For most travelers, a tropical holiday offers a brief escape from the everyday. However, for Dr. Klein and his wife Corina, it has become something far more enduring. Since 1991, the Swiss couple has returned regularly—sometimes twice a year—to Velassaru Maldives. With more than 50 visits over 34 years, they have transformed their connection to the island from a favorite retreat into a second home.
Dr. Klein, a General Practitioner based in Lucerne, Switzerland, spends his professional life looking after others. At Velassaru, he allows that responsibility to melt away. “Back in Switzerland, my job is to look after others.” He reflects “At Velassaru, I am the one being taken care of. Here, I am able to fully recharge my batteries.”
Their long-standing relationship with the island resort has evolved with time. This year’s trip, for instance, marked a particularly special occasion—their golden anniversary. The resort welcomed the couple at the airport with a celebration. On the island, thoughtful details greeted them: a sun hat and a golf shirt bearing handwritten messages in Dhivehi, along with a personal golf buggy for getting around.
Over the years, Dr. Klein has shifted his daily routines at Velassaru Maldives, but he continues to appreciate the island’s natural beauty. In the early days, for example, he spent hours diving from sunrise to sunset. These days, he starts his mornings with snorkeling in the crystal-clear lagoon or leisurely walks around the island. In the afternoons, he enjoys Maldivian cuisine, then ends his day at Chill Bar with a Schweppes tonic and a cigar as the sun sets.
Personal touches shape every part of their stay. “Everything is set up for me. The restaurant team even remembers the kind of juice I like or that I drink espresso.” As a result, this attentive service continues to draw the couple back year after year.
Moreover, this visit stood out for the precise hospitality under the leadership of General Manager Denys Hordiienko, who remains visibly present and ensures that every detail runs smoothly. Dr. Klein credits the resort’s consistency to a blend of professionalism and genuine warmth. “It’s the little things,” he says. “the staff remember your name, the food at all the different restaurants is amazing, and there’s always a sense of familiarity.”
When describing the resort to someone unfamiliar with it, Dr. Klein doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the most beautiful place in the world,” he says. For him and Corina, Velassaru represents more than a vacation spot—it offers reconnection, tradition, and decades of cherished memories.
And when they leave, they never say goodbye. Instead, they simply look forward to returning again. For the Kleins, the luxury resort Velassaru Maldives doesn’t just welcome them back—it completes the rhythm of their lives.
