Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

“Vabbinfaru” in the local Divehi language means “ round island surrounded by coral reef”. The simplicity of the name embodies the philosophy of the hotel.

Those looking for an underwater spa or a swimming pool may be disappointed. The hotel did not see fit to build a swimming pool since the surrounding ocean is just perfect. Neither there are any TVs on the island: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is the place to escape from civilization.

Nature’s own

Maldivian nature clearly upstages trendy gadgetry. One of the residents is a shy heron, and in the afternoon’s manta rays swim up to the beach, fed daily by the hotel staff. Banyan Tree runs a marine laboratory, where the team of a full-time biologists works on reef rebuilding and monitors turtle populations.

The staff here also runs a diving school—and snorkeling and diving around the reef of Vabbinfaru is great and even better around the sister island of Ihuru (home to Angsana resort), where guests can dive directly from the beach. The reef is very close and after just a few meters the sea bed collapses sharply down, revealing a fascinating depth.

Villas

Part of the island’s charm is that the hotel villas are round, with conical thatched roofs. Below, the room is simply decorated and comfortable, with a large canopied bed taking the center stage.

Bathrooms, generously equipped with top products by Banyan Tree Spa, follow the curvature of walls. From here a pair of doors opens onto a private garden and terrace with outdoor jacuzzi.

The terraces of a Beachfront Villas are connected to a walkway, leading to a private beach veranda (called “sala”), built on the beach.

Something for the body

Ilaafathi, the island’s only restaurant, serves delicious Maldivian food: with plenty of chilies, coconuts, citrus fruits, and fresh seafood. The menu is frequently changed, and a barbecue is often organized on the beach. Banyan Tree guests can also dine at the sister hotel Angsana Ihuru, a 5 minutes free boat ride from Vabbinfaru. For a very special dining experience, there is the romantic dinner for two, organized on a lonely island, not much larger than a sandy shallow.

For other bodily senses, there is a spa. The Banyan Tree brand has an established reputation amongst the spa lovers, and the spa on Vabbinfaru is one of the oldest and the best among all the Banyan hotels.

After a day of relaxation and swimming, the perfect place to say goodnights is the Naiboli Bar. Laptops are provided for those desperate for contact with civilization—and for everybody else there is… a telescope!

in our opinion

Banyan Tree is perfect for romantic couples who are looking for simple luxury, away from civilization.

Beachfront Villas have a panoramic view of the ocean, but the Ocean Villas are more private. In both cases, the Deluxe before the name means slightly better decor and more modern bathrooms.

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What we love

• It only takes 20 minutes by a speedboat to reach Vabbinfaru Island from Male;
• Snorkeling and diving, especially from Ihuru, a neighboring island (5 minutes by boat, free), where you can dive directly from the beach. By the way, the Banyan Tree guests get two islands for the price of one, as they are free to visit Ihuru and dine there, sunbath, snorkel or dive;
• A truly friendly, unassuming service. It is one of those rare places where guests really enjoy interacting with the hotel staff;
• Fantastic spa; Small gifts from the Banyan Tree Gallery, left in the villa by the room service; Banyan Tree's efforts in the field of environmental protection are sincere and laudable;

What you should know

• The hotel doesn’t have any villas on stilts, so popular in recent times in the Maldives. But this is just another sign of simplicity of the Banyan Tree luxury—and fits right in its ecological philosophy, as building this type of villa usually happens at the expense of the corals;
• There aren't any activities for the little ones, so it’s perhaps not the best choice for families with small children;
• Although the hotel is all-inclusive, the drinks are not included, and the happy hour is at 22:00 when most guests are already asleep;
• Ocean Villas are hidden in the tropical shrubs and have more privacy than the Beachfront villas, but at the cost of a good view of the ocean;
• But these are trifles, hardly worth mentioning: the only real downside is a need to modernize the villas: many years of use have left its mark.