We returned recently from the Banyan Tree . We have been to some of the best hotels in the world (eden roc , Antibes . Splendido ,Portafino . The point , lake saranac etc and this was one of the best holidays we have been on . The service was excellent , way above and behond . The food was excellent . always something different and nothing was too much trouble . our room was spotless , very comfy bed , lovely bathroom , all the amenities you could want . I didnt actually need to bring anything , even flip flops were provided . The little gift on the bed each night was lovely . i couldnt wait to get back each night to see my suprise . All the staff had time to talk to and were so helpfull . I use a walking stick and they would carry my plate at breakfast and lunch . On the first night i lost the bung out of the bottom of my stick , the next morning neil firman came and took my stick and brought me a crutch . the next day , he brought my stick back repaired and the next day he had a proper bung brought over from the main island . The fish and snorkling here was amazing . we swam with sharks and a manta ray and sting rays . The last 2 trips to the Maldives we stayed at the Kanuhura and we didnt think you could beat that but this resort tops it for everything . I even had the best massage of my life . i reviewed the comments of the last report and was gobsmacked . I dont think they could of been at the same resort .The food was not all centred around the chinese , well except for Chinese new year !!! All the staff spoke excellent english. We were given so much info regarding the snorkling . And yes the asians are very polite unlike most germans i have ever met , who try to jump ques and get up early to claim their sunbeds . i can only imagine with no pool and sunloungers to claim it wasnt their sort of holiday . We saw so much management and were always asked if everything was ok or did we need anything ... Neil Firman is a credit to this resort and all the staff . We will most certainly be back

Once upon a time there was a five star resort on vabbinfaru. now this year we found out that there is just a three star standard - the price ist still five Star.

general: we stayed there for ten days and during the intire time we have not seen one single member of the management team (no f&b, no facility, let alone the manager - at high season??)

rooms: small rooms, compare to other resorts on the maldives, highly lacks renovation works, noisy fridge, mouldy bathroom, old fashioned, smelly and noisy ac, beds unbearable for europeans, hard and uncomfortable, service on the room is almost fine

beach: sandbags almost through out the intire beach, one head to climb ovder sandbags, not comparable to the website pics

cuisine: average at best. highly focused on the vast majority group of chinese guests, pretty simple given the high price of the place

spa: very good

other guests: given the small size of the island and the close vicinity of the bungalows small children and babys are an uncomfortable factor (why not a allow children only above 12 years, like in other resorts?)
due to the fact that banyan is more and more focused on chinese guest we were confronted with the very special manners of this asian people. If you want to have a quite, stylish and romantic vacation avoid the time around the chinese new year!!!

Staff: is not of good command of the english language, which makes it hard to communicate

diving: wonderful snorkeling spots. but the team on the diving base is def. not paying enough attention given the difficult diving condition around january (current!!! we had to grab our fingers on the ground not tobe swapped away under water)
conclusion: At the risk of repeating ourselves we have insist that this resort is far away from a five star resort, it`s not a triple A resort for the banyan tree group. if you are looking for a real 5 star, check other hotels!!

We stayed here for our honeymoon last year and had a wonderful time. It really is paraside on earth, and definitely the place to go for utter relaxation and understated luxury.

We stayed in No 7 on the sunset side (a garden villa). It really was luxury, and had everything you could possibly need. I liked the extra privacy the garden villas provided. I really enjoyed the "daily scent" on the insense burner, the relaxing music in the CD player, daily surprises on the bed. Everything you need is provided from snorkling gear to very comfy water beds! THe sunset every evening is just beautiful.....(with a glass of wine in hand sitting out even better!)

We were all inclusive, and the food was just delicious. So much choice and we really enjoyed the restaurant every evening. We were assigned our waiter for the week, who took excellent care of us. Customer care is clearly taken very seriously by the staff.

The feeling in the resort is very chilled out, however given the amount of work involved in keeping each area so spotlessly clean and sand raked etc the staff must be flat out, but they never give that impression. Nothing is too much trouble.

During the day it honestly feels like you're on a desserted island, it is only in the evening when everyone comes to the restaurant that you see all the other guests!

We travelled over to the neighbouring sister island - Angsana - one day, it was enjoyable, but the Banyan Tree is far superior.

I cant recommend it highly enough, and dream of my return visit!!!! You wont be disappointed.

A small (usually almost round) island 25 minutes by boat from Male. There are two jetties, one main and one "sunset". The main (south south east) jetty caters for arrivals, departures, trips and the free shuttle transfer to the sister Angsana island.

There is a reception, an outside buffet dining area used for all lunches and an internal/external area used for breakfast and dinner. Breakfast and lunch are a buffet affair with what can only be described as a fantastic selection of beautiful offerings. Evening meals are from a set menu of 4/5 courses with 2/5 choices per course. Again the food is of a very standard with imaginative combinations and great creative flair!

The villas are compact yet perfectly spacious enough for spending the night in…you will be on the beach or snorkelling all day after all! They have a circular bedroom with all the usual facilities (except a TV at the time we were there), a four poster bed, 2 showers; one inside and one out. Ipod dock/CD/radio (don’t forget your line out lead if you want to connect a non iPod mp3 player!).
Due to the shifting tides and wind direction the island changes shape and one day you can be in the windward side of the island and the next you can be on the lee. This also has an impact on the exposure of the sandbags that are on the beach to protect the white sand beaches.

I, like most readers of these reviews wish for specific of the best villa location (and possibly that villa number), however on this island this is not possible as there are so many variabls and because as far as we are concerned, it is all so beautiful!

The staff just can not be faulted; from reception to restaurant, from the marine lab to the room cleaners they are always helpful, polite and available when needed yet invisible when not…a very difficult trick to master! A special mention for Abdulla Rasheed our cleaner and and Didi our waiter were both excellent. Didi was very laid back, which some may consider alouf but he was polite, caring, interested in our day and was willing to chat when we wanted to but gave us space when we wanted privacy. The perfect match of attentiveness without being over the top or in you face!

Downsides? I would have to be extremely picky to find anything but if you crave the outside world, the absence of a TV in the room may bug you but I understand that they were to start installing them in August 2011. I consider myself hard to please and yet that is it!!