Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Maldives | Luxury 5-Star Honeymoon Resort (4K Tour & Vlog)

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Maldives | Luxury 5-Star Honeymoon Resort (4K Tour & Vlog)

Welcome to the 5-star luxury resort Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru in the Maldives. Oceanview Pool Villa we stayed in. Beach and pool. Snorkeling. Floating breakfast. Experiences such as afternoon cocktail. Catamaran cruise. Meals such as Japanese dinner, romantic beach dinner. Thai restaurant. Well-being activities. Full hotel facilities. Please enjoy the two-night stay! Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is located in North Malé Atoll, Maldives. We start our journey at Velana International Airport (MLE). From here, it’s a 20–25 minute speedboat ride to reach Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru. The transfer boat is a luxury speedboat, arranged directly by the hotel. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru was among the first luxury resorts in the Maldives, opening its doors in 1995. The leather seats inside the boat create a luxurious atmosphere. Before our departure, we were given cold towels. The resort staff give us a quick briefing on the transfer duration and sea conditions. I am really looking forward to seeing the resort. The boat ride was really comfortable. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is a small barefoot island with just 48 villas set along the beach. At the arrival jetty, a hotel representative will be waiting to welcome and guide us. The staff perform their traditional drum ritual as we arrive. In the Maldivian language Dhivehi, bodu beru, the traditional drum, means “big drum.” Given the island’s size, the arrival pavilion is small. From the arrival jetty, we move on to the reception area further inside the island. The sea is bright and the beach looks stunning at first sight. The resort staff member will give us a tour of the island before we head to our villa. First, we’re going to do a special ritual which they call Barefoot Ritual. The Barefoot Ritual symbolizes the beginning of life on the island. Leaving everything behind and starting fresh with your feet in the sand. This Barefoot Ritual is a tradition where guests step onto the sand and begin their journey in true Maldivian style. The Banyan Tree brand takes its name from the real banyan tree next to us. Reception. The reception decor is simple and natural, with wood, open spaces and island-inspired details. They have two restaurants: one is called Madi Hyaa, which is Japanese and the other is Saffron, which is Thai. Sffron Restaurant and on the left is the Sangu Garden, only open for the buffets. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru has five main villa categories. For this visit, we will be staying in the Oceanview Pool Villa, their entry-level category. Villa number 7. The name is Dhanbaa, the name of this reef fish in Dhivehi language. We have two wooden signs here: one is for cleaning the room and the other is for “Do Not Disturb”. Having a ring bell is a great feature. The check-in is usually made directly in the villa, for extra comfort. So this is Kurumba. It is coconut water and then we have cold towels here and some snacks called Minmiru. Minmiru is made of dried coconut and dried cinnamon sticks. Towels. Now that check-in is complete, let’s head to our first lunch on the island at Saffron. By the entrance, there is a board showing the weather conditions for today. Saffron is open for lunch from 12:30 PM until 2:30 PM. Restaurant features a simple open-air decor, serving a mix of Asian and international dishes. The all-inclusive package at Banyan Tree covers meals and beverages, including alcohol. Drinks and wine menu. Non-alcoholic drinks include mocktails and iced teas, such as the ginger lemon cooler. Lunch menu is only one page. Starters, salads, soups.
Main course like Curry of the day, Noodles, Chef grill. Bread selection with butter. Two types of bread buns, bread sticks and Emborg unsalted butter. Ordered an iced matcha latte and an iced mocha. Matcha has a beautiful color. Subscribe to our channel if you like our travel vlogs. Thank you! We opted for the Mixed garden green salad. And then for the main course we’ll share a Chicken wrap with french fries. It comes with a small onion salad and some ketchup. Dessert is Tropical fruit platter. It has dragon fruit, watermelon, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, plum and grapefruit. Homemade chocolate ice cream. It is good. Thank you for the food. Now it’s time to return to our villa for the room tour. The fence is designed to resemble bamboo sticks, with a pale yellow color. We also have our own mailbox. It is satisfying. The room key has a wooden pattern, with “Banyan Tree” written on the front and the room number on the back. A massive entrance door opens to our private yard with a pool area. In the corner, we have a plunge pool with sun loungers on the deck. The rooftops of all villas are built in a seashell shape. This is how the villa floor plan looks like. Two green umbrellas. This Beachfront pool villa costs around $900 per night, though prices rise in peak season. Lights in the villa turn on only when the key card is inside. First, we explore the facilities in the room, then take a closer look around. This villa spans 110 sqm (1,184 sqft) and can accommodate up to 3 people. A king-sized bed with a mosquito net. Placed on the bed are two scarves with the Maldivian welcome “Maruhabaa”. They can be worn as skirts or beachwear. In terms of linen, the bed is fitted with soft high-quality fabric. The pillows are quite firm, but we can request different ones from the pillow menu. A lamp that has wireless phone charging. A well-sized TV. The sofa is yellow and decorated with pillows matching the scarves. Let’s take a look at the minibar. As part of the all-inclusive plan, the minibar is also covered. Fruits platter. Banyan Tree hand-written welcome letter. Garland Crest red wine, produced in Spain. Lavazza coffee machine. The minibar is refilled once a day with sodas and snacks. Room service is also available but a fee of 20 USD applies each time. The drawers are stocked with tea bags, milk and sugar. Tea is from Dilmah brand. Banyan Tree branded sugars. Patra porcelain cups from Thailand. Lavazza coffee capsules. When we open the mini fridge.. We can see it is fully stocked with Schweppes tonic water, Red Bull, Coke, Sprite. San Pellegrino and Evian premium water. Beers such as Heineken and Tiger. Monte Blanco is a white wine from Chile. Champagne. Moreover, the full selection of alcoholic beverages is complimentary and refilled every 5 days in the room. Here’s the minibar price list. Without the all-inclusive package, the prices are a bit high. The seashell rooftop is certainly an interesting feature of the room. We can start the fan in the room. Evacuation plan. On the walls, photos of the old Maldives are displayed. We can light scented candles. We have everything we need in the room. The work desk is in a curved shape It’s a cute turtle. It is part of the Green Imperative Fund which supports local projects. Banyan Tree notes. Telephone instructions. Interesting lamp. Next is the outdoor bathroom area. To the left are the toilet and shower, in front the wash basin with mirrors and to the right the wardrobe. Two Banyan Tree pool towels are available. Safety deposit box. Laundry service. The slippers and flip-flops provided are quite stylish. Women slippers are small. These flip-flops are surprisingly well made. Hangers. Bathrobes follow the same pattern as the indoor slippers. Banyan Tree logo. The fabric is the same as the slippers. Two emergency life jackets are stored here for precaution. Most of the bathroom amenities are covered in this. The bathroom has twin sinks, but the faucet system is slightly different. This came as a surprise. It works much like the pool fountain. Face towels. Banyan Tree soap. Everything in the villa is branded, even the toiletry bags. There are different items inside. Women toiletry bag has a loofah, hair brush. Men toiletry bag has a shaving kit. This cup can easily be used as a coffee mug. It seems like a modern, advanced toilet.
Cotto is a well-known bathroom brand from Thailand, recognized for its modern design and reliable quality. Bathroom towels are beautiful. They are not replaced daily but whenever we want fresh ones, we just place them in the box. The shower is rounded and we step onto a large stone while using it. The terrace can be accessed directly from the bathroom. We also have a second shower which is unique. The water was designed to come through these bamboo tubes. Water flow here is a bit weak. The hot tub temperature is set between 35–40°C and can be adjusted. We can also turn on the bubbles. I forgot to show you what we received after lunch earlier today. Thai crispy pancakes served in a bamboo basket. The Beachfront villa has another deck that leads straight to the beach and faces a small part of the ocean. There are two chairs and a table. A basin is provided to rinse the sand off our feet. They’ve added a foot shower for convenience. This is what our villa looks like from the back. Additional place to relax during our days in paradise. The path to the sea is beautiful, surrounded by greenery. Two sun beds are placed at the end. The beach feels broad and open and it takes only about 10 minutes to walk the entire island. The water here is not very shallow so we have to be careful when we enter the water. Water looks a little milky today because it rained in the past days. Even like this, it still looks amazing. Some villas are set directly on the beach, closer to the shore than ours but ours feels more private and intimate. That concludes the villa tour, a wonderful place where we’ll be spending the next two nights. We’re going on an afternoon catamaran cruise. It is beautiful. The catamaran “Kahan’bu” is one of their signature experiences and offers private cruises around North Malé Atoll. They offer different cruises, ranging from group trips to private sessions. For instance, the Morning Trawling Cruise runs from 5:30 to 9:00 am and costs 550 USD per couple. Sunset Cruise is one hour long, with sparkling wine and canapés, for 480 USD per couple. The catamaran features salons and netted hammocks in front of the sailboat. The catamaran is equipped with a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom on the lower deck. There are also day and overnight cruises. It is spacious. Off we go. The Day Cruise lasts seven hours, includes lunch, a personal butler and several snorkeling stops, priced at 750 USD per couple. The Overnight Cruise is a 24-hour experience with a private chef and butler, all meals included, plus sunset cruise, snorkeling, fishing and a sandbank visit for 1,200 USD per couple. It’s very relaxing to lie on the hammocks, even if they seem a bit scary at first. Got some sparkling wine. In the distance, we can spot the twin island called Dawa Ihuru. Cheers! Came back in no time. It was a wonderful experience, even though it’s quite expensive for just an hour. It’s a sailboat so they have to release the sail to start or stop moving. Back on the island, we head to Madi Hiyaa restaurant to enjoy a cocktail at sunset. Tall palm trees line both sides of the main alley. There are many black objects hanging in the air which I think serve as night lights. We reached the Madi Hiyaa pier. The path is blocked by a palm tree, but it looks wonderful. The sun is about to set so this is a perfect spot to watch it. Madi Hyaa’s roof stands out with a design sculpted in the form of a ray. This part basically represents the ray’s tail. Madi Hiyaa is an exclusive overwater restaurant serving Japanese cuisine. The atmosphere here is serene, with panoramic views over the ocean. Inside, the design is made entirely from wood, creating a warm and elegant setting. Madi Hiyaa serves lunch from 12:30 to 2:30 pm, dinner from 6:30 to 9:30 pm but the bar and pool are open from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm. Let’t take a look further outside. It’s a relaxed setting during the day while at night it becomes more private and elegant. There are actually two twin pools where we can swim. The pool area is connected to Madi Hiyaa. There are hammocks where we can relax and look at the sunsets. We’ll take a seat here and enjoy a cocktail for now. Scan the code for the menu. Iced tea, juices, mocktails like Maldivian sunrise. Long Island Ice Tea, Margarita, Cuba Libre cocktails.
Rums and wines by glass. Ordered a Maldivian Sunrise and a Tequila Sunrise. Maldivian Sunrise is a signature mocktail with orange, mango and apple juice, grenadine syrup. Tequila with orange juice. Roasted almonds. They are both good. We’ll take a short break here to watch the sunset before having dinner. Since it is a Japanese restaurant, there are many drinks from Japan and sake. Sake is a traditional rice wine and I think I will try some for the first time tonight. We can even see the small kitchen from this round window. Dinner time. Welcome drink is a shot of sweet mint iced tea and some fresh towels. Dinner at Madi Hyaa is served from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Madi Hiyaa food menu. Zensai. Interesting dishes!
Maki and Uramaki. Sashimi or nigiri. There is a set-course menu available starting at 220 USD / person. Madi Hiyaa signature dishes. Amai is the Japanese word for desserts. The amuse-bouche from the chef is a tuna cutlet with teriyaki sauce. Wasabi mayo and breadsticks. For dinner, I wanted something to drink and chose an iced jasmine tea. Mongo mocktail is incredible here. The sharing plates are quite large and look handmade. Breadsticks come sprinkled with a touch of wasabi powder. Let’s try the wasabi mayo which has a pale green color. Tiny cutlet. For the starters, we will share Yasai maki and Nin’Niku samon sushi. Cucumber, avocado, pickled radish, sweet potato, spinach and sesame dressing. Salmon, avocado, chives and ikura. They look so tasty. Any tips in eating sushi without spreading rice all over the table? Thanks. Tebasaki no to-age. They are marinated fried chicken wings with asian slaw and homemade chili dip. I am not a big fan of chicken wings but these ones I really like. Very crisp. Choya is a Japanese sake made with ume fruit, known for its sweet and smooth taste. First impression… Main course. The first type of sake was a bit too strong, so I’ll try another one. This one should have a lighter taste. Sake is interesting. I am so glad I was able to taste it. Main course is a dish called Ebi which are tiger prawns. They come with miso cream, chives and sudachi. Tiger meat is soft. Yakiniku is beef tenderloin with baby leek, kizami wasabi butter, ponzu oroshi and garlic chips. It is 120 USD. Some spices to pair with the meat. Dessert is coconut and sesame ice cream. Creme brulee and chocolate and vanilla ice-cream. The sesame ice cream has a grey color. Sesame ice cream has a creamy, nutty, roasted flavor. All the portions are small. The creme brulee has a beautiful golden baked color. Dinner at Madi Hiyaa was a nice experience. My favorite was the sesame ice cream. The ambiance was pleasant and the food very good. Most guests eat here only after a few days, while usually dining at Saffron. Madi Hiyaa is more expensive than the other restaurant. The bill for tonight came up to 400 USD for two persons. We can stay here and spot some fish swimming nearby. Guests can join many activities arranged by the resort. For tonight, they have a traditional Maldivian performance at Naiboli Bar. The bar has a relaxed atmosphere with a very high ceiling. There are tables set directly on the sand and some on the terrace. Every Friday, Naiboli Bar hosts the traditional Bodu Beru performance, with lively drumming and musicians in costume. Bodu Beru is a traditional Maldivian performance, dating back to the 11th century. It features large drums made from coconut wood, played in rhythm while singers and dancers join in. The music starts slow and builds up to an energetic beat. Someone started dancing. Part of the beauty of travel is learning about so many cultures. Now, back to our room. The fountain will automatically stop after 8 pm in all villas to avoid noise during the night. As far as the turndown service is concerned.. It was Alex’s birthday today, so they organized a little surprise in the room while we were having dinner. There is a message and flowers on the bed. A personalized scarf and a design made of green strips in the shape of a cake. Such a thoughtful gesture! Chocolate birthday cake. Moreover, some sweet treats in a wooden box. They seem to be some sort of Turkish delight. Indoor slippers have been placed next to the bed. What is this.. It’s a magnet in shape of a turtle with the Maldives. Good night, everyone. It’s the first morning at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and we’re starting the day with breakfast at Saffron restaurant. Activity of the day: Night fishing from 120 USD / person and Movie night, but this depends on the weather conditions. The minute we arrive at the restaurant, the staff will guide us through breakfast. Breakfast is a buffet breakfast and it is served from 7:00 am until 10 am. We have an egg station on the right, salad corner, bread and pastry corner on the left. I requested an omelette with everything and extra cheese. We can also ordered Eggs Benedict, Sunny side, etc. Chicken soup with toppings. Tomato ketchup, chili sauce, soy sauce. Pancakes and waffles with homemade chocolate sauce, whipped cream, peanut butter, etc. Omelette ready. Now we take a look at the salad corner. Dressings, many types of salad leaves, olives. Capers, carrots, pickles, bell peppers. Hummus. I will add some to the plate. And some other foods. Moving on to the cooked dishes. Crispy pork bacon, soba noodles, sautéed mushrooms.
Fish in black bean sauce, vegetable curry, rice. Hashbrowns, rosemary potatoes, beans.
Oatmeal, grilled tomatoes, beef sausage. Vegetable dumplings with sweet chili sauce and soy sauce. Traditional dish that we can pair with roasted peanuts, onion, boiled chicken, eggs or picked ginger. Maldivian cuisine includes potato curry, chapati (their traditional bread) and various toppings. Smells so nicely. Bis boakibaa, bashi mashuni, rihaakuru dhiya. Assorted sushi for breakfast. Emmental cheese, brie cheese. Edam cheese. Pork and beef salami.
Smoked mackerel fish. House-made yogurts in plain, mango, passion fruit and strawberry flavors. Fresh juices with different flavors. A bread toaster with a selection of breads. Wholemeal bread, white bread, raisin bread. Mix fruit cake, coffee muffin, plain and with blueberry. Cinnamon roll.
Fruit danishes. Chocolate donut and brioche. Plain croissant, with chocolate and with coconut. Jam selection. Honey. Dried fruits and mix of nuts. Cereals like fruit loops, classic muesli, corn flakes and coco pops. Full fat and low fat milk. Some gluten free options. We can request freshly mixed juices or fruit platters. I will have a fruit platter with passion fruit, watermelon, papaya and green apple. Stunning. Now I’ll make my breakfast plate with some salad and hummus. Along with mushrooms, chapati bread and potatoes. A variety of foods as you can see. I ended up with no space left on the plate. Bon appétit! The ciabatta bread is still warm. The staff bring a shot of the day to each table. Today it’s carrot juice. Potatoes are soft. The fruits are sweet. Strawberry yogurt is my favorite. Espresso macchiato comes with a lot of foamed milk. Shortly after breakfast, we went on a guided snorkeling tour. Water visibility is not the best but let’s see what we can spot today. Going close to the reef, the visibility gets a lot better and we can clearly see colorful corals and fish. Oh, wow. Such a big school of fish. This is amazing. What is here? It’s Nemo. And baby Nemo. Hi double Nemo. Another school of small fish. There must be thousands. Next, we’ll go on a tour of the island to explore the surroundings and facilities. There are many small boats on the water. Bright blue water surrounds the island today. There is a four-seat swing in the middle of the beach. Sun loungers and cabanas. On the other side of the island there is a traditional Maldivian house and a dhoni boat. A dhoni is a traditional Maldivian multi-purpose boat, originally a handcrafted sailing vessel. Next to the boat, there is an old Maldivian house called Vabbin FANNU. In Dhivehi, “fannu” refers to a sandy area by the sea, while “Vabbin” connects it to the island’s identity. Together, the name reflects the Maldivian tradition of living closely with the beach and ocean. Traditional Maldivian houses like this were built using natural island materials. The walls were often made from coral stones or palm timber.
These fabrics kept the houses cool. Many Banyan Tree properties do plant a real banyan tree on the property, since the brand name and logo come from this tree’s symbolism (shelter, renewal, longevity). There are signs everywhere. This is the Sangu Garden, where themed buffet nights are organized every few days. There are also live coking stations. Many tables are arranged here for dining. Move further to the beach area. There are beautiful loungers that can easily fit two people. If you’d like to book a stay here, leave us a comment or send an email. We’ll be happy to help plan your trip! This is the seating area in front of the Naiboli bar. Entrance to Naiboli Bar and next to it is the Banyan Tree Gallery. The seating area is directly on the sand, with some tables set on the terrace. The bar has a relaxed atmosphere with a beach bar. Beautiful ceiling, giving it an open, breezy feel. Alcoholic drinks are placed inside the wall. Here we see another dhoni boat, serving as decor. A billiard table is available. Few gray beanbags are placed directly on the terrace. A hammock is set between two palm trees where we can read a book or take a nap. Naiboli Bar is open daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm, serving snacks, light meals and cocktails. There is a bathroom available here in case we need it while at the restaurant or bar, so we don’t have to go back to the villa. The décor is in traditional Maldivian style. When opening the door, there’s a portrait of the painter Frida Kahlo. The bathroom is open-air and includes a shower, a full set of amenities, a toilet and a sink. The design carries the same touch we saw in our villa. Moving on to the beach. Next to the bar is the sports center and beach volleyball. Here is the swing that we saw earlier. This is the main beach area. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is about 300 meters long and 200 meters wide. The water by the beach gets a bit deeper, so we need to be cautious. It is not a lagoon. We can see the beautiful catamaran from a long distance. Check out the shape of the bar. It looks like a face. The sand is very soft, almost powdery, making it comfortable to walk on barefoot. There’s a small boat over there. It’s secured with ropes and is most likely the sewage treatment facility. All the villas have direct beach access. It seems they are working on the rooftop and renovating some of the villas in this area. We can spot the Madi Hiyaa. I’ve always dreamed of running on a deserted beach with no one else around and now I finally can. It feels amazing. Next, I’ll continue with our tour around the island. This is the marine sports center. They have kayaks, banana boats, floats and surfboards. Accessories for various water activities. Entrance to the Marine Center. The center also gives us a preview of the marine life found in the Maldives. From tiny reef fish in every color imaginable, to sea turtles, eagle rays and reef sharks. They offer activities such as turtle safaris, reef cleaning experiences, dolphin and sunset cruises, fishing. I wanted to try the red kayak. There are some big waves though. After finishing the ride, we came back to the Naiboli Bar to have a drink. There are some signature cocktails like Frozen banana- vanilla daiquiri, Vabbinfaru mojito. Classic cocktails. Shooters and Naiboli mocktails. I wanted a fresh coconut. The coconuts are usually picked straight from the island palm trees. After that, they cut the coconut at the bar and serve it. It’s sweet and refreshing. Up next is the Marine lab. One of their most important initiatives here is the coral microfragmentation program, a method that allows broken pieces of coral to grow back much faster than in nature. We can learn about corals and how they are actually animals. Each coral is made up of tiny polyps, which are soft-bodied creatures related to jellyfish. There are more than 800 species of reef-building corals in the world. We will talk about their coral microfragmentation program. This method allows corals to grow up to 40 times faster than in nature. Small fragments are cut and placed on special bases where they heal quickly.
As they grow, the fragments fuse together into larger colonies. It is one of the most effective ways to restore damaged coral reefs in the Maldives. This is the first phase in restoration which is the microfragmentation. After the marine lab talk, we arrive at the spa. Here we’ll try a 90-minute couple’s massage treatment. The spa at Banyan Tree is award-winning, known as one of the best spas in the Maldives. Lobby is beautiful and natural. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru places a strong focus on well-being and experiences. From yoga and spa rituals to private dinners and shared activities on the beach, everything is designed to help people relax, reconnect and enjoy the island together. Drink of the day.
Mellow Yellow. It’s with chrysanthemum and lime and it is a natural coolant. Before the massage, we were given an iPad to fill in some forms. The full body massage price starts at $ 195 / person for 60 minutes and $ 240 / person for 90 minutes. They offer different types of massages, including Balinese, Thai and Deep Tissue, each designed to suit different needs. The rooms are surrounded by greenery. You can hear water flowing and smell essential oils. The massage begins with a gentle foot wash, a short ritual that helps relax and prepare for the treatment. Feels calming. They also use a scrub. There are both indoor and outdoor massage rooms. We can choose between an air-conditioned room or an open pavilion surrounded by nature. Inside the room, there are two massage beds placed side by side. A small table is set with amenities like oils, towels and water.
Two soft robes are prepared for us. The massage felt so good. I would have stayed here all day. A tray was already prepared for us after the massage. It had hot ginger tea, along with small snacks made from apple and carrot. There was also a light yogurt sauce to enjoy with them. Next, I will introduce you to their highest category beach villa, the Grand Beachfront Pool Villa. It’s the most spacious villa type at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and has a total area of 132 square meters (1,420 square feet). Villa 30 is called Maarondu. All the villas around the island share the same basic layout, with a bedroom, open-air bathroom and private pool. The main difference is their position on the beach, some facing sunrise, others sunset. What makes the Grand Beachfront Pool Villa unique is that it also includes a separate living room, giving extra space. The Grand Beachfront Pool Villa has a capacity of up to 5 guests. As we can see, the bedroom area looks almost the same as in the previous villa. The minibar comes with some additional items. There are some chocolates and snack jars. Mini Toblerone. Full cream milk chocolate and Ferrero Rocher. The terrace is larger here and the beach and ocean are just a few steps away. The living room is in a separate villa. The living room has only a sofa bed and a private bathroom with a dressing area. Same rooftop design. I expected it to be smaller but the bathroom area is really spacious. Toilet and shower. Grand Beachfront Pool Villa starts at $1,918 per night for 2 adults. The rate includes breakfast, airport transfers and a $200 credit. Here, we can enjoy breakfast in the villa or an afternoon cocktail. Upgrades can be done easily and with the staff moving our luggage, we changed villas in under 30 minutes. Personally, I prefer this villa for its direct ocean view. For a more intimate and private atmosphere, I recommend the first villa. It is a beautiful villa. Later in the day, we headed to the beach for a romantic dining experience. The setup is beautiful, with small lamps arranged in the sand casting a warm glow around us. Table arrangement is simple. The Romantic Beach Dinner is usually priced around $700 per couple, depending on the menu, drinks and special setup. Wine list. Let’s take a look at what they offer. There are red, white and rose wines from France, Italy and Spain. They also have sparkling wines and champagne for special occasions. The selection includes both classic labels and premium bottles. Tonight’s menu is a 4-course set menu. Amuse bouche is pumpkin man huni toast, roasted coconut and valhomas. Let’s try it. Two ice-tea drinks. They both have a sorbet inside. Starter is Fini Aluvi Boakibaa. It’s a potato cake with avocado, tomato, maldivian tuna. Salmon caviar, dried coconut flakes. Found the avocado. Main course is Bbq grill. Half Maldivian Reef Lobster marinated with kulhimas, roasted brin jal, curry Sauce on the side. Eggplant is grilled and soft. Lobster meat is well cooked. Sauce on top is spicy. Dessert is roasted pineapple marinated with five spices, coconut sorbet and passion fruit coulis. Haven’t had roasted pineapple in a long time. It was a pleasant evening. Now, we’ll take a night walk around. On our way, we met a great blue heron. There are many boats at this late hour. It looks like they are bringing food on the island. There are plenty of fish and even reef sharks around the arrival pavilion. Baby sharks. Colorful fish. They are attracted by the lights and the sound of the boats near the pavilion. There is a quiet atmosphere during the night. The reception is beautifully lit. The main pathway is also beautifully illuminated, making evening walks around the resort very charming. Palms are beautiful. Back our the Grand villa. It looks like every night they leave special sweets. There is something else on the bed. Travel kit with shower gel and body oil. Scented candle. Time to sleep. Good morning. Today we’re starting the day with a floating breakfast. The other day, we pre-ordered it in advance, and this morning the staff brought it straight to our villa. They set everything beautifully on a large floating tray. A round tray filled with tropical fruits, pastries, eggs, fresh juices and a bottle of sparkling wine. The experience usually costs around 100 to 150 USD per couple, depending on whether you add champagne or cocktails. It’s not included in the all-inclusive package but many guests still book it mostly for the pictures and videos. Maldivian omelette. Fruits platter with guava, passion fruit, papaya, strawberry. Honey. Butter. Cheese and ham platter. Waffles with Nutella. Watermelon and orange juices. Pastry basket with donut, croissants, bread slices. Coffee with milk. Some Prosecco. We also turned on the hot tub bubbles. Now we will try to eat from the water. Sometimes it’s a bit tricky to cut the dishes. 🙂 Personally, I prefer dining at the restaurant but floating breakfast is also nice. After finishing our floating breakfast, we decided to relax in the villa. This morning the weather is perfect, warm with a gentle breeze. We’ll stay on the deck, step into the water right in front of our villa and then relax on the sunbed. The sea is a little rough today with bigger waves rolling onto the beach. This beach has a lot of corals. It feels nice relaxing on the sunbed. At Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, the yoga pavilion is a quiet open-air space surrounded by nature designed for group or private sessions. They hold morning yoga sessions, guided by an instructor, where you practice stretches and breathing while facing the ocean. In the evenings, there are meditation and mindfulness classes. Couples can also book private sessions, focusing on partner yoga or relaxation techniques together. Downstairs it’s the resort gym. For a small island, the gym size is perfect. The best part is that it’s open 24/7, so we can exercise whenever it fits our schedule. There’s a treadmill, a bike and a cross-trainer for cardio, along with a set of free weights and a strength machine. Most of the machines here are from the Precor brand. The gym doesn’t offer a lot of space but it’s still comfortable enough to exercise in a relaxed way. Fresh towels, apples, headphones and water. Cold towels in the fridge. The ocean view is the best part. Back at Madi Hiyaa, we’re heading in to try the pool. The view of the beach from here is beautiful. The floor is a little wet meaning that there are some guests swimming. There are two sun bets placed right in front of the pool. The setting is peaceful, with very few people around. We settled down here and ordered two refreshing drinks. One with strawberries and one with blackberries. The pool is 1.2 meters deep so even kids can swim safely. Let’s try the pool now. There are two entrances, one on each side of the pool. It is a little cold. It gets better after a few minutes. It looks like a large pool but it’s approximately 15 meters long. I don’t think we can jump to the other pool. If all the sun beds are occupied, we can sit on one of these hammocks. They are even more comfy than the sun beds. Later in the afternoon, we wanted to try the afternoon tea, usually served either in our villa or by the beach. The staff brought us a beautiful golden setup with both sweet and savory snacks. Here, the afternoon tea is actually an afternoon cocktail experience. Cocktail is made of pineapple, lemon and some ginger with a foam on top. The food arrangement comes with three platters. The bottom plate has croissant sandwiches, spring rolls and small chicken wrap. Let’s try the sprig rolls served with sweet chili sauce. Some noodles inside as well. First croissant is with pickled vegetables, prosciutto slices and aioli sauce. The second platter has three types of sweets. This is some kind of sponge cake with forrest fruit. Chocolate cake with some fruit and vegetable skewers. The experience is priced at around 65–70 USD per couple. Last activity in our well-being program is Private herbal oil & Reflexology massage workshop. Here, we learn how to make our own natural massage oil using local herbs and ingredients. After that, the therapists guide us through reflexology techniques, showing how different pressure points on the feet are connected to the rest of the body. All the steps and ingredients are explained by the wellness doctor, and then we can begin. Let’s begin. After the workshop, we received the oil, which we can use for the next three months. Now we’re stepping into the Banyan Tree Gallery, the resort’s signature shop. It’s part of the Banyan Tree identity and every Banyan Tree resort around the world has its own Gallery. Each one reflects the spirit of the destination. They sell skincare products used in the Banyan Tree Spa, from scrubs to moisturizers. Many guests love bringing these back as a way to recreate the spa ritual after the holiday is over. We can also try them. The Gallery also carries Banyan Tree’s own wellness and spa line. You’ll see their signature massage oils, essential oils, etc. Prices start at $16 for a ceramic container and can go up to $145 for the tea set elephant. There are beautifully designed gift sets and lifestyle items. (clothing, sarongs, jewelry) Interesting bags.
Room mist. Elephant figurines, fruit bowls, etc. One thing that stands out is the Gallery’s strong eco-focus. We can even purchase all the amenities that we used in the villa. Dresses with intricate patterns. Beach sets. Beach bags. These ones are really cute. A hair tie with a turtle design. Ocean related items. Magnets with the Maldives. Decorative objects with turtles, pencils with fish. A door sign as a souvenir. Boats, vessels and people with drums. Rays and fish. Many scarves designs. Paintings and decorative seashells. Small souvenirs like hair ties, seashell décor can start from around 10–20 USD. Larger items like dresses, art pieces, or spa gift sets can go up to 150–200 USD or more. Time to pack our suitcase and check out. But before leaving the island, we’ll enjoy our last à la carte dinner at Saffron. At night, the restaurant completely transforms its ambiance. During the dinner, Saffron specializes in authentic Thai cuisine, with only traditional dishes. Didn’t see this until now. Have a seat. We’re the first guests tonight, as we’re in a bit of a rush with our departure in just one hour. The menu starts with light appetizers and starters such as spring rolls, satay skewers and papaya salad. For mains, there are rich curries like green curry with chicken, Massaman beef curry and stir-fried vegetables. For dessert, the highlights are mango sticky rice, coconut ice cream or banana fritters with honey. Drinks. The hand-washing ritual. Tom yum crackers and rice crackers. Four small pairings for the crackers. For the starter, we will have the Khong Wang Ruam. It’s a shared Thai appetizer selection for two with prawns wrapped in crispy noodles, chicken satay, fried sea bass rolls and a pomelo salad with tamarind sauce. Food presentation was beautiful. I will try a crispy prawn with some sweet mango sauce. WOW, crispy. Pomelo salad. There is no Thai dinner without a Papaya salad. Grilled beef tenderloin with spicy Thai hot basil sauce, garlic and oyster sauce. On top is a Thai scrambled egg. This is a traditional Thai food container, often called a “kratip” or “moat” style food carrier. It’s a large, stacked, lacquered container, typically hand-painted or decorated with intricate patterns. In the past, it was used during family or temple gatherings to carry rice and different dishes. Here they use to serve four types of rice. The beef had a strong garlic taste and the meat was soft. Dessert is mango sticky rice. With coconut ice cream and a cracker on top. And strawberry creme brulee. Both desserts were incredible. I can’t decide which one was better. The homemade ice cream was one of the best we’ve had in the Maldives so far. Time for our departure. Our stay at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru was wonderful. The island is small and intimate, yet it feels full of life thanks to the reef, the soft beaches and the privacy of each villa. What stood out the most was the balance between well-being and island life. The staff was incredibly warm and attentive, always making us feel cared for from the moment we arrived until our departure. For two adults, a two-night stay on an all-inclusive basis at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru starts at around 4000 USD, depending on the villa type and season. The staff gather at the jetty for a final farewell. Thank you for your watching!

Today we are staying at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, a 5-star luxury resort in the Maldives known for its well-being approach, beachfront villas and romantic island experiences.

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is the second Banyan Tree resort ever built and the first outside Thailand, opened in 1995 and today remains one of the most romantic honeymoon islands in the Maldives.

Planning your stay at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru? Email us directly and we can help you book with exclusive benefits: special discounts, complimentary inclusions and unique experiences arranged just for you. By booking through us, you’ll also be supporting our channel.

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■ Resort Information
Name: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru
Address: Kaafu Atoll (North Malé Atoll), Maldives
Opened: 1995 (the second Banyan Tree resort in the world)
Operated by: Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts
Number of Villas: 48 beachfront villas (each with private pool and jacuzzi)
Date of Stay: September 2025
Category: Oceanview Pool Villa
Price: from approx. 900 USD per night (depending on season and inclusions)
Transfer: Speedboat transfer from Malé: 25 minutes
Price: 185 USD per person (round trip)
Official Website: https://www.banyantree.com/maldives/vabbinfaru

■ Video Contents
00:00 Introduction to Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru
01:10 Speedboat transfer
02:21 Arrival and Check-in
05:28 Lunct at Saffron (Thai restaurant)
07:54 Tour of the Oceanview Pool Villa
17:59 Catamaran cruise
20:30 Cocktails at Madi Hiyaa (Japanese restaurant)
23:40 Dinner at Madi HIyaa
28:43 Bodu Beru performance
29:53 Turndown Service
31:10 Breakfast buffet at Saffron
37:43 Snorkeling (Amazing experience)
38:44 Around the Island
41:19 Naiboli Bar
43:10 Beach
47:03 Marine Lab (Coral talk)
48:21 Banyan Tree Spa
51:24 Move to Grand Beachfront Pool Villa
55:00 Romantic Beach Dinner
58:22 Hotel by Night
01:00:09 Good Night / Good Morning
01:00:59 Floating Breakfast
01:04:20 Yoga
01:04:59 Gym
01:06:08 Pool
01:07:58 Afternoon Cocktail
01:09:26 Signature Oil making
01:10:34 Banyan Tree Gallery
01:13:55 Thai Dinner at Saffron
01:18:19 Check-out & Impressions

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