Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands - too good to be true?
Today’s post may be the most challenging post I’ve written thus far in my short writing career. Why, you ask?
Our stay at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives was so fantastic that I don’t know where to begin. The moment we got off the Sheraton Full Moon’s transfer boat, the exceptional service by the Ritz-Carlton Maldives staff began!
The Ritz was our second hotel for our trip to the Maldives. We stayed one night at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon to recuperate and save money. ***post on Sheraton Maldives Full coming soon.***
We took two steps onto the dock and the Ritz transfer staff located us by name across the ports. The attention to detail of knowing our names and faces without ever having contact was something we never got used to because we spoke about it every day.
Because the list of awesome things never ends, and I don’t want to write a “two-hour read” blog post, I’ll list all the fantastic things we experienced and detail a few of our favorite highlights while at the Ritz-Carlton’s luxurious property!
Highlights
Butler Service
Our Aris Meeha (butler) was top of the line. Eddie was always available and willing to help. We (as in Tash) like to ball on a budget, so we didn’t ask for many reservations (brought food with us) or much assistance, but whenever we did, he got it done immediately.
We had never had a butler service before, so we didn’t know what to expect. We thought Eddie was unbelievable, but after speaking with other guests about their butler services, we realized that Eddie was on another level.
Eddie gave us multiple gifts throughout our stay that cost hundreds! Complimentary champagne and wine in the room, hookah at our favorite restaurant, and personalized deserts were left for us when we returned to our room for the night. Eddie’s attention to detail with some gifts still has us wondering how he got the information.
Ocean View Overwater Villa
The Ocean View Overwater Villa has a unobstructed ocean view that gets the sunrise. The cherry on top of our villa was the abundance of fish that was always in front of our villa and directly under us (Villa 216). We were hoping for an upgrade on arrival, although we didn’t expect one because the Ritz-Carlton properties aren’t required to respect most of the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.
During our check-in that happens inside the villa, Eddie (our Aris Meeha) mentioned that we have the best location on the property. He explained that the pool is warmer during the day, our view is unobstructed, the sea life is more present, and we have more privacy from other villas compared to the lagoon view villas.
We thought he was saying this to keep us happy, but by day two, we figured out he was 100% correct! The Lagoon View Villa only has the sunset every night over the Ocean View Villa.
Our villa was breathtaking! It’s challenging to find the words, so I apologize for repeating words like amazing, unbelievable, and top of the line!
The layout was grand, with a perfect flow from the terrace to the bedroom. The modern circular design was excellent, and it honestly makes other top Maldives resorts look out of date! The list can go on and on about the room and features, so I’ll list what I thought was spectacular in the room:
Bathroom/Closet beautiful and grand layout
Unique His & Hers Sink
Smart Toilet had amazing features
The bathrobe was perfect (Tash never took it off, I loved it, and I don’t wear robes)
House Shoes were the most comfortable and highest quality ever
Best bed we’ve touched
Two showers inside and out were amazing
Multiple full-body mirrors
The pool was bigger than first thought and an excellent size for up to four people
The sunbathing section always has sun during the day
Bathroom amenities are refreshed daily
Amazing Amenities
The property offers multiple activities
Housekeeping:
Restock everything multiple times a day
Room always spotless
Request more when needed
Personalized Gifts
Complimentary mini-bar except for alcohol (restocked daily)
Numerous restaurants offering different cuisines
Complimentary bikes for guests
Best pool ever seen
All staff were polite and welcoming
When biking through the island, all staff members would smile and greet us
Best overall staff (staff members think Ritz members are better also)
Hotel transfer (the staff handles everything until security at the airport)
The property was always clean and perfectly groomed
Multiple beach areas to choose from
Complimentary snorkeling gear throughout the entire stay
Complimentary water sports
Complimentary tennis court
WiFi signal strong throughout the whole property
Would We Return?
We’ve already agreed that we’ll be making another trip to the Ritz-Carlton Maldives within the next three years. The night before our departure, we even discussed extending our stay a couple of nights because we loved our time there so much!
Our 10th anniversary will be in the summer of 2024, so more than likely, and we’ll be making our trip then.
After visiting the Masai Mara Safari in Kenya, I thought nothing could come close. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives became our favorite place two days in, and our number two is not close.
The high standard of quality and service at the Ritz makes you understand that you’re at a world-class five-star resort. The complimentary amenities and facilities allow you to enjoy your time without constantly worrying about the prices that come along with fun.
We thought being in the Maldives on a single island would be boring because you can only be in your villa, but we were very wrong. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is on Fari Island. The island is around two kilometers long, and the entire island is at your disposal. You're also offered complimentary jetty rides every 10 - 15 minutes to the other resorts on Fari Islands and the marina.
Because the Ritz-Carlton Maldives offers so many activities, you never feel like you’re on a single island. We felt like we didn’t have enough time to experience the whole island, and were there for five nights.
Cons
The only con for us at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives was the transfer prices to and from the resort. Most of the Maldives’ resorts charge for transfers, and the Ritz-Carlton Maldives offers the most options but it’s a bit pricey at $650 each.
If you’re looking to island-hop, the Ritz-Carlton Maldives will be a hefty additional payment because there is no option to be transferred to the Fari Islands by another company.
That’s all we can complain about this fantastic property. When staying at a five-star property in the Maldives, we understood the dining prices would be high, so I can’t list that as a con when you should expect it. Everything else was beyond amazing.
As Good As Advertised
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is said to be one of, if not the most luxurious property currently in the Maldives. If you Google or Youtube top resorts in the Maldives, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is always one of the top 3 on the list. That's a high standard to keep up with, especially being open for only 14 months.
When booking our stay, we had the question in our minds, is it possible for this place to be that good? Is this too good to be true? After our 5-night stay, I can tell you it's even better than advertised! We're counting down the days for our return to this beautiful property!
Until next time, before you pack your bags, don’t forget to PACK YOUR POINTS!
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