Fari Islands sits in North Malé Atoll, 45 kilometres out from Velana. The Ritz-Carlton has its own island within the archipelago and shares a marina village with its neighbours. Speedboats run on demand, around the clock, and that is the single most useful thing about the place: land at two in the morning and you still sleep on the island rather than in Malé.
Getting there
Speedboat only, 24 hours a day. No seaplane, no daylight cut-off, no wasted night in the city because the flight from Delhi landed late. The transfer is quoted separately and it is expensive, materially more than most North Malé speedboat resorts, so ask us for the figure before you set a budget rather than after.
What the rate covers
We quote the Ritz-Carlton on half board: breakfast and dinner. Lunch, drinks and the specialist restaurants are settled on the island. Every villa comes with an infinity pool, a sundeck and an Aris Meeha, the resort's own butler, on call 24 hours.
Eating
Seven restaurants and bars across the island and the marina village. La Locanda is Italian and does breakfast. Summer Pavilion is Cantonese. IWAU runs two Japanese chef's tables. Beach Shack is Mediterranean and the one the resort points families towards. EAU Bar circles the infinity pool and turns from lunch to DJ sets after dark. Tum Tum does Asian street food down at Fari Marina Village.
Arabesque is worth calling out separately: Levantine and North Indian. On a fourth night, with parents in tow, that is not a small thing.
Families
Ritz Kids takes four to twelve year olds in an indoor-outdoor club with playgrounds, napping pods, a games and film room, and a pool with slides. Babysitting is available and charged. Minimum age to check in is 18.
The spa
A ring set over the lagoon: nine treatment rooms, a spa suite with its own relaxation lounge, a salon and a boutique. Products are Bamford.
Who it suits
Couples and families who want a late arrival to cost them nothing, and who will enjoy a marina village rather than resent it. Anyone who values service over seclusion. The butler is the product here, and it is very good.
Who it does not
Anyone after a small barefoot island. Fari has a promenade, a marina and neighbours, and it is designed to. Anyone whose budget is thin once the room rate is paid, because the transfer for two runs into four figures in dollars. And divers picking a resort on its house reef should ask us first rather than assume.
Location
Fari Islands, North Malé Atoll, Maldives
For current rates, villa availability and transfer costs, message our Maldives specialists on WhatsApp or send us an enquiry. We reply within 24 hours.