Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

Oh, where to begin… Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is quite literally paradise on Earth. Whatever you might want or need, it’s here. Every single staff member does absolutely everything to ensure that every guest has the personalized experience of his or her dreams. Talk about above and beyond! Everyone was just wonderful and made my trip an experience of a lifetime. I’ll be back, no doubt about it! A few shout outs: Hassan, from the front desk, who was always such a friendly and calm presence. One of the first people I met on the island and he gave me such a beautiful introduction and start to my trip. Liu was always so lovely to talk to, and she made me feel right at home. Liu knows such a lot about nature, animals and local culture, just ask her any questions! Riyaz always made sure that things were “just right”, and if anything was amiss he took care of it right away. This includes some impressive last-minute problem solving at the airport, and it made all the difference. I always knew that Riyaz had it all under control and I could just sit back, relax, and not worry about a thing. Riyaz also taught me how to make quite a number of different art projects using palm leaves. So fun!!! Hery was always so knowledgeable and nice to chat with. It was so refreshing to notice his consistent presence around the island, making sure that everything was taken care of as it should be. Anastasia was (is) such an amazing night snorkel guide. So knowledgeable and so prepared, and she also knew just how to prepare me to get out there. I felt totally comfortable, safe, and free to enjoy the experience because she knew exactly what to do. Yamin and Tootey were absolutely out of this world to go snorkeling with. Both so much fun, so knowledgeable and so good at what they do. If you set out to see something, I’m pretty confident you’ll see it if you’re out there with Yamin and Tootey. I particularly noticed Yamin’s focus on safety. I was so impressed by his consistent check ins to ensure that all was well. I did three different excursions with Yamin and Tootey and all were truly spectacular. Highly recommend! Just go for it, you won’t regret it! I know I plan to be back for more! Scuba with Yabe was also fabulous. Again, safety was clearly his number one priority, which I very much appreciate. He made sure that I stayed safe, had fun, and could just be in the moment. I definitely plan to come back for more! Chika took me on an excursion to Male, and he really made the city come alive. I felt so lucky to have him as my guide. Chika made sure I saw all of the most important places, and he also made sure that I was able to get around comfortably and safely. For example, crossing the street can be tricky, but not when you’re with Chika! He also helped me to do a little bit of shopping and made sure I wasn’t taken advantage of as someone who clearly isn’t from Maldives. He made sure I had fun and learned a lot, and he tailored the experience to my interests. WOW. Winna at the spa is great. If you need to rest, relax and recharge, she’s someone you must go see! She knows what she is doing! I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the staff at Illafaru. Incredible. Aiman went way above and beyond every single day to make sure everything was amazing for me. He was just so wonderful. Fipit was always so friendly, pleasant and accommodating. Sejal showed me the ways of butter chicken, which was a new food for me! Nafiz was the first person to introduce me to proper Maldivian food, and how best to eat it. Yum! The chefs also very proudly introduced me to the local cuisine; I loved how they were present and visible, not hiding away in a kitchen. They’re always ready to interact with guests, and if you’d like them to make you something special that isn’t on the menu all you need to do is ask and they make it happen. Adam, at the airport, helped me get through a somewhat rocky departure (my airline made a mistake that caused a bunch of issues). He really helped save the day! I also have to mention the housekeeping staff. I rarely saw them as they are low-key to ensure they aren’t disturbing guests. But I must say that the housekeeping did the most amazing job each day. The personal touches were so special and so thoughtful. What a difference those things make. There are so many others I haven’t mentioned here; honestly I could make special mentions for everyone, because all of the staff members played a huge part in making this the vacation of my wildest dreams. I love the way the staff made sure that everything was taken care of from the moment I arrived in the country to the moment I left. I did not ever have to think about anything, or worry for even a second. The facilities at Banyan Tree are gorgeous. There’s a focus on nature and sustainability, which I love. Everything you need is here, yet it still has a private island feel. I cannot emphasize enough just how much I recommend it and how keen I am to return. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. Read less

Everything was just perfect, the food, the staff, everyone was so supportive and marine life was fantastic and sister island allowed for variety of snorkelling. The team of staff is best part, so helpful, friendly and accommodating so really we couldn’t find fault. Beach bungalows with pool were just perfect, cleaned twice daily but having the sea and a private pool was truly amazing. Staff members to call out, everyone was impressive so here is few to call out:- - snorkel/diving - Yaafis - best instructor we have ever had, so kind, helpful and the rest of the team were amazing too. - Chika - great companion for day trip to Male and couldn’t have been more helpful. - Catering/restaurant team - everyone was amazing and accommodated our every whim and made gluten items when requested. But just a call out on a few members so thanks to Alman, Fipip, Nafiz, and Nipun who dealt with any requests and Karan the overall manager was amazing. - Marine Lab - visit Nick and get educated! - the management team but especially Riyaz was so helpful, repaired our cloth items, sorted out trips etc They are so guest orientated, with the way they manage the resort, the rooms and generally appreciate the guests. They did the welcome flowers, they have the nice touches like flip flops, dressing gowns and gave us an engraved sarong! We have been 14-15 times to the Maldives and for overall experience this is best island with proximity to airport, marine/snorkel, rooms, staff, food, facilities were all brilliant ! Made us feel very special and we will return very soon. Kudos to the team Read less

This was our first stay here for three nights, and it was absolutely amazing. The Grand Beachfront Pool Villa, with its separate living room and shower area, is perfect for a family of 4-5. The Japanese restaurant Madi Hiyaa by the swimming pool offers stunning ocean and sunset views along with delicious, authentic cuisine—a must-try. Don’t miss the traditional Maldivian dance show on the beach every Friday night. The romantic beach dinner is also a stunning and memorable experience. The team, led by the amazing general manager Hery and his management team, is genuine and very professional. We will definitely return. Read less