Heritance Aarah

Heritance Aarah opened in 2019, and we found they have meticulously looked at all the finest resorts in the Maldives and used all the best design features in their finished product. It simply ticks all the boxes. You’ll find picture-perfect talcum-white sandy beaches, ‘Robinson Crusoe’ style villas, dine-around all-inclusive dining, and a wide range of amazing facilities. 

Rooms

There are 150 villas at the Heritance Aarah, all in the tried-and-test Robinson Crusoe style. It doesn’t come across as being overly flashy, ensuring it fits perfectly into the desert-island feel. Natural tones of chocolate and beige merge seamlessly. You get all the mod-cons such as a flatscreen TV, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, WiFi, and L’Occitane bath products. This is complemented by a fully stocked mini-bar and 24-hour butler service. The Beach Villas lead directly into the beach, and we love the outdoor bathroom with a vast bathtub.

You find a lovely verandah leading directly onto the beach. You can opt for a Beach Villa with Pool, and this is large at nine square metres which is larger than most private pools in the Maldives. There are also two-bedroom options for families, either with or without a pool. The over-water Ocean Villas have large sun decks leading directly into the turquoise lagoon. For the ultimate indulgence, opt for an Ocean Suite which is larger, and also has a private pool. 

Dining

The massive advantage of Heritance Aarah is their dine-around all-inclusive concept. Usually in the Maldives, you are restricted to the main restaurant when opting for an all-inclusive package, and if you really choose the wrong resort, you are faced with a buffet every night. Not at Heritance Aarah. Here you dine-around five restaurants and five bars. Ranba offers international fare and a good spot for breakfast too. Ralu focuses on Italian and French cuisine and ideal for lunch.

Ginifati focuses on grilled seafood. Ambula serves wonderful Sri Lankan cuisine. Hathaa is a quirky nod to the food cultures of Tokyo and Bangkok (you need to book ahead). Baani is exclusively for those staying in Ocean Suites and is a fine dining fusion restaurant. There are also five bars. All-inclusive also includes all drinks, including premium wine, beer and spirits. Also included are spa treatments (depending on your room type), sunset cruises, introductory dive, and non-motorized water-sports. 

Facilities

The Medi Spa is both a world-class classic spa, and also what is called a medi-spa. This allows guests to embark on more intensive programmes such as focusing on diet and nutrition, weight loss, and fitness. The spa is located over-water and is a wonderful space to spend a few hours each day.

There are two swimming pools, one of which is exclusively reserved for guests staying in the Ocean Suites. You can also make use of tennis courts and beach volleyball. There is an array of motorized and non-motorized water-sport options such as diving, canoeing, catamaran sailing, kite surfing and jet skiing.