Reethi Faru Resort: Honest Review on What to Really Expect

The Reethi Faru Resort is located on its own island in the Raa Atoll.

To get there, you must first fly to Male, the capital of the Maldives.

Then you take a seaplane or boat depending on how far you are from your island. Our international flight arrived late at night, so we actually spent the first night in Male.

We had the option to arrive to Reethi Faru Resort by seaplane or boat. We chose to arrive by seaplane and returned back to Male by boat.

The seaplane only flies during daylight hours and in good weather. When we were scheduled to depart, it was raining. We had to wait until the weather cleared before taking off.

Once we were seated inside the tiny 2 x 1 configuration Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane, our pilot hopped in and started up the plane barefoot.

Lol, yes barefoot! Welcome to the islands!

Then we were whisked away, mesmerized by all the little islands and lagoons below us. Be prepared for the landing. It was a little intense but so much fun!

When we took the boat back on our return trip, it was a very BUMPY ride.

I would strongly advise taking the seaplane both ways! Flying in a seaplane was definitely a bucket list experience for us.

1. Better than the postcards

2. Exotic

3. Is the water really this color?

Most of the resorts in the Maldives will give you the option of a beach or overwater bungalow.

While both are great choices, staying in an overwater bungalow just takes it to the next level. Do it if you have the chance!

Some of the Maldives resorts offer some pretty swanky overwater bungalows with personal plunge pools. That will come with a hefty price.

Reethi Faru Resort offers incredible value for the money.

There’s no personal pool, but you have a gorgeous modern room, a lovely outdoor and indoor shower, a stunning community pool, and a great outdoor space where you can jump right into the super clear turquoise water.

The island = the resort. Make sure to pick one that has great food options since it will be your only choice.

I loved that Reethi Faru Resort offers 5 restaurants and 6 bars to choose from every day. Food options ranged from wood-fired pizzas, local Maldivian dishes, pasta, vegetarian, and fresh seafood dishes.

You are bound to find something you enjoy.

No, this is not 3-star Michelin quality, but that’s not why you flew to the Maldives in the first place.

What you can expect are flavorful, delicious island dishes that won’t leave you disappointed.

If you are looking for foodie experiences, pair your Maldives trip with Hong Kong as we did. Then you get the best of both worlds.

At the time we went, the only restaurant we had to make a reservation for in advance was the Huvandhu Garden. Otherwise, you could just walk in when you were ready to eat. Bon appetite!

Important to note you will have several dining package options to choose from when you book:

• Breakfast only
• Half board (breakfast + dinner at the main restaurant)
• Full board (breakfast + lunch + dinner at main restaurant)
• All-inclusive (breakfast + lunch + dinner + drinks at the main restaurant
• All-inclusive Dine Around Experience (unlimited dining + drinks at any of the 6 restaurants)

We do not eat 3 meals a day, so we just chose the breakfast package and had a liquid diet for lunch. 😉

I’m not a fan of sweet drinks, but I love a great Piña colada every now and then. Especially when you are sitting in the sun and relaxing poolside.

Cocktails are a little weak. Ask for an extra shot of rum to float on top.

Then we rotated among the restaurants for dinner and dined a la carte.

Reethi Faru Resort has a gorgeous infinity pool, where you can watch the seaplanes come and go.

Definitely book a massage at their spa! They do a fantastic job melting your stresses away.

Reethi Faru Resort does have a gym and offers racket sports, but we did not use these amenities.

Rates will vary depending on the time of the year, type of room (garden villa, over-the-water villa, etc). and meal plan (breakfast only, all-inclusive, etc).

Garden Villa: $300 USD+

Beach Villa: $445 USD+

Over the Water Villa: $545 USD+

Be aware if you choose the seaplane for your roundtrip transfer, it’s expensive! Expect to pay around $520 USD roundtrip per person.

What you may not realize is the Maldives is composed of 1,190 islands. All these islands are grouped into 26 atolls. An atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef surrounding a lagoon.

Each resort sits on its own island.

A house reef is the resort’s reef you can swim to right from the shore. No boat is required.

We love to snorkel. Some of our favorite snorkeling destinations have been St. John USVI, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Bonaire, Belize, Moorea, and Bora Bora. The Maldives also tops that list!  

Having an amazing house reef was one of the top things we looked for in a Maldives resort.

And Reethi Faru Resort has an incredible house reef, which is why I included it in the top 6 Maldives resorts for the best snorkeling. We felt like we were swimming in a fish tank.

Blue and blacktail surgeonfish, parrotfish, black pyramid butterflyfish, blue fusilier, triggerfish, white spotted pufferfish, clown triggerfish, empress angelfish, orange clownfish, unicorn fish, scorpionfish, oriental sweetlip, pipefish, goatfish, spotted sweetlip … and those were just the ones I could identify!

So many fish.

Here is a Maldives Fish Chart I created with my personal snorkeling photos of 42 fish species you may see.

All of this action was literally feet away from our overwater bungalow.

If you love snorkeling, don’t miss my full review on the Reethi Faru house reef below.

The season you choose to visit will also have a big impact on price. Rates vary widely, from around $250 to $2,000 per night.

After weeks of combing through reviews and comparing resorts, we decided that Reethi Faru Resort offered the best balance of cost and quality.

Since we were already planning a side trip to Hong Kong with plenty of foodie stops, I wanted to be mindful of both our budget and the value we’d get from our Maldives stay.

Reethi Faru felt like a win on both fronts—and we were even able to book an overwater bungalow!

There were a few resorts we contemplated that are also known for having amazing house reefs.

The other strong contenders we’ll consider for future stays are Kandolhu, Mirihi, and Baros.  

Do you want an amazing house reef? Would you prefer a beach villa or a water villa? How important are dining options, distance from Male, or the type of transfers—seaplane versus boat?

And, of course, there’s the all-important question: how much will it cost?

When my husband and I travel, we always consider whether we’re getting good value for the money. We’ve stayed at a wide range of accommodations, from budget-friendly boutique hotels to ultra-luxurious resorts.

I’m happy to spend more when it’s truly worth it.

Fortunately, Reethi Faru Resort offers excellent accommodations and service at a reasonable cost—so you won’t have to break the bank for an unforgettable experience.

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Questions about our stay at Reethi Faru Resort?

Let me know in the comments below!