Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

Having visited Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru three times—first in 2017, then in 2022, and now in 2025—we feel well-positioned to provide a comprehensive review of our experience at this very nice Maldivian retreat. Positives: Outstanding Service: The hallmark of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru remains its exceptional service. The staff consistently go above and beyond to ensure guests feel welcome and at home. Their warmth and attentiveness contribute greatly to the overall experience, making each stay feel special. Significant Improvement in Food Offerings: One of the most noticeable enhancements since our previous visits has been the vastly improved food selection. While some reviews suggest that the variety is limited, we strongly disagree. The quality, taste, and diversity of offerings have significantly increased, making dining at the resort a much more enjoyable experience than in past years. Infrastructure Upgrades: Over the years, the resort has made visible improvements to its infrastructure. New furniture in the villas, renovations in the restaurants, and general upkeep have ensured that the resort feels fresh and well-maintained, rather than a little dated as it did in previous years. Negatives: 1. Reservation Issues & Downgrading: We booked the Wellbeing Sanctuary Pool Villa, one of the resort’s top-tier room categories (Rooms 43 and 45), largely due to its spacious covered outdoor area, as advertised on the website (Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Accommodation). Upon arrival, we were informed that these rooms were already occupied. As a result, we were downgraded to the lowest-tier category for the first night and then relocated to Room 12 on the sunset side, which was an improvement. Given that our stay was only a week long, this unexpected room change disrupted the start of our holiday and was beyond disappointing. However, after voicing our concerns, the hotel made significant efforts to compensate for their mistake. Mr. Hery, the manager, was very understanding and generously upgraded our meal plan to all-inclusive, which helped mitigate the frustration. Nevertheless, if you take the difference in price between the room category we booked and the one we received, the compensation did - at least financially - not make a significant difference. Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have faced a reservation issue at this property, so we strongly advise the hotel to address this problem to avoid guest dissatisfaction in the future. 2. Lack of Communication About Major Issues Prior to Arrival: Guests should be informed in advance of significant changes or disruptions that could affect their stay. In our case, we encountered multiple uncommunicated issues: A Russian group had bought out the entire island for the week following our departure, meaning that all guests had to vacate the resort by 10 AM on the last day. While we were offered a room at the neighboring island, Ihuru, it was far below the standard of Banyan Tree (comparable to a Holiday Inn vs. a Park Hyatt), making for a disappointing end to our trip. The entire eastern side of the island has suffered severe sand erosion (see photo attached), making many beaches practically unusable. This was not communicated prior to booking, which is something the hotel should have disclosed. Construction noise: The hotel is currently building a new staff unit on the island, leading to constant construction noise throughout the day. This disturbance can be heard from the main restaurant and parts of the beach, diminishing the tranquil experience many guests seek. 3. Issues with the All-Inclusive Plan: While we were compensated with an all-inclusive upgrade, we question the value of this package for paying guests. A large portion (approx. 75%) of the menu incurs supplementary charges, even for all-inclusive guests. These surcharges range between $20 and $65 per dish, meaning that unless one is content with eating the same limited selection of dishes all week, additional expenses are inevitable. This pricing strategy feels misleading and should be reconsidered to provide true value to guests opting for the all-inclusive plan. Final Thoughts: Despite experiencing three days of nearly non-stop rain (highly unusual for March), we had an overall pleasant stay. The hotel made a concerted effort to rectify their mistakes, and the natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere of the island remain as enchanting as ever. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is one of the last resorts in the Maldives that retains authentic Maldivian charm, rather than over-the-top luxury, which we greatly appreciate. It is an idyllic retreat for guests seeking serenity, nature, and relaxation rather than high-energy entertainment. For us, it remains a wonderful choice. A special mention goes to the Marine Lab team, especially Henry Cliff, who was incredibly knowledgeable and kind, providing fascinating insights into the reef, ocean, and surrounding nature. Recommendations for the Hotel: - Fix reservation issues to ensure that booked room categories are honored. - Improve transparency regarding significant changes (island buyouts, construction work, beach erosion). - Rework the all-inclusive plan to eliminate excessive supplement charges. Room Selection Tips: - Avoid the eastern side of the island due to sand erosion (though it offers more privacy in our opinion). - Rooms 39-48 are decent, but avoid 17-38. - Rooms near the Japanese restaurant (north side, e.g., Room 29) are the worst with zero privacy and obstructed views (restaurant). - Best rooms: 6-12, offering great views and prime location. With these improvements, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru could be one of the best-value, nature-focused resorts in the Maldives—especially for those who love scuba diving and snorkeling in a peaceful, authentic setting.

Right from the moment we were greeted at the airport to the time we checked out, the staff went out of their way to make sure that we were having an excellent time. The dining staff, especially Fipit Sejal, the housekeeping staff, check in staff, everyone always had a smile on their faces and elevated the holiday experience. The resort is located in a wonderful location, just about 25 mins from the airport by speedboat, amazingly turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and dining locations on the water and the beach. The villas are the best we have stayed at. Very spacious, a bathroom with an outdoor shower, a pool, and a jacuzzi! Superbly luxurious with the beach right in the backyard of the villa. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru has definitely ruined any other resorts that we stay at from now on. We will be comparing our future holidays with this one and I am sure nothing will be able to match up to the experience that we had here. Yug says Hi to everyone there and we are looking forward to visit again!

This was our third visit to the island, and yet again we had a fantastic time. We love that it is small and quiet, the glorious beaches, beautiful villas and wonderful staff. We appreciated the refreshed villa with new furniture, it was kept immaculately clean and we enjoyed the pool immensely. We agree with some other reviews around the dining options and feel this is the only area for improvement. Although it’s great that there are now several restaurants, the choice feels limited to our preference, and we think that a regular a la carte menu could be introduced which would complete the offerings. We enjoyed many chilled evenings with sunset cocktails on the sting ray jetty, and also loved spending time at the main bar where Don and Nasif provided exceptional service. A highlight of our stay was the bodu beru night, which we’ve noticed that many other resorts do not offer. We also loved the singers whom were excellent. Thank you BTV for a wonderful holiday, we have already booked our return stay.

This is our sixth visit and the first one after a few years. This is a truly special island for those who prefer quiet over glitz, friendliness over party, nature over cocktails. Don’t get me wrong, there are some amazing cocktails. And we have had a party here too. But why we come here is because it’s a little island of peace, built on a beautiful reef for amazing snorkeling and diving, with the kindest humans taking care of your every need with genuine smiles and small attentions. Some rooms needsa little touch up and the view on the man built islands all around - a new initiative since a few years - are a bit disconcerning. There are 2 new restaurants and while quite pricey, the cuisine is absolutely stellar. It’s hard to say goodbye. I wish i could stay and preserve the sunsets, the crabs on the beach, the morning walks to find some shelves, the bats, the morning birds who tok on the window, the snorkeling in an acquarium, the patient PADI instructors, the tropical flowers on the sand, the amazing cuisine, the best possible massage, Don, Rajesh, Waheed and Moussa who have been here for many years, but especially my pink skinned family and seeing them relax and take in the beauty of a magical place. I hope tourism won’t destroy it.

what a wonderful day in banyantree💗 i wana stay longer!! next year i will try !! thx 4 the everything💗💗💗luv ya xoxo