The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is a luxury traveler’s oasis. Beyond the beautiful accommodations, mouthwatering food, luxurious amenities, and stunning scenery, this property shines in the little details. The difference between this property and other luxury properties in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio is the attention to details — and after a week at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, these travelers can say without a doubt that this property
To celebrate a birthday overseas, the travelers looked for a luxury Maldivian escape. While the Maldives has a reputation for being exclusive, ultra-lavish, the Marriott Bonvoy brand has no shortage of options for all types of travelers. However, with all rooms on the 13 hectare property being a villa with its own pool, selecting this hotel was a no-brainer.
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Location, Arrival, & Check-In
Opening its doors after a COVID-induced delay in 2021, this property has quickly become one of the gems in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Located on the Fari Island chain, this completely man-made island group includes three separate islands each home to a separate resort.
Located approximately 40 km away from Male International Airport, the resort is only accessibly by boat. Even points-savvy travelers like our travelers will succumb to the expensive transfers from the airport, costing $1,024 roundtrip per person for the cheapest option – a 45-minute speedboat ride. Fortunately for these travelers, the water upon arrival was a bit rough so the hotel offered a complementary upgrade to the luxury yatch, generally costing over $5,000 for a roundtrip ride.
It was at this point, however, the service of the Ritz-Carlton team began to shine. Immediately after exiting the new airport terminal, all Ritz guests are met by a greeter who brings them and their luggage to the ferry. The interior of the yatch is clearly custom-built, outfitted with beige and gray seating. Champagne and sweet treats were offered by the host – all of which were a delicious surprise after a long travel day.
As the boat neared, the travelers were welcomed to an absolutely stunning view of the three-part island complex. They were met at the ferry arrival pavilion, with waves by the staff who greeted them at the pier which cold towels and a tropical drink. Each villa is assigned an aris meeha (a local Dhivehi word for a person assigned to a member of the royal family, similar to a royal butler). Our butler walked the travelers to a buggy to begin the tour and check-in process. But, not before walking through a Sangu horn welcome, tying ancient Maldivian culture in with the ultra-modern resort.
Hotel Room
After a buggy tour of the island, the travelers were taken to their villa to commence with the check-in processes, which only required their passports and a deposit. Welcome treats and a bottle of champagne welcomed the travelers as did a handwritten letter outlining information about their benefits as a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite member and several birthday surprises.
For their stay, these travelers stayed an overwater villa, which was stunning. The villa is meticulously designed to offer breathtaking views of the crystal clear water and pristine white sand beaches. Perched on stilts above the ocean, the villas create a sense of tranquility and seclusion and blend perfectly in with its surroundings, a true mix of island living and modern luxury. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors fully open, creating an indoor-outdoor space of more than 1,600 square feet.
Inside the villa, an elegant living space featuring luxury amenities offers a relaxing reprieve from the Maldivian sun and heat. First, there is a bar offering top shelf liquor (at a cost), and supplies to make your own cocktails – including cocktail books and a premade mixes. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks round out the bar area, which are complimentary.
A large, villa-length bathroom hides behind the main bedroom area. It features plenty of storage space for luggage and a full hanging rod to hang clothes. Also included for guests are iconic Ritz branded beach bags and his and hers beach hats which are surprisingly useful when getting around the resort. The highlight of the bathroom is the two showers – one of which is fully outdoors. It wraps around the exterior of the building to the infinity pool outdoors. A large soaking tub equipped with bath salts, bubbles, and candles rounds out the bathroom, though this tub is rather uniquely located in the main bedroom area.
The entryway features a lounge-like seating area with a large glass table. This includes a comfortable seating area and the only TV in the room. After dinner one night, this was also the spot that a complimentary red wine and chocolate covered strawberries were left for the travelers to enjoy.
A plush king bed took up the center of the room, which bedside access to automatic controls for the blackout curtain and sheer blinds. From the bed, one will always wake up with a view of the pool and ocean.
No review of the room would be complete without acknowledging the famous villa infinity pool. The 5m long pool perfectly contours to the design of the villa and looks stunning from both inside and outside. Next to the pool are a chaise lounger and even more seating. But, that’s not all. Below the pool, there is another quintessential Maldives feature – a catamaran net above the turquoise water. It’s from this spot that stairs into the lagoon itself can be accessed.
Overall, even though the overwater villas are located next to each other, there is still a great sense of privacy. The outdoor showers are blocked by angled fence and the curvature allows for maximum privacy. Of course, someone swimming or snorkeling in front of your villa may be able to see in. However, that didn’t present a problem for these travelers.
Food
As you’d expect from an ultra-luxury property like the Ritz-Carlton, no expense was spared on its restaurants and food quality. There are 5 restaurants on the island and 12 other food stalls at the nearby Patina hotel, which is accessible to all Ritz guests. This meant that you’d never have to get bored of the same place during a one-week stay. Meals at the Ritz restaurants tended to be smaller and more intimate, particularly because the traveler’s aris meeha would make their reservations each morning. At the Ritz-Carlton, the five restaurants are: La Laconda, Summer Pavilion, Eau Bar, IWAU, and the Beach Shack.
La Laconda, an Italian fusion restaurant, doubles as the main restaurant for breakfast. The breakfast buffet is extensive and delicious, and includes an ala carte menu as well. One morning, the travelers had breakfast delivered to the room. The Japanese bento hit the spot – and was enjoyed outdoors overlooking the infinity pool.
Summer Pavilion is an elevated Caton fusion restaurants. The menu consists of dim sum, Szechuan dishes, and various regional specialities like Peking duck. The interior is beautiful and also overlooks the ocean. This meal was the traveler’s favorite, even returning for a second dinner session on the last evening.
Eau Bar is the spot to be for a sundown show. It faces west and sun sets directly over the beautiful infinity pool and at sunset, the staf performs a short ceremony called “The Defining Moment,” including a traditional sunset. During the day, it also serves small snacks and a lunch menu, which was a popular mid-day spot.
IWAU is an intimate Japanese omakase style tasting restaurant. Located next to the Eau Bar and adjacent to the main pool, this restaurant hosts two seatings each evening, with up to 16 guests for each seating, 8 for each chef. The live cooking demonstrations are enchanting and compete with the delicious food.
Lastly, is Beach Shack, which offers lazy lounging style seating at their numerous sunbeds as well as regular outdoor beachside dinning. The food includes a mix of various snacks and grilled seafood dishes.
Amenities
For these travelers, during this trip exploring the property became a favorite activity. The property is essentially three narrow, manmade islands, each connected by a small bridge. To get from one end to the other, it would take about 20 minutes by foot but fortunately, each villa includes a pair of bikes and for those looking to maximize relaxation, a buggy can be arranged by contacting your aris meeha.
For those with children, a massive kids center is available in a hobbit-style building built into the side of the earth. For those young at heart, a game room complete with a pingpong table, board games, and two full-sized tennis courts are open, too.
In the same area, a well equipped gym was available as was a steam room and sauna, separated by gender. These modern spaces were designed similarly to the villas – with curved ceilings and excellent attention to details. The main beach area is just across the road, which is the only place to access a beach if you weren’t staying in a beach villa. It was one of the most popular spots at the resort!
Nearby, the dive shop and watersports center can be used to book both free nonmotorized activities or to book more advanced experiences like jet skiing to a remote sandbox. Your aris meeha can help to arrange all of these sessions.
Located on the other end of the property, in the middle of the ring of villas, is the Ritz-Carlton Spa – truly the epitome of luxury. The huge donut-shared structure is empty in the middle, taking full advantage of the crystal-clear water below. The services were so relaxing that our travelers visited several times during their stay.
For those looking to leave the island, hourly boat rides take travelers to the nearby Patina resort which includes another private pool and more than a dozen restaurants.
Throughout the property, daily activities are provided including sunrise yoga, movie nights, and mini massages.
Conclusion
It’s easy to see why this property is called the crown jewel of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. From pick-up to departure, everything was top notch. The natural beauty, modern luxury, and elevated customer experience made this experience one to never forget. Of course, a stay at this property comes with a high price tag. From $30 sushi rolls to $400 massages, the Ritz-Carlton Maldives is not for the faint of heart. But for a special occasion or the luxury thrill seekers among us, this property is a worthwhile choice.
Rating:
A Room with a (re)view 