Shangri-La's Villingili Resort is one of the few large international-brand resorts in Addu Atoll (see our Addu Atoll guide) — the far south of the country, geographically and logistically distinct from the central resort atolls covered by most of this directory.
A five-year closure, now reopening
The resort suspended operations in 2020 during the pandemic and remained closed for roughly five years — a genuinely unusual gap for a resort of this scale. It has since begun welcoming guests again, with facilities and services being reintroduced progressively rather than all at once. Given how much this status has shifted in a short period, confirm directly with the resort or a travel agent exactly what's currently open before booking, rather than relying on any single source, including this one.
What makes the location different
Being in Addu means a different climate (slightly cooler, closer to the equator), a different history (the region's WWII-era British airbase legacy), and a different transfer model — see our southern atolls logistics guide for why reaching this resort means a domestic flight to Gan International rather than the seaplane transfers most central-atoll resorts use.
What it's known for
The resort is home to the Maldives' only full golf course — a nine-hole, par-4 layout, distinct from the small pitch-and-putt courses at a couple of other resorts (see our golf in the Maldives guide). It's also one of the largest resorts in this directory by footprint, with several kilometres of coastline across the island.
Who it suits
A reasonable pick for travellers who want a full-service international resort experience but also want Addu's quieter, more remote character rather than the central atolls' resort density — bearing in mind the resort's current gradual reopening.