Escapes

all the attention to detail. The villa was spacious, with a big super-king bed that would hug me that night and had my name written in palm leaves on the cover – such a lovely touch. The most exciting part about the resort is that you won’t find a single piece of plastic! Sustainability is taken seriously at Avani+ Fares. The bottled waters are refillable, and the toiletries are from Malin + Goetz, a company with a philosophy of fewer ingredients but better quality. Ceramic containers are filled with their luxurious body wash, peppermint shampoo, cilantro hair conditioner and vitamin B5 body moisturiser. Everything smelled incredibly good! The outside shower (a must-have in every property in the Maldives) was my favourite feature.

We were in a group of five girls, all invited to explore this brand-new hotel. My colleague and I were the first to arrive and we unwound in our rooms. We then headed to The Skipjack Bar, a restaurant located by the communal infinity pool with unobstructed views of the vast Indian Ocean. The dining spot gives the perfect beach vibes with modern and comfortable furniture in earthy tones and accents of vivid green, navy blue and yellow. Just as the pilots have casual attire, the resort staff wear comfortable uniforms in breathable materials. The print on the T-shirts is a beautiful drawing of the Baa Atoll, where the five-star property is located, more precisely on Fares island, set on the western edge of the atoll. Skipjack’s menu is vast, with lots of options for a quick bite or full meal. As a vegetarian, it can be tricky to find alternatives, but not at Avani+ Fares, they cater to all dietary restrictions and there is plenty to choose if you are a veggie enthusiast like me. Shannon, responsible for the food and beverage, ensures all restaurants’ menus have something interesting and as sustainable as possible. I opted for the Veggi Burger, a vegetable and mushroom patty in sourdough bread, and sweet potato fries – a light but filling meal.