The Maldives for Your 40th: A Luxury Overwater Villa Guide for Women Who’ve Earned It
Curated By
Kellyn Jenkins
Curator’s statement
Yes, I went for a “go big or go home” honeymoon to the Maldives not knowing what to expect and came home a different kind of traveler. I understood for the first time what it meant to truly rest and be present. And I built Elatescapes because I wanted to give that experience to the women I know—high-performing, always-giving women who have spent years showing up for everyone else and deserve a trip that finally shows up for them.
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Where to stay
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Things to do
Romantic private beach dinner
House reef snorkeling
Most overwater villas have direct reef access from your deck or walkable straight from your door. It was easy and didn’t have to be scheduled. I picked up my snorkel gear and went right in!
Every resort offers this—and I am telling you, do not skip it. Every single time I have been on one of these, I have seen dolphins. Every single time. Your girls will scream. It is one of those moments that sneaks up on you and ends up being the highlight of the whole trip. Book it.
Private beach dinner or sandbar
We opted for a romantic private beach dinner. Just lobster, love, and the beach, heaven on earth! A boat takes you to a private sandbar in the middle of the ocean—just white sand and turquoise water—with a picnic set up just for your group. This is the moment that makes people cry. I build this into every milestone itinerary.
Underwater dining
Several resorts offer dinner in an underwater restaurant surrounded by ocean life. It is exactly as spectacular as it sounds and worth every penny for a celebration dinner.
Spa day
The Maldives spa experience is unlike anywhere else in the world. Many treatment rooms are overwater with glass floors. Schedule a half-day minimum. This is not a quick massage—this is restoration.
Sunrise (or set) on your villa deck
This costs nothing and it is the best thing you will do. Set your alarm once. Wake up before the resort does. Sit on your deck with coffee. Watch the Indian Ocean turn from dark to gold. That morning is why you came.
Need to know
Who this trip is for
The Maldives is not just for honeymoons. It is not just for a certain kind of traveler or a certain level of income. It is for the woman who has worked hard for her chapter and is ready to celebrate it in a way that actually matches her life.
It is for the woman turning 40 who has been saying “maybe someday” for three years. It is for the best friends celebrating 20 years of friendship. It is for the woman who has given everything to her career and her family and is finally ready to give something to herself.
The Maldives meets you where you are. If you want active excursions—they exist. If you want to do absolutely nothing for seven days—the Maldives is perfectly designed for that too.
Where we stayed—Veligandu Island Resort & Spa
It was literally one of the genuinely special and unique all-inclusive overwater bungalow resorts. The island is intentionally intimate where we recognize faces after a day and the staff knows your name. It feels like you’re living, not just visiting another island resort.
We dined at all the restaurants and had cocktails at every chance we could at the Champagne Pavilion. The Himeyn Spa has overwater treatment rooms where you rejuvenate through treatments delivered by genuine experts. I booked a treatment and fought to stay awake to enjoy it.
The honest truth about overwater villas—know your limits
Here is something nobody writes in travel guides, and I think everyone should know.
We started in the overwater villa. And it was everything! Waking up to the sound of the ocean directly beneath you. Stepping off the deck into warm turquoise water before breakfast.
It was extraordinary.
By night four—we switched to the beach side.
Motion sickness is real. The gentle movement of the water beneath the villa is barely perceptible at first. But after several nights, some bodies (mine) started to feel it. And that is OK. The beach villas at Veligandu are beautiful. We slept better. We still had the full Maldives experience every day.
My advice to every client considering an overwater villa is to absolutely book it. Start your trip there. Experience it fully. AND if your body tells you something after a few nights, switching to the back side is not a failure. It is wisdom. It is knowing yourself. And a travel advisor who books your trip right will always have a backup plan ready.
What to know before you go—curator details
Pack light on formal wear. Most Maldives resorts are barefoot luxury—smart casual at dinner is completely appropriate. You will be in a swimsuit and coverup for most of your trip. This is encouraged.
The food is exceptional. Every resort I recommend has multiple restaurants with world-class cuisine. You will not need to leave the resort for a great meal (and you can’t anyway).
Bring reef-safe sunscreen only. This is something I learned while there. Most resorts require it and it's the right thing to do for the coral.
The time difference is significant from the US. Give yourself an arrival day to adjust. Avoid scheduling a full day tour on day one.
Seaplane vs. speedboat—this decision matters
Before you pick a resort, know how you’re getting there. The arrival IS part of the experience.
Honestly, I was terrified. Whispering prayers, clinging to my husband, who was walking too fast. I almost talked myself out of it three times. And then we took off over the Maldives.
I would do it again in a heartbeat. The aerial view of those perfect turquoise atolls is one of the most breathtaking things I’ve ever seen. No photo does it justice. Get on the plane.
What you need to know:
Seaplane: Magical but daylight only. If you land after dark, you’ll overnight in Malé first. Worth the extra planning.
Speedboat: Available any hour, still beautiful, and perfect if your schedule doesn’t allow for the seaplane…seamless.
My recommendation: Take the seaplane if you can. That arrival makes the whole trip feel like it’s already started. If not, the speedboat is still a moment.
Travel Advisor
Kellyn Jenkins
Kellyn Jenkins
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