Banyan Tree Resort

We stayed here a year after we stayed at the One & Only Kanuhura which is a bit bigger and a little bit more active. The island is not big, does not have watervilla's but does have a beautiful sunset jetty where you can have champagne and canapes. The villa's are really nice (with jacuzzi etc) and so is the food. The bar serves really good cocktails and the waiters are lovely as well. However, the beach at the villa's is not very big and it did not feel as exclusive at the One * Only. We also went to a management drink on the beach which I can really recommend because it is so nice to hear how people live there. The thing that I especially liked at Banyan Tree was the seacenter, the are really consious of their envireonment and have a bassin in the sea with little sharks and turtles where you can swim to. All in all a perfect resort if you are really looking for a wonderful time and don't want to do too much. Last thing, a nice touch, there is a boat to the Angsana which is across the Banyan Tree and the have the most beautiful reef for snorkelling, (has been rewarded)!

We had a fantastic 15th wedding anniversary at the end of May-start of June. As it is allegedly monsoon season (we had 6 gloriously sunny and calm days) the hotel occupancy rate was only 40%. On the neighbouring island of Angsana 16 people were staying ! The total staff on both islands approaches 300 so we all were looked after exceedingly well. The thatched villas were lovely. The open air bathrooms great though the air con in the bedroom worked very well. We had a villa (17) on the sunset side with a sala over the sea. The water is stunningly blue ! We snorkelled on both the Banyan Tree and the Angsana reefs. Both are different and you can catch a complimentary boat between the two which takes under 5 minutes. We also dived on both reefs. Angsana has better fish (and being much smaller with the reef close to shore) you can spend a pleasant hour snorkelling around the entire island. The BT reef has better coral and we saw nurse and reef sharks and a moray eel when diving there too. All the staff are incredibly friendly from Mohammed, our room boy who made up our room twice a day and left a present on our bed every night, through Ali and Suzy at the dive shop, Hassan and Sarath in the bar (they have a high powered telescope for looking at the moon) and Didi who waitered on our table every day. The food is one of the real treats. Fruit cut to order at breakfast (you can have shashimi too) to different influenced buffets every lunch and a 5 course meal at night al la carte. Cocktails are reasonably priced at about £6. We can not recommend the place highly enough and already miss the lemon scented cooling face towels offered on arrival and at every meal. We didn't go to the spa so can't comment. Do go out and watch the turtles being fed.

My wife and I stayed at the Banyan Tree for 5 nights in early April 07 and we were both blown away by the beauty of this Island. Everything was perfect. We stayed in a duluxe beachfront villa, and it was just out of this world. I've never seen water so blue and sand so white. Everything in the room and outside the room (outdoor shower and spa pool) were all magnificent. The food was outstanding for every single meal we had and the lunchtime buffet was something we both looked forward to each day. Being honeymooners we also got an in villa dinning experience which was served outside our villa. This was very romantic as we got to eat while watching a perfect sun set. The house reef was great to snorkel and dive at. Yes there is a lot of dead coral close to the shore, but the drop off around the edge of the island makes up for this with heaps and heaps of beautiful coloured coral the and endlees supply of fish of all shapes and sizes swimming past (and the odd reef shark) We also went on a snorking safari which is about a 15 minutes boat ride away, and is definately worth it to see even more variety of fish and coral. We both had 2 massage treatments in the spa, and this was nearly the highlight of our trip. Absolutely amazaing!!!! I could sit here and write forever about this fantastic Island resort, but i'll let my photos do the talking. If you chose the Banayn Tree for your Maldivan holiday trust me you wont be disapointed!

Our stay at Banyan Tree was a dream - it was everything we hoped for and more. Arrival and room: We were at Banyan Tree in March (the weather was perfect) for our honeymoon after several nights at their sister resort, Angsana Velavaru. We felt the romance of Banyan Tree as soon as we stepped off the speedboat at Banyan Tree, by which time we had already forgotten about Angsana Velavaru (the island from a short distance is stunning compared to many others and we were already very excited even before we got off the boat). Their reception was stunning and our beachfront villa was very romantic. Sure, the villa was showing its age a little but it was beautifully maintained and it blends in well with the environment. Just like other fellow tripadvisors have mentioned, the person who took us to our room knew exactly what activities we had pre-booked; and when we arrived at our room, music was already playing, incense oil was burning, complimentary (for honeymooners) wine and fruit already arrived - what a way to start our stay here! Our room was near the sunset jetty and the water was quite rough. We didn't mind that because we loved the sound of the water, especially at night when the sound of the sea took us to sleep. It is true that the villas are quite close but again, it didn't bother us. The room was cleaned twice a day and they drew the screen on the four poster bed every night. There was no TV in the room - who would want to waste time watching TV when you are at paradise? Food and drinks: The food, like most tripadvisors said, was absolutely superb! Buffet breakfast (with a selection of eggs, such as egg benedict) and lunch (different theme everyday), and al la carte dinner (except for one night where they have themed buffet dinner) were all of excellent quality. We were particularly impressed with the lunch - fantastic (almost endless) selection and it was absolutely delicious every time. For breakfast, fruit is cut in front of you to order and same for salad for lunch so you are sure they are fresh. At lunch, when you order from their BBQ, you don't even need to tell the cook where you sit and they will bring your order to your table (these are little things, but many little things add up). There is complimentary water in the room every day and "Banyan Tree" water can be bought at meals for $3.5 for 1.5L. Coke was around US$5 and wines started from around US$25. Sandbank dining and in-villa dinner: Sandbank dining is not to be missed - we tried the breakfast - two waiters and two speedboat drivers came with us and the sand bank was exactly like the picture in the brochures (but it is more amazing when you are actually there). The food (which was again, very good) came distant second to the experience of watching sunrise in the middle of indian ocean. We also had in-villa BBQ dinner - there was too much food even for carnivores like us and the waiter was very discreet. Staff generally: The staff we met were friendly and helpful - nothing is too much trouble for them. They all smiled and said hi and many stopped to chat (but never intrusive) and it is this that really made our stay extra memorable. It really seems that they are proud of their resort and that they are one big family. There is a marine biology lab on the island and their marine biology staff were very informative. We got to hold a turtle from their turtle regeneration program and the marine biologist who presented the free marine biology class was obviously very passionate about her work. Waitstaff: Maybe we are cynical but the only slight grip we have with Banyan Tree is the service of the wait staff. The service for our first meal was very slow and we suspect it was because we made the "mistake" of telling a waiter that we were only there for a couple of nights. A waiter "adopted" us towards the end of our stay - he was always polite and professional but was never enthusiastic towards us. At our last dinner, we observed a Japanese couple who we had not seen them before had started dinner at around the same time as us but their main only arrived after we have finished our three courses. Snorkelling: The house reef was 5 minute swim away and for snorkelling amateurs like us, it was an truly amazing experience. We felt there were more fish at Angsana Velavaru's house reef but there were more variety at Banyan Tree. The island isn't very big, we kayaked around the island in 20 minutes (and no one would call us fit). Angsana Ihuru: As others have mentioned, there is a regular complimentary boat service between Banyan Tree and Ihuru every 2 hours. We went there to have a look on our last day. Perhaps we are biased but we like Banyan Tree a lot more. Banyan Tree is a much more romantic type resort for couples and the villas and buildings really make the island look beautiful whether from a distance or while walking around it. On the other hand, Angsana feels more like a family/beach/fun type resort and it is a slightly bigger island. The villas at Angsana are more hidden so you can't really see them from afar. The reef there is good though and there is a lot of marine life there. Departure: Our flight was at 3am and we loved the fact that we didn't have to leave the island until 1am. Having said that, we had to vacate our room by 12pm, so we went to get a massage (pure pampering) and visited Angsana Ihuru that afternoon to make sure we didn't miss the room too much. We could still sign our spending to our room even after we vacated. We were also given a day room at night to stay in (not always available - depends on your luck) and it was good because we could rest before our long haul flight. Overall: We loved Banyan Tree and loved Maldives even more. Maldives is the place to go if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of every day life. It is all about the nature and the love one(s) who is/are there with you. If you want to go to Maldives - just do it, you will be taken aback by Maldives' beauty. Tip: Go see the sharks at the jetty at night!

The beauty of this resort cannot be put to words. Paradise is an understatement. The best feature of the hotel is the simplicity of its architecture that perfectly blends with the natural surroundings. The beach front villas are by far the best. Service was excellent and also discreet, almost as if we were in our own home. The food was delicious, especially the lunch buffet. The spa treatments were awesome. Our diving instructor, Dennis, was great! We were literally crying when we had to leave. It was not our honeymoon, but certainly felt like one, which raises the question: can we find a better place when that time comes?

What can I say? This is the most beautiful vacation I've been on. Maldives is beautiful & Banyan Tree is great. The Good: * Beautiful, crystal clear water & pristine beaches * Intimate setting, not crowded or commercial * Snorkeling classes! * Awesome snorkeling experience * Great water life * Great food! * Exceptional amenities & service The Not So Good: * Not much to do!

My husband and I stayed at the Banyan Tree for 8 nights in August as part of our honeymoon. It really is the most beautiful, amazing and relaxing place you could imagine. It is worth every penny and I wouldn't have second thoughts in recommending it. Everything about the resort is perfect and I worry that nothing can possibly compare. The Transfer: The BT transfer boat is by far the most luxurious at the airport which instantly gives the right impression. We were given well needed refreshing scented towels on the boat. The transfer only takes about 20 minutes, which after a long flight is really handy. Upon arrival at the hotel we were instantly greated with more towels and a delicious cool lemongrass tea and shown quickly to our room. The Room: We stayed in a deluxe ocean view villa and were really impressed. (Villa 42).The rooms are beautifully designed and well appointed. The bed was very confortable and the bathroom was very stylish. The whole room was obviously furnished to a very high standard and specially designed. We were actually pleased that we had remained with an ocean view villa rather than a beach front villa. (Our villa was slightly further back and more secluded.) The private walled garden had a jacuzzi and was impressively landcaped. The room had patio doors that opened onto a good-sized private decked terrace and then to the beach. We had a private sun-bathing platform with very confortable beds. There is a cd player in the room but no tv. We would recommend this side of the island (villas 35-45) as the villas were more spread out and felt more secluded than other areas of the island. The beach: White sand, very clean, turqiouse waters. Absolutely breathtaking. By far the best beach I have ever seen, including a number of Caribbean, far-eastern and middle-eastern beaches. The Restaurant: The sand floored restaurant was suitable for no-shoes as was the rest of the island. It was laid back but also formal! Staff were excllent, and menu's interesting. The food was of very high quality. I am not a fan of seafood which was always going to be a problem in the Maldives! The set dinner menu always had 2 seafood options, a vegetarian option and a meat option. The food was a little pretentious but this was to be expected in a hotel of such quality. The lunch buffet was not a normal buffet. It was extremly good with a varied selection every day. Breakfast was also faultless with freshly cut exotic fruit (prepared in front of you to order) and good selection to suit all tastes. It is also worth mentioning that we were pleasantly surprised with the wine and drinks prices. They were by no means a bargain, however when considering that you are on a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean they were pretty reasonable. A coca-cola was around £1 or approx $1.50 US. The wine and cocktail lists both had a really good selection for all budgets! The Spa: We used the spa twice and were as impressed as we were with the rest of the resort. The treatment rooms are open-air in beautiful surroundings. Each room had private showers and a spa bath. Staff were very professional and refreshments were offered on a number of occasions. Pure bliss. Would definately recommend the Balinese couples massage. The Diving: My husband is a PADI Advanced open-water and I completed the open water course at the resort. What a place to learn! The vis was good (My husband informed me that it was however not as impressive as the Red Sea or Malaysia at this time of the year). There is a varied marine life. The BT house reef and the Angsana house reef (neighbouring island) are both very good if you are nervous or are a new diver. We only saw one shark and nothing too scary. Mostly coral fish and the odd lion fish.The diving excursions were a different story. Rasfari was very exciting. There were lots of sharks, rays and baracuda and I would recommend this dive. Each two-tank dive trip was $100 US which included equiptment hire, drinks on board the (very well equipped and luxurious) boat, and there was 1 dive-master for every 3-4 divers so the groups were small. Overall: If you are considering the Banyan Tree, my advice is to go. It is very peaceful, relaxing and luxurious. We were made to feel like royalty throughout our stay and were so sad to leave. Other than the gym and diving there really isn't that much by way of activities. We were so relaxed that we didn't feel at all bored. The daily sting-ray feeding was an experiance that we will never forget. I was concerned that there wasn't a swimming pool, however on arrival it's obvious that the sea is so warm, calm and inviting that you wouldn't want a pool anyway.

My husband and I have just returned from an 8 night stay in an oceanview villa at the Banyan Tree, following a 6 night stay in Dubai. I had tried to book a Beachview villa but they were all fully booked but upon reflection, I agree with some of the other tripadvisors comments, the Oceanview villas have more privacy but the garden area can get quite hot and humid, due to them being very sheltered. We were on the windy side of the island which was perfect, as we could open our patio doors at night and it was cool enough to sleep and be able to hear the sea. This was just as well as the aircon was very noisy! The food was wonderful, very varied, beautifully presented and surprising things were served, i.e. quail, venison (not what we expected). By and large the staff were very friendly and very obliging, especially Adam, who was very efficient and professional. We had one of the most relaxing holidays ever and would thoroughly recommend the Banyan Tree. Apart from the aircon, the only other negative comment we would make, was the rather slow service in the bar and the depressing music played, it was enough to send you to sleep!

On arrival at Male we were met and quickly and efficiently taken to the speeboat for the somewhat lively (due to waves) journey to the island. Our island greeting was up to usual Maldivian standards and we were taken to our room, an Oceanview. During our holiday we stayed at both types of room. They are identical except in position. They are tasteful, with a large comfy bed, a lovely, part outdoor bathroom leading to the back garden with jacuzzi. There isn't much to choose between the rooms; we slighly preferred the greater privacy further from the beach, but its marginal which is best. Insects were no better or worse than most islands. For those who hate them I would suggest an island with water villas. The food was very good indeed; a perfect buffet breakfast. My wife especially enjoyed the fruit which is cut to order. Lunch was one of the best buffets I have seen. It would be difficult to think of anyone it wouldn't please. Dinner was always good, though the menu was a little limited. The spa area was superb. We had massages on most days and they were relaxing and proffesional. I couldn't speak more highly of this area. Diving was a joint affair with the sister island nearby. The staff were very helpful. The diveboat leaves at 8.30 each morning and there are two dives before returning for lunch. A nice boat with good local staff. Personally, I would prefer longer surface intervals than were taken (45mins), but they were working to a faily strict schedule. There were some slightly negative aspects. The island is quite cramped for a luxury resort, though still lovely. On our third day we met a couple we have seen in the Maldives the previous year. They had spent the first 3 days of their holiday on a different island due to overbooking. The following day the client liason man approached us to offer a package to downgrade from our Oceanview for the same reason. It was very generous and we accepted. It does beg the question though- do some hotels deliberately overbook in the expectation of cancellations? I know airlines do this, but was unaware that it extended to hotels. Changing villa was smooth and no problem, but I would have been far less happy to have been a few days late getting to the resort. Overall though, the Banyan Tree is very good indeed. The only other hotel in the same price range that we have stayed at in the Maldives is Soneva Fushi. I would have to say that the Banyan Tree comes second to that, but not by very much.

We travelled for a 2 week stay in late January, partly because we had not been on a plane journey since our honeymoon and also because we fancied seeing the maldives before they sink! We have to agree with most of the reviews on here as we used this site for our research purposes. The greeting at the airport was easy and luggage taken care of while we were waiting for the rest of the visitors to get off the plane, although it gave the wife something to worry about when the rep kept our tickets till our departure date... after that it was a quick speed boat transfer with cold water provided... The welcome was very friendly with a drummer escorting you down the jetty and an ice cold ginger tea and towel waiting for you at reception.... We had a slight delay as our villa was been made up but in the time it took to have a tour of the facilities and check in with a complimentary fruit juice it was ready and more than worth the wait... We had a deluxe villa on the windy side which had the indoor and outdoor shower and jacuzzi, and the private jetty/balcony thing on stilts to watch the sunset in the evening and the phosphorescence at night.... lots of people complained and moved because of the wind and wave noise but we found it was so much cooler in the day and it drowned out the sound of the aircon, and there is a lot to be said for coming home after a few cocktails, sitting on the balcony watching the phosphorescence in the sea under your feet.... many hours were spent on the beach/balcony and hammock contemplating what to do next... Diving - first class service at the dive centre with an intro dive on the house reef followed by a number of varied boat dives - staff on the boat setting up your gear and providing fruit and drinks! unbelievable fish life and at times some quite challenging drift dives, but some of the best dives i have done comparing this with Fiji and South Africa... the house reef was fantastic as well with black and white tip reef sharks, nurse sharks, rays and turtles as well as a friendly school of batfish!! other time was spent windsurfing .... some old gear but good enough to get you planing across the lagoon.... seaplane ride to take in the sights from the air, well worth it.... and deep sea fishing - done with the one and only resort boat - very friendly and competent skipper and staff who we managed to lose a big sailfish with but catch a number of jack and a red snapper... cooked to your specification by the chef for either lunch of dinner on your return!!! the food was fantastic and runs on a weekly rota with themed buffets at lunch and a sit down meal at night... service was magic and we had the pleasure of adam as well who was quiet compared with others but very nice. wine and drinks have all been mentined before and roughly are the same price, nice bottles of plonk with tea from 33 to 80 odd dollars... another mention must go to the marine lab staff and projects which they are running... very worthwhile dropping in on them or going to the complimentary lecture and finding out about the turrtle and black tip reef shark projects... almost forgot the stingray feeding! as we had a night flight we got a small room for a half day after check out which was well worth doing, we heard it was basic but it was perfectly comfortable with a nice shower, bed and air con... altogether we were in agreement that it was the best holiday we have had (apart from the honeymoon) and we would be scared of going somewhere different in the maldives if it couldnt live up to paradise!! ps other to dos - feeding the fish at the pier after dinner