Review: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Known for its unique design and fabled as one of the best in this tropical paradise called Maldives, the The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands. is truly the perfect playground for everyone! Old, young…and all in between will find endless ways to have the most amazing time at this luxurious resort.

The welcome

My family and I visited the resort for the first time a little over a year ago as we had heard some amazing feedback from friends and colleagues who had visited before. It was without a doubt one of our best stays in the Maldives (as you can read in my previous review) , even after trying almost a dozen other places in this archipelago. But was is too good to be true, a lucky shot… a coincidental alignment of the stars? There was only one way to find out, and before we knew it we were back on a flight to Male in order to revisit this crown jewel.

Upon arrival we were greeted by the most genuine smiles from some of the staff members that made our previous visit so special. Even our Aris Meeha (or butler if you prefer a more common name) from our previous visit was there to welcome us back, instantly scoring brownie points with our kids thanks to the cool backpacks full of gifts which she handed over to make sure that everyone felt right at home again. If there’s one thing that the Ritz-Carlton Maldives does well, it training their staff on how to interact with the guests in a casual way that is still professional enough, yet allows you to feel instantly at ease. We joked about it when we arrived on the island, but there’s truly a sentiment of being home away from home, and that in itself is one of the hardest things to achieve as a resort.

The room

Last time we stayed in the insane 2-bedroom beach villa which till today is still the one to beat in the Maldives if you ask me. Yet, making sure we try something new, this time around we stayed at the 1-bedroom beach villa. The round design is certainly unique and while at first you’ll think its a bit odd, it quickly dawned on me that it made total sense!

The interior is still flawless with soft tones, high-quality finishes and all the bits-and bobs you can imagine to make your stay as enjoyable as can be.

From the endless array of welcome goodies on the table to the small touches like sun-hats, slippers both for in-and outside, the practical beach bag,… you name it, it’s all there. And if not, just tell your Aris Meeha and they’ll work their magic in ways you can’t imagine.

The bathroom

The bathroom is still one of the best in the business. Not only does it feature her and his sink, it also has plenty of space, an indoor and outdoor shower, insane amounts of space for your luggage, clothes and so on, and most importantly great lighting. It might sound crazy but I hate it when you arrive in a luxury property and then you struggle to have decent light in the bathroom. It’s a non-negotiable in my opinion and the Ritz-Carlton understood that brief perfectly.

By the way, Bamford is still the go-to brand in the bathroom and I’m all for it. Nothing beats the smell of eucalyptus with the touch of peppermint when taking a nice shower after a day filled with activities.

The facilities

One of the highlights of the resort for us last time around was the quality of the food and I’m happy to report that every food outlet is still delivering the same high standard. Great news for your tummy, a little less for your waistline but calories don’t count when you’re on a holiday in paradise so indulge and enjoy. Stand-out dishes that are still making my tastebuds sing were the truffle wagyu beef dumplings at the Summer Pavilion, the tempura soft-shell crab burger at the beach shack and that batata harra at Arabesque. Trust me, my tailor at home gave me the evil eye when I came back after this trip but zero regrets from my side! I told him he would do the same if he was in my shoes. The kids menus are equally still hovering at the same level as before, and while my youngest is a really picky eater, the staff made sure she had all her food wishes catered for, quite literally.

And the funny thing is….the food aspect is only a very small part of what makes the Ritz-Carlton Maldives so amazing. For me the stand-out was, and still is the staff. They are truly on another level. I mean, there are 100 villas in this resort yet we were almost constantly greeted by name. If you don’t tell me your name 2831 times I will forget it within the next 10 minutes, how do they even do it for guests that constantly keep rotating? It remains a mystery but one I can truly appreciate. It’s also the small touches that really make the difference and the fact that you can sense the genuine joy which they get from the smiles they put on our faces makes it even more impressive.

Both our kids quickly found their favourite people to hang out with. My son who’s 10 had so much fun with Luca (one of the dive instructors at the dive centre) last time around that it was a no-brainer for him to meet up again and get even more serious with the diving. Within minutes they were both suited up, ready to dive near the centre, cleaning some of the coral reefs, spotting loads of cool marine wildlife and in the meantime learn more about my son’s new hobby. Our daughter who’s 6 however prefers to hang around in the Ritz Kids club for which I can’t blame her. I mean, the whole team is on it from the moment the doors open and it happened more than once that we almost literally had to drag her out of there in order to go do some activities together or venture out for a family meal.

But as the title might have revealed, this place is literally the garden of Eden for everyone, including us middle-aged parents trying to find that “off-switch”. In the interest of not writing a whole trilogy to cover all the bells and whistles this resort has on offer to entertain the grown ups, I’ll just highlight a few.

First up there was of course the diving and snorkelling. See….my wife was never a big fan of swimming in a giant body of water surrounded by tropical fish, but over time (and I thank the Maldives in general for that as in recent years it has become or go-to escape) she’s become more relaxed in the water and now we are able to enjoy multiple snorkelling trips as a family. Yet the staff would always keep a close eye on us to see if everyone is still having a great time, something which is easier said than done. But the fun and attention to detail doesn’t stop there of course.

Those who like to discover more can take the 10-minute boat ride to Fari island where they’ll find shops, bars, restaurants, food trucks,….you name it, they got it. Rather be more active? No problem, everything is here from an amazing gym to great yoga sessions across the island and professional tennis players making sure your serve and backhand will become a formidable force for your opponents. And then we haven’t even started talking about all the other stuff like the water toys, the main pool which is truly insane, both in size as in looks, and so on….

Lastly the gorgeous spa remains a beacon of ultimate relaxation while the countless little nooks and lounge areas across the 3 islands (yes, the resort spans over 3 different islands cause why only have one when you can have multiple) are the perfect place to finally sit down and take it all in.

And that’s where the Ritz-Carlton succeeds where most others struggle, it’s setting that mood board for every guest to truly relax, in whatever way possible. Every resort in the Maldives tries to be different yet by doing so they actually become more and more the same. Here at the Ritz-Carlton they don’t try to be different, they just give you all the tools you need to feel…….home! Being in utter paradise knowing you can do anything you want cause everything is readily available to you, but not having that feeling it’s a must, is truly luxury on another level.

Location

As per usual the uber-friendly staff from the resort were waiting for us at the airport. No hassle, no waiting, just a warm welcome and straight to the speedboat that would bring us to the resort in less than an hour. I love these boat transfers, as they really save you a lot of time compared to seaplanes which can be a hassle sometimes. You might not get the amazing aerial views but you do get an air-conditioned speedboat that has everything you need for this short transfer, from wifi and comfortable seating to onboard toilets, refreshments and yummy goodies to start off your calorie intake strong.

Other nice touches

This property is all about being 5 steps ahead of the game, be it by the staff or just in general by the facilities and amenities provided. it’s like they have this sixth sense to know exactly what your next move will be and anticipate everything accordingly, and that’s rare in a place of this size, yet they accomplish it effortlessly (at least that’s how it looks from our side, even though I know a lot goes on behind the scenes).

It’s from the welcome amenities to the line-up off all different sun creams, oils and lotions at the pools and beaches all the way to making you feel special with personalised name tags which they hang on your bikes to move around the island. It’s all in a days work and I’m here for it! Or how about your Aris Meeha sending you some images from the little one living their best life in the kids club while you’re enjoying a cocktail near to pool or some quality time in your villa? As mentioned before, it’s all with one goal in mind being “utter peace of mind” and that my dear friends is something you can’t put a price tag on!

Cost

Of course all of this comes at a cost but let’s be honest, the Maldives in general aren’t really the place to be when you’re looking for a cheap getaway. Prices start just shy of $2,000 USD/night for an overwater villa and if you like our 1-bedroom beach villa you’ll need to shell out a minimum of around $2,400 USD/night. Of course, a lot depends on the season and if they are running any promotions. Exact prices can be obtained from their website.

I know many will say these are very steep prices but I like to believe (after visiting around a dozen properties in the Maldives) that I can compare and often you pay half of this price but the overall experience is mediocre at best. So why not splurge a bit and enjoy everything the Ritz-Carlton Maldives has to offer?

The best bit

A favourite among many guests, including us, is the evening ritual at the main pool. It’s a vibe! Guests flock in a little before sunset to have one (ok ok….a couple) of the amazing cocktails at EAU Bar. While they sip those liquid gems, the sun start to set and the ritual of lighting the ring of fire starts, accompanied by the rhythm of the drums. It’s theatrical, dramatical and beautiful all at the same time. You can hear a penny drip if you would take away the drums as all the guests are sucked into the spectacle. It’s a wonderful way to start the evening and no matter how many times you witness it, it’s always different and equally impressive in its own way.

The final verdict

Will I still continue to discover other properties in the Maldives to see if they can crack it too? Absolutely! But at the same time I equally know that I have a home in the Maldives that fits the bill perfectly, just like your favourite shirt. It’s a place where you can truly unwind and appreciate the setting created at the Ritz Carlton Fari Island.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands.

Kristof Eyckmans

Kristof Eyckmans is a travel writer from Antwerp, Belgium. He’s been living all across the globe and while he loves wildlife and nature, he can still enjoy a good urban jungle.