The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

If there was a place that fit the textbook definition of paradise, then the Ritz- Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands would be that place. From the moment we arrived at the airport, we were quickly met by the Ritz-Carlton’s airport ambassador and accompanied to the waiting area for the boat transfer. We lucked out on both our departure and return transfers by getting to experience one of the resort’s many yachts at no extra cost. The yacht was a smooth and comfortable ride and took about an hour each way. On our departure trip, we were offered water, a variety of coffee/teas, and delicious snacks. We were also given sea sickness bands in case we needed them. Upon arrival to the resort, we were greeted by our Aris Meeha, Malika and other resort staff. We were offered a refreshing welcome drink and shown around the resort on a golf cart before being brought to our overwater villa. Room: 10/10 We stayed in an ocean overwater villa and both the villa and the accompanying view were incredible. I have Marriott Titanium status, so I don’t know if we received welcome amenities due to my status or if it’s standard practice, but a bottle of premium champagne and other treats were waiting for us upon arrival. The villa was impeccably clean and our housekeeper was incredible. He noticed what we used more of during our stay, such as water, toilet amenities, etc. and always made sure to give us extra each time he came to service our room. We also loved the morning and evening greetings outside of our door made from sand art. It was such a unique and thoughtful touch. We stayed in villa #330 which was perfectly located as it was about halfway down from the entrance to the overwater villas. We were close but still far enough away where the villa felt private. The ocean side water was definitely rougher and windier depending on the day, but life jackets are provided in the room so that you can safely swim. The infinity pool in the room and lounge chair were also incredible. We didn’t notice that the pool was super chilly as some others have noted. Each villa comes with 2 well made sun hats and a beautiful beach bag that are yours to take home. We’ve stayed at several properties before where we received the same gift; however the quality of the hats and beach bag from the Ritz-Carlton were the best we’ve received thus far on our travels. Service: 10/10 The resort in itself is a well-oiled machine and the staff coordinate with one another flawlessly. For example, our housekeeper would service our room while we were at breakfast and dinner. Additionally, we could reach our Aris Meeha, Malika at any time through WhatsApp and she would always ensure that any activities/dining plans were executed flawlessly, such as our waiter at Arabesque, Reeshan, meeting us at the dock on the adjacent island to escort us to the restaurant. Additionally, Malika gifted us 2 bottles of wine, a birthday cake, chocolate covered strawberries, and a large fruit platter during our stay. We’ve stayed at some of Marriott’s most premier properties and we’ve never encountered this level of service previously. Additionally, each waiter at the restaurants were extremely attentive but not intrusive. Special shout out to Reeshan at Arabesque as he was exceptional and made our 2 dinners at Arabesque even more enjoyable. Food: 9/10 The food was for the most part incredible. Arabesque was a 10/10 with the butter chicken being the best I’ve ever had. The falafel and truffle hummus were also exceptional. The naan was crispy but also doughy. We could’ve eaten there for both lunch and dinner each day! We also enjoyed Eau Bar although some of the seafood options didn’t blow us away, although they were still very good. However, the attention to detail and service were next to none and we were comped one of our dishes during dinner without us even mentioning anything. We didn’t have the buffet at La Locanda for breakfast as we aren’t huge breakfast people, but the coffee was great and we really enjoyed the masala dosa option on the menu. I ordered it twice because it was that good. We also had lunch at the Beach Shack which we thoroughly enjoyed. The in villa dining was also incredible and we opted for that option once for dinner, once for lunch, and twice for breakfast. The food arrived hot each time and was delicious. The only hiccup was on our first night when we had dinner at Summer Pavilion. There was a set dinner menu for Lunar New Year and a majority of our dishes didn’t blow us away. We typically enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine, but it’s possible that the set dinner menu wasn’t what our palate was used to as many of the dishes had an overwhelming umami flavor. However, the staff were exceptional and refunded us part of the meal without us asking, which definitely set the tone for the exceptional service we would continue to experience throughout the trip. We also enjoyed the 2 cocktail nights and the variety of drinks served. The food/beverage manager even brought my husband red wine although it wasn’t one of the drinks offered. Amenities: 10/10 I feel like the overwater villa is an experience in itself, but it was further enhanced by the ability to snorkel right off our villa. Malika provided us with complimentary snorkeling gear and my husband especially enjoyed snorkeling every day. As others have mentioned, the reefs aren’t mature but there’s still plenty to see. There were multiple times as well when sharks, sting rays, and fish would be swimming right off of our villa. We were supposed to go on the dolphin cruise but were offered the chance to cancel due to the wind and inability to leave the atoll. However, we still partook in a couples destress massage, a Maldivian cooking class, and spent a day at the beach. The spa was the best I’ve ever been to on vacation. We were offered a welcome drink upon arrival and also offered tea and a snack after our massage. Our massage therapists were incredible and both our backs felt so much better as both my husband and I had been experiencing back pain. We also loved our Maldivian cooking class. We learned not only so much about Maldivian cuisine, but helpful tips about cooking in general. Both chefs were kind, patient, and super friendly. We got to take home the chef hats and aprons that were provided to us. And most importantly we got to enjoy the abundance of food we cooked. We were also able to take the recipes home so that we can replicate them. I feel like I’ve already written a novel about our stay and feel like there’s so much I didn’t say because the Ritz-Carlton Maldives was that incredible. If you have Marriott points as I did, this is definitely one of the best places to use them. I will be dreaming about the Ritz-Carlton Maldives for years to come!

Our stay at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands was truly perfect. It is hard to put into words just how special the entire experience was. The villa itself felt like something out of a dream, floating above the ocean with beautiful, understated design and complete privacy. Every detail was thoughtful without ever feeling overdone. Waking up to the water stretching endlessly in every direction and falling asleep to the sound of the waves was unforgettable. The rest of the island was just as impressive, from the excellent gym to the tennis courts, all maintained at an incredibly high standard. Some of our favorite moments were the quiet ones, especially riding the beach cruisers at sunrise as the island slowly woke up, and again late at night under a full moon when everything felt calm and almost surreal. What truly made this trip exceptional, though, was the people. The team did far more than provide great service. They made us feel genuinely welcome and excited to be there with us. Ashish and Dashi brought us into their world of cuisine with meals that were both memorable and deeply personal. Yogi led us on an incredible viticulture journey that we will be talking about for years. Azzam started each morning with warmth and kindness that set the tone for the day. I-ko elevated our tennis game in the most fun and encouraging way, and Tomas guided us through the reefs on several smooth, beautifully run dives that revealed just how extraordinary the underwater world is there. Mueen and Lahiru became familiar faces during our meals, always making sure we were comfortable and taken care of without ever making it feel formal. And overseeing everything was Aslam, the most caring, thoughtful, and gracious host we could have hoped for. His attention and sincerity were felt throughout our entire stay, often anticipating things before we even had to ask. By the end of the trip, it no longer felt like we were leaving a resort, but rather a place filled with people we had come to genuinely appreciate. This was a truly unforgettable experience, and we sincerely hope we will be lucky enough to return one day and see all of the friends we made again.

We are so impressed! The Maldives is our favorite destination and even though we discover new spots every year, we would definitely return to The Ritz-Carlton. The service, the food, everything was incredible. Special thanks to the sommeliers Indika and Lehiru for the personal touch—they are outstanding professionals. I highly recommend our butler, Affan; he made every day of our stay even more comfortable. And Asim, who took care of our villa, is simply amazing. In addition to the perfect service, he surprised us with a stunning sand art creation every single day. Highly recommended!

This marks our fourth visit in three years. Usually, repeated visits result in diminishing returns, but the ladies and gentlemen at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives continue to impress. Just when we assumed our stay couldn't possibly top previous ones, the team went above and beyond to curate yet another unforgettable stay. Our Aris Meeha, Novita, is undeniably one of the best butlers we’ve encountered in all our years of travel. She is a magician who seemingly reads our minds, anticipating needs before they even occur. She is always there when needed, yet perfectly knows when to step back to grant us privacy. Thanks to Novi, our vacation was entirely stress-free. The Aris Meeha service at the Ritz-Carlton isn’t just a butler service like at other hotels; Novi is truly the curator of our time on the island. With Novita managing our stay, we know every moment will be perfection. As for the dining, my wife and I had dinner at Summer Pavilion every night. Executive Chinese Chef David Kang created custom menus for us daily; every meal was a surprise. He took us on a culinary journey, showcasing his vast expertise across various cuisines. It is no longer a secret that Summer Pavilion is the premier Cantonese restaurant in the Maldives—we’ve heard guests stay here specifically for this restaurant, and it is certainly one of the reasons we keep returning. The resort recently received a Michelin Key, and I am certain the management will continue to strive for the highest honors. We already cannot wait to return!