HOTEL REVIEW
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PHOTO BY CLAUDINE COLETTI
Personally, I was looking for somewhere luxurious but unpretentious to disappear for a while. So, I headed to Baros, where the vibe is very much about understated tranquillity. The island is one of the smallest and oldest resorts in the Maldives. Just 384m x 303m in size, it was the third Maldivian island to open to tourists in the 1970s. Of course, it has had a couple of major renovations since then to modernize and expand, but the setting still feels very simple and serene. Just what I was looking for. First impressions: When I arrive by speedboat from Malé, it is very early morning, and the only people I see are the team that greets me warmly and shows me to the welcome pavilion before taking me to my villa. It’s my first time staying on a desert island, and coming from a bustling city, the abundant natural greenery and ocean air are immediately refreshing. I also appreciate the calmness. Baros is intentionally subtle in its style. There are no gimmicks here; the hospitality genuinely feels sincere. The environment provides peace and seclusion, while the Baros team quietly looks after everything else in the background. This is aided by the villa hosts, who are on hand to assist you, cater to any requirements, and generally help in any way they can. I value this particularly highly as a solo traveler. I feel very safe knowing that there’s a friendly expert just a message away if I need them. All the staff are very welcoming. They all live on the island, and as a guest you very much feel that you are amongst a community. F O R B E S M I D D L E E A S T.C O M
Accommodation: At the center of Baros is vibrant tropical vegetation made up of towering palm trees, wild bushes, and indigenous flowers that envelop you as you walk along the main inner pathway circling the island. Walking is the only way to get around, but it is possible to stroll across the whole place in about 10mins. The beach villas are set around the edge of the island, almost hidden amidst the greenery, while the water villas stretch out into the lagoon. I’m lucky enough to experience both during my stay. This is apparently not uncommon, with many guests choosing to spend time in each. The Baros Suite beach villas consist of a large bedroom with a king-size bed, a separate living room, a bathroom stocked with L’Occitane products, an outdoor terrace and shower, and a private pool with built-in jacuzzi and beach access—the suite I stay in is bigger than my apartment at home. With wooden features and light-colored décor that blends in with the natural surroundings, it feels both comfortable and elegant. However, I spend most of my time outside. The pool is big enough to swim or just float around, and a sheltered swing seat is the perfect place to curl up with a book. There are also sun-loungers nestled amongst the bushes marking out a pathway to the beach and the lagoon, with easy access to the house reef for snorkellers. Even outside of the water, nature features heavily when you’re lounging around a tropical island. Huge fruit bats soar among the trees overhead, while smaller birds confidentially scuttle across the terrace for a dip in the pool, and bees hover SEPTEMBER 2021
