Five Star Resorts in Maldives
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Learn more about the luxurious services and facilities available at Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences before you plan your dream holiday escape to one of the finest five-star resorts in the Maldives. Please feel free to contact us if you can’t see your question below.
Where is the Maldives?
The Maldives is a tropical archipelago in Asia, straddling the equator. The island nation is surrounded by the Laccadive Sea (part of the Indian Ocean) and lies south of India and southwest of Sri Lanka.
How do I get to the Maldives?
The best way to travel to the Maldives is by air, although there are also provisions for international yacht arrivals. A large number of scheduled and charter flights operate between the Maldives and the rest of the world.
Do I need a visa to enter the Maldives?
All travellers receive a free 30-day visa upon arrival providing their passport is valid for at least six more months. They also need a valid return air ticket home/onwards to another destination.
What is the weather like in the Maldives?
The Maldives has a hot tropical climate, with plenty of sunshine, high humidity, and a constant sea breeze. The temperature generally hovers around 30̊ C year-round, with night-time lows sometimes of 24̊c.
The dry Northeast Monsoon is from November to April, while the Southwest Monsoon (May to October) is technically the rainy season. However, it’s very possible to have many sunny days even during the ‘rainy season’.
What is the best time to visit the Maldives?
The weather in the Maldives is normally pleasant all year round but November to April is when we see the clearest skies. Scuba diving visibility is good enough all year round.
How do I get to Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences from the nearest airport?
From the nearest airport, you can get to Amilla Maldives by either a 35-minute Seaplane (arranged by the property) or by a 20-minute Domestic flight plus a 10-minute boat transfer (arranged by the property)
How old is Amilla Maldives compared to other Maldives resorts?
We opened in 2014 so we are neither the oldest (which dates back to the late 1970s) nor the newest. We have a philosophy of continual improvement and are continually working to enhance, improve, upgrade, and maintain the resort. That means we always have a certain amount of ongoing maintenance work. We always plan it carefully so there will be minimal disruption to guests - you might not even notice it. The plans include replacing the tiles in the Residences and replacing the jetties linking the Reef Water Pool Villas to the island.
One of Amilla's key advantages is that we offer larger Villas and Residences than other Maldives resorts at the same price point. Another major benefit of Amilla is that there are far fewer rooms compared to other resort islands of the same size, which normally cram in as many rooms as possible. That means we have more idyllic untouched island scenery and more space to play, relax, and explore. We also put a greater emphasis on providing much better on-site value for money than our competitors.
How big is the Amilla Maldives Island?
Our lush island offers 1.5 kilometers long and 300 meters wide of enchanting space to roam and play. With only 67 rooms - the vast majority over-water - this leaves a great deal of undeveloped jungle and green space. In the Maldives, it is a rare luxury. Dedicated zones for rest, play, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Secret beaches. Cycling and running track. Space for being at one with nature; precious time with your loved ones.
What currency is used in the resorts of the Maldives?
We use US Dollars and also accept all major credit cards.
What time zone is the Maldives/Amilla in?
We are five hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (official Maldives time).
What languages are spoken at Amilla?
We all speak English and our Maldivian staff speaks Dhivehi in addition to English. We also have team members who speak many other additional languages including Russian, Chinese, French, Arabic and Italian.
Can I take photographs, videos, and film drone footage?
Please do snap away and don’t forget to tag us! If you want to use any photos or footage for commercial use, please have a word with us first.
Due to Maldivian privacy laws, it is prohibited to bring unmanned aerial systems or drones to the island. Drones can be left at our airport lounge and collected on departure.
Is there a football pitch?
Yes, we have a huge football pitch and often hold tournaments you can join in with.
Is there free wifi?
Yes, we have complimentary high-speed wifi across the resort and in all our accommodation.
Do you provide a laundry service?
Yes, we offer an excellent paid-for laundry service although we cannot provide dry cleaning services.
Do you provide room service?
Yes, we have a wide selection of Home Delivery dishes – why not treat yourself to a starlit dinner on your private terrace or a Floating Breakfast?
Do you cater to special dietary requirements?
Absolutely! Check out our ‘Wellness Your Way’ menu – we cater to vegan, paleo, keto, low lectin, and much more. All our dishes are customisable. If you have any food allergies or have any specific requirements for religious reasons, please let us know in advance.
Can I smoke anywhere in the resort?
You may smoke outside in designated areas but please note that all our Villas and Residences are non-smoking.
Can I drink the tap water?
Yes, the tap water is made from desalinated seawater and is perfectly safe for brushing your teeth. Our own bottled water (produced in-house) is probably tastier to drink though.
Can I fish on the house reef?
No, we do not allow fishing or crabbing at Amilla because we have a delicate ecosystem. We do not feed the fish, rays, or baby sharks either because we strive to be environmentally responsible. But we do offer a wide array of fishing excursions, please contact your Katheeb or visit H.U.B. for options.
Can I swim anywhere around the resort?
Yes, however, we do not allow swimming at night for your safety. Please be aware that everywhere in the Maldives the currents can be strong so do not go out of your depth and do not try to swim to another island. Life vests are provided for your safety. There is no lifeguard on duty.
We provide a safety briefing before you swim/snorkel (even if you have your own snorkelling gear). We also have a fabulous swimming pool and most of our villas have private pools.
Can I play tennis at Amilla?
Yes, we have two floodlit tennis courts and you can even book private lessons with a Jim Courier Tennis Pro.
Is there a doctor at Amilla?
Yes, we have a Resort Doctor living at Amilla.
Do you provide a babysitting service?
Yes, we do. It’s just $20++ per child per hour so why not have a romantic night out.
Has the pandemic affected reopening and day-to-day operations?
When the pandemic hit, we didn’t know when we would be able to reopen again. The Maldives government allowed resorts in the Maldives to reopen in July 2020 after four months of shutdown. During this period, we implemented a number of carefully planned COVID-19 prevention protocols and trained the team in COVID-prevention.
When we reopened, we had many last-minute bookings and it took a bit of time to get our international team members back from their homes overseas (particularly those from countries that were still locked down). Then every returning team member had 14 days of quarantine so as you might expect, it took a little while to get back into our stride but our team members have adapted well and settled into our ‘adjusted hospitality’. As such, we’re continuing to strive to keep our guests safe and protected whilst also doubling our efforts to surprise and delight them with treats and pampering.
We also had to find alternatives for our supply chain, as before the pandemic, as we had seasonal produce coming in from Australia and Thailand. We have found alternatives in most cases and even created sustainable fruit and vegetable gardens and a chicken coup to ensure we have enough fresh produce for our Chefs to create delicious meals. These actions actually fitted in well with our sustainability goals, which even extend to us making many of our own spa products from homegrown ingredients.
Day-to-day operations are now ticking along pretty well, although there are currently some small alterations due to the ongoing pandemic. For example, most of our dining outlets have reopened with rotating menus and we continue to follow best practice COVID-19 prevention protocols. After PCR testing our guests are able to enjoy their holiday mask-free, although we recommend they make use of our hand sanitizer stations.
Have you had positive COVID-19 cases?
There are only a few resorts in the Maldives doing PCR tests for all arrivals, including Amilla Maldives. All four resorts have observed the same trend – that the one negative PCR test required by the Maldives government three days before international passengers arrive cannot guarantee that the guests will not test positive three days later. So, we offer complimentary PCR tests on arrival at our island for everyone. Team members dealing with our newest arrivals stay in separate quarantine bubbles from the rest of the guests and their colleagues until we receive the new guests’ PCR test results. That means that if a guest should test positive, it is much easier for us to swiftly take action, isolate their close contacts, and avoid community spread.
What are the safety protocols for COVID-19 adopted by Amilla Maldives?
Safeguarding our guests’ safety and wellbeing is our number one priority. To find out more about the COVID 19 safety protocols we have in place to keep you safe during your stay at Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences, COVID-19 GUIDELINES
What will happen if a guest shows symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19?
The accommodation of any quarantined guests who tested positive may be changed to a different villa after the original dates of their booking have expired (if the required quarantine period extends beyond their original reservation period). We will assist with any relocation to create the minimum amount of disruption to the quarantined guests.
Being a large natural island with large areas of untouched forest, what animals are on the property?
Being as the islands of the Maldives are so remote, we have no large mammals such as monkeys or big cats but we do have hectares of the glorious jungle! Our jungle has a fabulous diversity of wildlife including rare birds that live and breed in our ancient banyan trees. As with all Maldives islands, there is the occasional fruit bat and small lizard as well as butterflies and other small insects (but nothing dangerous or of an Amazonian/Australian kind of size!).
The Maldives is in fact a very safe country in terms of its wildlife. The majority of our country’s wildlife is found in the ocean. In the ocean, we would urge you to avoid touching any of the wildlife or coral as some species can sting or cause a rash (and you could harm them too by touching them!). If you are concerned about hazards, the biggest concerns in the Maldives are sunburn or falling coconuts! In fact, we regularly send our best climber experts to shimmy up coconut trees in our public areas and remove coconuts so they won’t unexpectedly crash to the ground. Don’t worry – we don’t waste a thing. We have a coconut machine to make our own virgin coconut oil!
We also have pest control measures to help control mosquitoes etc. We encourage our guests to keep their doors and windows closed to ensure their Villas and Residences remain deliciously cool (as opening them affects the efficacy of the air-conditioning) and that also helps circumvent any issues with any ‘new friends’ that may be outside wanting to move in!
What future improvements are planned for Amilla?
Amilla will be undergoing property modernization as part of our philosophy on continual improvement and we may be doing maintenance works between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. and you may experience some level of noise between these hours. We have organized this much-needed project in such a way that it will have minimal effect on your experience whilst you are at Amilla. We are excited to share the changes when they are complete, and should you have any questions in the meantime, please let us know.
What type of room can I book at Amilla Maldives?
Room options at Amilla vary from 1 and 2-bedroomTreetop, Beach, and Overwater Pool Villas to 4, 6, and 8-bedroom Private Beach Residences. Click here for more details on Villas or Residences
What is there to do in Amilla Maldives?
Dive into a host of activities on land and sea. Our wellness area includes a gym for private pre-booked sessions. Explore the divine spa, yoga, pilates, martial arts training, and guided meditations. Snorkel, scuba dive, kayak, windsurf, and SUP in the glassy lagoon or sail off for sunset fishing. Take on a badminton, tennis, table tennis, giant chess, or bocce ball challenge. Discover cooking classes, wine tastings, and cinema nights. Splash out on the Amilla Glamping (bubble experience). You set the pace. We do the rest.
How far is Hanifaru bay from Amilla Maldives?
Hanifaru Bay is 15 mins away on a speedboat approximately 8 kilometres from Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences.
What are some of the wellness offerings at Amilla Maldives?
Discover a holistic approach to wellness, tailored to your lifestyle. Our pioneering Wellness Your Way concept combines traditional spa, yoga, massage, and meditation with nutritious cuisine. Visiting practitioners offer martial arts and personal training sessions. Javvu Spa conjures up special treatments incorporating traditional Maldivian herbal medicine (‘Dhivehi Beys’). Complemented by customisable menus catering to vegan, keto, paleo, low carb, low lectin, gluten-free and dairy-free lifestyles.
What meal plans does Amilla have?
Amilla Maldives offers a stress-free holiday with our specially-designed meal plan options including our Dine Around Inclusive package, which provides you the best value and optimum peace of mind during your stay including Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, along with selected Drinks and Excursions. Click here for more details
Does Amilla have Children's facilities and Family rooms?
Explore Sultan’s Village Kids Club. This fenced open-air playground with a splash area and sun canopy offers a fun-filled daily programme of activities. Book kids’ bicycles, snorkelling equipment, selected water sports, ping pong, tennis, badminton, PADI Bubblemaker courses, and much more. ‘Safety turtles’ provide additional water security for tots. Our two-Bedroom Beach Pool Villas are ideal for families with young children while older kids will love the bunk beds in our exotic Two-Bedroom Treetop Pool Villas (which come with a strip of beach). The enormous Residences are perfect for larger families - now with a fifth bedroom ideal for teenagers or nannies.