Overwater Haven: Review of Our Stay at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Island
Resort Location and Background
Nestled in the Fari Islands, within the North Male Atoll, the Ritz-Carlton Maldives Resort offers an idyllic escape in the heart of the Indian Ocean. This resort opened its doors in June 2021, and we had the pleasure of visiting in February 2022, merely eight months post-grand opening. The resort's remote location on Fari Island necessitates a quick 50-minute boat transfer from Male International Airport, setting the tone for a luxurious and serene getaway.
How much is the Ritz-Carlton Maldives per night?
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives typically charges around $2,000 to $4,000 per night, though rates can vary based on the season and room type.
What is the dress code for the Ritz-Carlton Maldives?
The unofficial dress code at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives varies from island casual to island chic, with an emphasis on comfort.
What is the difference between Ocean View and Lagoon View Villa at The Ritz Carlton, Maldives?
There are several different suite types available at the Ritz Carlton Maldives Resort such as the beach villa, but, if you are looking for that quintessential overwater experience, your choices are either the ocean pool villa or the lagoon pool villa.
The difference between ocean view and lagoon view accommodations at the Ritz Carlton Maldives resort lies mainly in their hours of sunlight, with the ocean view offering the sunrise, and the lagoon view showcasing the sunset. The Lagoon view villas offer stunning vistas but may afford less privacy due to the frequent passage of boat traffic traveling between Male and neighboring resorts, including the nearby sister property, Patina, and Capella.
Arrival to Fari Island and First Impressions
Our adventure began with a breathtaking speedboat transfer from Male International Airport. The boat, one of the most beautiful we've ever seen, was equipped with fresh towels and refreshing drinks, as well as several semi-private seating areas both inside and out. The boat ride journey was swift, punctuated only by brief stops to marvel at playful dolphins along the way, making the ride even more enchanting.
Upon arrival at the hotel, we were greeted by our dedicated butler, or aris meeha as the Ritz calls them, who whisked us away to our overwater villa via golf cart. This personalized service set the stage for a luxurious stay to come during our time at the Ritz Carlton Maldives Resort.
The Overwater Villa: A Slice of Paradise
Our overwater villa was nothing short of extraordinary and likely the best suite we have ever stayed in. Photos of this room flood social media for good reason. The grandiose bed faces an expansive glass sliding door, which fully opens one side of the room to the outdoors, creating an immersive indoor-outdoor experience. Just beyond these glass doors is a private deck pool, with the baby blue ocean stretching beyond. Next to the bed, a luxurious bathtub offers the same stunning view, creating a space designed for relaxation and awe.
The villa features a dining area, a well-stocked mini bar, and a bathroom that spans the entire width of the bedroom, complete with his and her closet areas and a closeted toilet. Both an outdoor and indoor shower are available, with the outdoor shower standing out as a remarkable architectural marvel in its own right. Its unique design uses wooden slats to provide an ocean view when gazing out, while still ensuring complete privacy to the user when viewed from the outside.
The mini bar was stocked with complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and the resort had even thoughtfully provided soy milk due to our lactose intolerance. Additionally, we received a welcome assortment of fruits, macarons, sweet treats, and sparkling wine, likely a nod to our loyalty status with Marriott Bonvoy.
Each villa comes with two adorable bikes parked out front to ease in your exploration of the island. Although you can always call for a buggy to take you somewhere, the experience of riding a bicycle along the narrow wooden overwater walkways is an essential, although slightly terrifying part of the Maldives experience.
Swimming Options
The resort's main pool is a stunning circular infinity pool with a gentle slope, perfect for relaxing in while enjoying panoramic ocean views. For those who prefer the beach, the resort boasts a lovely white sand shore where you can swim in the crystal-clear turquoise waters or simply lounge under the sun.
Each overwater villa also features a private deck pool, as well as a hammock-clad lower water-level deck for either relaxing on top of or jumping into the ocean. This said the strong currents on certain days made swimming off the dock outside our villa challenging.
Marine Life and Diving
While the resort's location promised rich marine life, the vibrant underwater world was still recovering from the impact of recent construction. We were however fortunate during our stay to be visited by a dolphin pod that frequently swam back and forth in front of our villa. This pod was undoubtedly the highlight of our stay, and we even enjoyed an unforgettable close encounter with them by boat later on.
The Ritz Carlton Maldives Resort offers diving experiences curated by Dive Butler. From the outset, the Dive Butler team provided exceptional service, making scheduling effortless and ensuring every detail was meticulously handled. Despite the prestige of the location and resort, the pricing remained surprisingly reasonable. Having the boat exclusively to ourselves heightened the sense of indulgence and allowed for an intimate dive experience.
While the marine life is still in the process of recovery, encountering a reef shark was a thrilling highlight. Our dive instructor was not only skilled but also passionate, enriching our underwater journey with insightful knowledge and ensuring our safety every step of the way.
Dining and Hospitality at The Ritz Carlton Maldives
Our package did not include meals, but as Marriott loyalty members, we did enjoy several food and beverage perks. The room’s complimentary snacks were a delight, and the daily high tea was an event we eagerly anticipated. It featured specialty coffee drinks, a variety of teas, and such a lavish spread of freshly baked sweets and sandwiches, it made lunch unnecessary.
Evening cocktail hour was another treat. Though the offered drinks were simpler than the resort’s extensive menu, enjoying complimentary champagne by the poolside as the sun slowly set was simply magical.
Dining experiences at the resort ranged from teppanyaki dinners with torched lobster to Maldivian night, Spanish night with personal paellas, and even a beach barbecue buffet. While the food was generally good, a few dishes fell short of their price tags in our opinion, a common occurrence in such an expensive destination like the Maldives.
Our main difficulty with dining revolved around reservation challenges. The limited availability and often inconvenient time slots being offered somewhat marred our dining experience.
Service and Recommendations
Our overall experience was somewhat dampened by the resort's frequent service hiccups. Requests for activities, services, or reservations were often met with a 'not available'. While some of our requests were made at the last minute due to learning about the available activities late in our stay, we found that other guests were experiencing similar issues with their aris meeha (butler) as well.
We would recommend sitting down with the concierge or your parish meeha (butler) upon arrival to hear your options and plan your stay in detail, to ensure you don’t miss out on the resort’s incredible offerings, such as breakfast on a yacht or various diving excursions.
Facilities and Amenities
The resort runs a complementary boat shuttle back and forth with the neighbouring Patina Maldives, allowing guests the opportunity to enjoy both properties. You can make a reservation and visit for dinner, or simply enjoy a different beach and pool for the day.
The gym at the Ritz Carlton Maldives Resort is a sprawling affair with stunning views of the beach and ocean beyond the windows. This well-equipped fitness center features top-notch equipment and ample space for various workouts. Each changing room includes steam rooms and saunas, perfect for a post-workout relaxation session. Additionally, there is a personal trainer on site who can be booked for sessions, but we often found him hanging around the gym, happy to give pointers and offer assistance.
The resort offered a complimentary photo shoot which was a lovely touch. It enabled us to capture beautiful moments around the resort’s iconic backgrounds, with one photo provided for free and the rest available for purchase.
The defining moment at this Ritz Carlton hotel was the lighting ceremony of a large circle on fire at the pool's edge. While the performance is interesting to observe once during your stay, for us it was the backdrop of a stunning sunset that truly stole the show. This spot in the Indian Ocean offered some of the best sunsets we have ever witnessed, creating truly magical evenings.
Conclusion of our stay at The Ritz Carlton, Maldives
Overall, our stay at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, located in the Fari Islands was unforgettable, marked by luxurious accommodations, incredible marine adventures, and unparalleled sunsets. Riding bikes along the narrow wooden walkways, lounging in the main pool with a fresh coconut, and gazing in awe at the incredible blue sky that melted into the baby blue water below were definite highlights.
While the service left room for improvement, we hope these were early resort quirks that have since been resolved. For those seeking a blend of modern opulence and natural beauty, the Ritz-Carlton Maldives is an exceptional choice for a resort in the Maldives, offering what could be the best room you will ever stay in.
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