Wonderful Return to the Maldives

This was our second trip to the Maldives; last year we stayed at two fantastic resorts that set a high standard to meet. We picked Heritance Aarah this time for its broad range of dining options， ensuring we wouldn’t tire of meals during our 9-day visit. In this regard， it certainly delivered. **Food**: Ambula， offering both Sri Lankan and Maldivian tasting menus， was outstanding. We enjoyed both the standard and vegetarian choices. The staff， especially Nilanta， were exceptional. Ginifathi， the seafood grill， impressed us with its two rotating menus weekly for variety. The food was excellent， warranting multiple visits. At Ralu， the overwater Mediterranean restaurant， we had a superb experience， thanks to the attentive team including Adam， Elina， and Damith， with front-house Jasmine providing fantastic service. Ranba， the buffet restaurant， was decent， offering themed nights but not as welcoming on our first visit. This concerned us about the overall island vibe， though morning service was better. We often preferred breakfast at Ralu over the cooler， earlier-opening Ranba. The Pizza Shack near the pool was a highlight， with excellent pizzas perfect for lunch or a snack.**Bars**: The pool bar had great daytime music and an evening live singer we enjoyed. The team， especially Ishan and Sakshi， ensured we were well looked after. The pool is large and beautifully lit at night. Cocktails were excellent， and the team was open to requests. Visiting Sky Bar on our last night felt special with stunning views， brilliant service， and cocktails as the sun set.**Villa**: Choosing a beach villa based on past experience， we desired a north-side one， away from noise. Villa 160 proved peaceful， offering a quiet setting with a nice breeze. The layout was appealing， featuring a spacious main room， a comfortable bed， and suitable storage. The mini bar was satisfactory， though the contents weren’t as cold as hoped. We desired more snack choices than just nuts and chocolate. The wine selection might not satisfy enthusiasts. The villa’s indoor/outdoor bathroom was mostly appealing， despite minor wear in some elements. Outside， multiple seating areas and dedicated beach sunbeds were lovely. Cleanliness and twice-daily room refreshment stood out， and air-conditioning was superb.**Butler**: Icy， our butler， was incredibly helpful with restaurant bookings and coordinating activities， always responsive and pleasant.**Beach and Sea**: The island boasts stunning turquoise waters and golden sands. Snorkeling was enjoyable， with plenty to see. Small sharks and rays often patrolled the beach areas. Some pathways were worn， affecting the island's seamless look.**Spa**: The spa provided a wonderful experience， with a warm welcome and no-pressure face analysis. Yanti， our therapist， was outstanding， delivering one of the best massages my wife ever had. **Other**: The island is beautifully maintained， with fragrant pathways. Sightings of large fruit bats added to the experience. We loved the included Sunset Cruise and night fishing trip， both highly recommended. However， its proximity to other islands slightly disrupted the view.**Areas for Improvement**: - Lack of visibility from the island manager.- Beach villas felt less private due to closeness and poor screening.- Some staff weren’t as welcoming; Deepak showed a commitment to improving this.- Occasional unpleasant smells and post-rain issues with sunbed cushions could be addressed.- Frequent cart traffic on pathways.- Private lounge at the seaplane terminal lacked attentive service.In summary， we had a delightful， relaxing stay with fantastic team members. The diverse food options were impressive. With a few enhancements， Heritance Aarah could be even better.

Post by _TI***2f | Aug 25, 2025