Assessment: One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives

June 12, 2024

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Wednesday newsletters all the time function a lodge or flight evaluation.

I not too long ago loved an outstanding vacation within the Maldives, the place I stayed on the archipelago’s 4 most unique ultra-luxury resorts. You possibly can learn my opinions right here:

Assessment: Beond Airways A319 Enterprise Class from Zürich to the Maldives
Assessment: One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives (immediately)
Assessment: Cheval Blanc Randheli Maldives
Assessment: Soneva Fushi
Assessment: Soneva Jani
Assessment: Etihad Airways B787 Enterprise Class from Male to Abu Dhabi
Assessment: Etihad Airways A380 First Class from Abu Dhabi to London

Immediately: Assessment of One&Solely Reethi Rah Resort, Maldives

Extremely-luxe One&Solely Reethi Rah Resort supplied a stage of fashion and class unsurpassed on the earth when it opened in 2005 and it nonetheless delivers because the Grand Dame of the Maldives. Set on a partly man-made, octopus-shaped island within the North Male Atoll, the resort is blessed with a unprecedented 6 km (3,7 mi) of shoreline, dotted with white sand coves and turquoise bays. All 128 spacious villas are discreetly positioned amidst lovely landscaping, every occupying its personal secluded piece of sandy shore or personal deck over the lagoon’s crystal clear waters. Meals is revolutionary and of the best high quality, ready in an inspiring number of methods, and employees are all the time receptive to the non-public necessities of every visitor. Set aside from the remainder of the resort, the spa is situated inside tranquil gardens and manicured lawns. One&Solely Reethi Rah is a favourite amongst royals and A-list Hollywood celebrities.

One&Solely Reethi Rah additionally options in my high 10 lists of the finest luxurious resorts within the Maldives, the world’s finest lodge spas, the finest luxurious accommodations within the Maldives that may be reached with no seaplane, and the finest One&Solely Resorts on the earth.

Have you ever ever stayed at One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldive? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this evaluation (extra information and images under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

Surrounded by the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean, nestled inside lush tropical gardens and fringed with pure white sand seashores, One&Solely Reethi Rah is without doubt one of the Maldives’ most unique resorts, providing an unrivalled stage of seclusion, alternative and personalised exploration. The property is located on one of many largest personal islands within the Maldives, which stretches throughout 44 hectares (109 acres) in space and 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) in circumference, with 6 km (3.7 miles) of shoreline and 12 powder-soft white sandy seashores, each mendacity in a secluded cove. For the reason that island is so massive, company get bikes (for water and seaside villas) or a personal golf buggy (grand villas and residences) to get round and discover the island. For comfort, time on the island has been set one hour forward of Malé time, offering an additional hour of daylight.

One&Solely Reethi Rah is definitely reached by a 45-minute luxurious yacht journey from Velana Worldwide airport (the Maldives’ principal airport). In the course of the journey, company are supplied welcome snacks & drinks by the employees and in addition take pleasure in complimentary WiFi. Alternatively, the ultra-luxe resort will also be reached by a quarter-hour personal seaplane flight. Upon arrival, company are welcomed by the resort employees & administration, and make their approach by a spectacular reception, an open picket pavilion main from the marina to the island’s lush gardens. Tropical in design, with eight massive carved inside columns atop cool black polished terrazzo flooring, inset with teak, the house is scattered with low snug seating. From right here, company are transported to their villa by buggy.

A complete of 118 spacious villas together with 90 seaside villas and and 28 water villas, are located discreetly alongside the shoreline the place crystal clear waters lap gently. Every villa, whether or not on a personal powder-white seaside or suspended above the turquoise lagoon, is a self-contained sanctuary of luxurious. Seaside villas are separated by lush vegetation, whereas water villas linked to the island by overwater walkways are in small clusters of 4, every villa going through a special path, offering a serene setting. Each villa is historically thatched by native craftsmen and options beneficiant terraces and verandas constituted of Balan wooden from the Malaysian a part of Borneo, seamlessly mixing indoor and out of doors dwelling. The villas’ up to date, Asian-influenced interiors exude class and magnificence with pure magnificence, utilizing supplies equivalent to coconut shell, sea grass, silk and mahogany.

Throughout my vacation at One&Solely Reethi Rah, I stayed in a seaside villa, which occupied its personal stretch of sandy shore on the island’s sundown facet, these villas. Providing a direct view of the Indian Ocean, the villa featured an expansive backyard & seaside space, with a personal pool, massive veranda, out of doors seating space, hammock and solar beds. The villa was outfitted with two queen beds in addition to a day mattress (which might have been sufficient to accommodate a journey occasion of three or 4). The ensuite loos was outfitted with double vanities and an enormous, over-sized, custom-made terrazzo bathtub, positioned on the window, for gorgeous views over the seaside. The lavatory additionally had a walk-in bathe, which supplied the choice of rain bathe or energy showers. A bottle of Champagne, contemporary fruits and sweets have been supplied as a welcome amenity.

Extremely-luxe One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives was designed by world-famous architect Jean Michel Gathy, Design Director of Denniston Worldwide Architects. Gathy was tasked with making a design that lives as much as the resort’s namesake – Reethi Rah means ‘Stunning Island’ in Dhivehi. Gathy and his staff have been chargeable for the structure, interiors and lighting of the all villa resort, in addition to the design of the outside areas surrounding every of the 118 visitor villas with three phrases in thoughts – luxurious, house and privateness. The resort’s stand-alone pavilions and villas have been designed to be architecturally easy on the surface and to mix within the lush vegetation surrounding them; nonetheless that is coupled with dramatic, flamboyant Asian type interiors that use robust vivid colors, blended with tropical supplies and pure textures – teak, rattan, mahogany, coconut shell, and silk.

Eating choices at One&Solely Reethi Rah are assorted with revolutionary and contemporary delicacies ready with actual ardour and aptitude, served at six various eating places and bars, or privately in-villa or at one of many resort’s secluded out of doors eating areas.
- Fanditha, an unique beachside restaurant and the perfect sundown spot on the island, serves an a la carte menu of scrumptious Center Japanese delicacies.
- On the coronary heart of the island, Reethi Restaurant serves scrumptious breakfasts, providing an array of contemporary bakeries, tropical fruits and wholesome superfood dishes. By night time, the venue presents distinctive eating with exquisitely executed pan-Asian impressed dishes and high quality grilled flavours from the land, farm, and sea in a charcoal oven. After dinner, company could make their strategy to the colourful cocktail bar, Rah Bar, for reside music, cool martinis and unique cocktails.
- Subsequent to Reethi Restaurant is Rabarbaro, an informal restaurant serving an actual style of Italy within the Maldives with views of the long-lasting One&Solely Reethi Rah lap pool.
- In the course of the day, company can pattern an amazing choice of salads, seafood and grills at feet-in-the-sand eating spot The Seaside Membership.
- The resort’s signature restaurant Tapasake – at the moment present process in depth renovation – is about on the island’s sundown facet and presents world-class Japanese expertise in addition to some traditional Japanese favorites.
- One&Solely Reethi Rah’s lovely setting additionally supplies the proper canvas for an array of personal eating choices, from an intimate sandbank in the midst of the Indian Ocean, to secluded seashores beneath the celebrities.

The award-winning One&Solely Spa at One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives presents a holistic program of therapies, magnificence, health and wellness. The peaceable retreat is situated on the island’s dawn facet, tucked away from the remainder of the resort inside lush manicured gardens. The spa boasts 14 therapy pavilions nestled beneath thatch roofs, a few of them overlooking the Indian Ocean. Visiting practitioners from across the globe add additional experience to the award-winning spa providing, which incorporates in depth services for company to take pleasure in together with swirling vitality swimming pools, saunas and crystal steam rooms. The spa additionally homes a studio by the world-renowned French podiatrist Bastien Gonzalez, a hair salon, a modern gents’s grooming salon and a yoga pavilion. Subsequent to the spa is a completely outfitted gymnasium, that includes state-of-the-art indoor & out of doors services and a Recharge Bar for a post-workout power increase.

One&Solely Reethi Rah has a number of actions and interesting excursions to select from. Membership One on the seaside membership is the hub for all issues energetic on the resort, together with an Artwork Studio, two out of doors tennis courts, a floodlit padel courtroom, a climbing wall and a FIFA-approved skilled artificial grass soccer area. The action-packed water sports activities heart presents a variety of water sports activities, together with canoes, pedal boats, windsurfing in addition to jet skis, water ski, flyboard and seabob. Membership One additionally presents seaside volleyball, badminton, desk tennis and board video games to be loved by all ages. Youthful company can benefit from the KidsOnly and One Tribe packages designed to encourage creativity and creativeness. Visitors may also uncover the secrets and techniques of the Indian Ocean on the resort’s dive centre, with exhilarating snorkelling journeys equivalent to Shark Safari and Turtle Journey, and dive excursions to discover the underwater marine life.

Reethi Rah is managed by One&Solely, one in every of my favourite lodge manufacturers on the earth. The fabulous One&Solely model was created in 2002 solely for the posh resort market by Solomon Kerzner – a South African accountant and enterprise magnate – and now options a few of the highest-rated resorts in probably the most idyllic spots on the earth, such because the Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Rwanda and Cape City. Every resort within the One&Solely assortment not solely presents distinctive design and ambiance which embraces the native environment, but in addition an unparalleled dedication to the best expertise on each potential stage. Luxurious lodging is complemented by impeccable service, unique wellness sanctuaries, full of life leisure and a number of actions, in addition to beautiful culinary adventures from a few of the world’s most completed cooks.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

A considerable a part of One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives is man-made (the unique island was largely prolonged). You don’t actually discover it at first sight, for the reason that tropical vegetation, seashores and lagoons have a really pure look. Nevertheless, the seaside on the seaside membership (Membership One) in addition to Reethi Seaside (close to the principle pool advanced) are the one pure seashores on the island, that includes powdery white sands and an extremely blue lagoon. The ten different seashores are man-made and you may really feel it when taking a stroll right here for the reason that sand is little rougher (or much less powdery) beneath the toes in comparison with the pure seashores. However don’t let that put you off: the island’s magnificence is past phrases and nicer than a few of the genuine Maldivian islands.

Whereas the overwater villas at One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives are tremendously spectacular, their exterior decks don’t provide a lot privateness, particularly throughout daylight. Your neighbors may see you in addition to the (few) folks on the abandoned seashores as you might be uncovered to them. If (out of doors) privateness is a should for you, I like to recommend to e-book a seaside villa as an alternative of an overwater villa (privateness is assured at most seaside villas).

One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives lacks a home reef, which may be a bummer for snorkelers. That stated, about 100 meters (or 300 toes) in entrance of the seaside membership (Membership One), there may be good reef with loads of underwater life (you may attain that reef, both by swimming or taking a pedalo). As well as, at night time, there are all the time stingrays and sharks within the waters across the overwater villas.

One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives is not low cost, however it is best to know that moving into. Having stated that, the charges and costs are in step with the opposite high resorts within the Maldives. For instance, a 3 course course dinner can be round $180-200 USD per individual (with out wine and with out the heavy taxes), so attempt to e-book a halfboard package deal. A very powerful factor is that, whereas it isn’t low cost, it’s well worth the funding as you’ll expertise an excellent, top-notch vacation.

MY VERDICT

Location: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Pool: 10/10
Rooms: 10/10
Meals: 9/10
Breakfast: 10/10
Spa: 10/10
Service: +/10
Wow issue: 9/10
Worth for cash: 9/10
General expertise: 9.4/10 (distinctive)

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Get monetary savings: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving through Virtuoso (e.g. villa improve, day by day breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit score).

Get monetary savings: learn my suggestions for getting the perfect deal at a luxurious lodge just like the One&Solely Reethi Rah (and/or obtain many free perks).

Get monetary savings: e-book a package deal together with transfers and (breakfast minimal) meal plan to keep away from big additional prices.

Room tip: all villas are wonderful, no matter location. Whereas the sundown facet of the island is my favourite (merely due to the spectacular sunsets to be loved out of your personal villa), one has to remember that the sundown facet of the island has extra windy climate and rougher waters as in comparison with the dawn facet of the island (particularly within the moist season, which runs from Might to October).

Room tip: if privateness is a should, e-book a seaside villa, not a water villa.

Learn my suggestions for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The most effective climate within the Maldives is between January and April, which additionally means excessive season (and skyrocketing lodge charges). The monsoon runs from Might to October, peaking in June. It’s price paying greater costs and sticking to the dry season as there may be nothing to do on a wet day besides drink, eat, work out, or scuba dive. Particularly November and December, which are sometimes labelled as dry season months, have been very unsettled in recent times.

HOW TO GET THERE

One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives is definitely reachable by a 40 min speedboat trip or a 15 min seaplane flight from Male Worldwide Airport (MLE). Examine the Wikipedia web page of Male Worldwide Airport for an up to date checklist of airways that provide flights to Male Worldwide Airport.

PHOTOS

Right here’s a choice of my images of One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives To view extra lodge images (together with breakfast, lunch and dinner), click on right here.