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The Ritz Carlton Maldives is likely one of the latest accommodations within the Maldives and the stuff of desires. This extremely gorgeous property has rapidly grow to be one of many high accommodations within the Maldives and among the many most aspirational of accommodations on the earth. I had beforehand stayed on the Park Hyatt Hadahaa which was a transcending expertise so I knew I needed to come again to the Maldives once more. I stayed on this stunning property for five nights in November 2023 that is my assessment.
![ritz carlton maldives overwater villa drone](https://cdn-0.johnnyafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/dji_fly_20231114_114842_237_1699934085180_photo.jpg?ezimgfmt=ng%3Awebp%2Fngcb7%2Frs%3Adevice%2Frscb7-1)
This assessment will dive in nice element about every part we skilled on the Ritz. Anticipate a ton of commentary, footage, and movies as a result of there was is simply a lot to speak about with this resort. When you’re trying to perceive as a lot as potential earlier than reserving this resort, look no additional than this assessment and information!
Overview of the Ritz Carlton Fari Island
The Ritz Carlton Fari Island, together with the JW, is one among Marriott’s latest accommodations within the Maldives. It was designed by Kelly Hill, the well-known architect that additionally designed the Aman accommodations worldwide. It joins an already expansive array of accommodations within the Maldives that features the Sheraton, The W, St. Regis, and Westin. The 13 hectare Ritz Carlton opened its doorways to vacationers in mid 2021 and has rapidly grow to be among the finest, if not the most effective lodge in Marriott’s Maldives portfolio.
The Ritz Carlton is situated within the Fari Island chain 40km north of Male Airport in the identical atoll. The Fari island chain is a totally man-made island group that encompasses three separate islands, every residence to a separate resort. This tri-fecta of islands and accommodations belong to one of many richest actual property Tycoons of Singapore and contains the Patina Maldives, The Ritz Carlton, and the Capella (which might be accomplished in 2026).
What does a person made island imply? It means there was nothing however a small sandbank right here to start with they usually introduced in every part together with sand and concrete from across the Maldives to construct this island. Even the coconut bushes had been uprooted from different islands and shipped over to the Fari islands. Insane to consider actually.
The place is the Ritz Carlton Maldives?
The Ritz Carlton is situated within the Fari Island chain which is a person made island chain within the North Male Atoll. It’s situated within the northeast a part of this atoll roughly 40km away from Male Worldwide Airport.
The Fari island chain is residence to a completely gorgeous reef, lengthy stretches of white sandy seashores, gorgeous villas, and the highest at school facilities you’ll be able to count on from a spot just like the Ritz. Despite the fact that it’s a person made island chain (which is already loopy to consider the logistics of this), the Fari islands have maintained an idyllic island setting with stunning vegetation that also embraces its Maldives roots.
The Ritz is situated on a 13 hectare plot and contains 100 villas. The Ritz is unfold out throughout three small islands and a “ring” of overwater villas. Among the many smaller islands, two are residence to seashore and overwater villas. There’s a small island in between the 2 islands that’s residence to the Eau Bar, Summer season Pavilion, and La Locanda eating places.
Reserving The Ritz Carlton Maldives
Reserving the Ritz-Carlton Maldives is usually a complete publish in and of itself. The Ritz is likely one of the costliest properties within the Maldives and it warrants the worth in my view. It’s positively a loopy distinction with touring Maldives low-cost via the native islands. Nonetheless, if you realize a factor or two about bank cards and journey hacking, you may e-book this keep for lots cheaper and even totally free like what I did.
Money value of the Ritz Carlton Maldives
The Ritz Carlton Maldives prices anyplace between $2.5k to $4k per evening for the usual ocean view overwater villas relying on the time of yr. Lagoon view rooms will value extra which I’ll dive into element later. Apparently, the seashore villas on the Ritz Maldives value greater than their overwater counterparts. The rooms are the very same in measurement and format however the Ritz offers a premium to seashore entry.
You possibly can see value breakdowns from the screenshot beneath (these charges don’t embody the obligatory GST and Service fees that are one other ~26% on high of those costs).
This makes it probably the most costly accommodations I’ve ever stayed by which makes the subsequent part much more fascinating.
Reserving the Ritz Carlton Maldives utilizing Marriott Factors
I booked my total keep utilizing Marriott Bonvoy Factors. As Marriott now not makes use of lodge classes, as a substitute specializing in dynamic pricing fashions, the nightly charge for a keep on the Ritz Maldives ranges between 100,000 to 150,000 factors for the ocean villa that are the bottom. In contrast to the Hyatt which solely lets you e-book the “normal” beachfront room with factors, Marriott lets you e-book any room you’d like so long as you will have the factors.
Standing is not going to get you upgrades on the Ritz Maldives. It is going to additionally not get you a free breakfast though Titanium and Ambassador Elite members will get a 50% low cost on the breakfast invoice (Silver will get 10% off and Gold 25%).
While you e-book with factors, Marriott additionally offers you the well-known promotion of e-book 4 nights and get 1 free. Due to this fact, my 5 evening keep on the Ritz Maldives value me roughly 440,000 factors because the nightly charges at my time had been round 110,000 per evening. You possibly can count on decrease charges within the wet seasons (Might to October) and on the upper vary between December and April. By reserving with factors, you’re getting someplace within the vary of 3-4 cents per Bonvoy Level which is insane worth for cash.
Getting virtually a half million Marriott factors isn’t any joke however is simpler than you assume if you realize what you’re doing. In case you are not properly versed in bank card hacking, ensure that to learn my journey hacking publish which explains every part it’s essential know concerning the bank card sport together with utilizing my bank card spreadsheet to maintain monitor of every part.
Marriott Co-branded bank cards
There are 5 Marriott branded bank cards available on the market at the moment, 2 from Chase and three from American Specific:
Marriott Bonvoy BoundlessMarriott Bonvoy BoldMarriott Bonvoy Bevy AMEXMarriott Bonvoy Good AMEXMarriott Bonvoy AMEX Enterprise
The signal on bonuses for these playing cards are continually altering and you may count on extra fruitful signal on provides than what’s at the moment being marketed (as of Dec 2023).
Racking up Chase Final Rewards factors
The Marriott branded bank cards are simply one of many choices you will have at your disposable. The a lot better possibility are the Chase bank cards. Chase factors switch 1:1 to Marriott Bonvoy making these factors very beneficial in your keep on the Ritz. Generally, Chase will even run promotions the place you’ll be able to switch 1 Chase UR level for 1.5 Marriott Bonvoy factors.
The Chase Ink card suite is one of the best ways to rack up enormous quantities of Chase factors. At the moment, the Chase Ink Most popular is providing a 100,000 level signal on bonus which implies one among these playing cards will get virtually one free evening on the Ritz just by opening this one bank card. The Chase Ink Limitless and Chase Ink Money are additionally each providing 90,000 level signal on bonuses and you may simply get all 3 playing cards.
Due to this fact, in case you and your associate are each working at it, you’ll be able to merely open 2 bank cards every and get sufficient factors to remain on the Ritz Carlton! By each opening a Chase Ink Most popular and Chase Ink Limitless/Money, you should have practically 400,000 factors from signal on bonuses. As Marriott lets you pool factors collectively between a number of accounts, you subsequently have sufficient factors to get a 5 evening keep on the Ritz!
The entire course of is fairly easy in case you spend a little bit of time at it. When you assume that is too munch work and takes an excessive amount of time, ask your self how a lot is your time value? Most likely not the $20,000 USD it prices to truly keep on the Ritz!
Attending to the Ritz Carlton Maldives From Male Worldwide Airport
From Male Airport, there are a couple of methods to get to the resort. You possibly can combine and match these transfers as you desire to.
Speedboat switch: $860 per individual ($925 in 2024)Non-public Yacht switch: $5,000 per charterSeaplane switch: $1,600 per individual
Let’s simply get this out of the way in which however the transfers to the Ritz are insanely overpriced in my view. The speedboat switch is simply 1 hour from the airport however to cost virtually $900 per individual for that is loopy. For comparability, my go to to the Park Hyatt Hadahaa concerned a flight from Male Airport to Koddoo Airport, after which a speedboat switch to the resort and it’s $520 spherical journey.
The seaplane costs on the Ritz are much more insane as a result of the journey is not more than 10 minutes because the Fari Islands are solely 40km away from Male. For comparability, a seaplane to the Alila resort will set you again $650 per individual roundtrip. This resort can be within the Baa Atoll a lot additional away which permits you extra time within the air.
Arriving at Male Airport
Upon arrival to Male Airport, there might be Ritz attendants already ready for you, able to take all of your baggage and take you to a departure lounge space the place you’ll watch for the boat switch to the resort. The Ritz does a great job of organizing transfers based mostly on the visitors’ arrival instances. You’re paired with others which can be arriving at comparable instances so that you’ll by no means wait greater than 1-2 hours for the transfers.
We had been truly on a dive liveaboard earlier than this and by some means the Ritz attendants discovered us amongst a sea of different divers arriving on the similar time! As a result of we arrived within the morning from our dive liveaboard, we had been on the primary boat to the resort at 9:30am.
The boat journey to the Ritz Carlton
The Ritz Maldives speedboat may be very good with snug interiors, wifi, and ensuite rest room. We had been supplied welcome pastries which had been tasty after a protracted journey. Nonetheless, for the worth paid for this boat switch, I used to be anticipating at the least some champagne to welcome us however this by no means got here.
Arrival and Test-In
After 1 hour on the speedboat, we arrived to the view of the Ritz and what a completely gorgeous island it was. We had been met with waves by the employees on the pier who dealt with our baggage, welcomed us with chilly towels, and aromatic juices. Somebody was even blowing on a seashell horn saying our arrival.
Assembly our Aris Meeha
Upon arrival, we had been instantly greeted by administration and by our Aris Meeha. Aris Meeha is the Maldivian phrase for the butler idea that was used within the olden days of the Maldivian royal courts. This idea is prevalent all through the excessive finish resorts within the Maldives the place you will have a full time butler attending to your needs and desires all through the journey. You possibly can name them for something starting from restaurant bookings, room service, reserving excursions, getting across the island and extra.
Our Aris Meeha was a neighborhood Maldivian and simply among the finest issues about our keep on the Ritz. He was a really good that went above and past to make our keep memorable. We promptly created a WhatsApp group (When you’re American studying this, begin utilizing because it’s actually the mode of selection by your entire world) the place we mentioned any requests we had and the place he would give us the abstract of our day.
Test in course of is seamless
I need to say one among my favourite issues concerning the Ritz is the seamless verify in course of. As an alternative of ready at reception space caring for paperwork, we instantly obtained into the golf cart and our Aris Meeha proceeded to take us on a fast island tour to get acquainted with all of the totally different amenities earlier than taking us to our villa. We did your entire verify in course of which solely included passports and a deposit at our villa overlooking the ocean.
In our villa, we had been greeted with a complimentary bottle of champagne, sweets, handwritten notes, and different stunning private touches.
Fortunately for us, the room was prepared early so we may make the verify in round midday. Even when the room isn’t prepared, it is possible for you to to make use of all of the amenities of the resort whereas the room is ready.
Overview of the Ritz Carlton Maldives Villas
To maintain it quick, the villas on the Ritz Carlton Maldives are every part you may need after which extra. Despite the fact that the numerous footage on-line are stunningly stunning, it doesn’t appear to captivate simply how wonderful these rooms are once you see it in individual.
We spent an embarrassing period of time taking images, movies, and every part in between. We took images in so many alternative positions after which multiply that a couple of instances as a result of when the solar moved, a distinct image was beckoning. Fortunately we weren’t the one ones as different visitors equally flocked to their cameras.
The overwater villas are completely gorgeous. We ended up getting villa #339 (extra particulars on this afterward which villa to decide on) and we had been in love from the second we stepped foot into the room. The villa is meticulously designed to supply breathtaking views of the crystal clear turquoise waters and pristine white sand seashores.
The overwater villas are perched on stilts above the ocean creating a way of tranquility and seclusion. The design of those villas mix in completely with its environment and is the proper mixture of island residing and fashionable luxurious.
Ritz Overwater Villa inside
Contained in the villa, no bills are spared. The villa is spacious with elegantly appointed residing areas that includes luxurious facilities and modern furnishings. As you stroll in, you’ll see the bar which is stocked with high shelf liquor, TWG branded tea, Nespresso espresso machines with 4 totally different capsule sorts (together with decaf), cocktail utensils like a shaker, cocktail books, and even a premade negroni combine. Contained in the mini fridge is champagne, wine, beers, and varied snacks. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are all complimentary on the Ritz.
The toilet is huge with loads of cupboard space in your baggage, a full hanging rod to hold you clothes. The Ritz makes use of Bamford branded toiletries, a luxurious British model that you just’ll see all around the villa. The bathrooms are all Toto branded with electrical bedets.
Every villa comes with an iconic Ritz branded seashore bag in addition to two seashore hats. This was surprisingly helpful when getting across the resort. Better of all, these are yours to maintain!
The bath comes geared up with tub salts, bubbles, candles, and extra. On one of many nights, as a part of the day by day turn-down service, we got here again from dinner to a tub that was already ready with the mandatory bubbles and smells. There was even a bottle of complimentary pink wine ready for us.
Every room comes with a Bose Bluetooth speaker which makes it straightforward to blast some tunes whilst you calm down in your stunning pool or out of doors bathe.
There are indoor and out of doors showers in your selecting. We showered completely out of doors as you’ll be able to see the azure ocean in entrance of you. The fences are angled in a approach that you would be able to look out however the villa subsequent to you’ll be able to’t look in.
The pool on the Ritz Maldives villas
Lastly, no assessment is full with out speaking concerning the well-known pool at these villas. The villa completely blurs the road between indoor and out of doors residing. An enormous flooring to ceiling sliding glass door opens up the indoor house on to the patio and infinity pool in entrance. Out of your mattress, you’ll at all times get up with a view of the pool and ocean.
The big 5m lengthy infinity pool completely contours to the design of the villa and appears completely gorgeous from beneath and above. I spent a lot of my time on this pool overlooking the attractive ocean.
Lastly, there’s a web mattress hammock over the ocean as a result of everybody wants their Instagram footage. Don’t be shy in any case.
The overwater villas, whereas situated subsequent to one another nonetheless have an important sense of privateness. The out of doors showers are blocked by the angled fence and the curvature of the villas permit for optimum privateness. An individual must actually stick their head out of the sting of the pool to creep in on what their neighbors are doing. In fact, the ocean in entrance of you just isn’t guarded so snorkelers in entrance of your villa is perhaps seen.
Selecting your villa on the Ritz Carlton Maldives
Lastly, on to the necessary stuff, how to decide on your villa in your keep on the Ritz? This can be a query I spent countless hours scouring the web for. I learn so many blogs, boards, YouTube movies, and every part in between however I used to be nonetheless uncertain of what to do on the finish of the day.
When you’re spending a lot cash reserving your keep, you need to ensure you have the most effective expertise potential.
Can we select a overwater villa or a seashore villa?
Lagoon facet or Ocean Facet?
Which villa numbers are higher than others?
If these are additionally questions you’re asking your self, relaxation assured, you’re in good fingers and I’ll inform you every part you may presumably need to know. Selecting your villa on the Ritz Maldives may in all probability warrant its personal weblog publish however I’ll summarize to the most effective of my capabilities on this part. Prepare for lots of knowledge.
Overview of the villas on the Ritz Carlton Maldives
For starters, let’s break down precisely what kind of rooms can be found for supply on the Ritz. In whole, there are 100 villas on the RC Maldives and they’re damaged down as such:
1-bedroom villas: 852-bedroom villas: 143-Bed room villa: 139 seashore villas | 61 overwater villasOverwater villas: 19 lagoon dealing with villas | 42 dawn dealing with villas
Listed below are an important maps of your villa deciding journey which can be from the official web site.
For starters, the compass on this map is definitely fallacious. The north image is within the fallacious place and must be rotated about 90 levels. This induced me a lot confusion throughout my determination course of which translated into me selecting a villa I didn’t like.
Due to this fact, I’ve made my very own map of the villas with the right compass studying and an summary of which facet is which.
Overwater Villa or a Seaside villa?
Staying over the water or staying with a seashore in entrance of your villa would be the important determination you’ll should make whereas staying on the Ritz. For starters, the bed room seashore villas and the 1 bed room overwater villas have the very same measurement, design, and format. The one distinction is that the seashore villas have a non-public seashore in entrance of the villa whereas the overwater villas are on stilts over the water.
Seaside Villas
vs.
Ocean Villa
This actually comes right down to choice. Some folks like having the seashore in entrance of their room whereas others choose the normal Maldivian expertise staying over the water. Seaside entry villas have extra privateness as different villas can’t see into yours. The seashore is shared with different seashore villas however on the Ritz Maldives, solely folks staying within the seashore villas can use the personal seashore space.
I selected an overwater villa as a result of I needed the normal Maldivian expertise of staying over the water. It’s what they’re well-known for in any case! Having stayed earlier than within the Park Hyatt Maldives in each a seashore villa and overwater villa, I completely most popular my keep within the latter! As well as, the general public seashore on the Ritz that everybody can use is already so expansive and gorgeous.
Ocean View or Lagoon View overwater villa?
After deciding which kind of villa you need to keep in, it’s time to resolve whether or not you need the ocean view or lagoon view villa.
![ritz carlton maldives overwater villa drone](https://cdn-0.johnnyafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/dji_fly_20231114_114842_237_1699934085180_photo.jpg?ezimgfmt=ng%3Awebp%2Fngcb7%2Frs%3Adevice%2Frscb7-1)
Ocean view faces east to northeast and have dawn views. Lagoon villas have west views which can imply extra daylight and a view of the sundown. Naturally, the lagoon view villas come at a premium. Nonetheless, the one draw back to the lagoon view villas (and a giant one at that) is boat site visitors. The ferry between the Ritz and the Fari Island Village (and the Patina Resort) runs from 11am twice each hour.
Lagoon villas can see the boat site visitors all through the day.
This implies there isn’t a privateness as folks on the boat can see instantly into your villa. I took the ferry a number of instances to have dinner on the Fari Island Village and will at all times see folks shifting about of their villas. If privateness is of concern to you, I might keep away from the lagoon view villas altogether.
The Ocean View villas had been my favourite and what I ended up staying in. Not solely do they not have boat site visitors all through the day, they face the open ocean which implies a extra “finish of the world” feeling. You’ll at all times hear the sound of the waves out of your room because the open ocean meets the reef. You get the identical unbelievable water colours and views out of your ocean view villa because the lagoon villa and maybe even extra.
The one draw back to the ocean villas are the shortage of sunshine all through the day. The ocean view villas face east to northeast so it isn’t good for solar. Among the ocean view villas don’t have solar at any level of the day so it’s essential know which of them to select from.
How to decide on your overwater villa on the Ritz?
As I opted for the overwater villas, I’ve plenty of expertise with selecting the overwater villa of your dream. Very first thing is first, do you need to keep on an overwater villa from land or on the Ritz’s iconic “ring”. The ring format of the villas over the water is the Maldives declare to fame which in my view the Ritz does an distinctive job designing.
From land, these overwater villas are part of the 2 main islands inside the resort and are situated subsequent to the seashore villas (with out entry to the personal seashore). For the overwater villas from land, they’re all ocean facet as you’ll be able to see from the map. They’ve the very same design because the overwater villas situated on the ring. As they’re situated on land, they’re surrounded by bushes and vegetation which supplies it a novel look from afar.
For these villas, I might completely keep away from #100 – #103 in addition to #212 – #217. It’s because these villas are completely uncovered and visual from the remainder of the resort. Villas #212 – #217 are utterly seen from the ring which implies that all people staying within the overwater villas on the ring will see into your pool and bed room as they head into the resort. There may be little privateness available.
The identical goes for Villa #100 to #103 as they’re completely seen from La Locanda restaurant which implies everybody consuming breakfast will see instantly into your villa. That is particularly the case with #100. Folks received’t be stalking you on the Ritz (they’ve higher issues to do), however you won’t be eager to stroll round bare in these villas. When you choose the island overwater villas, I might go for #223 – #228 or #110 to #125.
Nearly all of the overwater villas are on the ring on the northern tip of the resort which is the place I opted to remain. I believe the ring is completely beautiful and the aesthetics are among the many most gorgeous I’ve seen.
For the ocean view villas, it’s essential resolve if solar is necessary to you. The primary ocean villa on the ring receives essentially the most solar and as you go additional down the ring, there may be much less solar. Some folks truly choose to not have solar of their villas however I a lot most popular the daylight hitting and lighting up my pool. That is how I break down the ocean view overwater villas on the ring:
#321 to #327: Not a lot solar if any. Dawn will be seen from the sting of the villas however you’ll have to actually make an effort. Anticipate little to no solar all through the day. #321 to #323 will see the boat site visitors from the Fari Island ferry#328-337: These villas obtain extra daylight particularly the upper then quantity. #336 has a darkish patch of corals in entrance of the villa which may cut back the picturesque turquoise views however this won’t hassle most individuals.#338-#352: These are my favourite villas as a result of they’ve essentially the most quantity of solar. #352 has essentially the most solar of the water villas on the ring however as it’s the first villa, the overwater villas from land can see instantly into your room (#221 – #227) and vice versa.
For the Lagoon facet villas, right here is my tackle them:
These villas face west to southwest and all obtain ample daylight from about 10am onwards. Villa #350 originally of the ring sees essentially the most daylight however there actually isn’t a nasty villaBoat site visitors is seen from each single room a number of instances a day
We stayed in #326 as my overwater villa as a result of we figured the closest villas to the lagoon facet could be higher. Nonetheless, we rapidly realized this acquired no daylight so it was not preferrred for us. We requested to change villas to incorporate extra solar and our Aris Meeha with out hesitation supplied to change us to #339.
#339 was way more our type because it acquired solar into the pool/deck till virtually midday. Our Aris Meeha additionally supplied us a free complimentary improve to a sundown seashore villa (Which is costlier) however we needed to remain overwater. The flexibleness that the Ritz supplied right here was impeccable.
Ritz Carlton Maldives – Resort Overview
There aren’t any scarcity of issues to do on the resort. This part will go over what is accessible on the resort within the public areas.
Bicycles to get across the Ritz
One among my favourite issues concerning the Ritz Maldives is using bicycles. Every villa comes with two complimentary Dutch type bikes so that you can use. These bikes come geared up with a rattan basket which got here in very useful. All the resort from the tip of the ring to the dive heart on the southern tip is slightly below 2km which makes biking the proper method to get round.
I completely beloved biking via the resort. You’re capable of not solely get a little bit of train in, however you’ll be able to management your personal schedule and go the place and once you please.
When you don’t fancy biking across the resort, you’ll be able to at all times name your Aris Meeha and they’ll choose you up with the buggy. We ended up by no means calling our butler as soon as for a journey as we elected to make use of our bikes 100% of the time. We’re very lively folks nevertheless, and we even bike full time in locations like Singapore.
I really like the dimensions of the Ritz Maldives
I used to be fearful that the Ritz Carlton Maldives could be too huge of a resort for my liking. I learn the way it had over a dozen eating places break up between two totally different islands and thought I won’t like the large measurement of the place. I used to be rapidly mistaken. The resort is completely excellent in measurement.
From the tip of the ring with the entire overwater villa to the southern tip of the resort is slightly below 2km. This can be a 30 minute stroll or a fast 5 minute bike journey.
I got here to actually recognize the dimensions of the resort because it made me rapidly neglect I used to be at a “resort”. Certain, it is a lodge on the finish of the day however it didn’t give off that really feel in case you catch my drift. With its quite a few small sized eating places, our bikes at our disposal, and the jungle inside the island, it felt like we had been in somewhat village that was left for us to discover.
For instance, we might prepare for dinner, go for sundown on the Eau Bar, take the ferry to Fari Island Village whereas trying on the sundown and stars, and have dinner at a restaurant like Arabesque. On our ferry journey again to the Ritz, we might star gaze some extra, earlier than getting on our bikes to have an evening cap on the Eau Bar. Lastly, we might bike residence to our overwater villa on the ring to complete out the evening. This gave us the sensation like we had been “coming residence” after an evening out. I a lot choose this to different resorts the place you may simply stroll 50 meters to the primary eating restaurant simply to stroll again once you’re completed.
The Primary pool
If the gorgeous infinity pool at your villa wasn’t sufficient, the primary public pool will certainly wow you. The principle pool is likely one of the most gorgeous and distinctive components of the Ritz Maldives. This utterly round pool is sort of 40 meters in diameter and is an absolute magnificence to have a look at.
It’s surrounded by the attractive ocean and seashore supplying you with a few of the greatest picture alternatives within the resort. The principle pool is on the Eau Bar geared up with a full bar menu, meals, and shisha.
Forgot your toiletries at residence? Don’t fear. The entire Ritz amenities come geared up with sunscreen, tanning oil, towels, showers, and so forth.
Health Heart
Staying 5 nights on the Ritz meant I needed to get some kind of work out in so I didn’t really feel so unhealthy consuming a lot meals. Fortunately, the fitness center on the Ritz Carlton Maldives provides every part I must get a great pump in. The fitness center is situated close to the grand sundown seashore and has a spacious inside overlooking the ocean. The health heart is stocked with gear together with free weights, smith machines, leg press, cables, and even a deadlift bar for the hardcore! There may be additionally a yoga studio with extra machines, mats, and the like.
Subsequent door to the health heart is a full sized tennis court docket the place you’ll be able to play tennis everytime you need or have personal classes with the skilled professionals that come to the resort. The teacher that was there once I visited used to work at Novak Djokovic’s camps in Serbia. I heard they might herald a Wimbledon winner a couple of months later.
Grand Seaside – Primary Public Seaside of the Ritz Carlton Maldives
The principle public seashore of the Ritz is situated on the southern a part of the resort. The “Grand Seaside” as it’s named, is situated in entrance of the Seaside Shack restaurant and health heart. In case you are not staying in a seashore villa, this would be the important seashore you utilize.
The seashore is gorgeous with gorgeous water colours and completely manicured seashore. I discovered the seashore on the Park Hyatt to be much more gorgeous however there’s nothing to complain about right here. There are many sunbeds, seashore chairs, seashore volleyball, badminton courts, and extra. You can even lease kayaks and standup paddleboards freed from cost.
We additionally performed seashore volleyball each day earlier than sundown organized by the resort. I beloved getting the train in in addition to assembly different visitors staying on the resort.
Fari Island Village
Fari Island Village is situated on the island instantly north of the Ritz which can be residence to the Patina Resort. The Patina, Ritz, and Capella (accomplished in 2026) all belong to the identical Singaporean household and are related in order that visitors can expertise every place.
The Fari Island Village is residence to quite a few eating places, boutique shops, artwork displays, swimming pools, seashores, and extra. High notch eating places like Arabesque, Brasa, and Koen are a part of the Fari island village. We got here right here on quite a few events for lunch and dinner. This idea of getting a “village” close by to the resort is one thing I beloved as I felt like I used to be “going out”.
The ferry from the Ritz runs as soon as per hour and extra usually throughout the busy dinner hours. The ferry is freed from cost and I completely beloved sitting on the higher deck trying on the stars because it sailed from island to island. It’s only a quick 10 minute ferry journey.
Eating places At The Ritz Carlton Maldives
As you’d count on with an extremely excessive finish lodge, the Ritz Carlton makes no compromises on its restaurant and meals high quality. They’ve actually elevated the eating scene on a non-public island by providing over a dozen eating places to its visitors. I attempted many of the eating places on the Ritz and they’re no doubt a few of the greatest lodge meals you’ll be able to ask for, particularly being on an island in the course of nowhere. The Ritz brings in high stage cooks and the service is impeccable.
There are 5 eating places on the Ritz and 12 eating places (though some will not be actually eating places) on the Fari Island Village which is the island that the Patina lodge is on. Because the Patina and Ritz (and shortly to be the Capella) are owned by the identical household, visitors from the Ritz can have dinner in any respect the eating places.
I significantly preferred this as you had so many choices to select from that you’d by no means get tired of the identical locations. Every restaurant on the Ritz are smaller and extra intimate which allow you to really feel such as you had been going for an evening as a substitute of feeling such as you’re simply at a resort flocking to the identical enormous eating places as everybody else.
The eating places which can be a part of the Ritz are as follows:
La Laconda: Italian fusion restaurant that can be the primary restaurant for breakfast.Summer season Pavilion: Elevated Chinese language foodEau Bar: Laid again lounge type restaurant that overlooks the primary pool and excellent for sundown viewsIWAU: Japanese Omakase type expertise overlooking the ocean and starsBeach Shack: The principle restaurant on the primary public seashore of the resort. Wonderful meals available right here.Arabesque: Center Jap and Indian fusion restaurant on the Fari Island villageTum Tum: Meals truck on Fari Island village serving scrumptious Asian impressed snacks like Bao Buns.
The eating places belonging to the Patina but in addition accessible by Ritz Company are the next:
Roots: Vegan tasting menu restaurant set in a fantastic backyard.Brasa: Argentinian type steakhouseFari Seaside Membership: Related type of meals because the Eau barKoen: Japanese/Nordic fusionWok Society: Elevated Chinese language meals with a classy setting in addition to craft beers.Helios: A Greek type restaurantFarine: European type bistro serving baked artisan breads, charcuterie, and wineGo go burger: Meals truck promoting burgers
Price of meals on the Ritz Maldives
As with every part at excessive finish Maldivian resorts, count on to pay high greenback for meals and alcohol. Meals on the Ritz is among the many highest you’ll discover within the Maldives. Right here is an instance of prices on the Ritz Maldives:
Breakfast buffet: $65 per personGrilled prawns on the Seaside Shack: $65Roasted lamb shank at Arabesque: $75Pasta alla vongole at La Locanda: $55Omakase dinner at IWAU excluding wine pairing: $300 per personShisha at Eau Bar: $75 per shishaGlass of wine at Eau bar: $18-22Glass of Beer: $13-15Cocktails: $18-$23
You additionally want so as to add GST and Service to all the costs above which might be one other 27% or so. The dinner at IWA is subsequently virtually $400 per individual excluding meals.
On the whole, I spent about $250-$350 for a dinner for 2 with out alcohol. This included 1-2 starters, 2 mains, and possibly 1 dessert. Lunches could be about $100-$150 with simply two mains and no alcohol.
Breakfast on the Ritz Carlton Maldives
Breakfast time on the Ritz was one among my favourite instances of the day. The breakfast is served completely on the La Laconda restaurant from 7am – 11am. The restaurant is situated on the water with nice dawn views over the ocean.
As you’ll be able to count on, the breakfast buffet is wonderful and comes with every part you’ll be able to presumably consider in terms of breakfast objects. You’ll discover an enormous unfold of issues like pastries, omelettes, pancakes, french toast, waffles, and avocado toast. There may be insane quantity of freshly made breads and pastries that smelled wonderful. The granola part takes up a complete part of the restaurant and I didn’t even know so many differing types existed. Along with the usual objects, there may be additionally a Chinese language dim sum station and a dosa station with an attendant making you recent meals.
My solely grievance of the breakfast was the lackluster fruit choice. They’d all fruits beneath the solar however usually any berries within the tropics goes oo be mediocre because it’s imported. I might have preferred to see extra tropical choices like papaya or mango which is grown close by and far tastier.
The price of the breakfast buffet is $65 per individual which could truly be the most cost effective worth for cash on the resort. You possibly can completely stuff your self with lunch after which skip lunch altogether.
I hate overeating for breakfast which is strictly what I might have performed had I paid for it which is why the Ritz additionally has a la carte breakfast choices. This menu has most of the buffet objects however you’ll be able to order it piecemeal to regulate your urge for food. The parts are nonetheless loads huge so that you probably received’t want greater than 1 merchandise.
We ended up order particular Maldivian breakfast objects which aren’t even on the a la carte menu. Native Maldivian breakfast consists of masuni, rihakuru, and kulimas. Masuni is explicit is a should strive because it is likely one of the greatest breakfast objects you’ll be able to have (tuna, coconut flakes, shallots, and chilis served with tiin chapati bread). The native waitstaff had been so impressed and beloved that we needed to eat their meals that we saved getting little freebies. The fee for this breakfast was 1/3 of the breakfast buffet and we felt nice afterwards because the parts had been excellent for us!
La Locanda Dinner
We got here again to La Locanda for dinner as properly. Their Italian menu is sort of good particularly as they’re so far-off from Italy. Getting the recent substances for Italian meals have to be tough for a spot just like the Maldives. The focaccia bread as a starter is completely excellent and I couldn’t cease consuming it.
Seaside Shack
The Seaside shack was one among my favourite eating places on the Ritz. The seashore shack is situated instantly in entrance of the Grand seashore which is the general public seashore. The restaurant has a island rustic Bali type vibe that jogs my memory plenty of the cafes in Bali.
The Seaside Shack was excellent after a morning of lazy lounging on the seashore in one among their quite a few sunbeds. Meals on the seashore shack is a mixture of varied snacks and grilled seafood dishes. I completely beloved the grilled garlic tiger prawns and octopus.
The employees had been on high of every part like at all times making us really feel like royalty. Even the chef got here out on quite a few events to garner suggestions from us however I had nothing however good issues to say.
Summer season Pavilion
Summer season Pavilion is the Ritz’s elevated Chinese language fusion restaurant. The menu consists of Cantonese objects together with dim sum, Szechuan dishes, and varied regional dishes like Peking duck.
The inside is gorgeous with fashionable sharp edges and overlooks the ocean. The Chinese language chef at this restaurant prepares wonderful meals and our dishes didn’t disappoint. We obtained the salt and pepper tiger prawns, eggplant, and Szechuan type cumin beef.
Arabesque
Arabesque is likely one of the greatest eating places if not the most effective restaurant within the Ritz. Positioned on the Fari Village a ten minute boat journey away. Arabesque focuses on Center Jap and Indian meals. The restaurant is small and comfortable with a sunken eating corridor harking back to a Bedouin camp like those you’d discover in Egypt or Jordan.
The meals was as scrumptious as promised. We ordered a meze platter to share the place we selected from quite a lot of choices which included truffle hummus, moutabal, garlic prawns, lamb sausages and extra. For the primary, we shared a braised lamb shank which had unbelievable flavors.
Be sure to e-book at the least one evening at Arabesque in your keep on the Ritz. They’re additionally open for lunch however I discovered the evening time vibe with its distinctive decorations to be the winner.
IWAU
IWAU is the Japanese omakase type tasting restaurant of the Ritz Maldives. It’s situated proper subsequent to Eau Bar adjoining to the primary pool. I by no means dined right here however from speaking to others, everybody actually loved the expertise.
You’re sat at a counter the place the chef preps all of the programs for you want in a standard Japanese omakase. The backdrop can be stunning as you face the ocean and the open stars above you.
Tum Tum
Tum tum is situated on the Fari Island village and is their “road meals” meals truck of the resort. It’s situated in an airstream like those you’ll find in Joshua Tree (how on the earth did they get that to the Maldives?) and the meals right here is Asian informal snacks like Bao Buns.
We had their peking duck and beef rendang bao buns which had been sensational. The chef even got here out and supplied us his model of fried rice the place he needed our opinion on the dish. Total, a scrumptious informal meal for lunch.
Subsequent to Tum Tum is one other meals truck serving burgers that appeared good in addition to a Gelato store.
Eau Bar sundowners
The Eau Bar is the spot to be for a sundowner. It faces due west and the solar units instantly over the attractive round infinity pool. Day-after-day round 18:45, there’s a quick ceremony the place employees carry out a standard dance. This is freed from cost to attend.
The Eau bar additionally serves small snacks in addition to correct meals however we by no means ended up consuming right here as there was simply too many different choices.
We did smoke shisha twice throughout our keep and it was a correct expertise at that with the waiters very attentive.
Brasa
Brasa is situated on Fari Village and is an Argentine steakhouse. We got here right here on our final evening to combine up the seafood we had been consuming all through the week. Brasa has a set of steaks, lamb chops, pork loin, and different grilled specialties. They’ve a big wooden fired grills excellent for producing the warmth required to prepare dinner the steaks asado type.
We had wagyu and angus steaks they usually had been cooked to perfection. The steaks had been juicy and tender, but in addition full of that beefy taste. The edges together with the mashed potatoes and yuca fries went completely with the steaks.
Particular Event Dinners
Along with the quite a few eating places supplied on the Ritz and the Fari Island Village, the Ritz will usually instances have particular themed dinners. Throughout our keep, that they had a Diwali evening dinner which featured a set menu from Arabesque and was phenomenal.
On one other evening, that they had a Maldivian themed BBQ on the seashore that includes native meals. There was even a complimentary cocktail hour on the seashore earlier than the BBQ.
Most of these dinners will at all times be a hard and fast value; Diwali evening was $190++ and the Maldivian BBQ was $220++. I actually loved these themed dinners and would positively suggest going to 1 if it coincides together with your dates.
Actions on the Ritz Carlton Maldives
You may surprise in case you’ll get bored staying on a non-public island for thus many days however I can guarantee you the times is not going to be boring. There is no such thing as a scarcity of issues to do and I usually discovered myself questioning how the day handed by so rapidly.
In your room might be a schedule of assorted occasions taking place all through the week. A few of these occasions are paid whereas others are free. Issues like snorkeling, a sandbank go to, {couples} therapeutic massage classes, cooking lessons, seashore yoga, and extra are at all times on the choices. In fact, if you’d like a non-public tour or to go scuba diving, that’s out there as properly.
Dive Heart
As an avid diver, I had to take a look at the dive heart. Positioned on the southern tip of the resort, the dive heart is outsourced to the Dive Butler firm that operates in one of many nicest dive places of work I’ve seen. Having simply been on a Maldives dive liveaboard, I wasn’t so eager to dive any extra from a resort. The folks working right here had been very skilled and informed me that I in all probability wouldn’t be impressed with what the dives that they had if I already went on per week lengthy dive journey beforehand.
The value of the diving is as costly as you’ll count on from a excessive finish resort like this. A 1-tank dive on the Ritz-Carlton Maldives is $190++ with reductions out there from 6 tanks onwards. That is virtually double the worth of the diving on the Park Hyatt Hadahaa which I already thought had loopy costs!
Sandbank Go to
There’s nothing extra stunning than a sandbank in the course of the ocean in my view. From the Ritz, there’s a sandbank you’ll be able to go to that’s about half-hour away by boat. The resort will manage weekly journeys to go to the Sandbanks and I believe that is truly among the finest offers in your entire resort.
We went through jet-ski to the sandbank as a result of I didn’t know that they had been providing boat journeys. When you like jet skis, I can extremely suggest a go to to the sandbank however be ready to pay an insane amount of cash. We paid roughly $700 for one jet skito the sandbank and again (with a information in fact).
We didn’t know beforehand that the journey was only one.5 hours which was approach too quick for such an tour. It took 20-25 minutes to get to the sandbank which meant we solely had about 30-40 minutes on the sandbank. After taking a couple of movies and images, we needed to go away once more. For $700, this was a giant waste of cash and positively one of many few gripes I had with the Ritz.
Our Aris Meeha apologized for the confusion and made it as much as us later. The confusion was that this tour was extra of a “jetski tour” versus a sandbank tour (which we care extra for).
Snorkeling actions
There are quite a few snorkeling journeys you’ll be able to take from the Ritz Maldives. Snorkeling journeys can be found to see the turtles, nurse sharks, and reefs close by to the resort. These journeys are generally run as a bunch journey as soon as per week or a non-public boat with your personal information. We didn’t find yourself doing any of those actions since we had simply completed a Maldives dive liveaboard the week prior.
There isn’t a lot a home reef within the Ritz-Carlton Maldives as it’s on a man-made island. Nonetheless, there are a couple of coral patches being grown across the resort which has attracted a little bit of fish life. Across the overwater villa ring, you’ll be able to usually instances see issues like stingrays, black tip sharks, and even cuttlefish along with varied reef fish. Snorkeling gear is freed from cost and they’ll convey it to your room upon request.
Youngsters Membership
When you’re bringing the entire household, relaxation assured that your child might be properly taken care of if you’d like some personal time.
The youngsters heart on the Ritz is insane. Designed for these ages 4 to 12, this system makes use of its 4 pillars—land, water, environmental accountability and tradition—to create a schedule of day by day actions together with sports activities, arts and crafts, cooking lessons and extra. The expertise is predicated out of the Ritz Youngsters Membership, futuristic indoor-outdoor house with playgrounds, napping pods, an space for video video games and flicks, and a pool with slides and jets. Babysitting service is accessible at a cost, upon request.
Spa Heart on the Ritz Maldives
The spa of the Ritz Carlton Maldives is situated within the heart of the overwater ring. This enormous donut like construction is gorgeous inside and outside with a spherical gap within the center that enables rainwater to circulate via the middle of the constructing, just like the Jewel in Changi Airport.
Whereas I by no means obtained a therapeutic massage therapy, different visitors I talked to raved about it. 1/3 of the masseuses are from Bali so I’ve little doubt they are going to be wonderful. They did supply a free {couples} therapeutic massage lesson on one of many days which was very enjoyable as we obtained to be taught the right strategies to therapeutic massage one another.
Professional Suggestions for staying on the Ritz Carlton Maldives
Arrive early to the Ritz Carlton Maldives
That is my absolute #1 must-do tip for visiting the Ritz Maldives and primarily every other resort within the nation. In case your flight arrives in Male Worldwide Airport within the afternoon or within the night, completely keep in Male for the evening. When you’re already paying many hundreds of {dollars} an evening to remain within the villa of your desires, why would you waste all of that cash by arriving within the night when issues are already darkish and the day is over?
Keep in a lodge close to Male Worldwide Airport within the city of Hulhemale simply north of the airport. There are 100 totally different choices with completely acceptable lodging for beneath $100 an evening. Your lodge might be not more than a 15 minute drive and many of the accommodations supply complimentary shuttle service and breakfast.
The next morning, you’re already refreshed and able to benefit from the resort. The Ritz’s boat runs all all through the day and you will get a slot on the primary boat journey to the resort round 9am. When you’re fortunate, your room might be prepared upon arrival. In any other case, your baggage will already be saved and you may benefit from the full suite of amenities on the resort!
Get the native breakfast
As I’ve already talked about in earlier sections, getting a neighborhood breakfast is the way in which to go. Not solely is the native Maldivian meals scrumptious, however you get a more healthy breakfast for a lot much less cash with out overeating to start out your day. It’s a win-win scenario.
Pre-book all of your dinners
Whereas lunch is rarely busy, dinners can generally be booked out. The Ritz and Fari islands typically revolves round small and intimate eating places, versus enormous resort eating halls so ensure that to e-book issues forward of time. Standard eating places like Arabesque will see plenty of demand from visitors, particularly throughout excessive season months.
How a lot did we spend on the Ritz?
In whole, we spent about $4,000 USD on the Ritz for our 5 evening keep. This doesn’t embody the round-trip speedboat transfers however is solely for the meals, actions, and alcohol.
We drank little or no (possibly 2-3 glasses of wine your entire keep) so this invoice may have been a lot greater if we elected for the $300 bottles of champagne. All the pieces will be paid for by bank card on the resort.
Closing Ideas
The Ritz is likely one of the greatest accommodations I’ve ever stayed in. From the aesthetics, design, pure magnificence, and customer support, every part was high notch. The employees went out of their method to make us really feel like household and elevated the already unbelievable expertise. It felt like something we needed was potential (though we’re very low upkeep folks).
You recognize you actually love a lodge if you end up already dreading testing on day 2 of a 5 day keep. It virtually felt like I left a bit of myself on the Ritz. Not a nasty factor as I’m already planning a visit again!
FAQ for the Ritz Carlton Maldives
What’s the distinction between ocean view and lagoon view at Ritz Carlton Maldives?
The villas on the ocean view and lagoon view sides are an identical. It merely comes right down to the view. Lagoon view will get extra solar typically and faces the sundown. The Ocean view villas face the open ocean and the dawn. Either side have that unbelievable turquoise coloured reef in entrance of the villa. The draw back to the lagoon facet is that there’s a fixed circulate of boat site visitors that may see instantly into your villa. If this bothers you, I might positively elect to decide on the ocean view rooms.
How Costly is the Ritz Carlton Maldives?
Anticipate to pay someplace between $2,500 to $4,000 for the most cost effective ocean view overwater villa. This value doesn’t embody the velocity boat switch and doesn’t embody value for meals or alcohol as there aren’t any all inclusive choices.
For reserving on factors, you’ll be able to count on to pay 100,000 to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy Factors per evening. While you e-book with factors, you’ll get the fifth evening free in case you e-book for 4 ngihts.
What’s the greatest time of yr to go to the Ritz Maldives?
Like the remainder of the Maldives, the most effective time to go to is the dry season between November and April. Dec to Feb are the height seasons however costs might be greater. Wet season is usually a good time to go to as a result of it doesn’t rain your entire time. When you get fortunate, you’ll get image excellent climate at an inexpensive value with much less vacationers.
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