Review: One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

I recently enjoyed a phenomenal holiday in the Maldives, where I stayed at the archipelago’s four most exclusive ultra-luxury resorts. You can read my reviews here:

Review: Beond Airlines A319 Business Class from Zürich to the Maldives
Review: One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives (today)
Review: Cheval Blanc Randheli Maldives
Review: Soneva Fushi
Review: Soneva Jani
Review: Etihad Airways B787 Business Class from Male to Abu Dhabi
Review: Etihad Airways A380 First Class from Abu Dhabi to London

Today: Review of One&Only Reethi Rah Resort, Maldives

Hotel website: One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso

Ultra-luxe One&Only Reethi Rah Resort offered a level of style and sophistication unsurpassed in the world when it opened in 2005 and it still delivers as the Grand Dame of the Maldives. Set on a partly man-made, octopus-shaped island in the North Male Atoll, the resort is blessed with an extraordinary 6 km (3,7 mi) of coastline, dotted with white sand coves and turquoise bays. All 128 spacious villas are discreetly placed amidst beautiful landscaping, each occupying its own secluded piece of sandy shore or private deck over the lagoon’s crystal clear waters. Food is innovative and of the finest quality, prepared in an inspiring variety of ways, and staff are always receptive to the personal requirements of each and every guest. Set apart from the rest of the resort, the spa is located within tranquil gardens and manicured lawns. One&Only Reethi Rah is a favorite among royals and A-list Hollywood celebrities.

One&Only Reethi Rah also features in my top 10 lists of the best luxury resorts in the Maldives, the world’s best hotel spas, the best luxury hotels in the Maldives that can be reached without a seaplane, and the best One&Only Resorts in the world.

Have you ever stayed at One&Only Reethi Rah Maldive? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

In this review (more info and photos below my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

Surrounded by the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean, nestled within lush tropical gardens and fringed with pure white sand beaches, One&Only Reethi Rah is one of the Maldives’ most exclusive resorts, offering an unrivalled level of seclusion, choice and personalised exploration. The property is situated on one of the largest private islands in the Maldives, which stretches across 44 hectares (109 acres) in area and 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) in circumference, with 6 km (3.7 miles) of coastline and 12 powder-soft white sandy beaches, each one lying in a secluded cove. Since the island is so big, guests get bikes (for water and beach villas) or a private golf buggy (grand villas and residences) to get around and explore the island. For convenience, time on the island has been set one hour ahead of Malé time, providing an extra hour of daylight.

One&Only Reethi Rah is easily reached by a 45-minute luxury yacht journey from Velana International airport (the Maldives’ main airport). During the journey, guests are offered welcome snacks & drinks by the staff and also enjoy complimentary WiFi. Alternatively, the ultra-luxe resort can also be reached by a 15 minutes private seaplane flight. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by the resort staff & management, and make their way through a spectacular reception, an open wooden pavilion leading from the marina to the island’s lush gardens. Tropical in design, with eight large carved interior columns atop cool black polished terrazzo floor, inset with teak, the space is scattered with low comfortable seating. From here, guests are transported to their villa by buggy.

A total of 118 spacious villas including 90 beach villas and and 28 water villas, are situated discreetly along the shoreline where crystal clear waters lap gently. Each villa, whether on a private powder-white beach or suspended above the turquoise lagoon, is a self-contained sanctuary of luxury. Beach villas are separated by lush vegetation, while water villas connected to the island by overwater walkways are in small clusters of four, each villa facing a different direction, providing a serene setting. Every villa is traditionally thatched by local craftsmen and features generous terraces and verandas made from Balan wood from the Malaysian part of Borneo, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor living. The villas’ contemporary, Asian-influenced interiors exude elegance and style with natural beauty, using materials such as coconut shell, sea grass, silk and mahogany.

During my holiday at One&Only Reethi Rah, I stayed in a beach villa, which occupied its own stretch of sandy shore on the island’s sunset side, these villas. Offering a direct view of the Indian Ocean, the villa featured an expansive garden & beach area, with a private pool, large veranda, outdoor seating area, hammock and sun beds. The villa was equipped with two queen beds as well as a day bed (which would have been enough to accommodate a travel party of 3 or 4). The ensuite bathrooms was equipped with double vanities and a huge, over-sized, custom-made terrazzo bathtub, placed at the window, for stunning views over the beach. The bathroom also had a walk-in shower, which offered the option of rain shower or power showers. A bottle of Champagne, fresh fruits and chocolates were offered as a welcome amenity.

Ultra-luxe One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives was designed by world-famous architect Jean Michel Gathy, Design Director of Denniston International Architects. Gathy was tasked with creating a design that lives up to the resort’s namesake – Reethi Rah means ‘Beautiful Island’ in Dhivehi. Gathy and his team were responsible for the architecture, interiors and lighting of the all villa resort, as well as the design of the exterior spaces surrounding each of the 118 guest villas with three words in mind – luxury, space and privacy. The resort’s stand-alone pavilions and villas were designed to be architecturally simple on the outside and to blend in the lush vegetation surrounding them; however this is coupled with dramatic, flamboyant Asian style interiors that use strong vivid colours, mixed with tropical materials and natural textures – teak, rattan, mahogany, coconut shell, and silk.

Dining options at One&Only Reethi Rah are varied with innovative and fresh cuisine prepared with real passion and flair, served at six diverse restaurants and bars, or privately in-villa or at one of the resort’s secluded outdoor dining locations.
- Fanditha, an exotic beachside restaurant and the best sunset spot on the island, serves an a la carte menu of delicious Middle Eastern cuisine.
- At the heart of the island, Reethi Restaurant serves delicious breakfasts, offering an array of fresh bakeries, tropical fruits and healthy superfood dishes. By night, the venue offers distinctive dining with exquisitely executed pan-Asian inspired dishes and fine grilled flavours from the land, farm, and sea in a charcoal oven. After dinner, guests can make their way to the vibrant cocktail bar, Rah Bar, for live music, cool martinis and exotic cocktails.
- Next to Reethi Restaurant is Rabarbaro, a casual restaurant serving a real taste of Italy in the Maldives with views of the iconic One&Only Reethi Rah lap pool.
- During the day, guests can sample a great selection of salads, seafood and grills at feet-in-the-sand dining spot The Beach Club.
- The resort’s signature restaurant Tapasake – currently undergoing extensive renovation – is set on the island’s sunset side and offers world-class Japanese experience as well as some classic Japanese favorites.
- One&Only Reethi Rah’s beautiful setting also provides the perfect canvas for an array of private dining options, from an intimate sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean, to secluded beaches under the stars.

The award-winning One&Only Spa at One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives offers a holistic program of treatments, beauty, fitness and wellness. The peaceful retreat is located on the island’s sunrise side, tucked away from the rest of the resort within lush manicured gardens. The spa boasts 14 treatment pavilions nestled beneath thatch roofs, some of them overlooking the Indian Ocean. Visiting practitioners from around the globe add further expertise to the award-winning spa offering, which includes extensive facilities for guests to enjoy including swirling vitality pools, saunas and crystal steam rooms. The spa also houses a studio by the world-renowned French podiatrist Bastien Gonzalez, a hair salon, a sleek gentlemen’s grooming salon and a yoga pavilion. Next to the spa is a fully equipped gym, featuring state-of-the-art indoor & outdoor facilities and a Recharge Bar for a post-workout energy boost.

One&Only Reethi Rah has a host of activities and engaging excursions to choose from. Club One at the beach club is the hub for all things active at the resort, including an Art Studio, two outdoor tennis courts, a floodlit padel court, a climbing wall and a FIFA-approved professional synthetic grass football field. The action-packed water sports center offers a wide range of water sports, including canoes, pedal boats, windsurfing as well as jet skis, water ski, flyboard and seabob. Club One also offers beach volleyball, badminton, table tennis and board games to be enjoyed by all ages. Younger guests can enjoy the KidsOnly and One Tribe programs designed to inspire creativity and imagination. Guests can also uncover the secrets of the Indian Ocean at the resort’s dive centre, with exhilarating snorkelling trips such as Shark Safari and Turtle Adventure, and dive excursions to explore the underwater marine life.

Reethi Rah is managed by One&Only, one of my favorite hotel brands in the world. The fabulous One&Only brand was created in 2002 exclusively for the luxury resort market by Solomon Kerzner – a South African accountant and business magnate – and now features some of the highest-rated resorts in the most idyllic spots in the world, such as the Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Rwanda and Cape Town. Each resort in the One&Only collection not only offers unique design and ambiance which embraces the local surroundings, but also an unparalleled commitment to the finest experience on every possible level. Luxurious accommodation is complemented by impeccable service, exclusive wellness sanctuaries, lively entertainment and a host of activities, as well as exquisite culinary adventures from some of the world’s most accomplished chefs.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

A substantial part of One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives is man-made (the original island was largely extended). You don’t really notice it at first sight, since the tropical vegetation, beaches and lagoons have a very natural look. However, the beach at the beach club (Club One) as well as Reethi Beach (near the main pool complex) are the only natural beaches on the island, featuring powdery white sands and an incredibly blue lagoon. The 10 other beaches are man-made and you can feel it when taking a stroll here since the sand is little rougher (or less powdery) under the feet compared to the natural beaches. But don’t let that put you off: the island’s beauty is beyond words and nicer than some of the authentic Maldivian islands.

While the overwater villas at One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives are tremendously impressive, their outside decks do not offer much privacy, especially during daylight. Your neighbors might see you as well as the (few) people on the deserted beaches as you are exposed to them. If (outdoor) privacy is a must for you, I recommend to book a beach villa instead of an overwater villa (privacy is guaranteed at most beach villas).

One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives lacks a house reef, which might be a bummer for snorkelers. That said, about 100 meters (or 300 feet) in front of the beach club (Club One), there is nice reef with plenty of underwater life (you can reach that reef, either by swimming or taking a pedalo). In addition, at night, there are always stingrays and sharks in the waters around the overwater villas.

One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives is not cheap, but you should know that going in. Having said that, the rates and prices are in line with the other top resorts in the Maldives. For example, a three course course dinner will be around $180-200 USD per person (without wine and without the heavy taxes), so try to book a halfboard package. The most important thing is that, while it is not cheap, it is worth the investment as you will experience a brilliant, top-notch holiday.

MY VERDICT

Location: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Pool: 10/10
Rooms: 10/10
Food: 9/10
Breakfast: 10/10
Spa: 10/10
Service: +/10
Wow factor: 9/10
Value for money: 9/10
Overall experience: 9.4/10 (exceptional)

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Save money: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. villa upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).

Save money: read my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like the One&Only Reethi Rah (and/or receive many free perks).

Save money: book a package including transfers and (breakfast minimum) meal plan to avoid huge extra costs.

Room tip: all villas are excellent, regardless of location. While the sunset side of the island is my favorite (simply because of the spectacular sunsets to be enjoyed from your private villa), one has to keep in mind that the sunset side of the island has more windy weather and rougher waters as compared to the sunrise side of the island (especially in the wet season, which runs from May to October).

Room tip: if privacy is a must, book a beach villa, not a water villa.

Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best weather in the Maldives is between January and April, which also means high season (and skyrocketing hotel rates). The monsoon runs from May to October, peaking in June. It is worth paying higher prices and sticking to the dry season as there is nothing to do on a rainy day except drink, eat, work out, or scuba dive. Especially November and December, which are often labelled as dry season months, have been very unsettled in recent years.

HOW TO GET THERE

One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives is easily reachable by a 40 min speedboat ride or a 15 min seaplane flight from Male International Airport (MLE). Check the Wikipedia page of Male International Airport for an updated list of airlines that offer flights to Male International Airport.