Heritance Aarah Review: My Experience at This Luxury All-Inclusive Maldives Resort

Arriving at Heritance Aarah

The welcome at Heritance Aarah immediately gave us a taste of the level of service to come.

We were welcomed from our transfer with some beautiful Maldivian music before being taken by golf buggy to reception.

The reception area itself was beautiful, open and airy, with a sand floor which immediately made you feel like you had arrived somewhere very special.

We were given a cool, scented towel to freshen up, along with a glass of champagne, while the team collected our information and organised our check-in.

Rather than simply being shown straight to our room, we were then taken on a short tour of the island so we could get our bearings and see where the different restaurants and facilities were located.

It was a lovely touch and meant we already had a good idea of where everything was before arriving at our villa.

Personal butler service at Heritance Aarah

One of the things that really makes Heritance Aarah stand out is the personal butler service.

Every guest has their own personal butler throughout their stay, and you are added to a WhatsApp chat where you can contact them whenever you need anything.

You can use the chat to request restaurant reservations, ask for something to be brought to your room or arrange to be picked up and taken somewhere else around the island.

It makes everything incredibly easy and takes away the need to worry about the little details during your holiday.

My butlers, Iru and Jawad, were fantastic and looked after me so well throughout my stay. They were always on hand and made such a difference to the overall experience.

It's this level of personal service that I think helps explain why so many guests return to Heritance Aarah year after year.

My Heritance Aarah water villa

I was absolutely amazed by my room.

I stayed in a Water Villa, and it was incredibly spacious, modern and beautifully designed.

The deck overlooking the Indian Ocean was just incredible. I was lucky enough to see some phenomenal sunsets from here, and it was the perfect place to sit back, relax and take in the views.

The bathroom was huge and had Elemis toiletries, which is always a lovely touch.

The room also had a stocked mini bar, which was replenished every day, along with bottled water.

Another detail I really liked was the Marshall Stanmore Bluetooth speaker in the room. Guests can connect their own phone and music via Bluetooth, so you can listen to your own playlists while relaxing in your villa.

It's these little touches that make the accommodation feel more personal and luxurious.

Pools at Heritance Aarah

There are two pools at Heritance Aarah.

One is specifically for guests staying in the suite categories, while the other is available for all other guests.

With the beautiful beach and lagoon surrounding the island, there is plenty of choice when it comes to finding somewhere to relax by the water.

Heritance Aarah all-inclusive: the food really is exceptional

One of the biggest highlights of my stay was the all-inclusive offering at Heritance Aarah.

I genuinely think this is one of the areas where the resort really stands out compared with other Maldives resorts.

The all-inclusive package even includes champagne, which felt like a really special touch and isn't something I've found at every all-inclusive resort I've stayed at.

But for me, it was the food that really made an impression.

The buffet

The buffet was quite simply the best buffet I've ever experienced.

There was such a huge choice, including freshly prepared fish and meat cooked while you watched the chefs.

There was plenty of variety, and the quality was fantastic.

I think Heritance Aarah clearly takes its food and dining very seriously, and it shows.

À la carte dining

The à la carte restaurants were also phenomenal.

There was a really good choice of dining experiences throughout the resort, and the quality remained consistently high.

For me, the food is one of the main reasons I would recommend Heritance Aarah to clients who want an all-inclusive Maldives holiday but don't want to compromise on the quality or variety of their dining.

Snorkelling with manta rays

One of the most incredible experiences during my stay was snorkelling with manta rays.

We were lucky enough to see three mantas, and I was able to swim just above them.

It was such a special experience and definitely something I will never forget.

The team at the dive and water sports centre were fantastic throughout. They made me feel confident, explained everything clearly and ensured that we felt safe and comfortable during the experience.

If you're staying at Heritance Aarah, I would definitely recommend speaking to the team about the experiences available during your stay.

A very special dolphin boat trip

We also went on a private boat trip to look for dolphins, and this was another highlight.

We were the only boat out on the water, which made the experience feel incredibly special.

We were lucky enough to see around 15 dolphins playing in front of the boat and jumping up into the air.

I've seen dolphins before, but I've never experienced them quite like this.

Watching them swimming and jumping alongside the boat in the middle of the Maldivian ocean was one of those moments that stays with you.

Swimming with turtles on the house reef

Another experience we enjoyed was swimming with turtles on the Heritance Aarah house reef.

It took us around two minutes to reach the reef from the hotel, so it was incredibly easy to access.

We were fortunate enough to see two turtles, as well as lots of beautiful tropical fish.

Again, it was a really special experience and one I'll never forget.

The team at the dive centre were fantastic and made us feel safe and supported throughout all of the excursions we did with them.

For anyone who loves snorkelling, marine life or simply wants to experience more of what the Maldives has to offer beneath the water, I'd definitely recommend getting involved.

A Sri Lankan cookery class

I also took part in a cookery class with some of the chefs at Heritance Aarah, where we made a Sri Lankan curry.

It was fantastic fun and a great way to learn more about the local food and culture.

And the curry itself?

It was genuinely the best curry I've ever tasted!

I'd definitely recommend guests get involved in some of the cultural experiences available at the resort. They give you the chance to do something a little different from simply relaxing on the beach and make the holiday even more memorable.

Is Heritance Aarah good for couples and families?

I think Heritance Aarah works really well for both couples and families.

For couples, there is the beautiful setting, luxury accommodation, excellent dining and plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy the privacy of your own villa.

For families, there is plenty to keep everyone occupied, from the beaches and pools to the watersports, snorkelling and other experiences available around the island.

The personal butler service is also a lovely addition for families, as having someone on hand to help organise things can make a holiday feel much easier.

The service at Heritance Aarah

For me, the service is one of the biggest reasons Heritance Aarah stands out.

This is a five-star resort, and you can really tell.

From the welcome on arrival and the personal butlers to the restaurant teams, chefs and dive centre staff, everyone we came across was incredibly helpful and welcoming.

Speaking to guests during my stay, it was also clear that many people return to Heritance Aarah year after year.

I think the staff are a huge part of that.

It's not just about having a beautiful room or a stunning beach. It's about how you feel while you're there, and the team at Heritance Aarah really make their guests feel looked after.

My Heritance Aarah review

After four nights at Heritance Aarah, I came away very, very impressed with this resort.

The combination of the luxury water villas, personal butler service, exceptional all-inclusive food and drink, incredible snorkelling experiences and genuinely fantastic staff makes this a Maldives resort that really stood out to me.

The food in particular was exceptional, and I would say the dining experience is one of the key things that makes Heritance Aarah different from many other all-inclusive resorts in the Maldives.

Then there are the experiences.

Swimming with manta rays, seeing turtles on the house reef, watching around 15 dolphins playing around our private boat and learning to make Sri Lankan curry are memories I'll take away from this trip for a very long time.

Would I return?

Absolutely.

Heritance Aarah is a resort I would be very happy to recommend to my clients, whether they're looking for a romantic luxury escape, a special family holiday or simply an all-inclusive Maldives experience where the service, food and accommodation are all of a very high standard.

And after four nights, I definitely wasn't ready to leave.

Thinking about a holiday at Heritance Aarah?

If you're considering Heritance Aarah for your next Maldives holiday, I'd be happy to help you work out whether it's the right resort for you.

There are so many different islands and resorts in the Maldives, and they can offer very different experiences. I can talk you through the options, compare the room types and board basis, and tailor the holiday around what is important to you.

Get in touch with me to start planning your Maldives escape.