A dream stay at Heritance Aarah

In February I stayed at Heritance Aarah hotel with my family. It was by far our best holiday ever. Here is why.

This is my third time in the Maldives, but I have to tell you that I have never stayed in such a perfect resort. It is very rare when I have nothing to complain about, but here, really, everything is magical. My wife and my 6-year-old son agreed and could not hold back their tears as we left the hotel.

After a 9-hour direct flight from Paris, we arrived at Male International Airport. We were greeted in an elegant private lounge owned by the Heritance Hotel. We waited there for 30 minutes, with drinks and small dishes. Then the fun began and we boarded a seaplane that took us to the hotel in 40 minutes.

The hotel was completed in 2019 and, due to the pandemic, has hardly been in operation. So, everything is brand new. The decor is stunning. The equipment is state-of-the-art: Marshall speaker in the room, electric blinds, interactive television, mini-bar worthy of a palace and so on…

The hotel offers a premium all-inclusive formula. This means that you have access not only to the buffet restaurant, but also and above all to the three other restaurants, à la carte, without worrying about your expenses. The wine list is exceptional, with French, Italian, and South African varietals. The cocktails are made to perfection. Let yourself be tempted by the signature cocktail « Gobelet », you’ll tell me about it. In the room too, branded wines and champagnes (Minuty, Bollinger, etc.) are offered free of charge.

We were impressed by the quality of the food, the care taken in the presentation of the dishes and the elegance of the crockery. The food is worthy of the best restaurants in Paris or London.

The staff really does everything for you. The uniforms of the bartenders, waiters and butlers have been made from fresh, stylish local fabrics that underline the hotel’s premium service.

This luxury all-in concept reminds me a lot of the one developed by the Greek Ikos hotels, where we had the chance to stay in the past as you can see here.

The hotel is designed as a large natural village surrounded by clear waters. Every nook and cranny holds surprises and offers an incredible sense of privacy.

The kids’ club is designed around an outdoor area and two indoor areas. It is brand new and offers a variety of activities every day: coconut painting, sea-themed crafts, music classes, sports, crab hunting, kids’ yoga, costume parties, etc. The leader, Sheila, is of Mauritian origin and therefore speaks French! She is so nice that I spoke to her. You can get to know her here.

The hotel has built its own Maldivian village. It’s a place where young and old can discover local customs. This educational project allows a better understanding of the Maldivian culture: habitat, language, cuisine, songs, legends, way of life etc.

Other activities are offered throughout the day. Each morning, your private butler sends you the day’s programme via WhatsApp: snorkelling, tea tasting, show, dolphin watching, sunset cruise, sports, etc. This 24-hour, one-on-one butler concept is very convenient for booking restaurants, golf cart rides, spa treatments, etc.

A water sports base offers free activities (catamaran, paddle, kayak), and others for a fee (jet ski, water ski, etc.). The hotel also has a spa overlooking the sea. The place is fabulous and the staff are very attentive. My wife and I were tempted by a 60-minute Swedish duo massage ($145/pp). A little extra detail: lying on your massage table, you can contemplate the azure waves and the multicoloured fish while looking through the opening. So cool!

We stayed in a Beach Villa, as our son likes to run on the beach and play football on the sand. He was still too young to stay in a villa on stilts. This type of accommodation is recommended for children from eight years old.

Our room was very comfortable, very large and had an outside bathroom with two showers and a large bathtub. The room is surrounded by lush vegetation and has direct access to the sea 30 metres away. What a pleasure to read a book or to have an aperitif on the terrace of our room while being lulled by the sound of the waves.

Heritance Aarah offers an unequalled quality-price ratio. It is a real nugget. We had an exceptional stay there, far beyond our expectations. The memories of the unreal sunsets, the unique seascapes and the joyful moments with the family will remain with us forever. If you like intimate places where elegance and service are one, this is the place for you!

Have a good discovery!

Jérôme