Quick Facts

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Highlights:

★★★★★

South Ari Atoll

Seaplane
30 minutes

Extra large

193

• Great value for money
• Whale shark snorkeling

• Excellent food
• Lively atmosphere

Reviewed by Florian

Transfers & arrival

We reached LUX South Ari Atoll by seaplane, a beautiful 30-minute flight over the atolls. It’s always such a magical moment, seeing the patchwork of turquoise and deep blue below, the tiny islands, and sandbanks scattered everywhere.

On arrival, we were greeted by a big welcoming team and offered a refreshing drink while the check-in formalities were handled. Everything was smooth and fast, although it did feel a little less personal than at smaller resorts. No private butler here (unless you stay in the LUX Villa), but the staff were all very cheerful and helpful.

The island itself is so large that we were driven to our villa by buggy, which took a few minutes. That’s when we realized just how big this resort really is. It feels more like a small village than a typical Maldivian island.

Our villa: Temptation Pool Water Villa (n°109)

Let’s continue our review of LUX South Ari Atoll with our accommodation.

We stayed in the Temptation Pool Water Villa n°109, one of their top categories. The villa itself was very nice inside: modern, bright, with a large living area and a beautiful bathroom featuring a bathtub overlooking the ocean. The pool outside was also quite big, with plenty of space to relax on the deck.

What we didn’t love so much was how enclosed the terrace felt. The sides of the deck are completely blocked by high wooden walls, which is great for privacy but really takes away from the open-ocean feeling. When you stay in an overwater villa in the Maldives, you usually want to see nothing but water around you. Here, you kind of feel boxed in. If you want a great villa, you should check out our 10 best overwater villas in the Maldives.

Still, the villa was comfortable and peaceful, and we enjoyed having such a large pool to ourselves. But compared to some of the overwater villas we’ve seen elsewhere, it wasn’t one of our favorites.

The island: not our favorite

We knew LUX South Ari Atoll was big, but we didn’t realize just how big until we started exploring. It’s one of the largest resort islands in the Maldives, and you definitely need the buggy if you don’t want to walk for 20 minutes between one end and the other. You can also bike around, but not all villas come with complimentary bikes.

Because of its size, the island feels more like a resort complex than a natural hideaway. The beaches vary a lot. Some parts are really beautiful, especially the sandbank area, which looks absolutely stunning with clear turquoise water and soft white sand. But in other areas, there’s a lot of seaweed, and the lagoon doesn’t have that perfectly clear water you might expect.

There are some nice photo spots and beautiful views, but overall, it’s not one of the most naturally beautiful islands we’ve seen in the Maldives.

Service

An other important point to cover in our review is the service.

Service at LUX South Ari Atoll was friendly but not very personal. You don’t have a private butler unless you stay in the highest category, and because of the resort’s size, the staff are handling a lot of guests at once. The ratio of staff per guest is far from being able to compete with the real luxury resorts in the Maldives.

Everyone was polite and nice, and we had no bad experiences, but it doesn’t have that “family feeling” you often get at smaller Maldivian resorts where the staff know you by name and anticipate your needs. Here, it’s more structured, efficient and well-run, but not warm in that very personal way.

That being said, service in the restaurants was great, especially during breakfast and dinner.

Dining options

One of the biggest strengths of LUX South Ari Atoll is the food and that’s most likely the highlight of this review.

The breakfast buffet is huge and genuinely impressive. We loved that there are two breakfast venues: East Market, which is overwater, and Mixe, which is beachfront. This helps divide the crowd nicely, and even with 200 villas, it never felt too busy.

The variety is excellent: fresh fruits, pastries, cold cuts, live egg stations, Asian options, and great coffee. It’s honestly one of the best breakfasts we’ve had for a resort in this price range.

For lunch and dinner, there are several à la carte restaurants, and the quality of the food is very good overall. Our favorite was Allegria, the Italian restaurant, where every dish was spot-on with fresh ingredients, perfect seasoning, and really nice service. We also tried East Market for dinner one night and enjoyed the Asian buffet options.

For a resort this size, the dining experience was surprisingly consistent and definitely a highlight of our stay.

The Spa & Gym

The spa is divided between in-land treatment rooms and a few overwater pavilions. We had our massage in one of the garden rooms, and while it wasn’t the best massage we’ve ever had, it was still a relaxing experience. Overwater massages cost a bit more, but the setting looked beautiful. It’s not the best spa in the Maldives, but still very decent for a resort of this standing.

The gym is modern, bright, and equipped with Technogym machines. There’s enough space and variety for a proper workout, and they also offer yoga sessions, which we unfortunately didn’t have time to try.

Snorkeling

One of the huge letdown of this review of LUX South Ari Atoll is the total lack of snorkeling at the resort.

There’s no house reef at LUX South Ari Atoll, so snorkeling directly from the beach or villa is not possible. That’s definitely one of the weakest points of this resort.

However, the resort offers excursions to swim with whale sharks, which are found in the area year-round. We joined one of those trips, hoping for an unforgettable experience and while we did see a whale shark, it wasn’t quite what we expected.

There were many boats and dozens of snorkelers all rushing to jump in the water at once, and we only saw the shark for a few seconds before it swam away. It felt a bit chaotic and not respectful to the animal. Definitely not something we’d do again.

The Pools

There are two main pools at LUX South Ari Atoll, which is great given the size of the resort. The first one, located near Mixe restaurant, is more lively, with music and a social atmosphere. The second one, on the sunset side of the island next to Senses restaurant, is quieter and perfect to relax.

Both pools are beautiful, with nice loungers and shaded cabanas, though we noticed that the beach areas in front of the pools often had seaweed, which doesn’t look great in photos. Still, we spent a few afternoons by the pool enjoying drinks and found it a nice, relaxing area overall.

The value for money

Before wrapping us this review of LUX South Ari Atoll, let’s talk value for money.

When it comes to this, LUX South Ari Atoll performs quite well. It’s one of the most affordable 5-star resorts in the Maldives, and you can definitely see where the value lies: good food, modern villas, and plenty of activities.

That said, it doesn’t have the exclusivity or natural beauty of the higher-end resorts. You do feel that it’s a large, busy island, and the service reflects that. But for travelers who want a lively atmosphere, lots of choice, and a solid overall experience, it’s a good option.

We wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for honeymooners or couples looking for total peace and privacy (check our best resorts for honeymoon in the Maldives here) but for families or groups of friends, it can be a great fit.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Excellent breakfast buffet with two venues

• Great dining options, especially Allegria

• Spacious gym with modern equipment

• Two pools to choose from

• Overall good value for money

Cons

• No house reef for snorkeling

• Large island lacking intimacy

• Seaweed on many beach areas

• Overwater villas feel enclosed

• Service not very personalized

Conclusion: not a resort we would recommend if you’re after luxury

Our review of LUX South Ari Atoll Maldives is overall positive, but with some reservations. It’s a big, lively resort that delivers solid quality and good value, but it doesn’t offer the exclusivity or natural charm of the smaller luxury islands.

We enjoyed our time there, especially the food and the general atmosphere, but for us, it’s not the kind of resort we’d personally go back to for a romantic or relaxing stay. Still, for travelers looking for an energetic island with plenty to do, modern villas, and great dining, it’s a solid, well-rounded option in the Maldives.

Contact us for more information or to book with the most competitive rates.

LUX South Ari Atoll Resort Tour