When we think about the term ‘Paradise’, we often conjure images of gorgeous desert islands, bountiful fresh fruits, hot, sunny days followed by warm evenings, white sands, clear waters and a plethora of vibrant, rich fauna. The Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort manages to encapsulate this, and so much more.

I travelled to the resort solo for my birthday, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the newly opened five star resort is the best resort I’ve ever experienced. Ever. From the hospitality and the aesthetics of the island, to the food and activities, I couldn’t have imagined a better vacation for a couple, for families or a solo traveller. Let’s get into it!

The Island

The Avani+ Fares Maldives resort is located on the western edge of the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with some of the most gorgeous lagoons and the clearest water I have ever encountered. There are a plethora of activities and sea activities to take part in, which I’ll go into further detail about further down, and has a beautiful coral reef, making it perfect for snorkelling. The island is 35 minutes by seaplane, where you’ll have the most incredible views of the different atolls. 

As you come through arrivals at the airport, there will be an Avani stand available on the concourse, and there, they can help you book a seaplane to the island, with an average wait time of around 1-2 hours. 

The Resort

The resort features 176 premium villa rooms, beach villas, pavilions and water villas which are scattered all over the island, and they all feature some of the most spectacular ocean and beachfront views. I was incredibly lucky to be housed in one of the gorgeous two-bedroom water villas which contained all the amenities one can expect from a five-star stay, including complimentary wifi, a fully stocked minibar with all the chocolate one could eat, full hot beverage and alcoholic station, A mini kitchenette area, Smart TV with netflix and Chromecast, a lounge area, a private infinity pool and a twice-daily turn down and housekeeping service. Also, a huge shoutout for the incredible air conditioning, which I came to rely on for most of my trip! 

The bathroom in my villa was incredible also, featuring MALIN & GOETZ toiletries (including a full sized peppermint body scrub!). There was a two-person tub with a glass floor, providing visibility to the ocean below. The toilet also had a glass floor, which made for great entertainment while on the loo #TMI!

The water villas are separated from the rest of the island, about a 5 minute walk from the main island. Just something to keep in mind for those wanting to book, as all the restaurants and main activities will be located on the main island.

Restaurants

The resort hosts a magnificent seven restaurants and bars on the island: 

Ocean Terrace – The Island’s main buffet restaurant where a continental and Maldivian buffet breakfast is served, as well as international buffet cuisine throughout the day.

Charcoal – A seafood grill with a gorgeous, romantic interior.

The Skipjack Bar – The poolside bar that is closest to the water villas, featuring delicious cocktails and small bites throughout the day, and an international lunch/dinner.

Tribe– A beach-based bar with light snacks served

Smuggler’s Shack – A beach hut that serves drinks and light snacks

Hammock – The bakery! Which I found to be so wholesome

Petit Bistro– I’ll expand on this below, but it’s super exciting!

I mostly visited Ocean Terrace and Skipjack, with the foods ranging from pasta, pizza and American dishes, to traditional Maldivian seafood cuisines and curries. All the restaurants and bars have an extensive mocktail list for those who don’t drink, and cater for vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free preferences!

The food is generously portioned too, and well seasoned which I appreciated. May I recommend the grilled red snapper, which is the island’s traditional fish and is so incredibly soft and flaky. Man, the seafood was exquisite. 

Activities + things to do

There is absolutely no shortage of things to do on the island, and if water activities are your thing, you’ve come to the right place, Unfortunately, I cannot swim so I couldn’t take part in the water fun, but I did take part in a couple of the wellness classes the island had to offer including breathwork (which included a bit of light pilates) and a healing, relaxing sound bath. Avani+ Fares Resort also has a 24 hour gym and studio on site, as well as a games’ room for teenagers and adults to use!

There’s also an amazing spa for those who prefer an afternoon of indulgence, feeling full body massages, facials and combined body treatments.

Other activities you can take part in include: snorkelling, jet skiing, paddle boarding, kitesurfing, romantic sunset cruises, tennis and badminton courts, traditional drumming and fire shows and traditional Maldivian fishing, which I took part in and absolutely had a blast (I caught eleven fish btw – check me out!)

Kids!

One of the best things about the resort? They are incredibly family friendly, which is great for those who want to take the kids with them for a group experience. Avani boasts the ONLY kids-only restaurant in the WHOLE of the Maldives – Petit Bistro. This is such a great draw for couples who need a place to host the kids during mealtimes while they have a romantic lunch or dinner. 

The accommodation is family friendly too, with two-bedroom villas available and the Avani Kids creche which opens from 10am to 7pm, welcoming children from 4-11, AS WELL AS babysitting available! For the teens, there is a teens club that is open from 7am to 7pm with snooker and table tennis stations, board games and video games.

Hospitality

The hospitality at Avani+ Fares was by far my most treasured moment. The staff were absolutely incredible; from EVERYBODY on the island knowing your name and dietary preferences automatically, to the incredible housekeeping that can include decorative floral arrangements on your bed, your own personal representative and customised experiences. When I arrived, I let the team know that I had an allergy to chlorine so perhaps wouldn’t use the pool that much, and they went out of their way to de-chlorinate the water! The team goes out of their way to go above and beyond to take care of the guests’ needs, and I’ve never felt so taken care of and cared for in all the hotel and resort experiences I’ve had. Everyone was just so wonderful, friendly and down to earth, and it was incredible; a real example of premium and luxury hospitality at its best.

Accessibility 

• The island is accessible by both seaplane and speedboat.
• Kids are catered for both entertainment and cuisine-wise
• The entire island is step-free (with the exception of the Pavillion Villas that have stairs)
• There are complimentary buggies available to drive guests from their rooms/villas to other places on the island
• Food preferences are taken into account: vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free.
• Plus size-friendly chairs throughout the island!
• -Extra large bath robes and extra large scuba-gear available
• Pool floats for those who can’t swim
• Direct communication via Whatsapp to your personal contact for whatever you need

Final Thoughts 

Having opened in 2023, Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort have absolutely set the bar to a high standard when it comes to what a luxury resort should look like in 2024. I foresee the resort winning multiple awards for its hospitality alone, with the experience being one I’ll never forget. Sure, there were a multitude of activities on the island, meaning I wouldn’t be short of things to do, but what I’ll remember the most from this trip is how I was made to feel throughout. I felt treasured, special, and cared for. I felt confident and empowered while on the beach taking my little photos, with staff egging me on and I can’t begin to describe how wonderful it felt! I wasn’t gawked at for being plus size with an isty-bitsy bikini on, and received nothing but compliments from staff and guests alike! A five-star hotel? Absolutely not; it’s giving 20,000/5 stars. A once-in a lifetime experience!!!

[The above was part of a press trip – as always, the thoughts are my own!]