Elite Traveler HRS 2025

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

seasonally, too, so repeat visitors will always fi nd something new.

language) who is on hand to help with any request. All villas also come with a bicycle with a basket for roaming around the island (golf carts are available, too). DINE The dining options at this resort are seriously impressive — on the island itself, La Laconda serves a bountiful breakfast bu ff et and homemade pasta for lunch or dinner; the Summer Pavilion is a chic setting serving Cantonese fare; Iwau (meaning ‘to celebrate’ in Japanese) is an open-air, intimate spot where diners gather around the open kitchen to dine on succulent seafood and meat; Eau Bar is the adult’s only restaurant; the Beach Shack is laidback barefoot dining. If you somehow run out of options, however, a quick ferry ride over to the neighboring island o ff ers up more delights and o ff ers a change of scenery. There, you’ll fi nd Arabesque with its inviting sunken dining room, inventive cocktails and Middle Eastern-inspired menu. There’s also a food trailer called Tum Tum that serves bao buns, noodles and dumplings. Some of the dining options change

THE RITZ-CARLTON MALDIVES, FARI ISLANDS FARI ISLANDS, MALDIVES The Maldives has more luxury resorts than you can shake a coconut at. So, how to make one stand out? The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is as uber-luxe as you’d expect from the hotel chain juggernaut, but it’s the small touches that make all thedi ff erence here — touches being the operative word, as pretty much every single member of sta ff greeted me by touching their hand to their heart, a Maldivian gesture which I quickly adopted during my visit. Opened in 2021 as the brand’s fi rst Maldivian outpost, the resort is set on three connected islands and has 100 villas, fi ve restaurants (as well as the option to nip o ff to another island for more dining delights — more on that later), kids club, fully equipped gym and yoga studio, and a circular shaped spa. STAY Eschewing the usual style of thatched roofs, the villas here are sleek and modern — the work of Kerry Hill, the late celebrated architect. Each villa has its own in fi nity pool, outdoor shower, and spacious sundeck. While most guests to the Maldives opt for the classic overwater villa, the beachfront villas here mean that you can roll out of bed and step right onto the beach to watch the sun streak the sky pink over the Indian Ocean. Each villa comes with the services of an Aris Meehas (which means ‘person who is assigned to a royal member’ in the local Dhievehi

RELAX Now, you’re probably already super relaxed considering the location. But if you want to slip into a state of nirvana, pay The Ritz-Carlton Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands a visit. The ring-shaped structure curves around a central lagoon (water features are one of Hill’s calling cards) and the nine treatment rooms (which are named for the Yin and Yang energies) are dotted along the circular shape. The treatment menu is plentiful — try the Maldivian Signature Rejuvenation which uses coconuts and sand to exfoliate and stimulate the skin. The gym is also excellent and open 24/7 with a separate yoga studio. If you prefer running and want to explore the island on foot, there’s a charming running station stocked with ice-cold bottles of water, snacks and cold towels. By Samantha Coles From $4,465 per night. Contact maldives. reservations@ritzcarlton.com, +960 400 0999, ritzcarlton.com

Iwau restaurant

The circular-shaped spa

Photos Christopher Cypert