Banyan Tree Resort became a true oasis of peace and comfort for us during our vacation. It was an amazing experience! The first thing that stands out is the incredible friendliness and sincerity of the staff. It felt like we were visiting old friends. Everything at the resort is organized to perfection: from impeccable service to cozy villas surrounded by natural beauty. This Hotel definitely deserves 5 stars! I tried the massage and spa treatments and was absolutely delighted—every detail was handled with care and attention. I also recommend the yoga classes and meditation sessions held daily—it’s a real treat for the soul. The room was cleaned twice a day, and I am especially grateful to Najaah for her attentiveness and tact—everything was spotless and neatly arranged. We also tried diving for the first time and were pleasantly surprised by the instructor’s approach. He carefully explained everything, was very attentive, and supported us throughout, showing us the most breathtaking underwater spots. It was an amazing experience that is absolutely worth trying in the Maldives! Banyan Tree Resort is the perfect place to disconnect from the daily hustle, recharge, and find inner harmony. Thank you to the entire team for an unforgettable stay, you are truly the best!

The staff (okta, nata, sirima, the local staff who took care of us during breakfast and dinner, the lad who turned down our villa 41 every evening, the nepali girl and indonesian chef at madi hiyaa, etc (too many to list here!)) were all so friendly and attentive 😄 and of course the sea was so beautiful!

Just a minor hiccup but the madi hiyaa pool was under maintenance for our entire trip

Liked smallness of the property, being able to walk around in 10 minutes.The absence of over-water bungalows and plastic bottles. All staff, restaurant:/housekeeping and grounds extremely pleasant and friendly.

Villas are close together. If you have noisy neighbours (like we did) it can spoil the peace and quiet day and night. Resort was offering complimentary shuttle in May with more than 3 days stay Why not offer us (staying 8 days) anything, staying 8 days one month prior??

This was our 4th stay at Vabbinfaru, and it truly feels like our home away from home. The recent updates to the villas are moderate but noticeable, maintaining their charm while adding improvements. The new restaurants are fantastic—Saffron provides exceptionally good Thai food, and Sangu Garden blends naturally with the environment, offering a lovely alternative dining experience. What keeps bringing us back is the warm and super-friendly staff, the unique Robinson Crusoe feeling with sand everywhere (and no water villas!), the delicious food, the great house reef, and the private, quiet atmosphere. There were a couple of minor, temporary glitches related to the introduction of the new restaurants. Nevertheless, our concerns were handled swiftly and professionally, ensuring our stay remained memorable. We love this island so much that we’ve already booked our next visit in March! Highly recommended for those seeking a serene and authentic Maldivian escape.

Nothing!

Great staff great service very nice beach villa.

We toke some dives the pricing was way too expensive. Paying 75$ is I high price however having to pay 40 per person extra to be on a boat + 10$ extra for nitrox bring a dive to 105$ not even renting any equipment!! Sorry to say a joke. Never seen a price so high.

This was our 5th stay at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and it was nothing short of exceptional. Everything was flawless and the improvements made over the past three months are clearly evident — from the elevated quality of the food to the seamless operation of the new dining venues, every detail has been thoughtfully refined. Kudos to David and his team! What truly sets this island apart, beyond its barefoot luxury and authentic Maldivian atmosphere, is its people. The team embodies a rare combination of warmth, professionalism and genuine joy in what they do. Their positive attitude is infectious, and it’s a joy to witness such a motivated group working together like a clockwork. A heartfelt thank you goes to Lynn, Fipit, Sejal, Nafiz, Ayman, Nazeer and Zihan from Saffron, as well as Roy and Alisa from Madi Hiyaa — and of course, all the lovely ladies from the Spa, who made every moment feel like pure indulgence. Furthermore, Liu deserves a special mention as well as she made us feel welcomed and cared for from the very first moment we stepped onto the island. Management should be incredibly proud to lead such a capable and devoted team — their passion and commitment are the essence of what makes this island so special. In summary: we can’t wait to return!

This resort is amazing. We stayed for one week with our baby in one of the wellness villas. Before our trip we were nervous that the expirience might not be as good as in the pictures but once we arrived it was even better than we imagnied. Every single staff member is super friendly, very professional and always there to assist. The whole island is very clean and well taken care off. The 3 (4) restaurants offer a good variety of food options for reasonable prices. The ocean is amazing and the reef for snorkling is just minutes away where we were able to see turtles, sharks and a crazy amount of fish. There are many smaller activities available on the island and some of them were free of charge for us because of our wellness villa. We want to say a special thanks to Ali from housekeeping and to Sejal and Fipit from hospitality staff who took extra care of us during our stay. We highly recommend this resort and hopefully one day we will able to come back. Thanks to everyone who made our stay so special!

If there is anything to critisize at all it would be the portion size in the Japanese restaurant. The food is super tasty but if you are very hungry in the evening after a day full of snorkling the portions could be a little bit bigger.

The island is very peaceful and not overcrowded at all. I highly recommend Marine Lab and Henry's exceptional presentation about marine life and conservation. There are lots of opportunities for snorkelling, diving and other water sports. The staff were super kind and helpful. We would like to make a special thank you for the staff to make our holiday perfect, especially, Okta, Henry, Hassan etc.

I have to say, our holiday was perfect, but if I have to say one comment, it would be the food selection. On the island, there are two restaurants, a Japanese and a Thai and a buffet bar 3 times a week. The buffet dinners were excellent, huge selection and very delicious. The only downside is the selection of the food, regardless if you are on half board/full board or all-inclusive, you have to pay the extra fee after certain meals, not all foods are included, and for that reason, the selection of the food was very limited.

This island is pure magic—white sand, crystal-clear waters, and lush vegetation, all complemented by the perfect blend of comfort and natural beauty. Our room was not only spacious and comfortable but also integrated into the island’s charm, with an open-air bathroom and an outdoor shower. The location is ideal, especially for those with early flights, as it’s conveniently close to Malé. You can make the most of your stay right up until the last moment. A standout feature is the new bar—an incredible spot to unwind with a drink while watching breathtaking sunsets. The marine lab is another highlight, offering engaging activities like reef cleaning, which gives guests a deeper understanding of the environmental challenges facing the Maldives and a chance to contribute. For snorkeling, the reef at the sister island, Ihuru, is spectacular. We encountered sharks, rays, turtles, and a dazzling variety of colorful fish—a truly unforgettable experience. Lastly, a special mention to Rajesh at the barbecue—his kindness and exceptional cooking skills added an extra touch of hospitality that made our trip even more memorable.

As returning guests, we felt that the attention to detail had slipped compared to our previous visits. For instance, the turndown service was inconsistent, and we had to request more tea for our room after running out, which we hadn’t experienced before. We also preferred the previous dining experience, where the menu changed daily, offering more variety. The current setup includes numerous supplements, which can make the options feel somewhat limited unless you’re willing to pay extra on top of what’s already included.

Lovely resort, our second stay and we will be back. Beautiful sea, snorkelling and grounds, lovely staff and quiet ambiance. Fabulous new outdoor buffet setting a couple of nights a week.

New restaurant arrangement. One Japanese and one Thai. No other option unless you speak directly with the (very helpful) super talented, head chef. Very restrictive menus plus added supplements on most options. The supplements were probably the most unexpected and left a bad feeling. Understand this is being reviewed.