Badu SL (Summer 2023) ⭐️

Introduction

(This resort is now closed. Take a look at AshaRhia’s website for further openings)

Creator and builder AshaRhia has for the past few years opened up seasonal resort and destination style experiences for several weeks at a time, under the brand name ‘Badu’.

We recently visited her latest creation, which takes on a tropical resort type feel. Like all of the other Badu destinations we have gone to, this is a vast undertaking with lots to see and do, it’s really well decorated with the interior design of the villas being a real highlight. Highly recommended

All pictures by Aria Christen, rights reserved

Website for more information

What you need to know

This resort will be open over August and September 2023
Until 14 August, it is RP-based with assisted check-in and activities
From 14 August, it will switch to a self service ‘airbnb’ type set up, where you check yourself in when you want
Prices are $12 per night until 14 August, and then $10 per night. Book here
The resort is adult, the villas are private

What you can expect

Here is what you can expect when you arrive at Badu:

This is a huge resort (that looks bigger than it really is), with a central area, several pools, a restaurant, a yoga studio, and a movie theatre. The whole area has tropical landscaping, and if you have been to other Badu resorts, you’ll recognise one of AshaRhia’s signature features - the stone elephants.
The villas are then located past the beach, on either side of a wooden walkway over the water. AshaRhia takes inspiration from RL resorts, and the set-up here is quite similar to how a number of resorts in the Maldives are built.
Each villa has two floors, with a sitting / living area on the bottom floor, and the bedroom / bathroom on the top floor. There is also a terrace with a hot tub. As with other Badu resorts, the furniture is adult, to cater for couples.
At the end of the wooden walkway past all the villas, you’ll then find a water slide.
Until 14 August, AshaRhia is also offering a concept called ‘pods.’ These are skyboxes with a variety of vacation experiences, ranging from private spa to North Pole. Hiowever, post 14 August, she is keeping two of the pods as rental units.

What we liked about Badu

The villas are really well decorated and kitted out
The overall layout gives a feeling of space, unlike many other SL resorts, it doesn’t feel cramped
The pools are a highlight
The whole concept is very couple friendly, it may be somewhere you want to take your significant other