LUX* South Ari Atoll

Wendy Tan Siew Inn

This is absolutely the best resort in Maldives. The people make all the difference - friendly, genuine and attentive. The experience and memories created are priceless, from island treasure hunt, immaculate coffee and movie nights. The food at all the restaurants are exquisite and delicious. It is amazing how many chefs this resort has. The beauty of the nature is stunning - from sunsets to blue lagoons and even the dancing sea grass. Highly recommended for families and couples.

Shamsa Al mazrouei

We stayed at LUX South Ari Atoll* for six unforgettable days — and it was truly amazing! From the amenities to the wide range of activities, everything was thoughtfully designed to offer comfort, relaxation, and fun. The restaurants and food were exceptional — every meal was a treat! A special thank you to Mixe Restaurant for the wonderful dinners and the kind, attentive service every day — it really made our experience extra special. A heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful staff who made our stay so memorable. Everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. Special thanks to Shawkat, the baggy rider, who memorized every guest at the resort — mashallah, such a kind soul! Deep appreciation to the clinic team, especially Dr. Ali, for their care and support. Thank you to Ahmed from the Lagoon Bar for the great service. And a very special thank you to Dominic, who was with me on my first ocean dive — it was an unforgettable experience and I truly had an amazing time! Sorry if I missed mentioning more names — everyone we met was just incredible. Thank you all for making our trip so memorable. We hope to be back again!

HEDGER HEDGER HEDGER HEDGER

We have been to several other Maldives resorts. They have all been far superior to what we experienced at Lux. If your budget can stretch to other resorts, stretch it. Here is a sample of the nonsense we dealt with at Lux. At the suggestion of Lux staff, and with their guidance, we booked restaurants weeks before arriving. Upon arrival, we were told “oh [particular restaurant] is closed on Mondays which is when you’ve booked, so you need to book something else.” And then I was told the other restaurants – all of them – would only be bookable subject to other bookings. Surely when Lux screwed up by allowing us – ENCOURAGING us - to book a closed restaurant, Lux should be sorting out the problem, and Lux should be prioritising a replacement booking for us? We were given no information on activities. When we ASKED for information on “activities and prices” we were given some information on fishing, without pricing, and no other information. We then had to follow up a few times and were eventually sent a table showing the week’s scheduled activities and also pricing. Just bizarre that that wasn’t sent initially. Snorkelling gear must be returned daily – you can’t keep it overnight even if you’re there for eg a week. There are smokers and ashtrays everywhere. We asked at the ice cream shop how much ice creams cost. The employee went to the cash register, played with the screen for a long time, and then finally said “five hundred dollars”. He repeated that number when we asked him to clarify. We booked bikes in advance (something I would strongly recommend given the island is a mile long and the shuttle runs only “every 20-25 minutes”). But the bikes were not at our room when we got there. They only arrived much later and they were each locked up with a combination lock that we didn’t have the code for. We had to request the codes and finally got them – only to discover that the bikes are utterly atrocious pieces of junk. Despite that, and despite it being a private island, we were told we had to lock the bikes at all times. Doing so meant getting our hands filthy in the filthy wheels / chains. The kids club has a room which we watched some kids lock themselves in, followed by the sole employee then repeatedly demanding they unlock it - unsuccessfully so for quite a while. Some food costs are insane – eg US$25++ for two small rice paper rolls. We had a large charge on our account that we did not recognise and so queried. Bizarrely, our contact denied it was on the account. So WE then had to send her a copy of the account that Lux itself had issued to us (!!!). Our contact then said she would check the charge. We didn’t hear back. So the next morning, with checkout impending, we had to yet again follow up several times, after which we eventually received a copy of the items comprising the charge. It was not our charge. We have been to several other Maldives resorts. They have all been far superior to what we experienced at Lux. If your budget can stretch to other resorts, stretch it.

Gangangana Dharmasena

We recently visited the Maldives and had the pleasure of staying at LUX South Ari Atoll* — and what an unforgettable experience it was! From the stunning views to the warm hospitality, everything exceeded our expectations. A special shout-out to Chef Kalum, who truly made our stay exceptional. He went above and beyond to look after us throughout our visit, ensuring every meal was not only delicious but also tailored to our preferences. His attention to detail and kindness left a lasting impression on us. Also Housekeeper Afrat provide us an exceptional service with the room service.Overall the hotel ans the staff are providing an exceptional service. Thank you to the entire team at LUX* South Ari Atoll for making our trip so special — we can’t wait to come back!

Tim Walker

We visited Lux* in July as a couple on an all inclusive basis in one of the “Romantic Beach Villas” which was well located on this (relatively for the Maldives) large island The staff are very friendly and can’t do enough for you. The food at Lux is exceptional and greater variety than at other resorts. Not all of the restaurants are included in the all inclusive package but regardless I recommend visiting them all. Even in the two restaurants where you need to pay for food you receive a discount and you do not need to pay for drinks It is a family resort predominantly, but we found due to the islands size, there were plenty of quiet spots to enjoy. I do recommend hiring bikes (which you need to pay for) to avoid waiting too long for the shuttle buggies The owners of Lux really get what guests are looking for from a “vibe” perspective. Each space is distinctively themed and with great variety Our favourite moments were delivered by the brilliant DJ at Beach Rouge who set the soundtrack to some amazing sunsets and memories that will last Final words, unusually, go to the restrooms at the bars and restaurants. I won’t spoil, but they are well worth a visit! If you know, you know If you are going, I hope you have as fantastic a time as we did