Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa is located in Southern Maldives a one hour flight from Male to Gan and then from Gan Airport it is a 8-minute boat ride to one of the Maldives largest Island it is a two-mile long island and everyone gets the opportunity to ride their Villa Bike around from place to place, or you can walk or get taken around by their island staff in a golf buggy.
It is a Beautiful Lush Green Tropical Island that has thousands of Coconut Trees on it, surrounded by white sandy beaches and right in front of the main resort pool and restaurant all you can see is crystal clear Maldivian Indian Ocean Water.
Once you are there and have checked into your Villa there is so much to do from waterspouts, catamarans, kayaking, snorkelling along a long eco-trail, diving with manta rays, playing play a round at the only 9-hole golf course in the Maldives, or a game of tennis.
Or you can choose to do absolutely nothing and lay on your daybed and then going for a lovely swim straight off your over Waterville Deck into the Crystal Clear Maldives water.
You can book in for a excursion or if you have children book and need a Mini Break you can take them to the Kids club, or playground, or even have them babysat so you can go off to have a Spa Treatment (or two) at CHI, The Spa, The Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa is really suited for Busy Mum’s or Dad’s.
They have daily yoga by Yogasphere located right their Yoga Pavilion that is situated right on the Ocean’s Edge located in the CHI, The Spa. The Yoga is suitable for beginners or dedicated Yogis.
With a Villas from Beach Pool Villas, Overwater Villas, Overwater Pool Villas that all have impressive bath tubs that look so pretty when filled up.
3 Restaurants to choose from, Live Music at the Main Resort Restaurant at night, a M Lounge Bar where you can enjoy a cocktail or glass of champagne on sunset plus so much more that you will discover when you are actually on the Island.
Yvette Le Blowitz, Founder of Spa it Girl visited the Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa in the Maldives and she shares her Favourite Things with us:
My Overwater Villa it was so Big and Beautiful, I loved the Water Views, outside deck, suspended Hammock, and the high peak ceilings in the bathroom, it really did have a very big and Impressive Luxury Maldivian Bathroom with a Beautiful Oval standing Bathtub, an outdoor shower that was so nice to shower in and when I was standing under the water all you could feel was the sun shining on your face and when I looked down all I could see was crystal clear turquoise water so amazing.
Relaxing in my Suspended Hammock while it swayed a little side to side with the ocean breeze. It made me feel so happy and I was so grateful to be able to look up at the clear blue skies and feel the fresh sea air on my face.
I have always wanted to lay down and relaxed in one of those Maldivian suspended Hammocks that I have been seeing for so many years now so finally at the Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa I got to live my all time Spa it Girl Maldivian laying and relaxing in a Hammock Dreams.
Waking Up Every Morning To a Beautiful View and seeing the Indian Ocean whilst laying in bed.
Having Breakfast Everyday at the Javvu Restaurant it was so feel good overtime I sat down to have my Breakfast all I could see was the White Sandy Beach and then Crystal Clear Turquoise and Blue Ocean waters and the different colours while the sun was shining, all I could smell was the fresh clean air and my morning freshly brewed coffee it seriously was so feel good.
I was totally obsessed with just holding up my coffee cup and taking photos of my Morning Coffee Breakfast Spot every single morning that I sat there it was one of the nicest places to have my Breakfast and I think it has to be right now my all time Favourite place that I have sat at whilst having breakfast the view’s are pretty hard to beat.
Being on a Beautiful Lush Green Tropical Maldives Island that had Thousands of Coconut Trees being amongst the Beautiful Lush Greenery and relaxing sitting on the White Sandy Beaches under a Coconut Tree whilst looking at the Clear Turquoise Water and Bright Blue Skies and Sunshine. Getting to wear my big floppy hat and feeling the sand on my feet and between my toes.
Waking Up Every Single Day I was there and Feeling Good. Going to Bed Every Single Night and Feeling Bless and Grateful for having the most Beautiful time. Taking the Time to Watch the Sun Rise and Set over the Beautiful Maldivian Indian Ocean, the Peace and Quite and the Feeling that I was totally a Million Miles away from my normal routine day to day life. It was such a great place for me to totally switch off and then to become Spiritually and Creatively Inspired.
Riding My Villa Bicycle (Bike) around the Island on the Little wooden walkways while I was fully present and soaking everything in and then on the Island it was so nice being the only one at times on the natural dirt road paths amongst the Coconut Green Leafy trees it’s such a big island and you can either choose to ride your bike around which is really cool and it reminded me of just how much I loved riding my bike around as a kid, it was so feel good I loved it, I felt so carefree and kid like. I loved riding my bike so much around the Island that I even did a Live Spa it Girl FaceBook Feed whilst Riding it -click on the below play button below to watch.
I actually really wanted to visit Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa just so I could ride my bike around as it is one of the biggest islands at the Maldives and not every island offers this amazing tropical island, active living opportunity.
For a moment I felt like Julia Roberts from the Eat Pray Love Movie in the Scene when she is riding her bike with the Biggest Smile ear to ear loving the feeling of being Free and Happy. I have always wanted to ride a bike around a Tropical Maldives Island so by Staying at the Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa I finally got to live my all time Spa it Girl dream.
I loved checking out the CHI, The Spa for the very first time and meeting some of the Beautiful Spa Staff and especially Alma who was actually a very Beautiful Maldivian Local and how who has worked in the CHI, Spa at Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa for over 6 years now.
Alma was so passionate about working at CHI, The Spa, and of course Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa plus living in the Maldives and her Country and what it had to offer that it was so real, authentic that I knew everything she share truly came from the Heart. I personally learnt so much from her about the Maldivian Culture and the CHI, The Spa and my Kandu Boli Ritual Spa Treatment I was going to have thanks to her.
CHI, The Spa traditionally draws inspiration from the origins of the Shangri-La legend, a place of personal peace, enchantment and wellbeing and at CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La they had individual treatment villas with private gardens, steam rooms, and an outdoor spa, plus a Spa menu with a selection of Asia massages, Indian Ayurvedic treatments, alongside locally inspired treatments and when I was there I actually felt a million miles away from the actual Resort because the only people I got to see while I was at the Spa was my Spa Therapist and another Spa Therapist that was it and because it’s so private and away from everything it’s such a Beautiful place to surrender and let go – I loved feeling far away from everything even though I was staying in a 142 Villa Resort on one of Maldives largest and longest land based islands.
My Spa Treatment – I had a Kandu Boli Ritual at Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La Villingilli Resort & Spa. Kanu Boli means seashell, historically in the Maldives they found these in the Sea and it was considered their Treasures and they used them to Trade for Food, Materials and other things.
Chi, The Spa offer this truly authentic Maldivian Spa Experience and the Kandu Boli starts off with a very scared ceremony then after that the use Local coconut oil and two Sea shells.
For me I had this really deep personal connection also with the sea shells because as a kid I use to put a sea shell to my ear and I could instantly hear the waves of the ocean and it would always make me feel good.
This Spa Treatment really had a lot of lovely positive feel good energy and it was so wonderful to try something completely different to say a Hot Rocks Stone Massage which I can get anywhere however when it comes to this Kandu Boli Spa Treatment Experience you can only get it here at Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La in the Maldives.
I wanted to say a Big thank you to my Beautiful Spa Therapist Indah she truly was Amazing. During and after my Kandu Boli Ritual I truly felt connected to the Maldives Island & Country more than ever before which is a really lovely relaxed feeling.
I loved my signature spa treatment that I just had to have whilst at the CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa because you can’t have that treatment at any other Spa around the World it’s a one of a kind Spa Treatment so I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to experience it and I loved it from the bottom of my heart.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPRXlFBjbq6/?taken-by=spaitgirl
Drinking Fresh Coconut Water from an Actual Fresh Coconut that had come from the Island’s Coconut Trees, you can get them right beside the Main Resort Pool.
Meeting one of my Spa it Girl Blog Readers from China who actually spotted me there and who just had to meet me it was so Amazing to meet one of my Spa it Girl Blog Readers in Person and I felt so Grateful to have decided to create a Global Spa it Girl Community instead of the Spa it Girl Blog being non-stop all about me and just non stop content about me which traditionally is what a blog is normally all about.
The Main Resort Pool because it overlooks the Beautiful White Sandy Beaches that is lined with Tropical Coconut Trees and all you can see is crystal clear water and all of the different shades of the turquoise and blue Indian Ocean.
Walking on the Beautiful White Sandy Beaches looking out to the different shades and colours of the Oceans, my Favorite Color is Blue, Turquoise, Green so that’s all I could see. Swimming in the Crystal Clear Water amongst with the Fishes
Doing nothing whenever I felt like it or doing something when I felt like it. Having a Warm Relaxing Bath in my overwater villa whenever I wanted to, or an outdoor shower too. Wearing my latest Resort Style Dress, Taking Selfies, Photos and doing lots of Live Spa it Girl V-Blogging across all of the Spa it Girl Social Media and connecting with my Spa it Girl Readers Live.
Practicing Yoga with Yogasphere in the Yoga Pavilion that was right on the Ocean so when I was practicing Yoga all I could see and hear was the Ocean it was so Amazing, I loved my Yoga Teacher Leo who turned out to the be the Owner of Yogasphere UK plus meeting another Beautiful Yoga Girl Ginie who was from Hong Kong and visiting the Shangri-La for a Active Living Maldivian Holiday.
The Staff – I loved how everyone I personally crossed paths with was so helpful and lovely. Plus how they had a lot of locals from their local Gan Community working on the Island too and it was so nice to see the young local people working for such a High End Brand and Company in Professional Hospitality Roles.
They had two very Cool Aussies both Chefs and running the Restaurants, there really is way to many people to name and thank but a special thanks and shout out to the staff at CHI, The Spa plus also Svenja who was so lovely, Inspiring, Super Talented and such a Fantastic Shangri-La Ambassador on the last day when I left I had to Wave Goodbye to her and I actually felt a bit sad to say Goodbye as I had such a good time and was made to feel so Welcomed during my stay.
The Staff based was Multi-Cultural, Diverse but coming from Australia I truly loved this Diversity and Feel they have around 600 staff that work around the Island so a big Hats off to the General Manager and team for going out of their way every single day to do their very best for their Guests and Local Environment.
The Photographer Lounge Team – Seriously Creative and Super Talented I wasn’t able to bring my Spa it Girl photographer on my trip and as you know taking photos on your own is pretty hard when all you have is a Self Stick so I teamed up with the Shangri-La, Villingili Resort & Spa and went out and did a Spa it Girl Blog photo-shoot and had so much fun and loved it so much, it was great as they knew all of the amazing spots to go to, I have also wanted to practice Yoga in a Thatched Hut overwater in the Maldives and I finally got to live my Yoga Spa it Girl Dream and the Team was able to capture it for me.
If you want to get some of your own Dreamy Spa it Girl photos when you visit I totally recommend booking the Photographer Team it’s such a Beautiful place for photos and a lovely photoshoot fun and comfortable Maldives experience.
Listening to the live Music at the M Lounge on Sunset while the Shangri, La Villingili Resort & Spa Management team kindly shouted everyone who turned up a Glass of Champagne – or as many as you wanted and canapés whilst the Master of Residence Henry Padovani founding member of The Police played his Guitar and sung, his opening song was it’s a Beautiful day and I have to say it totally was because I was sitting in my free flowing comfy Resort style dress, right beside the most Amazing Girls from Germany that I have ever met, whilst the Sun was setting over one of the Most Beautiful places in the World the Maldives when I looked around and could see everyone so relax, smiling and happy it also made me feel even more grateful to be there.
Dining Out – I tried and did something totally different they had a choice of 3 Restaurants at their Main Resort Restaurant the Javvu Restaurant they played live Music and offered on one night that I went there a SeaFood Buffett with lots of local Seafood all freshly cooked right in front BBQ style. I also tried Dr Ali’s and that Restaurant is situated right on the Indian Ocean so it was so nice to sit outside in the Fresh Air and to see the Moon Shine, they have a Selection of fine cuisine from the Indian Ocean, South China Sea and Arabian Gulf and I tried a lot of their dishes and even had some Arabic food for Dinner. My Favorite Restaurant out of all of them was actually the Fashala for me it had probably the most Lux Style Restaurant Feel.
I loved the design of the actual Restaurant, plus the service was outstanding top notch and considering the week before I had been staying at the Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong and eating at the Grand Club that is saying a lot. They had this most amazing 3 Course Mediterranean inspired cuisine Menu that had carefully selected Champagne and Wines to the Meals and when I took the first bite of my Meal all I could think was WOW they have Nailed it the Food was so Feel Good just what I was looking for I later discovered that it was once again another Great Aussie Chef making his 5* Cuisine Mark. When I looked up at the Wall I could see how many Awards the Restaurant had one especially when it came to it’s Wine Selection and Food and I can now see why. I loved the Fashala Restaurant but I am sure depending on your own taste beds you will discover your own all time favorite Restaurant when there.
Calling Up Room Service to have my Lunch Delivered so I could have it on the back of my Overwater Villa instead of making my way up to the main resort Javvu Restaurant.
Meeting some other really nice Guest’s who were also Visiting for a Luxury Maldivian Holiday so they could get away from it all. A lot of people think that visiting the Maldives is only for Honeymooners and whilst it is one of the Most Popular places for Honeymoons, I still got to meet quite a few people there who had just come especially to escape their Busy City and Lifestyle, plus they wanted to spend time in the Water and doing Water Sports and Being Active too and just like they me they wanted to be able to Ride their Bike around one of Maldives biggest Islands, Visit the Spa, Practice Yoga, Walk along the White Sandy Beaches, and Swim in Crystal Clear Maldivian Indian Ocean Water and do nothing when they felt like it.
Kids Being Well Behaved Even though the Shangri-La, Villingili Resort & Spa is Super Kid and Family Friendly Resort because the Island is so big and has so much to do I didn’t actually get bothered by any kids or nor did I hear any screaming kids in the Main Resort Swimming Pool which you tend to firstly think of when you hear a resort is Kid and Family Friendly.
I think the Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa is well suited if you want to go on an Active Living Maldives Holiday or if you want to do absolutely nothing some day’s it has a really good mix of activities.
Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives is one of the World’s Most Beautiful Tropical Island’s and I can now see why other IT GIRL’s like the Victoria Secrets Model Alessandra Ambrosio and Elle Macpherson loved going there so much.
Besure to hashtag #iamaspaitgirl an tag @Spaitgirl and @shangrilamaldives so we can see you Dreamy Spa it Girl at Shangri-La Maldives photos too.
For More Information on the Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa *click here
Love, Light & Happy – Spa it Girl Vibes
Yvette xoxo