With impressive top marks and five star reviews from all the renowned travel websites Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Resort was just the tropical paradise I was looking to completely disconnect.
This eco-friendly resort is set on a peaceful island, small and intimate, where you can feel almost at home in paradise.
The motto at Vabbinfaru is ‘experience life in luxury’ in a beautiful tropical set up with an award-winning Spa.
I was beyond excited for my stay!
How to get to Vabbinfaru
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is located in the Kaafu Atoll, Malé.
From Malé International Airport it’s just 25 minutes by speedboat to the resort.
On arrival I felt so special straight away! The staff received us with a small introduction to the island, fresh towels and refreshing signature juices.
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The incredible villas at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru
Imagine a private villa with your own private pool and jet pool where you can truly experience a sense of peace and privacy. It’s truly amazing!
The villas at Vabbinfaru are built with naturally sourced materials, eco-friendly that fit in perfectly with the island.
Inside they are modern and well designed with all the amenities you’ll need for a relaxed holiday.
I stayed for four nights in the Beachfront Pool Villa with a stunning private pool and jet pool.
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Amongst my favourite amenities were the outdoor shower and the large outdoor space that was completed with this little hut and sofas. What an inspiring view to the sea!
I could just live like that every day easily!
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Then the daily little details in the villa made all the difference when comparing to many other resorts.
The villa was cleaned to the highest standards twice a day, once in the morning and again when we were out for dinner.
There was also a little corner inside the room with incense and essential oils.
They were changed every day with different scents and information about how those scents can help you relax.
The dining experience at Ilaafathi
Ilaafathi is the island restaurant, a casual and relaxing place by the beach where everything is set up to blend in with that tropical and special feeling of being on a private island.
Breakfasts were the best way to start the day. Everyday there was a wide range of Asian to Continental options.
Delicious pastries, waffles and pancakes, mueslis, meats, fish, cheese platters, fresh fruit juices and Maldivian specialties like mas huni (tuna, onion, chilli and coconut).
Also I must mention the coffee as I’m a tough costumer to please on that one! The coffee was freshly brewed and such good quality!
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Champagne was offered as part of the buffet every day. Just outside Ilaafathi back and shoulder massages were complimentary for every guest. Check out my highlights on Instagram.
Can you tell me a better way to start the day? It was just the best!
For lunch and dinner, there was a choice of local and international cuisines with something tasty every day.
I loved the salad bar with so much to choose from and the grilled tuna.
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Naiboli Bar is the island bar by the beach which serves snacks and meals all day and the best cocktails ever!
You can also enjoy other private and more intimate dining experience such as dinner on the beach, a floating breakfast in your private pool, in villa dining or even join a Maldivian cooking class.
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What to do at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru has many activities organized throughout the week plus extra experiences that you might add to your time at the resort.
As I mentioned before, the award winning Spa has a lot of massage treatments and beauty therapies that you can choose from that will make you feel truly relaxed.
Also there’s yoga sessions at sunrise and sunset which are just incredible and meditation regularly during the week.
Even if you never tried yoga or meditation you can join the sessions, it so good!
At Vabbinfaru there’s also the usual water sports that are so popular in the Maldives.
In the water sports and diving center you can rent snorkelling equipment free of charge and set yourself on an adventure around the island, it’s that easy!
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You can also go canoeing around the island and go sailing on a catamaran as well as other island excursions like a Dolphin Cruise or fishing trips.
I must say my favourite was without a doubt snorkelling around!
Not far from the beach you have incredible coral to see and so much variety of different fish and black tips sharks once in a while.
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On Friday nights there’s a Bodu Beru session which is a traditional Maldivian performance of music: drums, singing and dancing.
It was so much fun to see my son joining in the dancing and see the staff involved too!
On Saturday night it’s Movie Night and guests can enjoy watching a movie in the comfortable sofas of Naiboli Bar.
Another great thing you have in this resort is that you can visit Banyan Tree’s sister resort, Angsana Ihuru.
It’s only a two minute away by boat and you can go for the day and enjoy the facilities there or simply go for meal and back.
Marine Conservation Lab at Vabbinfaru
One of the most interesting things you can do at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is to learn about the resort’s marine conservation efforts.
You can join in for a session at The Marine Conservation Lab in the resort to get to know the conservation programme. It aims to create awareness and replant coral reefs as well as to protect endangered species of marine life.
Guests can take part in activities like coral planting and reef cleaning.
They can also participate once a week in the Citizen Science Snorkelling and explore the reef with a marine biologist.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
It was such an excellent stay. The island is beautiful and well looked after, cleanliness is above and beyond of anywhere else I’ve been.
Villas are modern and cosy and the attention to details was one of the things I will always remember.
Wifi was super strong everywhere. I’ve been many times to other islands in the Maldives and never had internet as fast as there.
Staff are genuinely nice and make you feel welcome and always ready to help with any requests.
A special mention to Adam and Nour from reception and Rameez and Moosa from the restaurant. Also the housekeeping staff that we were just incredible!
Hope to come back one day
** This review was written in collaboration with Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Resort. As always thought and opinions remain my own.
📌 PIN ME!
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Love this post! It is now on my bucket list
http://www.Linhybanh.com
The Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru resort in Maldives is such an exotic place to visit.The cozy villas with private pool and jet pool overlooking the turquoise sea serving an array of treats for breakfast, lunch and dinner is nothing short of luxury. Dinner on the beach, floating breakfast and Maldivian cooking class is something I would love to try.Also spa treatment and yoga session at the resort is amazing!
Wow this is stunning, I love all gorgeous landscapes and for some reason that sand looks a little pink in hue is that right? Talk about amazing food and the incredible floating food basket in your own plunge pool. That is really exceptional service and attention to details, I love the whole look and relaxed vibe of this resort, it’s special.
I would certainly enjoy a resort like Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Resort where the motto is all about experiencing life in luxury. A private pool, jet pool and back and shoulder massages would certainly ensure my relaxation. We too are picky about coffee so was glad to know it met your standard. I love the options for private dining. The water spots would seal the deal for us. Looks like a great option in the Maldives.
This place is so much out of this world. Maldives is one of my dream destinations as I love crystalline water and while sand heavenly beaches. The heart shaped floating breakfast on your private pool is something that I would like to try and it is so cool that yoga and meditation classes are offered and sunrise and sunset. I really would like to stay in a place like this combining it with some scuba diving experiences, that I am sure they are top of the list in The Maldives.