Me and my wife stayed at this hotel for 2 weeks returning 20th March 2025. In our opinion it was the best Riu hotel we have ever stayed in. The food was excellent in the main buffet. They never over prepared anything so it was always fresh and piping hot. Someone was always behind the serving counters cooking fresh when supply's were low, they monitored this continually. A big shout out to Ralab one of the chefs doing this. Edi one of the supervisor chefs was always around stepping in if required on all the serving counters, they really worked as a team and it showed. Edi was also always on hand to help the guests with advice on ingredients or just the name of certain foods that may be unfamiliar. He always seemed pleased if you stopped to ask anything.
The waiters/waitresses and their supervisors were always about speaking with and serving guests , they worked very hard and brought you things before you even realised you needed it. For example , i went back into the buffet after eating my breakfast , my plate had already been cleared away, Charisa saw me go back in and when I came back out he had placed a clean knife and fork at my place setting. Hashini and Faiz (supervisors)always greeted us with a good morning/afternoon/evening and would stop for a chat. They really did work as a team and i never encountered any hierarchy.
We tried all the specialty restaurants both Palace and Atoll side , they were all great and it was a nice change to be waited on, however in the Italian restaurant starter and dessert is help yourself only the main in this restaurant is served to you.
The high level of service was continued in the bar and on the beach, someone was always on hand to take your order or replenish your drink. They were always aware when your drink was low and would come and ask if you needed a top up, often staying for a quick chat, we never ever had to try and catch their attention or wave them over, you really did feel welcome. Although everyone worked very hard we would like to mention a few, Desty who was so lovely and remembered our name from day one, Samee and chamoo.
We did tip but not every time and only a couple of dollars here and there, they never expected it and would often be walking away and not hanging around expecting one. They also always shared the tips, it didnt go sneakily into their pockets they would put it behind the coffee machine at the bar and we saw all of them do this. They serve premium brands in the bar at the Palace , however in the Atoll it is only the local brands. The Maldives is alcohol free apart from the resorts but they seem to have most things, they don't have ginger beer or ginger ale but that is all we found they didn't have.
The Palace side is more laid back than the Atoll side but is nice that as a Palace guest you can use both sides, were as the guests at the Atoll side can not come to the Palace side.
There are about 260 guests at the Palace and around 600 at the Atoll when full. We thought the Atoll side would be rowdy, but it is not. It is still waiter service of an evening except on party nights ie white party. There is no waiter service at the pool bar or on the beach at the Atoll. All the daytime activities are at the Atoll and the shows and party nights are here as well. There is only evening entertainment at the Palace , it is more low key, no party /loud music. If you are staying at the Palace you can get a buggy to and fro from 7am to midnight and they do run frequently. We never had to wait more than a few minutes. Sometimes we would walk across and the buggy would stop and ask us if we wanted a lift. The walk is about .7 of a mile but sometimes you need this to walk off your All inclusive.
The rooms are all the same at the Palace and at Atoll, they are in blocks called villas. There are 8 to a block in the Palace and 10 to a block in Atoll. The ground floor are all beach access and there are sun beds outside for the use of everyone in that block. There is no waiter service to these sun loungers at either the Palace or Atoll, you would need to use the drinks in your room. There are no lifts to the 1st floor rooms and we found no real difference either sunrise or sunset side other than you can see the beautiful sunset from your room, the sunrise side had more of a breeze so much more cooling in the daytime heat (odd number rooms are sunrise side, even number are sunset side). Our room attendant (chamara) was incredible , always leaving a towel display on our bed, we had a different one every day and we were there for 14 nights. There are also over water bungalows but most people in one used to come to the beach or pool area anyway. Also i the morning the sea would be out so the ones nearest the Palace pool had no water beneath them , so if you choose one in order to go for an early morning swim from your room you would still have to walk across the sand to get to any water. If you wanted to do this ask for one near reception /Atoll but then remember its a good walk or short buggy ride to restaurants/bars.
All rooms have optics and a supply of mixers beers and water (no wine). They have a fridge kettle tea/coffee, iron , ironing board, bath robes (no slippers) safe, phone, tv, no clock, air con, ceiling fan, shower, no bath, soap dispenser, shower gel dispenser, shampoo and separate hair conditioner dispenser. There are blankets and we did use them as the air con can be cold in the night.
The beaches are amazing , white sand and incredible sea life, we saw parrot fish, stingrays and black tip sharks, they are not large about 18 inches long and they dont bother you. If you have one bring your own snorkel as you can only loan one at the water sports in Atoll , we would also recommend water shoes. Beach towels are provided in your room and you can also help yourself at the pool area.
It takes about 50 min by sea plane to reach the island, but note the sea plane only can fly in daylight (around 6am)and will only land at the reception area after 9am not sure what time to. if you arrive before 9am you land at a wooden jetty and have to go by boat to recep, it only takes approx 5 min but this can be disappointing if you want that special feeling of arriving and being welcomed off the sea plane which we did not get.
GB
FI