Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa Hotel

From start to finish the experience, the facilities, the location, the overwater sunset villa, the organisation, the staff and the food were absolutely and beyond exceptional! On first arriving we met our superb host Tharif who made sure our whole stay was actually beyond a 5* experience. The welcome show at the dock, to transferring us to the room taking in sunset on the buggy, explaining each area and taking time to answer our questions. Planning and recommending what we should do throughout our stay and making sure we had all the bookings for restaurants and activities we wanted. Even making sure our seating was always beach front at our chosen restaurant. He updated and communicated with staff when we were arriving and any requirements we wished - it felt like we were the only people on the island but I know everybody is also getting this amazing treatment but it’s truly special how everybody makes you feel seen and like you’re the only couple in the world! Then we had the daily surprise of a hand crafted bed or bath decoration from our Indonesian villa keeper Irman (coincidentally my partner is also Indonesian and we reside in Bali so it was lovely to feel at home with him). He restocked our in-villa mini bar everyday complimentary! And even ran me a bubble bath to enjoy after sunset… I’ve never had treatment that made you feel like a true princess. Tharif also helped my partner surprise me with a floating champagne / canapé sunset! Tharif also made sure we didn’t have to worry about logistics. He directly spoke with our seaplane provider for arrival and departure from the island so our plans were seamless. He even stopped by a couple of times we were wandering the island to double check on us and made sure to pick us up personally on our departure day even thought it was his day off. Another special shout out must be made to Aris (F&B Director) who met us at breakfast on our first day and delivered breakfast mimosas to our table and then continued to facilitate our 5* dinning and drinks experience throughout our stay. Again a pleasure to meet another Indonesian staff member who went the extra mile for us. Alongside him, Yasir was the first staff member we met and wowow his customer service is wonderful. Set up a happy birthday sign for me, kept the bar open a little longer because we arrived late by seaplane on our first day. Just an incredible start to our trip! Lalith and Richard at the sunset pool bar were exceptional - you have to try Richard’s bespoke cocktails. I can’t stop thinking about them! Innaz who met us off the plane and directed us to relax at the sea plane airport lounge was fabulous. Sameer the chef from Aqua made the most delicious food and even when having a fresh tuna from the fisherman offered my partner a custom request so he could make use of the fish. My partner had the most exquisite tuna sashimi that had only been caught and prepared moments earlier. He also made me fresh tiger prawns in garlic sauce just to my taste! His staff and oversight is top notch! Finally a special shout out to chef Moreno who works so hard overseeing all of the restaurants! We spoke about how I’d never been all inclusive before as I thought it means you skimp on quality and just received quantity but there wasn’t a moment where I felt this at the resort. Everything is freshly cooked, changed and allows you to order à la carte. Moreno has done such an impressive job maintaining excellent quality of all food in all restaurants and his job never ends until the last customer leaves the restaurants. Thank you all for the most unforgettable and exceptional holiday we have ever had. The bar is set high and we will absolutely be back for longer this time. Please organise your trip via Tharif if you can because it will ensure excellence. Thank you Tharif for personally touring us around the presidential suite so I am able to bring the rest of my family next time. All the best, Lucy and Yoga. Read less

I have just returned from the most amazing 10 nights at Emerald Faarufushi. I was looked after so well I didn’t want to leave! The resort is beautiful, absolutely spotless everywhere. The beaches are raked everyday, my villa was so neat and clean, the restaurants are immaculate. Food & drinks were first class, so much choice in every restaurant. What really made my stay extra special were the staff, everyone is so friendly & welcoming & nothing is too much trouble. I few people I would like to give a special mention too are Rao hotel manager, who I saw & spoke to everyday, thank you for your care & kindness. Sioma my villa host, nothing was too much trouble & regularly “check-in” on me. Joseph who was literally everywhere, & had me laughing each day. Adel very professional & attentive. Rayma who is always smiling. Arres always happy & had time for a chat. Ammay so friendly & happy, always greeted me with a huge smile. Executive chef Fernando who cooked for me everyday, the best gluten free food I have ever had, no exaggeration! Even made me a takeaway breakfast for my journey home All the team at Eclipse bar make the best cocktails. I have to say the entire team at Emerald Faarufushi are just the best, they will do everything in their power to make sure you are having a lovely holiday, I cannot praise them enough. I would definitely go back again & again! Read less

We spent 2 weeks in the beautiful Emerald Faarufushi Resort from the 15th September. I don’t know where to begin with praising it. It was perfect in every aspect. Many resorts offer ‘all inclusive’ offers but Emerald Faarufushi offers REAL premium all inclusive. We are big foodies and love good wine and we were far from disappointed in both areas. The food in all their restaurants was excellent particularly the fine dining Medittareno. We want to give the sommeliers a special mention. Viabh, Neema & Patrick suggested excellent wines and keep them flowing always with a smile and chat. While speaking of drinks we would also give a special mention to Sonu in the pool bar. He was particularly friendly and we had great laughs with him, so efficient and made excellent cocktails! Every member of staff in all the restaurants were excellent, always smiling and nothing was too much to ask for. Priyanka and Adele stood out as particularly friendly and chatty. The entire resort is spotlessly clean, the beach has beautiful white sand which is raked early every morning by the wonderful grounds attendants who also always greeted you with a smile. There is a beautiful shaded area to walk between the beach villas and restaurants surrounded by trees and birdsong. I normally get ALOTof bites when on holidays and got none! So their misting works a treat. We love to snorkel and again we weren’t disappointed with a super house reef where we was Mantra Rays, baby shark, octopus and many many colourful ‘Nemo’ fish. We decided to snorkel tour and we were so glad we did. Thas and his team made it so special. I am nervous swimming in deep water and he made me feel so safe. We loved it. We saw sting Ray, sharks, eels, turtles and beautiful coral and all types of fish. We stayed in a beach villa and management kindly upgraded to a superior over water villa for a few days (where my partner proposed to me while watching a magnificent sunset). So we experienced both types of villas. There were both fantastic, spotlessly clean, housekeeping did an amazing job cleaning the room twice daily. The minibar was restocked daily and again, very kindly, management agreed to allow us to have our favourite wine in it. The sunset from the huge terrace on the overwater villa is not to be missed. Both had huge bathrooms and extremely comfortable beds with great air conditioning. I cannot leave this review without mentioning the man who made our holiday extra special, our host Tharif. Wow, he went above and beyond. NOTHING was too much trouble. Responded to our texts immediately (and there were many texts), appeared out of nowhere with his buggy when there was the slightest bit of rain to transfer us to wherever we were going. Always smiling and up for a chat. I mentioned that I like my drinks extra cold and next thing he was at our door with an icemaker for our room! He made check in and out seamless. Checked that we got our favourite wine to our room etc etc. Thank you Tharif! 😘 When we return to Emerald, and we will definitely return, we hope you will be our host again. I know this was a long review, but emerald Faarufushi deserved. Bravo! Thank you to each and every member of staff for giving us such an amazing memorable holiday. See you soon! Read less