Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

The Vabbinfaru was the most idyllic retreat for our Easter break. From the moment we met the hotel representative at Male airport to the moment we returned it was faultless. We had a very smooth transfer and when we arrived at the resort we had a warm greeting. We had Liu taking care of us for our stay and she couldn’t do enough. Our rooms were kept immaculate and each night we had a lovely gift from the hotel during turndown. The food was amazing - Japanese restaurant and Thai both delicious and a buffet on the beach twice a week was amazing so much to choose from and such good quality. We loved the breakfast and the lunches at the restaurants. We went on a snorkelling trip which was wonderful. We saw mantas, turtles, sharks, just the most memorable trip. We also did some kayaking and some fun inflatable rides. We went to a marine talk as the resort has a marine lab for scientific research and to promote conservation of the island. It was really interesting and what they are doing is very important work to preserve the island and care for the marine life. Overall we had the best stay and will be returning next year. We loved it!!

We had a wonderful stay at banyan tree vabbinfaru, the service here is exceptional from all the staff, and we would like to give special thanks to our friendly and beautiful host Tima / Fatima. We also received mini surprises/complimentary gifts or sweets everyday that made our stay even nicer. The villa was comfortable and luxurious, and the best part is the reef and snorkelling - amazing. We saw all different kinds of fishes and swam with black tip reef sharks. There’s also resident turtles that we unfortunately didnt manage to catch - next time! The weather was wonderful (and hot) when we were there and we saw some spectacular sunsets. We really enjoyed the maldivian night performances and food & drinks, and our dolphin cruise tour. The dessert and pastries here are spectacular (from a top tier pastry or dessert chef), the food is average - though my food standards are really high, coming from the culinary haven and melting pot of singapore. One night i had extra salty mashed potatoes, and regular battered prawns when i ordered tempura mixed seafood from the allegedly award winning Japanese restaurant. It was neither tempura-ed nor mixed seafood. The bbq during maldivian night was nice but the seasoning was really simple/average. The butter chicken was lacking depth of flavour (and butter). Most of the food is average, the best dishes i tried were probably the local maldivian fish curry and the eggs benedict. The magaritas we had at Napoli bar were also not great and pretty diluted. The iced matcha was really diluted - probably due to poor grade matcha powder, and coffees are average. I really liked the mocktail we had at the management cocktail night though! And my fiance enjoyed the iced tea cocktail he had. Overall, i would definitely come back again. We had an all round great and memorable time here.

The staff and service here were excellent across the board - Okta from the front desk was especially friendly and proactive. Overall, I felt well taken care of and would definitely come back again. The one area of potential improvement could be to update the rooms as they could feel a little dated at times.

Very nice and confortable resort, with the plus coming from the exceptional Madi-Hiyaa japanese restaurant. A real work of art. Villas cosy and well kept , nicely separated each other and with all the comforts. Just a hint: taps declare some aging, should be replaced with more recent and fashionable supply. Good food in every restaurant, but Sangoo Garden, dedicated to outdoor dining, should be available all days, lunch and dinner, and not only for few evenings per week.

We returned to Maldives after COVID and we chose Banyan Tree again due to the last pleasant experience. Our stay at this Maldives resort was truly remarkable, thanks to the extraordinary care and attention from the staff, they went the extra mile to make sure things are well taken care of. Special thanks to Waheed, the hotel manager, whose warm leadership ensured every detail was perfect, and Zendie, the restaurant manager, who made every dining experience delightful and personalized, this definitely helped compensate the quality of the food in the hotel that needs certain improvements. Chef Ann was wonderful and her Thai dishes are one of the best to try on the Island. We were especially touched by Okta, who went above and beyond to assist us even during her off-duty hours, showing genuine kindness and dedication. The presence of a clinic on the island also added peace of mind, reflecting the resort’s commitment to guest well-being. My family got an emergency after diving and good to have the help of the in-house doctor to care for him during our stay. This team’s unmatched hospitality made our trip unforgettable. We can’t wait to return!