DISCLOSURE: All views expressed on this site are our own and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever with which we have been, am now, or will be affiliated. Learn more.
The Maldives is the ultimate romantic couple’s holiday getaway. With over one hundred exotic tropical island resorts in turquoise clear waters, we demystify what you can experience if you choose to stay, eat and play at Baros Maldives island resort.
Baros Maldives is located in the North Malé Atoll and is an ideal private resort where you can relax in the warmth and tranquillity of its lagoon, miles away from your normal routine.
The resort offers unique experiences for romantic, exciting underwater activities for those who like to stay active and delicious culinary indulgences for the gourmet.
There just aren’t enough adjectives to describe this award-winning resort without sounding cliches, like beautiful pristine beaches, exotic Maldivian cuisine, and mindblowing diving and snorkelling. What’s not to love?
Even after having been to 30+ countries, the Maldives takes our breath away. Few places on this Earth can compare to the natural beauty of this incredible island getaway.
Ready to experience tropical bliss? Here is our experience of staying at Baros Maldives.
Our Maldives Experience
My wife’s looming 50th
I believe myself to be a pretty lucky Aussie bloke — been married for more than three decades to my wife, Rae, have two adult sons, and love travelling the world together.
My wife turned 50 a few years back, and in the lead-up to her significant milestone, I went into a state of panic to make sure it would be unforgettable.
My wife is not a diva or a spendthrift. For this reason alone, there are no complaints here!
She has worked extremely hard raising two boys single-handedly and held down a full-time job.
Meanwhile, I frequently disappeared for long extended periods around Australia or overseas for the army. Rae’s only indulgence is her yearly overseas holidays we plan and enjoy together.
So, when I hesitantly approached her to ask, “What would you like to do for your 50th birthday?“ Her immediate reply was: “I don’t know! I don’t want the fuss of a big party. Just think of the money we’ll save. You know what I’m like. I’d rather go on a little romantic weekend getaway. Somewhere I haven’t been to before.”
Go and find me a little beach where I can curl up, read a good book, and fall asleep with the sounds of the crashing waves lulling me into a state of unconsciousness. Just no surprises. Okay?
Rae
Whilst this sounds like a simple task. And, I’m a simple kind of guy, enjoying simple pleasures alongside a simple life. She has been travelling overseas since she was nine years old.
Therefore, finding a ‘beachie’ place she hadn’t been to before, during our winter season in Australia, was going to be challenging.
Acknowledging a special occasion as her 50th was a daunting project. Especially finding a place to stay with the wow factor.
Mission Maldives
Off I went browsing the Internet for the ultimate romantic dream hideaway location.
I may even get lucky with a reward for good behaviour if this birthday goes according to plan — I am only joking.
After weeks of reading many reviews and doing hours of research on locations of places, we had not been to before.
Lo and behold Facebook ad immerged promoting Baros Maldives — my prayers answered.
The Baros Maldives Luxury Resort website hooked me in with its warm welcome of:
“Turquoise waters lap at white-sand shores. Towering palms rustle overhead. Welcome to Baros, a natural paradise with a lush island canopy.”
Baros Maldives
Good romantic mushy stuff ticking all my boxes.
It was the month of January. Six months until Rae’s 50th, I named my operation “Mission Maldives”.
It was now time to knuckle down and secretly get to work.
About Baros Maldives
Baros Maldives is a lush tropical island award-winning boutique resort located in the southern reaches of North Malé Atoll. The island is one of over 100 coral island private tourist resorts situated in the Republic of the Maldives at the heart of the Indian Ocean.
It is consistently recognised yearly as one of THE top ten 5-star resorts in the Maldives chosen by us travellers, and we can vouch for this!
Baros has welcomed guests since 1973 and has kept pace with its Maldivian competition by remaining current in decor, cuisine and service.
What to Pack for the Maldives
Baros, with its pristine white sandy beaches, is a barefoot paradise.
Ideal items to pack, and a no-brainer, are several pairs of swimwear, suntan lotion, sunglasses and a hat, casual mix-n-match resort wear and lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying clothes — hot, sticky and humid are the tropics, after all!
My only packing instructions to my wife were:
Bring your swimmers and leave your high-heels behind.
John
Keep your fitness regime up, then bring your gym clothes to wear at their fully equipped 24/7 fitness centre.
Gear such as a camera, waterproof Go-Pro, drone or mobile phone will do the trick. No waterproof camera? Then, the Marine Centre will supply it at a small fee for hire.
There are incredible photo opportunities to take pics of underwater sea life whilst diving or snorkelling in their famous coral reef lagoon. Right outside your backdoor!
Check out our travel gear and packing guides for tips and ideas as to what to bring.
If you plan on going on a day trip to Malé (the capital of the Maldives and the location of the International Airport), then dress respectfully and modestly.
Getting There
Located in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a remote tropical paradise easily accessible from Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian main hubs. Like, as Singapore (a four-and-a-half-hour direct flight to Male), Dubai (a four-hour direct flight to Male), and Sri Lanka (a three-hour flight to Male).
Thanks to a fantastic range of flight deals in partnership with airlines and carriers like Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Virgin Australia, Etihad, Qantas, SriLankan and Qatar Airways, the Maldives can easily tack on to a trip to Dubai, Sri Lanka, or any destination that flies directly to either port (think: Singapore, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi, or Doha).
It’s an eight-hour direct flight from Australia to Singapore on Singapore Airlines. If you only have a week and wish to break up the long-haul flight, we recommend a two-night layover in Singapore and five nights at Baros Maldives, at a minimum. Flying direct from Singapore to Malé, the tiny capital of the Maldives, took less than five hours.
One of the advantages of Baros Maldives is its short 25-minute speedboat ride from the Maldives’ International Airport to the island’s jetty and our Villa. Therefore, no need for a seaplane or a long-haul boat trip to your resort.
The Service and Staff
Management
The countdown to B-day
In the lead-up to our trip, I’d had numerous email conversations with the Baros Maldives Resort Manager, Shuhan, who knew about my wife’s imminent 50th birthday. From the get-go, Shuhan offered us an intimate over-water complimentary breakfast for two on the private dining Piano Deck and a birthday cake of choice.
Shuhan was accommodating with all my birthday surprise plans.
These plans included a romantic celebratory dinner at the island’s signature fine-dining restaurant, “The Lighthouse“.
Soon followed a night under the starlit sky to watch on a screen on the sands her favourite movie, “Shawshank Redemption”.
Unbeknown to my wife Rae, I’d been secretly collecting for months film footage of birthday messages from family and friends. Under the guise of the movie, I had planned for her to view it after dinner concluded.
Meet and Greets Upon Arrival
Male’s airport processes, from luggage collection to security checks to greets by the Islands transportation staff to our arrivals at the Baros Maldives jetty, were efficient, seamless and hassle-free.
Twenty-five minutes later, your luxury speedboat arrives at the Baros Maldives private jetty. Management staff and your assigned Villa Host are ready to meet and greet you. Welcome champagne and refreshments await you at the Sails Bar.
Villa Host Services
Introductory to our personal Villa Host, Shariu, happened on day one of arrival, the minute our toes hit the sand. Being the average down-to-earth Australians, we didn’t know what to do with him! Especially when told your Villa Host will be available at your ‘beck and call’ around the clock 24/7!
Shariu added his thoughtful touch with little surprises throughout Rae’s Birthday.
He did an outstanding job of personally taking care of us and making our 5-day stay hassle-free. Nothing was no trouble. [If we’d asked him to build a sandcastle on the beach he would have done it with a huge smile! John 😍 🏖️ ]
At the end of our holiday, we swore Shariu had secretly planted a GPS tracker on us as he would quietly pop up, when we least expected, all around the island. Never in our travels had we experienced this level of 5-star service.
Villa Rooms at Baros Maldives
We stayed in one of 75 villa rooms at Baros Maldives, a Baros Pool Villa, after receiving a free upgrade from our original Deluxe Villa booking. A total surprise that brought tears to our eyes!
Baros Maldives boasts over seven different styles of Villas, ranging from the luxurious Baros Residence to Water Villas (with or without pools), Baros Villas (with or without pools) and standard Deluxe Villas. All differ in style, price points, and floor plan size.
The number of villas may sound a lot considering the size of the island, but it only takes a 10-minute leisurely foot stroll to cover the resort’s circumference. On a day-to-day basis, you’d never know anyone else existed – even during an 80% occupancy as was our experience.
When we say they’ve thought of everything at Baros Maldives, it is true.
All the amenities and creature comforts of home are supplied in your room. Not to mention your daily delivery of freshly baked cookies for morning and afternoon tea. Yum! If you’ve forgotten anything, like suntan lotion, there is always the gift shop.
The Baros Pool Villas
Baros Pool Villas are elegantly furnished, impeccable and luxuriously comfortable.
French doors open out into your own private leafy tropical garden. On your back deck are a canopied daybed, twin sun loungers and your private infinity plunge pool.
There is even an over-water infinity pool, open to all guests, near where your breakfast is daily. And, let’s not forget the lagoon surrounding the island.
Food, Drinks and Dining
The six dining locations (three restaurants, bars and private beach dining spots) are brilliant and unique.
These typical catering costs are high due to transporting spirits and fresh produce to these remote islands in the middle of the sea. For this reason, finding an all-inclusive resort that bundles the price of your stay will save you money in the long run. Baros Maldives offers all-inclusive packages to suit all travel styles and budgets.
The Lime Restaurant
The Lime Restaurant breakfast buffet offered an array of Asian flavours and local and international classics. We ate a light lunch off their à la carte menu a few times during our stay.
Lighthouse Lounge
Start your evening at the above restaurant Lighthouse Lounge — an elegant cocktail bar offering stunning panoramic views of the lagoon and beyond. Why not toast the occasion by ordering one of their signature cocktails off their extensive drinks menu?
The Lighthouse Lounge overlooks the tranquil crystal blue waters where you will see schools of fish during daylight, but at night spotted rays and sharks come out to feed.
The Lighthouse Restaurant
Fine-dining at The Lighthouse Restaurant, we can honestly say our entire 50th birthday dining experience was sublime — from their fancy cocktails to the gourmet menu to the international wine selection to our dedicated waitstaff and sommelier.
Try their mouth-watering lobster bisque signature dish — one of the most popular seafood menu items.
The Cayenne Grill
The Cayenne Grill offers themed alfresco à la carte dining and intimate dinners for two. The Grill’s excellent location over the lagoon provides for a romantic and serene atmosphere.
Breakfast on the Piano Deck
The Piano Deck is purpose-built to look like a grand piano and is located just off the coastline on a sandbank. Far enough away for total seclusion, yet close enough for beautiful views of the island during the day, or at dusk, for watching the stunning Maldivian sunset.
Rae’s 50th birthday commenced with an early morning breakfast in this unique setting, accompanied by the sound of gently splashing waves and the ambience of pure romantic intimacy.
Her birthday was getting off to a great start. Phew!
Baros Palm Garden and Sails Bar
On Wednesday nights, management holds a complimentary cocktail party in the Baros Palm Garden, where we enjoyed engaging with senior staff and mingling with other guests. Who knew that many guests were hiding on the island — it felt that secluded?
A couple of nights a week, musicians and singers entertain guests.
Enjoy cocktails, shisha and entertainment
The Sails Bar is a great place to sit, chill and enjoy a cocktail, fine spirits or liqueurs from their extensive drinks menu.
Try the Vissara Dhuni (a raspberry and spiced honeyed syrup cocktail with a touch of lime juice) and the Bourbon Cask Smoked Manhattan whilst smoking back on an apple-flavoured shisha (if you are feeling fanciful). Wow, you can thank us later!
Activities – Five Birthday Experiences
And, the birthday surprises and activities kept on coming. Here are a small selection of the excursions, escapes and activities you too can indulge in at Baros Maldives.
(1) The Beach and Lagoon
A jungle-canopied path leads you from the back of your villa to the sandy shoreline and a crystal-clear lagoon.
The colourful wonders of the house reef are only just metres from your doorstep.
Azure waters and pristine white sands greeted us. We couldn’t wait to don our swimmers and go snorkelling.
Sunrises and sunsets are magical at Baros.
Nothing beats the serenity of a pristine lagoon all to yourself as you watch the sunrise with freshly brewed coffee to start your day.
A typical afternoon went from quietly reading a good book to listening to music or viewing an in-house movie (selected from their extensive CD and DVD library) to watching the sunset with a cocktail in hand.
To combat all the delicious food we’d been eating, besides going to the gym, we’d go on barefoot nature walks hand-in-hand to explore each winding sandy path and discover the local flora and fauna.
(2) Baros Snorkelling and Marine Centre
The house reef is simply fabulous for snorkelling and scuba diving (explore depths of 5-25 metres) during the day and fluorescent snorkelling and diving at night.
We’ve snorkelled the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Thailand and around Australia. Snorkelling on the island was by far our best experience EVER, spending more time during our stay underwater than above it!
Take advantage of the Marine Centre’s underwater cameras and GoPro for hire. A lot of marine life to encounter, including schools of colourful tropical fish, Hawksbill sea turtles, Moray eels, invertebrates and coral, and more.
We couldn’t believe we were swimming safely alongside Blacktip reef sharks!
Visibility, even after a heavy afternoon sun shower, made taking underwater photos a breeze.
The PADI Five Star Gold Palm Marine Centre staff offer small group size and private one-on-one diving for scuba diving novices and enthusiasts. There are also 32 dive sites just 30 minutes cruise by dive boat from the Baros Maldives jetty.
Apart from diving and snorkelling, there are other exciting aquatic experiences to partake in (e.g. water skiing, transparent canoeing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, and catamaran sailing).
(3) Romantic sunset cruise
On our first night, we enjoyed a sunset cruise on the island’s modern yacht, Elisa.
We cruised the Maldivian waters past the lagoon to reach the open sea. We sipped on champagne, nibbled on delectable canapés and enjoyed the changing colours of the evening sky as the sunset over the Indian Ocean.
(4) Spa and massages
The Serenity Spa offered many yoga, spa and massage services. My wife and I had Balinese and Thai massages. Wow, how relaxing! The Spa Manager, Ron and the staff were fantastic. An invigorating massage to iron out those long-haul flight stiffness!
On my wife’s birthday, Ron added an extra 15 minutes onto her already 90 minutes for free. The Serenity Spa staff always took the time to discover what we wanted in a massage and how we felt afterwards.
On one particular afternoon, my wife enquired with the Resorts gift shop staff asking whether they sold CDs of similar background music as played by the Serenity Spa. Later during dinner, Shariu, our Villa Host, magically handed me a complimentary CD compilation of the spa’s melodies played whilst she had her massage. Talk about 5-star service! Rae was grinning from ear to ear.
Years later, Rae still listens to the CD at home whilst having a spa bath. A happy reminder of her magical time at Baros Maldives.
(5) Daytime excursions
Every Wednesday, staff return to Malé to enjoy their day off work.
Whilst it was Rae’s birthday this particular Wednesday, guests may wish to ride the speedboat back to Malé for shopping and sightseeing.
You could spend an entire day strolling around Malé and Villimale. Walking and biking tours are available by independent tour operators.
Overall
The Maldives remains one of the destinations on our ultimate bucket list with its unbeatable diving and snorkelling, gourmet food, relaxing beach vibe and stunning over-water villas.
Baros Maldives is the ‘fly and flop’ luxury resort to be pampered, soothe your soul and recharge your batteries. It is also a romantic place to stay where you can celebrate your significant milestone, wedding, honeymoon, or renew your vows.
What are you waiting for then?
Read More:
- 15 Ultimate Things to Do at a Fiji Luxury Resort & Spa
- Romantic Places Around the World for a Couples Getaway
If you looking for a romantic couples getaway, than also check out these destinations for inspiration.
SUITCASE ESCAPE ROUTES
Accommodation: Baros Maldives, Baros Island, the Maldives.Bookings: Book well in advance with Bookings.com and check out the reviews on Tripadvisor
Price range: Up-scale. 5-Star Resort. Packages available. Terms and conditions apply.
Transport: The Baros Maldives speedboat runs from the Maldives’ international airport direct to the resort any time of day or night, for a fee.
What was your Maldives experience like and why? Any tips for the budget conscience? Please leave your comments below.
Liked this Post ? Pin it for Later!
DISCLOSURE: We were paying guests at this property. All views, opinions and photos unless otherwise stated are our own and remain copyrighted to Suitcase Escapes. Learn more.
