My stay in a new Maldives resort that’s even BETTER in real life than it looks in photos

Making a splash as a new resort in the Maldives is no mean feat.

With your competition an abundance of 160 idyllic islands all vaunting five-star luxury, heavenly views, turquoise waters, stunning architecture and Michelin-standard food, standing out almost seems impossible.

But it isn’t. Not quite. 

Avani+ Fares Maldives – located on the western edge of the eye-wideningly beautiful Baa Atoll, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve – is one of the latest resorts to open its doors, promising ‘something out of your wildest dreams’.

And it manages to over-deliver. For starters, by looking even better in real life than it does in photos. 

Walking into our two-bedroom over-water pool villa, home for four nights for my husband and I and our seven-year-old daughter, at the end of the row of bungalows connected via a wooden bridge, I feel as though I’ve won the lottery. 

It’s stunning. 

The decor is modern and stylish, traditional and adventurous, yet playful and luxurious.

Carol says: ‘Walking into our two-bedroom over-water pool villa (above) at the end of the row of bungalows connected via a wooden bridge, I feel as though I’ve won the lottery’

Carol describes her villa as having decor that ‘is modern and stylish, traditional and adventurous’

Our room has two large en-suite bedrooms at either end boasting king-size beds, connected by a vast living room area with pillow-adorned sofas and a chaise lounge, plus lots and lots of storage.

The floor-to-ceiling windows lead to a full-length wooden-slatted terrace, with an infinity pool, steps leading to the ocean, sunloungers, an outdoor shower – and views that even the best cameras would struggle to do justice to.

But it’s the meticulous attention to detail that raises Avani+ Fares Maldives from incredible to utterly outstanding.

It’s the dreamily-comfortable beds on which I have the best nights’ sleep I honestly think I’ve ever had. 

It’s the 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton with feather mattress toppers (that the brilliant head of housekeeping told me about so passionately – because who wants a poor night’s sleep when they’re in the Maldives?); it’s the pillow menu (firm or soft, you decide), and the pillow spray menu (who knew?).

Carol’s villa has a full-length wooden-slatted terrace with an infinity pool

Carol’s room has two large en-suite bedrooms at either end boasting king-size beds, connected by a vast living room area

And it’s the glass sections of floor in our apartment that allow you to spy on the underwater sea life from the dining room table, the bathtub and even, yes, the toilet (although my daughter is mildly freaked out by the prospect of falling through).

With a room like this, leaving becomes an issue.

There are big lures elsewhere, though – the dining, for instance. 

For breakfast, the brilliant buffet at Hammock has delights from Maldivian dishes, to western fare. For lunch, we devour freshly cooked lobster on the beach at the alfresco Ocean Terrace. 

We sip pre-dinner cocktails while watching the sunset at The Skipjack bar. While Charcoal is where we enjoy a dinner-to-remember – my husband is brought a selection of sharp knives to choose from to cut his sizzling wagyu steak.

Energy needs to be expelled. 

Guests can choose from kayaking, yoga, excursions, manta snorkelling, speed boats, wakeboarding – the list goes on.

We take a short walk to the beach and take far too many photos of the tropical waters with shades of deep navy, vibrant azure tones and baby blues contrasted against dazzling white sand. 

A walk around the sandy roads of the idyllic island, complete with swaying palm trees, leads us to a network of accommodation, bars, restaurants and swimming pools, and wonderfully friendly staff who are only too happy to help.

Paradise: Above is a private pool of a beach pool villa

Carol declares that Avani+ Fares Maldives looks even better in real life than it does in photos

In terms of activities, guests can choose from kayaking, yoga, excursions, manta snorkelling, speed boats, wakeboarding 

While our daughter is enjoying plentiful activities with friendly staff at the kids’ club, my husband and I go scuba diving – rolling off the back of a boat into tropical waters to discover an impressive abundance of sea life, from turtles and sharks, to stingrays and colourful coral.

It’s on a family boat trip that we spot pods of dolphins that follow us for an extraordinary length of time as we marvel at their beauty.

It’s time to go, and my daughter has a tear in her eye as the lovely staff line up to wave us farewell as we leave to catch our 35-minute seaplane flight to Male airport. 

It’s cliched, but I find myself promising to return to this exquisite island. They’ve created something really special.