We just returned from Olhuveli. The resort is wonderful and so is the landscape and the food and the rooms (we stayed in the jac water villas).

Being everything so fine, we just found some minor if's, unexpected in such a paradise:
- the staff is very polite (although not warm) but chases you too much transforming our identity into a «room number», to secure that you effectively sign the bills and don't run away (where to?). I even had to go twice to the reception to ask for a internet code, because it won't be given to you by phone....
- the beach shadows and chairs are hunted in the morning what leaves to you only the sun.
- the boats from and to Male are clearly not prepared for a calm trip;
- everything is too much expensive (particularly special dinners);
- to consider an espresso coffee at breakfast as an extra that you must pay separately is something that only happened to me before once in my life.

These are the if's. Far more important is that it is effectively a wonderful resort.

Wonderful holiday island. Have just returned from a week long holiday. The staff were very attentive and welcoming. Island very beautiful.
Spa treatments were good and relaxing.
Snorkeling was also wonderful. Could snorkel on the house reef from the Dive Centre on the island so did not have to go off site if you didn't want to. Saw a huge manta ray near the dive centre and abaout 50 dolphins swam past on our last day - AMAZING!
Half day trip to Male also very interesting and worthwhile to experience the culture of the Maldivian way of life.
Although the island was full it never seemed to be crowded with plenty of space everywhere and very quiet. We walked slowly around the island one day and it took about 1 hour. This included time stopping to take photographs and admire the views and scenery.
I agree with comment from another review that eating at one of the other restaurants is very expensive with only 25% off for AI and we had to pay for wine (house wine is free in the buffet restaurant if AI). We did eat one night at the Four Spices which although expensive the food was excellent. Buffet food for AI was also good though - especially the freshly cooked pasta bar and the BBQ section which was there almost every night outside.
The only downside I found was still having to get up early to reserve a sunbed!! But that seems to happen wherever we go now. Everyone seems to get up at the crack of dawn to put towels on their sunbeds. At first we refused to put our towels out but after a couple of days realised that we had to to ensure we had a sunbed.

Tip: Take lots of high factor suncream and cream for mosquito bites as we did get a few bites - but then we were in the tropics and expected that!
Easy to see why Olhuveli gets repeat customers. Some of the people we talked to it was their third or fourth time to the island.
Overall: A FANTASTIC exerience, very beautiful and very relaxing.

I would like to encourage everyone planning to go to the Maldives to stay at Olhuveli!!!! It's amazing! Everything is great about this place. The villas, the staff, the views, activities... I went on my honeymoon and had the best relaxing time of my life. I'm planing to go back ASAP!!! I'm in love with Maldives!!!

Its hard to imagine that there may be prettier islands than Olhuveli, but it left us wanting to go back to the Maldives again and again to find one. It is the most spectacular looking place myself or my husband have ever been. Every day was breath taking and just a dream. The lagoon, I imagine, has to be one of the best in the Maldives, but as I said this was our first trip so we can't be sure. It is crystal clear, picture perfect and only interrupted by the occasional ray or school of fish. There is good snorkelling but you have to go to the end of the main jetty to find it which suited me down to the ground because I loved relaxing in the lagoon knowing no nasties were hiding. Even if they were though you would see them coming a mile off, that's how perfect the water is. AMAZING!!!!!

The hotel itself is definitely 4 star; comfortable and well kept restaurant and bars, lovely staff and a great choice of food for the buffet (breakfast, lunch & dinner). There is only one buffet restaurant you can eat in on the AI package. If you wanted to do a nice seafood bbq or an a la carte meal in the 4 seasons restaurant you were looking at hefty prices with a measly 25% discount before you add tax and service. This is my only complaint about Olhuveli, you don't get value for money on the things that aren't included in the package and the problem is, you are spending sooooo much already that you feel a bit cheated. To give you an example, you can't have wine by the bottle on the AI package so if you want to take a bottle to your room and enjoy it on your gorgeous, sun deck (Jacuzzi Water Villa) the minimum it would cost you is $48+. There are no cocktails included in the package, no free water sports or trips and the lobster bbq worked out at about $95 per person. Luckily we were more than happy with the buffet food so didn't feel too hard done by.

Accommodation is expensive so here is a tip so you get the best out of it. If you book a water villa make sure you are on the lagoon side - beautiful view and nothing is overlooking you. If you are in the Jacuzzi Water Villas stay as far up the jetty as you can and sunset side is better as there is nothing over looking you. Our room was 318 and we think it was one of the best positioned rooms on the island. We had requested such a room at the time of booking but when we arrived we were given the opposite so they moved us the following night to 318.

JWV's are expensive but this was our honeymoon and we are so glad we decided to stay in one. The view from our bed, bath, sun deck was something I can't imagine ever getting bored of. I shed a tear at the first site of it and a few more at the last look of it when we were leaving :o(

We did take a look at our friends deluxe room which was number 286 and both said that if we went back we would be more than happy to stay there, and they were on the best part of the beach too.

The only other gripe we had was that over Chinese new year the island became very busy which just felt wrong in comparison to our wonderfully tranquil and romantic first week where you literally feel like you are on the island alone. We also felt that with 2 pools it would be better if one of them was adult only.

In summary I have listed some points below:

If you are expecting a paradise island, go to Olhuveli
If you are expecting good food, go to Olhuveli
If you are expecting great accommodation, go to Olhuveli
If you are expecting fantastic weather, go to Olhuveli in January
Great service, Olhuveli.

If you are expecting a 5 star resort, don't go to Olhuveli
If you want fine dining, don't go to Olhuveli

Basically DO GO TO OLHUVELI