LUX South Ari Atoll

This island is absolutely stunning, with beautiful rooms and excellent service. There is a good variety of restaurants, services, and activities for everyone, without feeling crowded anywhere. The personal service allows you to feel completely independent and as secluded as you want to be. We had an amazing time. We particularly enjoyed staying in the standard water villas at the far end of the island. They are peaceful, offer breathtaking views, and you can see marine life swimming around. Plus, the beach is still very close. The buses that run around the island make it easy to get around, so the distances are not an issue. The beach villas have the beach right outside their doorstep, but the sea is a bit farther away and the view is limited due to the foliage, which does provide privacy and shade. Also, pay attention to the room layout - we preferred the water villas with fully indoor attached bathrooms. Please note that not all restaurants are included in the meal plans. We chose to have breakfast only and then had the freedom to eat anywhere, anytime, which worked well for us. The breakfast options in both restaurants are extensive and excellent. You cannot go reef snorkeling directly off the beach, but there are daily hour-long trips to the house reef and free snorkeling equipment available all day. Unfortunately, a lot of the coral is bleached, but make sure not to miss the small area of coral that the resident marine biologist is growing next to the main jetty - it's beautiful, but no one tells you about it. It can be a bit confusing as there are excursions organized by both the dive center and the resort, so make sure to gather information about both before making a choice and booking. The highlight of our trip was the whale shark excursion by dhoni boat, organized by the marine biologist and not the dive center. It's the best reason to visit the South Ari Atoll. Overall, it was a fantastic vacation for multiple generations.

I had an incredible and serene experience at the beach, surrounded by breathtaking views and friendly individuals. The water activities were also enjoyable, and I'm eagerly looking forward to returning to this incredible island. ❤️

From March 26th to April 5th, we stayed at Villa 122 and had an incredible vacation at this amazing beach resort. We can't recommend it enough! It's important to mention that this was our first time experiencing a holiday like this, so we can't compare it to other resorts in terms of value for money. However, we can confidently say that this was the best vacation we've ever had! Every staff member at the resort was friendly and eager to assist with any questions or requests. We enjoyed getting to know everyone, although there are too many people to mention individually. If the resort rewards bonuses based on reviews, we strongly believe that every staff member who was working during our stay deserves one! The site had plenty of clean toilets, ample towels at the beaches, and the main beaches provided free suncream. The water sports staff was helpful, and we always managed to get what we wanted. The resident marine biologist led an informative and fun coral planting workshop. The wildlife on the island was amazing to observe, and we spotted various species in multiple locations. Here are some top tips based on our experience: - Take into account the cost of the sea plane transfer, which was $1100 for both of us. - If your villa faces the sunrise, make sure to wake up early and enjoy the view from your pool. - We opted for the all-inclusive package for food and drinks and found that it saved us money compared to paying individually on a few of the days. - If you plan to dine at Senses and Beach Rouge for dinner, make sure to book early. - If you're interested in a romantic beach dinner at Senses, avoid booking it on the same night as the beach cinema event. - Give floating yoga a try! - While we were comfortable walking around, some distances can be quite long. If you're staying in a water villa and don't mind not reaching your step count, consider renting bikes. - We found that the East Market buffet was generally less crowded than Mixe. - If you want to see tropical fish, we discovered that they were typically more abundant under the decks rather than out in the open. - The coral planting workshop was highly informative and rewarding. It's amazing to see the difference even a few pieces of replanted coral can make to the fish life near the landing dock.

The beach is absolutely stunning. I chose it as the destination for my honeymoon, and it turned out to be the most incredible experience of my life. The staff members are incredibly kind and accommodating. The breakfast is simply amazing, served over the water, with a wide range of delicious halal food options. The rooms are fantastic, especially the romantic pool villa where my partner and I stayed. It's also a great place for families with kids, as there is a dedicated section that is perfect for them. I would definitely love to visit this beach again in the future!

The beach property is absolutely stunning and offers a serene atmosphere. We were thoroughly impressed with the room, which provided breathtaking views. Additionally, the hotel offers a wide range of activities, ensuring that even rainy days won't leave you bored. However, I must express my disappointment with the service level, which I believe to be extremely poor. It is crucial for the resort to reconsider their approach to customer experience. Throughout our stay, Eman, the person responsible for our care, failed to provide any information about the resort. Moreover, he never checked in to see if everything was satisfactory or bid us farewell upon our departure. This was particularly surprising considering the resort's high price point, as one would expect exceptional service at the very least.