Reethi Faru Resort: Honest Review on What to Really Expect

by | Last updated Aug 27, 2023 | Hotel Reviews Asia, Maldives

We have all felt that travel envy. You’re scrolling through your Instagram feed and suddenly stop. Overwater bungalow suspended over mesmerizing ultra-clear turquoise waters. White powdery sand. Gorgeous sunset as the backdrop. Where is this magical place? Welcome to the Maldives! When you start to research how to make this dream vacation happen, the sheer number of resorts to choose from is overwhelming! How do you narrow it down? I am going to walk you through our personal experience at Reethi Faru Resort to help you decide if it’s right for you.

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The Location + Arrival 

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.

Flying from Hong Kong to Male in Maldives

Screen on the back of the plane seat showing our flight path from Hong Kong to Male in the Maldives

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.

Arriving at Reethi Faru Resort via Seaplane

Arriving at Reethi Faru Resort via Seaplane

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!

Pilot flying barefoot on Maldives seaplane

Pilot flying barefoot on Maldives seaplane

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!

Flying over islands in Maldives in a seaplane

Flying over islands in Maldives in a seaplane

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.

The First Three Impressions

1. Better than the postcards.

2. Exotic.

3. Is the water really this color?

The Rooms

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!

Overwater bungalows at Reethi Faru Resort in the Maldives

Overwater bungalows at Reethi Faru Resort in the Maldives

It is important to pick which side you want your bungalow to face (if that’s an option). Facing west will give you some amazing sunsets during cocktail hour, and facing east will reward you with beautiful sunrises while you sip on your morning coffee.

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.

Inside overwater bungalow at Reethi Faru Resort in the Maldives

Inside our overwater bungalow at Reethi Faru Resort 

Overwater bungalow bathroom at Reethi Faru Resort in Maldives

Overwater bungalow bathroom at Reethi Faru Resort 

Overwater bungalow deck at Reethi Faru in the Maldives

Overwater bungalow deck at Reethi Faru

The Food & Drink

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.

Al fresco dining at Reethi Faru Resort in the Maldives

Al fresco dining at Reethi Faru Resort

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.

Dhiyavaru Restaurant at Reethi Faru Resort in the Maldives

Dhiyavaru Restaurant at Reethi Faru Resort

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!

Huvandhu Garden Restaurant at Reethi Faru Resort in the Maldives

Huvandhu Garden Restaurant at Reethi Faru Resort 

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.

Sipping a pina colada poolside at Reethi Faru Resort in the Maldives

Nothing says vacation like a Piña colada! Pro tip: Ask for an extra shot of rum to float on the top!

The Amenities 

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POOL

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

The Pool at Reethi Faru Resort in the Maldives

Watching the seaplanes at the community pool at Reethi Faru Resort

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SPA

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

Coconut Spa at Reethi Faru Resort in Maldives

Coconut Spa at Reethi Faru Resort in Maldives

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GYM/SPORTS CENTER

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

The Rates

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: $250 USD+

Over the Water Villa: $350 USD+

Be aware if you choose the seaplane for your roundtrip transfer, it’s expensive! Expect to pay around $420 USD per person.

The Reasons for Choosing This Resort 

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#1- INCREDIBLE HOUSE REEF

Clownfish at Reethi Faru Resort in Maldives

Clownfish at Reethi Faru Resort in Maldives

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, Belize, 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.

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

House reef located right off the overwater bungalow at Reethi Faru Resort in the Maldives

All of this reef action is right off your overwater bungalow deck! 

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

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#2- GOOD VALUE FOR THE MONEY

There’s no way around it. If you are traveling to the Maldives, it’s going to be expensive. Between the international flight, the cost of the transfers to/from Male via boat or seaplane, the lodging and dining packages, tips, and excursions, the cost can add up quickly.

The time of the year you choose will also dictate the price. Prices widely range from around $250-$2000/night. After weeks of research and sifting through the numerous hotels, we determined Reethi Faru Resort hit the sweet spot.

We were already including a side trip to Hong Kong with numerous foodie stops in our itinerary. I wanted to make sure we balanced the cost and value of our time in the Maldives.

Who doesn’t love a great deal? That’s how you’ll feel when you book Reethi Faru Resort. And we were able to get an overwater bungalow!

Other Resorts We Considered

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.  

Final Thoughts on Reethi Faru Resort

You will be overwhelmed with the many options of where to stay in the Maldives. Decide what’s important to you.

Awesome house reef? Beach vs. water villa? Variety of food options? Distance from Male to your island? Arrive by seaplane or boat? Excursions offered? And the all-important question … what is this going to cost?

When my husband and I travel, we always ask ourselves if we are getting good value for the money.

We have stayed in a variety of accommodations from very affordable boutique hotels like Anio Boutique Hotel in Hoi An, Vietnam to super-luxury lodges like Lion Sands River Lodge in South Africa. I don’t mind spending money if it’s going to be worth it.

Luckily, Reethi Faru Resort offers incredible lodging and service at a reasonable cost. And you won’t have to take out a loan to make it happen.

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