“art of building animals with bath towels and writing good luck messages with flower petals.”

We spent unforgettable days, immersed in the lush nature of this corner of paradise. We were pampered by all the staff and every day the kind Mr. Palash as well as keeping our villa in perfect order, surprised us with his art of building animals with bath towels and writing good luck messages with … more

We spent unforgettable days, immersed in the lush nature of this corner of paradise. We were pampered by all the staff and every day the kind Mr. Palash as well as keeping our villa in perfect order, surprised us with his art of building animals with bath towels and writing good luck messages with flower petals.

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“Wonderful Holiday”

We have just returned from our second holiday at this gorgeous hotel. All the staff gave us a lovely welcome back and we were delighted to be given the same beach villa as last time (which we had requested ). We would highly recommend an all inclusive package which gives a remarkably wide selectio… more

We have just returned from our second holiday at this gorgeous hotel. All the staff gave us a lovely welcome back and we were delighted to be given the same beach villa as last time (which we had requested ). We would highly recommend an all inclusive package which gives a remarkably wide selection of wines and spirits . The food is excellent and plentiful with different themes each night . There is live musical entertainment in the evening but this is gentle and unobtrusive. The only extras we incurred were presents from the charming shops and laundry which was super quick and beautifully presented. All the staff are outstanding, extremely kind and helpful. My husband and I are quite elderly and if we manage to return to The Maldives we wouldn’t consider staying anywhere else.

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“They made my birthday special”

The villa was huge with direct access to the sea and a private plunge pool with excellent customer service ever single staff knows what everyone is doing.Having stayed in some of the best hotels around the world the customer service of this hotel stands out.This is my favorite hotel by far.

“A Balanced Review: The Good, the Great, What Could Be Better - Some Honest Insights and Tips”

Before sharing any review, I always believe providing some context is important. We are a well-traveled couple in our early 40s who deeply appreciate peaceful, beautiful resorts, exceptional food, and outstanding service. This is what I feel is a balanced review, and an honest comprehensive perspe… more

Before sharing any review, I always believe providing some context is important. We are a well-traveled couple in our early 40s who deeply appreciate peaceful, beautiful resorts, exceptional food, and outstanding service. This is what I feel is a balanced review, and an honest comprehensive perspective that I wish I could have read before choosing to stay at Constance Halaveli. Not because it would have changed my decision, this is a remarkable destination, but because it might have made for a smoother start to our stay, allowing us to settle into holiday mode more quickly. We always strive to offer fair and balanced reviews, and when reading them understanding that travel experiences are deeply personal and shaped by individual expectations and preferences. What one traveler values may differ from another, and we wholeheartedly respect that. Ultimately, the hallmark of an excellent resort is how it addresses challenges. Inevitably, issues arise, and managing varied guest expectations can be no small feat. In this regard, the team at Constance Halaveli excelled, handling any concerns we had with kindness, efficiency, and professionalism. In summary, the staff at Constance Halaveli are exceptional and truly make the resort shine. The beach is breathtaking, with crystal-clear waters and some of the most spectacular sunsets we’ve ever experienced. The accommodations were decent but could benefit from some updating to enhance the overall experience. Our preference was 100% an overwater villa to a beach villa because it felt brighter and spacious. The dining at Jing was truly outstanding, Chef Atul is an incredible asset and talent he offered a truly memorable culinary experience. While Meeru was generally good, there were occasional inconsistencies that could be improved (quality of the meat for example) Additionally, we felt the resort would benefit from introducing more casual dining options during the day to provide greater variety and flexibility for guests. The Overall Experience ARRIVAL AND SEAPLANE TRANSFER After a long flight, we arrived at the Constance lounge, which is beautiful, we were met by very friendly host, who made sure we had everything we needed, we were asked to sign some documents and in reading the small print on the form it was asking for an agreement to pay the equivalent of 8 nights’ stay (approximately $14,000) to cover incidentals. I am sure this was an oversight or miscommunication at the lounge. The lounge staff eventually called the resort who told us it wasn’t needed, but this experience started out a little stressful and wasn’t necessary. But something to look out for or perhaps streamline is this is a regular occurance. The seaplane transfer, first and foremost, isn’t included, costing around $1,300 plus taxes. We were aware of this when booking, so it’s not a negative at all, but something that’s not made particularly clear when booking with certain providers this is not on the resort at all, but might be helpful for other travelers. In recent years we’ve always visited islands by boat transfer in the main, so the luggage charges were not something we were familiar with, so worth bearing in mind that the seaplane transfer comes with strict baggage limits: 20kg for checked luggage and 5kg for hand luggage, with any excess charged at $5 per kg. While this is not the resort’s policy, t’s something to be mindful of if you’re traveling with heavier luggage. We were 25kgs over in total including hand luggage (which is quite easily done!) and it cost $148 this included taxes but that was only paid once at airport on arrival in Malè ACCOMODATION We started out at a Beach Pool Villa, which was a slightly more expensive option when booking, but it was unfortunately a bit of a disappointment. The overall design of the room felt dark, a little oppressive and poorly thought out, it felt tired, and and little worn. The outdoor bathroom, while absolutely lovely in theory, had little storage space for toiletries, makeup, or other essentials. The walk-in wardrobe was far too small to accommodate even two small suitcases, and didn't really offer adequate storage for clothes, but we've already established I am an overpacker so perhaps that was a 'me' problem! But when eventually moved to an overwater villa, compared to the space offer in this accomodation it confirmed to us that the storage space in the beach villa was inadequate We were on the AIP (known as the Crystal All Inclusive Package) this is the only level of AI at this resort, all meals and drinks included as you'd expect and the mini bar and room snacks. There was a half bottle of Champagne on arrival and the red and white wine, nuts, crackers, pringles, chocolate bars and soft drinks were replenished daily, although we never made use of these it's nice to have but there's perhaps some room for some elevated or personalised touches here. The All-Inclusive Package includes two bottles of spirits, but unfortunately, these were not provided in our room upon arrival. While we wouldn’t have consumed two full bottles, having the option of a nightcap in the room would have been a thoughtful touch. It felt a bit awkward to have to request this. However, the staff were accommodating and provided a small amount of rum, which we preferred over vodka or gin, ensuring our preferences were met in the end. Additionally, early January was unfortunate with poor weather, and the reality of the Maldives is changing. Sandbags were visible in some areas to prevent erosion, and some villas were located near large pipes mining sand and water. This is, of course, unavoidable in certain areas, but those villas really shouldn’t be occupied in my humble opinion FOOD AND DINING Jing Bar and Restaurant : A beautiful setting and ambience, incredible cocktails and stunning sunsets, the food is truly exquisite and this is where we found the majority of the stand out service. Meeru Restaurant: Delicious food, great menu, limited to one starter, main, and side per person, understandably. But it seemed strange that an extra side of salad or corn, for example, was chargeable on AIP, though staff noticed this was a little ridiculous and took the charge off our bill. Jahaz Buffet: Breakfast: Good selection, and lovely staff. Jahaz is where you’ll eat breakfast, lunch and dinner if you don’t /can’t book other restaurants - so the atmosphere can feel repetitive but we’re not keen on constant buffet style anyway so that might be a personal preference The resort do offer a variety of different themed nights, and do their best to offer variety on the food so you can't fault that at all. WINE It was quite amusing that on our first night, the sommelier enthusiastically highlighted the resort’s impressive 25,000-bottle wine cellar, yet the first Bordeaux we requested wasn’t available, a small irony that gave us a chuckle. That said, the overall wine selection was very good, with a wide range of options included in the All-Inclusive Package. Dare I say almost too much choice. There's an additional 35% discount on non-AIP wines if you're on the AIP package this was appreciated, though with the 25% tax applied, the actual savings were more modest. On a personal note, we’ve had the pleasure of exploring wine in some truly remarkable places across the world, wine tasting across France, Italy, and Napa. We shared our preferences with sommeliers on several occasions, but that elusive “perfect match” seemed just out of reach. It could simply come down to individual taste, as we’re particularly passionate about Southern Italian wines, which had a more limited presence at the resort, but personally we didn't feel the wine it lived up to the hype. The Sushi at the pool bar was not included in the AIP, something we’ve never encountered in other all-inclusive resorts. It really seemed like the oddest set up. There was no-where to grab an ice cream or casual snack unless you visit the buffet for lunch, which closes at 3 PM. Afternoon tea is available but consists of danishes and cakes. A salad bar or sandwich option would have been a great addition. Booking ahead for restaurants and spa is essential. We usually like to be a little more spontaneous, but you can’t afford to do that here. There was no availability until Max the restaurant manager came to help out, we were so grateful but felt somewhat awkward that it had to be escalated During our stay, Meeru was closed on Thursday, and Jing was closed on Saturday. This may have been specific to the week we visited, but it’s something to keep in mind for future guests. We were informed that this was due to the resort offering a beach BBQ experience instead, available at an additional cost of $90 per person for those on the All-Inclusive Package. While we understand that this adds variety to the dining options, it did feel somewhat restrictive for an all-inclusive resort, as it limited choice on those evenings. That said, we did notice that the furniture from Meeru was being used for the BBQ setup, which makes sense in terms of logistics. Ultimately, while this approach may not suit everyone, it’s worth being aware of when planning dining experiences at the resort. THE ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE (AIP) One of the biggest frustrations was the lack of clear and consistent information on this. I don’t believe the is entirely down to the resort. But perhaps specific agreements they have with booking agents, in short it would benefit from some simplifying Some confusions - • $100 spa credit: Some packages include it, some don’t. Check with your booking agent. • Seaplane inclusion: Again, depends on your travel agent’s deal. • Two excursions included: A lovely touch, not many resorts do this. • Sushi bar: Not included. • Pool bar snacks: Not included. • Premium cocktails: Some included, but oddly, a cocktail like the Honeycomb which I did have and was delicious (amaretto and cognac) was charged at $22, while a $46 glass of cognac was included. Each ingredient could be ordered separately, just not in the cocktail—completely bizarre. SPA EXPERIENCE The spa had recently been refurbished and looked modern and inviting, which was a highlight. However, if you’re on a spa package, be aware that around half the treatments (basically all of the Sisley ones) are excluded, it's understandable really, Sisley is an incredibly high end brand that is expensive, but this wasn’t communicated at check-in or when we were allocated our spa packages but only when we tried to book treatments at the spa. Additionally, spa bookings need to be made in advance too, again understandable, at first the spa was fully booked during our stay. This may have been due to poor weather on a couple of days keeping guests indoors, but it’s something to keep in mind. However the spa manager ( I am truly sorry I didn't catch their name) but he was exceptional at accommodating us and Maria did some of my treatments was incredible. FACILITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT The resort is quite small, but there's a peacefulness to that, and there's no specific 'entertainment' on some evenings you can find ta singer/ small band on beach which was a lovely touch. There's no bicycles to get around the island, but walking around it is no hardship of course, they mention it's for safety reasons, yet every other Maldivian resort we’ve visited offers them (Ozen Resorts, Six senses etc) The gym was well equipped An early morning yoga class or sunrise meditation would have been a fabulous addition. They had some yoga here and there but most of the time it was at an additional cost. The little meditation area with lemongrass drinks and water fridge - such a lovely touch! AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT If you’re at full occupancy and the reviews are consistently good then perhaps there's no need to change a thing, but for what it’s worth some suggested areas of improvement and some small wins - Upload AI plan on your website (if it varies depending on booking perhaps just state that) - Beach/Pool towels and some of the napkins and table clothes are faded which takes away from a premium feel, something that could quite probably be easily fixed - Proper wine glasses in the room (not the short stumpy kind!) - More yoga meditation classes (sunrise sunset sessions etc) - Some additional snack option, salad bar/ice cream/smoothie station would be a great addition As already mentioned the staff here are exceptional. Each of these team members below specifically contributed to making our stay extraordinary, and we are so grateful for their kindness, professionalism, and dedication. • GAZIM at Jahaz Restaurant: On our first day, I asked if a green juice was available. Although it wasn’t on the menu, he had one specially made and ensured it was brought to our breakfast table every morning, a thoughtful and memorable gesture. • SUNDAN at JING: A true credit to the resort. His cocktail-making skills are unparalleled, and he strikes the perfect balance between professionalism and familiarity with guests. His warm and engaging personality made every interaction a pleasure. • MARIA in the Spa: An incredibly kind and talented therapist who gave one of the best spa treatments I’ve ever had, an absolute highlight of the trip. • BASSAM, our housekeeper: His attention to detail was extraordinary. He not only cleaned our room impeccably but also arranged my cosmetics neatly and even placed a bookmark in my book if I left it face down, such thoughtful care. • MAX the Restaurant Manager: Max was consistently kind and accommodating, especially when some dining options weren’t available. He always had time for a friendly chat and went above and beyond to ensure we were looked after. All the restaurant staff in Jing, but ATUL as already mentioned is an exceptionally talented chef and we feel privileged to have experienced his food, but he was came across as and incredibly kind hearted, wonderful person with a huge passion and love for what he does. • The Spa Manager: What began as a slightly stressful process was quickly simplified by the spa manager, who handled everything with genuine kindness and care, making us feel completely at ease. • DARINA : She welcomed us upon arrival with warmth and kindness, instantly setting a positive tone for our stay. Her caring nature was truly appreciated. • EMELIE: She was quick to address any issues we encountered and made sure we never felt like a burden, handling everything with professionalism and grace. If you're considering staying at Constance Halaveli, I encourage you to do thorough research and just to set some realistic expectations. While the destination is undeniably beautiful, staff exceptional and overall offers a wonderful experience, I found myself surprised by a few issues that didn’t align with the overwhelmingly positive reviews I had read before my trip. It’s possible my expectations were simply too high. With a few adjustments, I would happily return in the future. This review is shared with the best intentions, aiming to provide insights so that other travelers can be aware and enjoy their stay to the fullest.

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