Reethi Faru Resort

This was my first time visiting Reethi Faru Resort, and even though I came for a work trip, I had such a wonderful experience. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and made us feel right at home. A special thank you to Shiva, the IT Manager, for his kindness, professionalism, and exceptional hospitality throughout our stay. The water villa was absolutely beautiful, peaceful, and the perfect place to relax. The food was delicious, and every part of our stay exceeded my expectations. Thank you to the amazing team for making my first visit so memorable. I can’t wait to come back!

This is my 2nd trip to Reethi Faru. The first in 2022 was a solo holiday in a water villa in the April time. My experience at Reethi Faru was so professional and consistent that I was confident particularly as a female solo travelling that I felt it was a safe and great location for my children including one who has a medical condition. This trip was with my two teenagers in a deluxe beach villa. It won’t be my last visit. However I will list some pro’s cons and recommendations for anyone wishing to travel to this resort. I chose a beach villa on this trip as neither myself or my children are avid snorkelers. The water villa is beautiful, but unless you intend to use and are very confident in the ocean it wasn’t worth the added cost for us. I booked sea plane transfer through the hotel, which worked out about $500 pp return. A cheaper alternative is to take a domestic flight to a closer location than a speedboat. However, this adds extra journey time and be sure your stomach can manage a speedboat transfer boat for 40mins! I won’t talk too much about transfers etc as this review is about the resort, but I will add that the transfer process in Male has significantly improved since my last trip and the luxury starts the moment you reach the seaplane departure lounge We spent just 5 nights at Reethi Faru, it was supposed to be longer, but last min changes due to the issues in the Middle East meant that I had to rebook the entire trip. I recommend you spend at least 7 nights here. We journeyed at the end of June, which is classed as off season, weather wise, we only experienced rain during one evening/night and drizzle off and on on another day. There was a gentle breeze which was welcome, and we all caught the sun beautifully. The resort was quieter which made it feel more private, however it isn’t a heavily crowded resort in the first place. You won’t have to queue for anything and none of this fighting for sun loungers by the pool nonsense. Upon arrival at check in, I upgraded us to dine around all inclusive, this cost an additional $50 per person per day it also includes the mini bar which was great when we spent time on our ‘private’ beach. my reasoning for this is because it is what I had last time and it brings an added less consideration with teenagers as we can eat/drink wherever and pretty much what ever we want. However I must say the occasions we ate at the main restaurant, the selection was brilliant. So go with your budget, you won’t be disappointed. The resort staff were utterly professional, a special shout out to Alam who works at reethi grill, he was there at my last visit and honestly made my day when he said he recognised me from my last visit. Another special shout out to the gentleman who ran the bar at the pool, I am so sorry to forget his name, he has a young baby daughter. He was so friendly and his cocktail making was brilliant. I hope I will get to see him again on my return. Staff there remembered our drink orders, so friendly and just really a relaxed vibe. We had a dolphin cruise, and sadly didn’t see any dolphins. However (this was unexpected as we wasn’t properly aware) the boat guides took us to what can only be described as sandbank and asked us to jump out with a life jacket on and swim to the shore. I politely declined but my two children did. They were told not to kick too low as there is coral, but unfortunately my eldest got a cut to her foot from the coral. So anyone who goes on this cruise, pack your swim stuff and make sure you have swim shoes as coral cuts are deep and hard to clean. We also went on a sunset cruise, but this is where the weather turned and couldn't see the sunset and it was a bumpy ride back in the rain. My daughter really wanted to try parasailing but we were informed the boat has been broken for a while. The fruit bats are glorious and active during the day, the birds are wonderful and you will see multiple fish and sharks. We saw a fair share of jelly fish on the first day, but didn’t see any more again. WiFi is brilliant around the island, my teenagers were very happy. My only grumble with the resort, in comparison from my last trip. I was able on my last trip to be entirely barefoot. This time however, I had to wear my clunky crocs around the island as the ground by the beach villas towards the main area is very sharp and hard. Little to no sand and definitely uncomfortable to walk on barefoot. (There also is an unusual smell when you are walking behind the staff area from beach villas towards the main dining area, like they are mulching food waste?) Advice I will give people who wish to visit: -Spend min 7 nights -bring swim shoes to protect your feet from coral -all skin types, pack decent sunscreen -insect repellent is a must, the mosquitos are thirsty -bring plasters, including waterproof ones and antiseptic lotion for any accidents. -upgrade to dine all around if you can -bring medication for travellers stomach -there is no pressure to tip, I didn’t bring any cash and I regret this and wish I actually tipped the staff who made our holiday amazing. -bring flip flops you can wear on hard ground -Try the spa (I did on my first trip and it was so relaxing) I best start saving and working towards Reethi Faru part 3

We had a Deluxe Beach Villa on the sunrise side of the island First time to RF, we opted for the dine-around . We really enjoyed the choice of dishes; our favourite was Dhiyavaru restaurant. We ate there for breakfast and lunch. The only negative thing I'd say is they could do with separate menu at lunch time. Evening meals were either Dhiyavaru or Reethi Grill. Staff and head chefs in both restaurants were great, adapting meals and removing ingredients so I could have the meal from the menu I have intolerance to a few things; nothing was too much trouble for them. Rooms are set back from the beach. You have your own private area with loungers and a parasol. You also have loungers on the decking. Another reason for choosing RF is I like my own little bit of paradise with sunbeds and parasol. Mini bar is well stocked with soft drinks, beer, wine, and spirits, restocked daily with unlimited restocks.Tea and coffee along with a jar of cookies in the rooms Rooms - lots of hanging space and drawers. Bathroom the normal, outside shower, also over the bath shower. the bathroom has a large ceiling fan. I found the snorkelling really good with easy access to the reef. There are lots of baby sharks just off the especially around the Dhiyavaru restaurant. Staff are loving so friendly and helpful from the gardeners to management Lovely island with great staff 👍 would definitely recommend & return.

Just got back from a rearranged holiday to Reethi Faru, originally meant to be taken during Covid. WOW! Where do I start? Arrived at Male airport after a long journey via Dubai to be surprised by a very welcome upgrade to seaplane transfer instead of domestic flight and speedboat. Having been to the Maldives before we knew how exciting the seaplane transfer was going to be but TMA have really expanded their terminal and welcome facilities. A beautiful new terminal and viewing terrace along with departure rooms and a seamless operation. Arriving on Reethi Faru after just under an hour and one stop off en route at another island to drop people off, and the wonderful, AMAZING whirlwind of a human being that is concierge Roberta came bounding into our holiday as she couldn't have been more effusively welcoming as we set foot on they tropical paradise. Cold towels and a refreshing welcome drink instantly provided it is as always, not the sand and palm trees, it's the people you meet in the Maldives that make your holiday and WOW what a perfect way to start. Roberta was the friendliest, most enthusiastic , most thorough and attentive person I have met in all my years of travelling. Just a fantastic person and a total asset to the resort. In my book anyone who remembers your names from the get go when so many people pass through a resort is a BIG HERO. The resort is simply beautiful and bigger than previous islands we have visited. It took about 20 minutes to walk all the way around the island, taking in the perfectly located beach bars and restaurants as you go. Dodging the baby black tip reef sharks in the shallows as you go. Rooms were perfect. We had a beach villa with the usual outdoor shower and bathroom adding that tropical feel. Mini bar was topped up each day religiously by the ever attentive room staff. I shan't go into detail about the reef etc, after all the Maldives is the Maldives and just breathtaking if you're into snorkelling. Suffice to say it was well managed with current markers to allow you to enter and leave the water in the safest places, a variety of wonderful fish, sharks, turtles and eagle rays all visible within 30 metres of the shore. We did do the day trip to swim with manta rays through the resort dive centre which was fantastic and reasonably priced at 55 USD each (if you do multiple different trips off resort it works out even cheaper). The dive centre does a free try dive taster each day which my daughter and I did on the shallow part of the reef. It was absolutely amazing with really keen qualified dive staff and as a resort we met several very satisfied scuba divers too who reported back of breathtaking dive days in the deeper water. The pool , watersports and dive centres are all beautifully maintained and staffed. There is a fee glass bottom kayak session and a free sunset cruise on offer to Premium Dine Around guests . I would very much recommend the Dine Around package as we worked out that for a family of 3 , conservatively , 3 meals a day including starters for lunch and dinner, plus conservative amounts of drinks during the day will set you back over 350-400USD at least. I recall when we booked that the difference in price was not ridiculous and would wholeheartedly recommend the premium All Inclusive package. The best part of the holiday for us was the people. I need to go into special mention of them. Marco - Watersports Manager - I had a slight hiccup as I had booked 2 days of off island sport fishing charters before I flew to the Maldives. Just be aware, quite understandably as a charter is a third party, the resort have had situations while people have been off island with 3rd party companies and hence out of their control where people then complain wrongly ON island. It is resort policy to prohibit 3rd party charters , which I think is totally understandable. Just something to bear in mind. However, in light of this, Marco, a true gentleman of a giant, went way beyond the call of duty to source some rods and reels so that the boxes of lures and baits I had brought from the UK could be put to use and so I wouldn't go disappointed . Just fantastic customer service at every step. Roberta - already mentioned but as a first impression of Reethi Faru staff , she was simply the best. Everyone needs a Roberta and her smile each day in their lives. Nazeer - The Pool Bar, Veyo Bar, is fantastic but the guy behind the bar every single day is a total legend. With a smile that reaches all the way to Colombo and back each morning , this superhero was a magician with a cocktail mixer and must have had eyes in the back of their head as glasses were never left empty and like a shape-shifter Nazeer would appear with more, sometimes you would even wake up on a sun lounger to find full glasses placed alongside . Just a master at his craft. Take time to get to know these guys, and no I'm not going on a rant but manners go a LONG way and just because holidaying in the Maldives infers an expensive luxury holiday , the staff are there to make the experience better. They are NOT your slave , deserving of zero manners or courtesy. I know all nationalities have their downsides, after all I am British, but seriously some people need to learn how to be polite. Nationalities were instructed to be censored from my original post but they rhyme with Crushions. Manu - in the Dhiyavaru Bar, where a la carte dinner was taken over the water each night , this guy was the nicest most pleasant person you could wish to have serve your food. Low occupancy thanks to Donald J Trump knocking lumps out of the Middle East right now meant that we often would chat to the staff as they had the time, the chefs included who would come out and check you were enjoying the food. Everything was just perfect. Food. Breakfast in the main restaurant was nice and the usual cooked, continental, fruit, eggs, pastries but to a backdrop of the Indian Ocean to die for. The Veyo Bar at the pool does a watered down version of the Dhiyavaru restaurant menu and we ate here every lunchtime (I can MASSIVELY recommend the Reethi Club and the Korean Chicken). Food was always prompt and you never went thirsty thanks to Nazeer and his eye for an empty glass. Dhiyavaru - On stilts out over the Indian Ocean there was nothing more relaxing than watching sharks swim beneath the platform with the ocean breeze in your face , sipping Prosecco while eating some of the finest food I have ever tasted. It is rare that you go to a restaurant and could gladly eat every single dish, but that sums up Dhiyavaru. Just delectable. I couldn't choose one dish above another . Close your eyes and just point to one. Reethi Grill - or as we called it Man & Woman v Food. The menu is already amazing , with special grill nights, but during each meal we would be brought tasters of new menu items personally by the chef. Each of them was just mouth watering. The curries were to die for and the ambience of the tent-like booths on the sand with the waves lapping in the background was just magical. We never went hungry here. There are other restaurants - we didn't do the buffet that the non-Dine Around package food is served at nor did we do the Vegan bar. Drinks - there are 2/3 picturesque sunset bars dotted all around the island where you can sip wine while the skies above your head are filled with the amazing fruit bats skipping from tree to tree. We got lucky with the weather as June is low season but we only had maybe 6 hours of rain in total and all came hime with tans although we understand the weather took a bit of a nosedive after we left on 2nd June. The Maldives is a spoilt for choice destination. So many gorgeous islands to choose from, but we will DEFINITELY be coming back to Reethi Faru. Thank you to ALL the staff, not just the 4 SUPERHEROES that I've singled out. If you're reading this, you were all AMAZING.

Booked via Travelbag in the UK, flights with Qatar Airways. Worldwide traveller with over 40 years of experience and over 16 trips to the Maldives. Reception: Reception was efficient overall, particularly when dealing with any issues that arose during our stay. Shaily was the standout individual here – she handled our villa power problems, assisted with our spa experience, and arranged a late room extension, all with impressive speed and efficiency. Check-in was extremely smooth, especially as this was a repeat visit. Within minutes of arrival, we were on our way to the villa, which set a very positive tone for the start of the holiday. Accommodation: Once again, we were allocated a villa in the 300s, which we prefer due to its excellent beach location. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, making them ideal for a relaxing stay. We did request the same room attendant from our previous visit, although this did not turn out to be the best decision. On the first day, an inappropriate comment was made which left us quite surprised and slightly uncomfortable. Additionally, towards the end of the stay, there was a persistent and unwelcome focus on tips, and one interaction at the door felt intrusive. We also experienced an electricity issue in our initial villa, with several power outages. This was handled well overall, and we were offered a move back to the same villa we had on our previous visit, which was an excellent resolution. Island Surrounds The island itself is beautifully maintained – lush, green, and kept exceptionally clean. The grounds team clearly work very hard, with constant attention given to sweeping leaves and maintaining the plants. We thoroughly enjoyed walking both through the centre of the island and around the perimeter. It’s a peaceful, scenic environment that is perfect for unwinding. Restaurants and Bars: We again opted for the dine-around package, which did not disappoint. Dhiyavaru was a highlight, both for its stunning overwater location and the quality of the food. That said, we would have liked to see a bit more variation in the menu compared to our previous visit. Huvandhu Garden was less to our taste. While the private dining experience is a nice concept, we personally preferred the atmosphere and choice available in the larger restaurants. Reethi Grill once again stood out for both its setting and consistently excellent food. Chef Suresh is a real credit to the resort. Spa: The spa experience, unfortunately, did not meet expectations. We found it to be very overpriced for what was offered, and the service felt somewhat impersonal. The overall experience was impacted by small details, such as a basic plastic clock being placed at the end of the treatment with instructions that once it reached a certain point, the session would be over. This took away from the sense of relaxation and luxury that you would normally expect from a spa experience. Staff: Overall, the staff were friendly, welcoming, and appeared happy in their roles. While our room attendant experience was not as positive as on our previous visit, he still carried out his duties. On a more positive note, Chef Suresh is exceptional and a real asset to the island. We also had wonderful experiences with Riaz and Pari at Reethi Grill, who were both a pleasure to speak with, Maanu and Aasih at Dhiyavaru, who again provided excellent service. There is also a noticeable insect presence on the island, and not a great deal seems to be done to manage it. Bringing plenty of repellent is definitely advised. Summary: The resort continues to offer a fantastic overall experience, thanks to its beautiful surroundings, strong dining options, and generally excellent staff. There are a few areas where improvements could be made, particularly in service consistency and the spa offering. Despite these points, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Would we return? Most certainly – yes.