Reethi Beach Resort

Having just retuned this weekend from my 13th trip at Reethi Beach its time for the annual review. This was my first visit under new management and from a few photos I had seen prior to going of changes I was unsure what to expect, I can safely say there was no need to worry at all. Upon arrival and after checking in I was shown to my room, I usually just head off on my own as I know the island so well but I was shown one of the new villas en route and then also got to have a look at a water villa also renovated and can happily say that both look very good, the beach villas will have a new look decor which looks very smart and the bathroom has also been completely redone as well and looks very nice, there was also a small pool out front as well, I was informed that not all villas will get these as some people prefer not to have one. The water villa was being worked on so i didn't get to see the bathroom, but i did get shown the new hammock area over the water out the back which looks good for relaxing on. I had requested a room in the 160 area as usual as its a good location for reef entry and also is in the section of detached villas and was happy to find i had been allocated room 160 (i have had most of the villas between 154 and 166 over my trips). The room was expected needing some TLC but it was clean and working (other than the tv gets no channels) which is the main thing, and once the island shuts in April it will get the same treatment as all of the others with a fresh new look. I had my first walk around the island and was happy to see how good the beach currently is all around the island, especially from the watersports area round to the sunset bar as for the last few years to walk around here you had to go high above the sand bags, but you can now walk low around the shore on a nice big beach, the area in front of the sunset villas near the sunset bar has also recovered to a nice big sandy area. The inner part of the island was where i was interested to see as that was where i had seen photos prior to going but seeing it in person I can see that it is an improvement and doesn't look anywhere near as bad as photos had portrayed it. The paths have also been widened all around as well. During my time there i saw older trees being cut down and replaced by what look more like palm tree type trees which will be a lot airier and easier to manage. The food in the main restaurant seems to of improved since my previous visit and certain theme nights are very good, for example on street market night the back area is also opened up with around 5 or 6 extra stalls doing specific things like Tempura, Burgers, Kebabs and various other street market type foods, along with the usual food area with other stuff as well. The staff as usual are a huge credit to the island with their friendliness and helpfulness, and for me it always feels so much better when I am remembered from previous visits (i have been going there longer than a lot of the staff

Villa was clean and well equipped. Everyone is so friendly, polite and helpful, that I was surprised. Food is delicious and varied. Beach is comfortable: with soft sand and corals growing in about 50 meters from the shore, so they far enough to interfere swimming, but close enough for snorkeling. The house reef is awesome: lots of beautiful fish, stingrays, sharks, even manta rays. The diving center is excellent, many activities are offered to guests, you can also watch dolphins, swim with turtles and manta rays.

We were here for 6 nights and had a fantastic time, arriving and departing by seaplane which is a fantastic experience. The snorkelling is great and we saw rays, sharks and lots of colourful fish species straight off the beach. We were ‘all inclusive’ and this proved to be the right choice. We are not big drinkers but did enjoy the local beer and cocktails. Food for every meal was excellent with lots of choice including lovely Sri Lankan dishes and fantastic salads from the Reethi Beach gardens. The staff are all very friendly and helpful. We were served by Ibba in the restaurant most of the time. He provided great service. We also used the Sunset Bar for a beer at lunchtime and a cocktail in the evening. Sandeep was fantastic in every way and we enjoyed learning more about the Maldives from him. We heard that the resort is being upgraded in the spring of 2025. We hope that this island doesn’t lose its rustic charm.

My wife and I have always dreamed of visiting the Maldives, and we finally made it. Reethi Beach Resort turned out to be the perfect place for us. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by Hubaab, whose professionalism and kindness immediately made us feel at home. He became a young Maldivian friend who gave us a full tour of the island, all the way to our room. He shared a wealth of knowledge about his homeland, always accompanied by a big smile. We opted for full board, which was more than enough. At the main restaurant, we were warmly greeted each day by the kitchen staff, including Sous Chefs Suranga and Binara, who explained the dishes and treated us to some delicacies. The other chefs, such as Surya, Babu, and the staff member responsible for the fruit station, were always friendly, smiling, and tireless in their work. At our table, we were looked after every day by our friend Bhaskari, always with his wonderful smile! As sea lovers—and as a scuba diver myself—I decided to take the Advanced Open Water course with instructor Ibbeyz, who was incredibly professional! Spending so much time with the Ocean Fanatic team also gave me the chance to chat with them and learn something new every day about the Maldives and their incredible beauty. A special thanks to Azzad and Niyaz, as well as manager Barney and the entire team in charge of the boats and activity equipment. The manta ray tour was unforgettable, as was the dolphin tour on a jet ski with Sadath! A special mention to the resort’s General Manager, Mr. Osolos, and his assistant Hidha: both were always present, friendly, and ready to answer every single question we had, accommodating all our needs. A heartfelt thank you to all the staff at Reethi Beach Resort for making these two weeks a dream come true, immersed in the sea. See you soon, Maldives ♥️ Zeno & Sara

I recently embarked on my first solo journey to the Maldives and checked into a stunning resort. The place exuded tranquillity and beauty, offering a peaceful retreat. The views were simply breathtaking, the food was delicious, and the staff were incredibly kind. During my stay, I had the pleasure of meeting Madushan Priyadarshara, affectionately known as 'honey bunny', who added a lot of laughter to my holiday. Whenever I went to the bar for my favourite cocktail, I could always count on a friendly smile and a playful chat from him. One of my favourite staff members is Aribba, whom I really enjoyed getting to know. He was always pleasant to speak to and made sure I finished my cocktail. Summing up my exceptional experience, I had hands down the best massage in a serene atmosphere by the Coconut Spa ladies. I loved the sophisticated and thoughtful setup by Shavani and her team. They are some of the loveliest people I have met in my travels. A big thank you to Suranga, Surajit, Ibbe, Mannu, and the rest of the team who made my experience truly wonderful. ⭐️

We believe that this was our 16 time to Reethi Beach; (although it was our original intention back in 1998 to only go to an island once), so this shows how special we rate this resort. We love the rustic feel of Reethi and particularly the friendliness of the staff, who are always so eager to please and to ‘go that extra mile’. Yes, the rooms are slightly ‘tired’ but steps are already underway with the new management to improve the rooms and also the garden areas. We hope however that these changes do not spoilt and outprice the rather unique rustic appeal that Reethi offers which seems attracts so many repeaters every year. With so many staff to thank, it is always difficult for fear of inadvertently missing someone out, but I will have a go:- In the Main Restaurant; a special mention to Executive Chef Farish, Majid, Ibbe, Kokky, Asham and Rubel. In the bars; Goran, Faloo, Ariba, Mode, Sandeep, Nishad, Roshan and of course Madhu, Dive centre; Barney, Ibbe, Arney, Mel for organising trips to swim with the Manta Rays and Whale Sharks; for which I’m forever grateful. We had the pleasure of talking with the new GM Valentin Osolos from time to time who took time out of his busy schedule to discuss any comments we had. Our only concern is that, because the island is due to close for a short time from May 1st to Dec 1st to carry out some major refurbishment, which may mean that we may have to forgo our annual visit to Reethi Beach next year for the ‘manta season’; so we sincerely hope that Valentin is able to wave a ‘magic wand’ such that the resort reopens earlier than planned…..