The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

February 21, 2024

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Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

A few weeks ago, I took a trip to the Maldives and stayed at two of the country’s most exclusive resorts: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives and Patina Maldives. Both properties are located in the Fari Islands, a four-island man-made archipelago in the North Male Atoll, based a 45-minute boat ride from Velana International Airport. Read my trip reports here:

Table of Contents

Today: Review of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

If butler-serviced villas, private infinity pools, and overwater hammocks sound like your kind of getaway, put The Ritz-Carlton Maldives at the top of your wanderlist. You won’t find typical thatched-roof villas here. What you will find is 100 modern yet minimalist accommodations, plus seven restaurants and bars serving an array of global cuisines (including mimosas, bloody mary, and prosecco served with breakfast). There’s also a tennis court, dive center, kids’ club with napping pods and a children’s pool, as well as a floating spa perched right in the center of the lagoon. The resort is situated on Fari Islands, a man-made archipelago that features three other luxury properties as well as Fari Marina – the archipelago’s communal beating heart with a vibrant beach club, charming boutiques and a range of dining options.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands features in my top 10 lists of the best Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts in the world and the best resorts in the Maldives accessible by speedboat.

Have you ever stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives ? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

In this review (more info and photos below my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is located on the north-eastern tip of the North Malé Atoll, an area famous for its untouched white-sand beaches and brilliant azure waters teeming with marine life. The North Male Atoll is also home to the capital of the Maldives (Male) and the country’s main international airport, Velana International Airport. The Ritz-Carlton’s proximity to the airport ensures a quick and smooth transfer process after guests arrive in the Maldives, with the option of either a quick 10-minute seaplane flight (excluding waiting time at the airport) or a 45 min speedboat trip. While having the advantage of being easily accessible, the property is also one of the resorts in the North Male Atoll which are located the furthest away from the airport, so it feels very remote, serene and peaceful (contrary to the resorts closer to the airport which are affected by the sounds and sights of airplane traffic).

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is set within an integrated development, called Fari Islands. The Fari Islands is a man-made archipelago consisting of four islands, with one dedicated island hosting the hotel staff and the other islands hosting three luxury resorts: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, The Patina Maldives, and The Capella Maldives (scheduled to complete the grand plan in 2027). Each island was individually designed to be set back in privacy, framed by the Maldives’ turquoise blue waters, clear views to the east, and sunsets to the west, while also allowing the natural flow of the sea current within the lagoon. Bucking the tradition of Maldivian resorts being developed on a single, solitary island, the Fari Islands offers guests freedom of movement across all resorts and facilities, and access to a wide range of amenities catering to different age groups, cultural backgrounds, and vacationing expectations.

Appearing from above as if a collection of futuristic spaceships has landed in a lagoon in the Indian Ocean, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is a relatively small resort with a convenient layout, comprised of three artificial islands and a circular overwater jetty, all connected via one walkway. The northernmost island is home to beach villas and three man-made beaches, while the southernmost island – the largest island – harbors the main beach club, gym, kids-club and some more beach villas. In between both islands is a third, tiny islet which is home to a stunning communal pool area and a collection of dining facilities (hence why it is known as the ‘culinary island’). On the far northern end of the property is a circular jetty with dozens of overwater villas as well as a fabulous spa at its center. All guests get bikes to get around the property (it only takes 10 minutes to get from one end of the resort to the other). 24/7 Buggy service is also provided.

Designed by multi-award winning, Australia-based Kerry Hill Architects, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is inspired by the elements of swirling water and ocean breezes, which are incorporated into a design narrative that is rooted in the flow of island life. The resort’s minimalist design is respectful of its visual impact on the environment and draws much of its natural surroundings into the guest experience. The property’s iconic round-shaped architecture – which has featured on the cover of countless travel magazines – resembles Beru, or drum in the local language, closely related to Bodu Beru, an indigenous form of dance and music with drums (crafted from coconut wood). According to the architects, the “design embraces the dual personality of the site, balancing the open ocean and calm lagoon, daytime shade and expansive night sky, and contemplative and active spaces”.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives features 100 luxurious one- to three-bedroom villas, either set over the crystal clear waters of the lagoon or nestled along pristine beach coves. During my holiday, I stayed in a Lagoon Pool Villa. which was located on the overwater’s jetty sunset side. The round-shaped villa comprised a spacious, high-ceilinged bedroom with kingsize bed, with a sitting & dining area on one side and a marble deepsoaking bathtub on the other. The ensuite bathroom was equipped with double vanity, indoor & outdoor showers, and a separate toilet. The bedroom featured large panoramic sliding doors, which could be completely openend, blurring the line between the indoors & outdoors. Beyond the bedroom was a large shaded sun deck with a private infinity pool and breathtaking views. The villa’s calming yet bright interiors put the focus on nature, with cream stone and blond woods contrasting with the Maldives’ vivid blues of sea and sky.

With seven distinct culinary venues, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands strikes the perfect balance between high-end dining, beachfront luxury, and wellness-centered menus:
- Housed within a beautiful lantern-inspired overwater space, Summer Pavilion takes inspiration from The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore’s Michelin-starred restaurant, showcasing contemporary Cantonese cuisine.
- Set along the main pool, Iwau, or ‘celebrate’ in Japanese, is an open-air restaurant with two teppanyaki grills for a multi-sensory dining experience.
- La Locanda serves a sumptuous breakfast in the morning (buffet + à la carte), while aperitifs in the setting sun preludes an evening of delightful southern Italian cuisine.
- The family-friendly Beach Shack – set along the main beach – is inspired by the carefree spirit and relaxed cuisines of the Mediterranean, featuring shared plates and grilled seafoods.
- Eau Bar welcomes guests to a laid-back pool-side setting, where guests can indulge in fresh oysters and caviar while sipping on tableside crafted cocktails. The bar is especially beautiful at sunset, which is celebrated each evening with a captivating drums and fire ritual.
- Two of the resort’s venues are located at Fari Marina, a pleasant eight-minute journey in a dhoni, a traditional wooden fishing boat, from the resort island. Arabesque is an eye-catching tribute to a traditional Bedouin tent, inviting diners on a culinary journey from Lebanon to North India. Tum Tum is a food truck serving light Asian delights; the perfect welcome stop in the middle of a day of shopping and exploration.

At the resort, guests can enjoy an array of experiences designed to immerse them in the best of Maldivian island life and culture, including exciting adventures with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment Program. Activated for the first time in Asia-Pacific, this unique brand program inspires guests to connect with nature and ocean life, and to safeguard it for future generations. The programming available at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives highlights the unique ecosystem of the destination through immersive experiences designed for children, adults and local residents, including a family cooking class, a bike safari around the resort and a “Wonders of Water” ocean mystery program facilitated by one of the program’s resident naturalists. The resort also caters to all levels of scuba enthusiasts and snorkelers with a dedicated dive center in partnership with Dive Butler International.

For a complete luxury wellness experience, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, in partnership with renowned sustainable and holistic wellness brand Bamford, is a sanctuary of tranquil relaxation over the turquoise lagoon. Housed in a striking overwater structure, the iconic spa offers nine treatment rooms including a spa suite with its own relaxation lounge, a salon and a boutique. Cardinal directions of each treatment room exude powerful energy, and a menu of bespoke spa treatments and healing massages also features a botanical and artisanal body and skincare collection by Bamford.

At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, families and young guests are invited to engage with the destination through Ritz Kids. Designed for those ages 4 to 12, the program uses its four pillars – land, water, environmental responsibility and culture – to create a schedule of daily activities including sports, arts and crafts, cooking classes and more. The experience is based out of the Ritz Kids Club, futuristic indoor-outdoor space with playgrounds, napping pods, an area for video games and movies, and a pool with slides and jets. Babysitting service is available at a charge, upon request.

The resort is managed by the famous Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. After its launch in 1983, the company began to expand, adding new properties across the USA. Within two years, the brand had opened five hotels, including The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta, The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel and The Ritz-Carlton Naples. This rapid expansion continued, and by 1992, Ritz-Carlton had expanded to 23 luxury hotels, earning its first Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The following year, they opened their first hotel in Asia, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. In 1998, the Ritz-Carlton brand was purchased by Marriott. Since this purchase, Ritz-Carlton has continued to grow, providing exceptional service and genuine care to their guests in the most desirable destinations on earth.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is set on a man-made island, which was built using sand scooped from the ocean floor and layered atop living coral reefs, mimicking a process that usually takes thousands of years. To ensure the construction was as sustainable as possible, marine biologists were brought in to work alongside the architects. Damage-reduction measures included covering the existing reef with silt nets to protect the corals from suffocating sand and dust, examining the currents to avoid interfering with natural flow patterns and stopping construction during the important coral-spawning season. Nonetheless, there is an ongoing debate around this type of construction and the amount of damage it might inflict upon the environment. I am not an environmental expert of course, but if sustainability is something you care about (and you should), you might not feel at peace here.

Regardless of the fact whether the construction of a man-made island resort on a living coral reef is a responsible thing to do in times of environmental protection, the “natural look” of the island is also vastly different from that of the Maldives’ stunningly beautiful natural islands. The vegetation at the island’s center is not as lush compared to the soaring jungle of coconut palms you’ll find at the natural islands (although I assume the vegetation will mature over time). The resort’s man-made beaches (with a rough type of sand) can’t compete with the magic and spectacular beauty of the soft white sand beaches on natural islands. If it’s your first visit to the Maldives, you will still be blown away by the tropical scenery, but if you are a repeat visitor the Maldives (like me), the setting might disappoint you. I struggle to understand why the owners/developers of this spectacular resort decided to go for a man-made island instead of one of the many natural islands that remain uninhabited and undeveloped.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives doesn’t feature a house reef and as such will not appeal to snorkelers. The nearest reefs to the resort are only accessible by boat, so you’ll need to join one of the daily excursions if you want to see any meaningful sea life such as turtles and sharks. On select days, these trips are offered as a group trip but you can also book your private boat with your own guide at a time of your choosing.

The overwater villas on the resort’s sunset side are the most romantic accommodations on the island, but they are not completely private. They look out over the vast lagoon surrounding the resort, but they also look out over the waterway that’s used by boats to shuttle guests between the airport and the nearby Patina Maldives Resort. The boat traffic itself isn’t very disturbing (only two to three boats per hour, mostly during the day) but nonetheless, the people traveling on these boats have a clear look into the overwater villas’ terraces and interiors. If privacy is a must for you, you’re better off booking an overwater villa on the island’s sunrise side (where there is no boat traffic).

Upon arrival, I was warmly greeted by the General Manager, who was happy to inform me that I was upgraded to a Lagoon Pool Villa. However, that was the exact villa type that I had booked and paid for. I didn’t say anything at the time as not to spoil the moment, but it did not make for a great first impression.

MY VERDICT

Location: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Pool: 10/10
Rooms: 9/10
Food: 9/10
Breakfast: 9/10
Spa: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Wow factor: 10/10
Value for money: 8/10
Overall experience: exceptional 9.1/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Save money: get the following complimentary VIP perks when booking The Ritz-Carlton Maldives via Virtuoso:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom
- $100 USD equivalent in local currency credit to be utilized during stay
- Complimentary 1-hour professional portrait session, with one free photo selected
- Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi

Save money: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives participates in Marriott’s loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy. Members of Marriott Bonvoy can earn points at the property during their stay or redeem their points for a free stay. Marriott Bonvoy elite members are well treated here, with – among other benefits – free WiFi, a room upgrade (when available), early check-in or late check-out (when available), and complementary breakfast (for top tier members). Read my review of Marriott Bonvoy here.

Save money: read here my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like The Ritz-Carlton Maldives (and/or receive many free perks).

Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best weather in the Maldives is between January and April, which also means high season (with low availability and high room rates). The monsoon runs from May to October, peaking in June. It is worth paying higher prices and sticking to the dry season as there is nothing to do on a rainy day except drink, eat, work out or scuba dive. Especially November and December, which are often labelled as dry season months, have been very unsettled in recent years.

HOW TO GET THERE

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is easily reachable by a 50 min speedboat ride or 10 min seaplane flight from Male International Airport (MLE). Check the Wikipedia page of Male International Airport for an updated list of airlines that offer flights to Male International Airport.