across your Instagram or TikTok of influencers enjoying the idyllic life in a Maldives water villa and thought “I wonder if that’s as good as it looks?” 

Well, wonder no more, because one of our team went to Furaveri Island Resort in the Maldives to find out. It’s a tough assignment, but someone’s got to do it! 

Clare recently got back from her overwater villa experience and we caught up with her to find out exactly what it’s like. First, though, what is Furaveri Island Resort?


Furaveri Island Resort Overview

If you haven’t heard of this incredible location, then allow us to enlighten you. Furaveri Island Resort & Spa is a five-star haven which spans 750x400m of the idyllic Furaveri island in the Raa Atoll

Inside the resort, you’ll find a host of up-market touches like 3 beautiful restaurants serving everything from classic international dishes to exciting teppanyaki tables offering delicious Asian cusine. Or how about convening on the oasis-like sand for a beach BBQ evening instead?

Away from the delicious restaurants, there’s also a resort swimming pool, bar, sports, and water sports, as well as a calming wellness village for when you’re thinking of doubling down on your kicked-back break. 

Now that overview is out of the way, let’s dive into Clare’s experience and show you what else you can expect from a stay in a Maldives water villa. 


What’s It Like Staying In A Maldives Water Villa?

Staying in a water villa in the Maldives is the dream, right? And it didn’t disappoint.

Waking up every morning and having the glistening ocean as the first thing you hear and see is absolutely breathtaking. At over 1,000 square feet, Furaveri water villas are spacious and modern with a minibar that includes soft drinks and water replenished daily.

Also included in the villa is an incredibly spacious king-sized bed and sprawling bathroom which features a luxurious bathtub and rain shower. Both are perfect for luxuriating away from your ocean-facing veranda or just refreshing for the evening. 


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Are Water Villas In The Maldives safe?

Water villas in the Maldives are incredibly safe. Your veranda does feature a robust fence that prevents you from falling into the water from a height, while not detracting from the spectacular view. 

However, having said that, water villas probably aren’t conducive for families holidaying in the Maldives. So I’d recommend opting for a beach villa if you are travelling with younger children. 

In addition, it pays to remember that the deck is wooden and open to the elements. This means it can become slippery when wet. But as long as you take care walking on the deck when wet, you’ll have an amazing trip. 

View of a Furaveri water villa from the ocean
Water villas do feature a fence but probably aren’t suitable for young children

Can You Walk Straight Into The Ocean?

You absolutely can walk straight into the ocean from your balcony. Most water villas in the Maldives feature staircases at the side of your relaxing veranda which offers exclusive access to the lagoon below

In fact, one of the best things to do in the Maldives is to take a dip below the surface and check out the plethora of marine life flitting around the shallows. Except now all those incredible sights are waiting at the bottom of your exterior staircase.  

However, to call back to that earlier point, just be careful going down the wooden steps to the lagoon. Because these are naturally wet, they can get slippery. 

A hammock resting just above the water in the Maldives
Get within touching distance of the wet stuff

Do You Have To Get In The Water To See The Fish?

The great thing about booking a stay in a Maldivian water villa is that you can spot the sea life from the comfort of your balcony.

Imagine sitting out on your decking, enjoying a good book or just watching the world go by and you can see tropical fish and baby sharks swimming around your villa. 

If swimming isn’t your jam, or you just prefer the comforts of dry land, you don’t have to miss out on the majesty of what lies beneath the surface. The drone footage in the below video should give you some idea of how clear the water is. Skip to 7:40 to get underneath briefly. 


What is Furaveri Maldives like?

Whether you approach from the air in a seaplane or from the water in a speedboat transfer, the island is stunning. If you have an image in your mind of white sand and clear warm blue sea then you won’t know the difference between your imagination and reality.

In addition, you have the ability to craft the perfect type of Maldives holiday for you here. If you don’t feel like walking around the resort, there are golf buggies available with several stops dotted around the island for you to jump on and off.

There are also a number of free water sports included as part of the standard all-inclusive package such as kayaking, snorkelling, and windsurfing. I’d recommend snorkelling as you can have a 30-minute lesson during your stay if you’re new to it. 

After you’ve spent your days chilling, snorkelling or swimming you can enjoy entertainment every evening. Including a Maldivian night with local dancers and music which was great fun. 

  • Furaveri beach
  • Swing bench just off the beach
  • welcome jetty
  • Sunset over the water villas

What Are The Restaurants Like?

The 3 restaurants at Furaveri Island Resort are:

  • Jaafaiy: Main buffet restaurant 
  • Raiyvilla: Asian fusion and teppanyaki restaurant
  • Amigos: Explore tastes of Mexico from your seat in the Maldives 

Now, you might think that the main restaurant is just another average all-inclusive buffet. But it actually offers a different theme 7 nights a week featuring quality food and plenty of choices. 

As part of the all-inclusive, we also had a three-course dinner at Raiyvilla which was amazing. There was also the option to pay for a la carte dining at the other restaurants that were available on the island.

We ate at Amigos later in our stay. This amazing Mexican restaurant sits at the end of the pier and offers scintillating views out over the ocean.

  • Two glasses of white wine in front of the beach and ocean
  • Oceanfront restaurant
  • Chefs cooking at the teppanyaki table
  • Buffet food presented on a platter
  • Barman making cocktails at Udhares Bar

Top Tip

You can pay a little extra to have a choice of speciality dining experiences on the island. We booked the lobster and champagne dinner which was amazing and worth the additional cost. I’d definitely recommend taking a look at the special dining options – there’s bound to be one for you. 


Are There Any Activities At Furaveri?

You may think a holiday to the Maldives is all about rest, relaxation, and romance – and it is. However, resorts like Furaveri also offer an enviable array of activities to ensure that more restless travellers have an incredible stay too. 

We included a Sunset Cruise on our trip and I’d recommend it to anyone. The views of the island and surrounding landscape as the sun dips below the horizon are truly magical. 

Plus, there are drinks available on the boat as you make your way around the islands, so a cheeky cocktail in the golden hour is perfect. The one thing that can make the experience more unforgettable is spotting dolphins playing in the ocean. Although dolphins frequent these warmer waters all year round, you stand the best chance of spotting them from December – March. 

Two jet skis in the water waiting to be ridden
If you’ve had enough lounging there are activities aplenty too

Book Your Maldives Water Villa Stay Today 

Clare’s experience solidifies The Maldives’ status as one of the most incredible locations in the world. Filled with romance, unending beauty, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. 

One such experience is walking in her flip-flops and bagging yourself a sprawling water villa. Click the button below to find out more about how you can snag a free upgrade to a Furaveri water villa with our Flash Sale. 

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