Luxury Travel

Overview: One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives

June 13, 2024

Wednesday newsletters all the time characteristic a lodge or flight evaluate.

I just lately loved an outstanding vacation within the Maldives, the place I stayed on the archipelago’s 4 most unique ultra-luxury resorts. You may learn my critiques right here:

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

Right now: Overview of One&Solely Reethi Rah Resort, Maldives

Extremely-luxe One&Solely Reethi Rah Resort provided a degree of fashion and class unsurpassed on the planet 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 stunning landscaping, every occupying its personal secluded piece of sandy shore or personal deck over the lagoon’s crystal clear waters. Meals is progressive and of the best high quality, ready in an inspiring number of methods, and workers are all the time receptive to the private necessities of each visitor. Set other than the remainder of the resort, the spa is positioned 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 greatest luxurious resorts within the Maldives, the world’s greatest lodge spas, the greatest luxurious resorts within the Maldives that may be reached and not using a seaplane, and the greatest One&Solely Resorts on the planet.

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

On this evaluate (extra information and photographs 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 likely one of the Maldives’ most unique resorts, providing an unrivalled degree of seclusion, selection 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 huge, friends get bikes (for water and seaside villas) or a non-public 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’ foremost airport). Through the journey, friends are provided welcome snacks & drinks by the workers and in addition take pleasure in complimentary WiFi. Alternatively, the ultra-luxe resort may also be reached by a quarter-hour personal seaplane flight. Upon arrival, friends are welcomed by the resort workers & administration, and make their method by way of a spectacular reception, an open wood 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 ground, inset with teak, the house is scattered with low comfy seating. From right here, friends 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 non-public powder-white seaside or suspended above the turquoise lagoon, is a self-contained sanctuary of luxurious. Seashore villas are separated by lush vegetation, whereas water villas linked to the island by overwater walkways are in small clusters of 4, every villa dealing with a distinct course, 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 residing. The villas’ up to date, Asian-influenced interiors exude class and elegance with pure magnificence, utilizing supplies corresponding 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 aspect, these villas. Providing a direct view of the Indian Ocean, the villa featured an expansive backyard & seaside space, with a non-public 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 celebration of three or 4). The ensuite bogs was outfitted with double vanities and an enormous, over-sized, custom-made terrazzo bathtub, positioned on the window, for beautiful views over the seaside. The lavatory additionally had a walk-in bathe, which provided the choice of rain bathe or energy showers. A bottle of Champagne, recent fruits and sweets had been provided 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 had been accountable 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 had been designed to be architecturally easy on the skin and to mix within the lush vegetation surrounding them; nonetheless that is coupled with dramatic, flamboyant Asian fashion 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 progressive and recent 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 places.
- Fanditha, an unique beachside restaurant and one of the best sundown spot on the island, serves an a la carte menu of scrumptious Center Jap delicacies.
- On the coronary heart of the island, Reethi Restaurant serves scrumptious breakfasts, providing an array of recent bakeries, tropical fruits and wholesome superfood dishes. By evening, the venue affords distinctive eating with exquisitely executed pan-Asian impressed dishes and positive grilled flavours from the land, farm, and sea in a charcoal oven. After dinner, friends could make their solution to the colourful cocktail bar, Rah Bar, for stay music, cool martinis and unique cocktails.
- Subsequent to Reethi Restaurant is Rabarbaro, an off-the-cuff restaurant serving an actual style of Italy within the Maldives with views of the long-lasting One&Solely Reethi Rah lap pool.
- Through the day, friends can pattern an incredible collection of salads, seafood and grills at feet-in-the-sand eating spot The Seashore Membership.
- The resort’s signature restaurant Tapasake – at present present process in depth renovation – is about on the island’s sundown aspect and affords world-class Japanese expertise in addition to some traditional Japanese favorites.
- One&Solely Reethi Rah’s stunning setting additionally gives the proper canvas for an array of personal eating choices, from an intimate sandbank in the course of the Indian Ocean, to secluded seashores beneath the celebrities.

The award-winning One&Solely Spa at One&Solely Reethi Rah Maldives affords a holistic program of remedies, magnificence, health and wellness. The peaceable retreat is positioned on the island’s dawn aspect, 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 friends 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 smooth gents’s grooming salon and a yoga pavilion. Subsequent to the spa is a completely outfitted health club, that includes state-of-the-art indoor & out of doors services and a Recharge Bar for a post-workout power enhance.

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 lively 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 discipline. The action-packed water sports activities middle affords 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 affords seaside volleyball, badminton, desk tennis and board video games to be loved by all ages. Youthful friends can benefit from the KidsOnly and One Tribe applications 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 corresponding to Shark Safari and Turtle Journey, and dive excursions to discover the underwater marine life.

Reethi Rah is managed by One&Solely, one in all my favourite lodge manufacturers on the planet. The fabulous One&Solely model was created in 2002 completely for the luxurious resort market by Solomon Kerzner – a South African accountant and enterprise magnate – and now options a few of the highest-rated resorts in essentially the most idyllic spots on the planet, such because the Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Rwanda and Cape City. Every resort within the One&Solely assortment not solely affords distinctive design and ambiance which embraces the native environment, but additionally an unparalleled dedication to the best expertise on each potential degree. Luxurious lodging is complemented by impeccable service, unique wellness sanctuaries, energetic 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, because the tropical vegetation, seashores and lagoons have a really pure look. Nonetheless, the seaside on the seaside membership (Membership One) in addition to Reethi Seashore (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 because the 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 outdoors decks don’t provide a lot privateness, particularly throughout daylight. Your neighbors would possibly see you in addition to the (few) folks on the abandoned seashores as you’re 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’ll be able to attain that reef, both by swimming or taking a pedalo). As well as, at evening, 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 you need to know that entering into. Having stated that, the charges and costs are according to the opposite high resorts within the Maldives. For instance, a 3 course course dinner can be round $180-200 USD per particular person (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’s not low-cost, it’s well worth the funding as you’ll expertise a superb, 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, every day breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit score).

Get monetary savings: learn my ideas for getting one of the best 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 enormous further prices.

Room tip: all villas are glorious, no matter location. Whereas the sundown aspect of the island is my favourite (merely due to the spectacular sunsets to be loved out of your personal villa), one has to understand that the sundown aspect of the island has extra windy climate and rougher waters as in comparison with the dawn aspect 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 ideas 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 value paying increased 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 listing of airways that supply flights to Male Worldwide Airport.

PHOTOS

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