A Memorable Return to the Maldives

This marked our second trip to the Maldives， following an impressive visit last year with two outstanding resorts. Heritance Aarah caught our eye due to its variety of dining options， and it certainly met our expectations over our 9-day stay. Food: Ambula， the Sri Lankan/Maldivian tasting menu spot， was superb， both in its standard and vegetarian options. The staff excelled， particularly Nilanta. Ginifathi， the seafood grill， impressed us with its two rotating menus， keeping the food interesting. We visited several times as the cuisine was excellent. Ralu， the overwater Mediterranean restaurant， was wonderful， with plenty of choices and an attentive team， including Adam， Elina， and Damith. Jasmine at the front was fantastic and always ensured we were catered to. Ranba， the buffet restaurant， was decent but not remarkable， offering a variety of food with themed nights weekly. Service was just average， and our first visit left us worried about the island after an inattentive waiter during our initial meal. Morning service improved， and we usually chose Ralu for breakfast despite its 10am start because of its appealing overwater setting and cooler atmosphere. Ranba starts earlier and offers excellent variety. The Pizza Shack near the pool is notable for its delicious pizzas—a top choice for lunch or a snack.Bars: We thoroughly enjoyed the pool bar's relaxed daytime vibe and appreciated a talented live singer in the evenings. The team， especially Ishan and Sakshi， took great care of us. The pool itself is large and inviting， beautifully lit at night. The varied cocktail menu was delightful. Sky Bar， our final night's destination， was gorgeous， providing stunning views and fantastic service. Villa: Opting for a beach villa over an overwater option (based on past experience)， we were pleased with villa 160 on the quieter north side， with a lovely breeze. The location encouraged us to walk off some meals! The villa design was smart， with a comfy bed and good storage， though the mini bar wasn't as chilled as we'd like. Refreshing drinks were plentiful， though the snack selection was limited to nuts and chocolate. Wine isn't a highlight here; connoisseurs may find the selection lacking. The semi-indoor/outdoor bathroom had its charm， despite some tired features. Multiple outdoor seating options， including private sunbeds， were comfortable. Cleaning was impeccable， and we appreciated the frequent room refreshes. Butler: Icy， our butler， was excellent， assisting with bookings and excursions. Beach and Sea: The island’s beauty shone with its turquoise waters and golden sands. Snorkeling was enjoyable， with an active reef. Small sharks and rays were frequent sights. The texture of the sand varied， with some worn pathways revealing concrete. Spa: The spa offered a warm welcome with cold towels and drinks. We enjoyed our treatment， with a noteworthy adjustment that included a facial. The therapist was outstanding， delivering one of the best massages my wife has ever had. Yanti came highly recommended. Other: The island is well-maintained， with beautifully scented plants lining the paths. The fruit bats were a fascinating sight. The Sunset Cruise and night fishing trip included in the package were both relaxing and enjoyable experiences. The proximity of other islands means views aren't uninterrupted. Areas for Improvement: Despite an overall excellent experience， a few areas need attention. We missed seeing the island manager， which was a disappointment. Privacy was a concern as beach villas are closely set， with inadequate screening. Mixed hospitality levels among staff were noticeable， though Deepak， the restaurant manager， was responsive to feedback. Industrial odors occasionally disrupted the tranquility. Rain left sunbed cushions unusable， suggesting storage solutions are needed. Frequent cart traffic required constant maneuvering， likely due to the butler service. The seaplane terminal's private lounge lacked an attentive host， making it difficult to even find out the WiFi password. In summary， Heritance Aarah delivered a wonderful and relaxing stay， with standout team members and culinary offerings. With a few easy adjustments， the experience could be even more exceptional.