One & Only Reethi Rah Review | Luxury Travel Guru

ONE & ONLY, REETHI RAH, MALDIVES

When they say transfer by luxury private yacht, they mean it! Among the ﬂotilla of boats moored on the edge of an atoll barely large enough to contain the international airport, is a craft that stands out from the others. Reethi Rah’s mode of transportation is a sleek 55-ft luxury motor yacht with an air-conditioned interior ﬁnished in polished walnut and cream leather. The crew are just as reﬁned, wearing white uniforms and wide smiles. What a great way to start the experience.

Reethi Rah, which appropriately means ‘Beautiful Island’, is one of the largest in the region and a leisurely 75-minute transfer from the airport. Built in the shape of an Octopus, the 109-acre island was extended by four times its original size, requiring 1.5 million tonnes of sand. An additional 19,000 mature palms were also planted. And the result? Over three miles of coastline with twelve ridiculously perfect, powder-soft white sand beaches where the turquoise water is so clear it doesn’t seem real. An exotic paradise where no amount of money has been spared to create perhaps the world’s ultimate resort.

The creative force behind the design was world famous architect, Jean Michel Gathy. His brief was quite simple: space, luxury, privacy. Privacy in particular is extremely high on the want list of many luxury travellers but is often quite difﬁcult to obtain. This is particularly true of the Maldives, which although blessed with an impressive choice of worldclass properties, at times suffer from having too many rooms in close proximity to each other. Fortunately, at Reethi Rah, this is not the case. In utilising the land size, many developers would have doubled the number of villas, but a decision was made early on to build only 130 and space them at least 20 metres apart. Thick vegetation is also used as a natural screen barrier, which means that you can’t see your neighbours, and you can’t hear them either. This proves to be a real draw card for the A-list celebrities, billionaires, royalty and well-heeled jet set who crave privacy and luxury above all else. In fact up to 80% of guests return at certain times of the year, year after year. One guest loves the resort so much she leaves a packed suitcase onsite so she can arrive baggage free!

And so on to the luxury villas…

The choice is beachfront or over-water, with the cost depending on size and extras such as your own private pool. Yes to the private pool and yes to the beach. Only 92 beach villas share twelve beaches so you get the feeling of seclusion as you mark your very own private stretch of sand with fresh footprints. Although the resort was nearing 100% occupancy, it was amazingly quiet as many guests stay within their private villa retreats. I loved the way that the over-water villas were designed in small clusters of four, in contrast to many other resorts in the area where they are built in long rows out into the water. This extended jetty system offers little to no privacy and can also spoil the view if you choose the land option.Each villa’s interior, regardless of size and cost, shares the same quality of furnishings and luxury ﬁttings. This is a great aspect and it’s good to know that even the base category room has a similar feel to the most expensive. Every villa is traditionally thatched by local craftsmen and the slick exterior lines are constructed in rich kapur wood from Malaysia. Inside, extra height is achieved by the 45 degree pitched ceilings and the simple, open plan gives a spacious feel. The décor is Asian-inﬂuenced with a strong use of vivid colors that combine perfectly with the dark timber. Stone ﬂoors and natural materials complete a cool, elegant environment (more on the villa later.) Floor to ceiling glass sliding doors in the bedroom reveal the most extraordinary private pool I have ever seen. Inﬁnity in style on every side and designed to be at the same level as the villa ﬂoor, it extends over and rises above the beach resulting in the perfect horizon effect. The above ground shell of the pool is constructed of charcoal lava rock and river stone which makes a striking contrast against the whiter than white sand of the surrounding beach.

There are three restaurants on Reethi Rah, the largest being Reethi Restaurant, which is fashioned around the concept of a lodge and comprised of distinctly different dining areas: The temple space has a deﬁnite Asian feel with its cathedrallike 27-ft high ceiling, teak ﬂoor, intricate carvings, and rich saffron/red colour scheme. The second seating area is slick and chic with black granite ﬂoors, ﬂoating candles, a large timber trunk column, and Italian glass tiling. Cuisine is a fusion of Far Eastern, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean with the usual Western options. And a glass walled cellar houses some 18,000 of the world’s ﬁnest wines. Adjacent to this is the poolside Rah Bar that also serves light meals and snacks. The Rah Bar is designed on three levels allowing various angles to view the ocean and probably the world’s most photographed pool. This astonishing structure is an oversized lap pool that extends way out into the lagoon. At the furthest point, rest on a sunken double width stone lounger, or lay back and feel like you’re ﬂoating in the middle of the lagoon. This pool is pure magic.

Picture a beach scene with Persian carpets on the sand, day beds, giant cushions, white sails draped over the trees and Arabian tents suspended from the palms. This is Fanditha, a Middle Eastern restaurant in a fabulous location at the northernmost point of the island, serving char grills, salads and mezze. No jacket and tie required here - or shoes for that matter. In the evening, vintage brass hurricane lamps, large candles and crystal chandeliers illuminate the arena, and carved colonial chairs, shisha pipes and magnums of pink Champagne create the ultimate shipwreck vista. This restaurant must be experienced, but take note, go with an appetite, as the servings here are substantial.

Tapasake is the resort’s signature Japanese restaurant and is also positioned over-water. Like the Reethi Restaurant, it has numerous seating areas within the one restaurant and I especially liked the outside terrace with its long communal granite slab table - perfect for watching the larger reef sharks that often venture here in the evening. The menu is creative and delicious with an outstanding commitment to quality ingredients and absolute freshness.

When it comes to pampering, the dedicated One&Only Spa by ESPA satisﬁes your every whim. Separated from the rest of the resort, the spa lies within tranquil gardens with manicured lawns and offers an extensive range of programs and treatments. Some guests have even managed to work their way through the entire list of options. For something slightly out of my comfort zone, I opted for a yoga class for beginners, open-air style in a pavilion over the ocean. I expected the worst but was pleasantly surprised and actually enjoyed it. A short bike ride away is a perfect example of what you want in a gym. Beachfront location, well sized and equipped with state-of-the-art Kinesis and Technogym cardio and resistance machines. Outdoors, there are plenty of activities available to the adventurous and from the usual plethora of water sport options, diving is obviously the most popular choice. Land options include two ﬂoodlit tennis courts, beach football, badminton, and jogging tracks. If you’re a little less active, explore the island on your complimentary bicycle.

Another fabulous feature of Reethi Rah - which is so often lacking, even in high-end resorts - is entertainment for the kids. ‘KidsOnly’ is open 12 hours a day and is the epitome of what a kids club should be. It’s a large, well-planned facility located in a private area away from any villas so the little ones can make as much noise as they like. Children aged from 4 to 11 are welcome to enjoy their own pool with water slide, cute miniature sun loungers, and a dining area with a buffet where the menu changes daily and caters to even the fussiest of kids. Activities include arts and crafts, drama workshops, surﬁng clinics, cooking classes and sushi making with the resort chefs. Another real favourite for girls and boys is creating their own fashion shows. Every day offers something different and the kids seemed to be having a ball. The caring staff had a magical ability to make every child feel special.

Providing the most luxurious of surroundings is not nearly enough to satisfy today’s discerning traveller. Too often the holiday experience is marred by inept service. With a staggering ratio of over 600 staff servicing only 130 villas, the service is what you would expect of a One&Only property. Friendly, uncompromising and attentive to any request, no matter how outlandish. I came to One&Only Reethi Rah with high expectations. This opulent resort is purportedly the world’s ﬁnest and ultimately I tend to agree. This property ticks all the boxes and easily deserves the multitude of awards that have become synonymous with its name. The task ahead is to ensure these high standards are maintained well into the future. By all accounts, that’s something they have well in hand.