Reethi Faru Resort
Raa Atoll, Maldives
Reviewed by
Jake Hamilton
Boasting a fantastic lagoon and colourful house reef, the affordable luxury of Reethi Faru Resort has been a welcome shot in the arm to the pricey Maldives’ tourism market. Shunning marbled surfaces and gold-rimmed bathtubs, Reethi is a simply designed yet highly functional island retreat with a relaxing ambiance that delivers big on the paradise experience.
Opened in late 2017 in the northern Raa Atoll, and occupying a large, beautiful, oval-shaped island encircled by white sands and lush vegetation, its 150 villas are expertly positioned to allow maximum space and privacy for guests. All are airy and spacious, and nearly all come with bathtubs, rain showers and terraces with garden or beach views. No prize for guessing the most popular - the 44 overwater villas, which jut out across the lagoon on the western tip of the island, and provide breathless views of the Indian Ocean, plus private terraces with ladders for direct access to those clear blue waters. While families are welcome, the vibe here definitely leans towards couples and honeymooners.
An impressive 6 restaurants and 6 bars cover all your food and drink requirements, the Balinese-themed spa offers pampering aplenty, and there's a seriously superb watersports centre offering just about everything from dolphin safaris to catamaran sailing, plus a brilliant dive centre. The star attraction, of course, is the vibrant house reef (reethi faru – hence the name) where rays, reef sharks and turtle sightings are all but guaranteed. As affordable luxury goes, that’s priceless.
Opened in late 2017 in the northern Raa Atoll, and occupying a large, beautiful, oval-shaped island encircled by white sands and lush vegetation, its 150 villas are expertly positioned to allow maximum space and privacy for guests. All are airy and spacious, and nearly all come with bathtubs, rain showers and terraces with garden or beach views. No prize for guessing the most popular - the 44 overwater villas, which jut out across the lagoon on the western tip of the island, and provide breathless views of the Indian Ocean, plus private terraces with ladders for direct access to those clear blue waters. While families are welcome, the vibe here definitely leans towards couples and honeymooners.
An impressive 6 restaurants and 6 bars cover all your food and drink requirements, the Balinese-themed spa offers pampering aplenty, and there's a seriously superb watersports centre offering just about everything from dolphin safaris to catamaran sailing, plus a brilliant dive centre. The star attraction, of course, is the vibrant house reef (reethi faru – hence the name) where rays, reef sharks and turtle sightings are all but guaranteed. As affordable luxury goes, that’s priceless.
Highs
- An outstanding island location with a beautiful lagoon and large house reef populated with tropical fish and turtles
- An impressive 7 room types, including Water Villas, Beach Pool Villas and Two-Bedroom Beach Suites
- Wide variety of dining options – 6 restaurants, 6 bars – running the gamut of buffets, fine dining and intimate sunset suppers (various meal plans available)
- Superb watersports centre and dive centre with near-limitless options for exploring your ocean surroundings
- As you arrive by seaplane, prepare to be dazzled by views of pristine reef systems and tiny deserted islands
Lows
- Although the resort has great family villas, parents should note there’s no kids club
- A noticeable lack of female staff, which feels at odds with its guests, who are mostly dreamy-eyed couples
- Some beachfront villas can attract mosquitoes at dusk (insect repellent is provided), but we admired the resort's eco-friendly bug spraying policy
- The price of the mandatory seaplane transfer to and from the island is steep
Best time to go
September to April is the best for sunshine, with February-April the hottest and driest periods - though this also means more visitors and higher prices. June-October brings the monsoons, but it's still warm and you can often go weeks without a downpour. The best prices are from May onward. Avoid the Christmas period, when occupancy and prices are at their highest. Chinese New Year (5 February in 2019; 25 January in 2020) should also be avoided. Reethi Faru is open all year.
Our top tips
If you want to swim with turtles, the best snorkeling spot on the island is between Vakaru restaurant and the curved sandbank on the north-eastern tip. (We saw Green turtles galore.)