Why Go?
Push the boat out (literally – the Ritz-Carlton Fari Islands is a speedboat ride from Malé) at this contemporary, design-led resort for lovers of that subtle (if you know, you know) brand of quiet luxury.
Honeymoon Style
You don’t find yourself castaway at the Ritz-Carlton by accident, this is a place for discerning Maldives regulars, who know exactly what they like in a resort (spoiler: everything from the incredible food and extra personal service to the Bamford spa and otherworldly kids’ club)
Set The Scene
The circle of life motif is embodied through the heart of the resort. From the architecture to the daily sunset ceremony at the round infinity pool, where traditional Bodu Beru drummers walk on water to ignite a circular beacon with fire, marking the transition from day to night.
The little details are what makes a big trip extra special, and the Ritz-Carlton makes them all seem effortless. It’s being greeted on the jetty not just with cold towels and smiles, but by the sound of a Sangu conch shell being blown. It’s jumping on your bike and discovering a hidden wooden swing hanging from a palm tree. Or your Aris Meeha (island butler) leaving a different treat to delight you in your villa every evening, from chocolates and fruit plates to sweet notes carved in sand on your doorstep.
Activity-wise there’s everything you’d expect from tennis and snorkelling to sunset dolphin cruises and banana boat rides. And naturally all the kit is in the most pristine condition, it’s hard to believe it’s not brand new.
Best of all you won’t find husbands of Instagram feeling fatigued or failing to get the money shot, thanks to the complimentary hour-long photoshoot offered to all guests.
The Rooms
Opening the door and taking in the room and *those* picture-perfect views is a real pinch-me moment, even for a seasoned Maldives island hopper. The design is curved, in keeping with the circular theme of the property, with bespoke joinery to match. Floor to ceiling glazing pulls back to create a seamless blend from indoor to outdoor – this is Barbie’s Malibu dream house in tonal wood. The kind of understated lux that doesn’t need to be expressed via vast chunks of white marble.
Of course these dreamy spaces, whether that’s beach or water villa, come equally well stocked – think complimentary snacks in the minibar, a feast of welcome treats, his and hers straw hats in the smart open wardrobe and a woven beach bag so sleek it would be impossible not to take home (sorry not sorry).
Food & Drink
When strolling around the shoreline the whole island feels like your personal paradise, but amazingly at mealtimes the seven restaurants have just the right level of buzziness to feel vibey, but not overcrowded. Cantonese, Italian and Japanese are the major players on the foodie front, with the star of the show the Japanese chef’s table Iwau. Also not to be missed is the weekly Maldivian night, a barefoot buffet on the beach with traditional live music.
For honeymooners, destination dining is the way to elevate your stay – have a private chef and table arranged on the lawn under a beautiful Banyan tree or on a remote sandbank only accessible by boat. Or simply grab a bottle of Whispering Angel from the minibar for an impromptu sundowner moment by your crescent-shaped private pool.
The Story
A relative newcomer opening in 2021, Ritz-Carlton Maldives is a reclaimed island (technically three of them), but the planting feels dense and lush. It’s big enough to need a bike or buggy to get around, which makes exploring feel like an adventure.
Family-Friendly
It really sets the tone when a member of the Ritz Kids club is part of the welcoming party on arrival, bearing a backpack filled with toys. Describing the resort as family-friendly feels like an understatement, although brilliantly the presence of kids isn’t disturbing to honeymooners on an adults-only break either.
Ritz Kids is another feat of circular engineering, a grass-covered sphere with an entrance tunnel that takes visitors inside a play area that is out of this world, with a splash pool and slides to boot. It’s for children over four years old, but younger ones can enjoy the club with parents or under the supervision of a babysitter.
Families can also expect more treats for littles ones in their villa, from a Ritz-Carlton rubber duck in the pool to a bubble bath drawn with handmade sea creatures crafted out of leaves.
Spa
At Fari Islands, the spa building is in itself a masterpiece, strikingly located in the centre of the water villa jetty, it’s made of concentric circles – an outer ring of treatment rooms, with an inner circle of that stunning blue ocean. The spa partner of choice is Bamford, a brand that, like the resort, is a reassuring symbol of understated luxury.
Of course there are little touches elevating the treatment experience here too – a personalised welcome message arranged in pebbles. Keeping it consistent, it’s a treat to find Bamford amenities in the villas too, and to inhale the brand’s heavenly geranium scent on the boat that whisks guests to and from Malé.
Eco-Friendly
The resort is happily plastic-free – even the bathroom amenities are replenished in reusable bottles by the onsite Bamford liquid refilling system. On the conservation front, the team use drone technology to locate and remove ocean plastics, including discarded fishing nets, which last year resulted in the rescue of five net-entangled turtles.
Location
Based in the North atoll’s Fari Islands archipelago, the resort is under an hour from Malé via speedboat, making it less arduous than a seaplane transfer, but still far enough away from the capital to feel like you’re a million miles from nowhere.
It’s easy to fly direct into Malé, but our tip is to break up the journey with a stopover in Dubai (we actually opted for the lesser known emirate of Ajman) – for a couple of nights. It makes the contrast of touching down in paradise that much more special.
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