Reethi Faru Resort — Hotel in North Maalhosmadulu

Our 3rd trip to the Maldives and we chose Reethi Faru based on:||Vegan food options|Budget (one of the lower cost resorts)|All inclusive option|Distance from Male - not too close (as to spoil the desert island experience), and not so far for easy transfer||1. Seaplane Transfer|Approx. 45 minute seaplane transfer, as stated on Reethi Faru's website, although we stopped at other resorts on both outbound and inbound transfers, which resulted in almost 1.5 hrs on the seaplane. Best not to be too optimistic about seaplane transfer timings of course. Worth noting that the TMA terminal is much improved since our previous visit.||2. Welcome|Thanks fully nice and brief, although I do wish they would defer the explanations of all the resort's facilities until a little later.||3. Dining|There are various places to eat, surprising so for a relatively small resort. Many are open only for dinner, so your choices for breakfast and lunch are limited to the Vakaru buffer and Dhiyavaru 'over-water' restaurant. The latter is open 24/7, although that's not well promoted, and we didn't realise that until a few days into our stay. Reservations are recommended 2 days in advance, although we didn't always do so and never had any trouble, probably because the resort occupancy was quite low during our stay.||The Vakaru buffet is good, although certainly not the most extensive, there were many different dishes on offer each day, in addition to the usual salad bar etc. Vegan options were clearly marked, as were dishes with lactose. That's a tiny feature that makes the buffet experience much easier for vegans, in that respect, this buffet was the best (most clear info) that we have ever seen. ||The Vegan / Vegetarian restaurant is open only for dinner, and is located on the edge of the beach, with private tables, offering a very special dining experience. They only have 4 tables, so definitely book in advance if you are vegan (although vegan options are available in all the restaurants). The vegan options were delicious and relatively healthy, we were glad to see no fake 'meat' for example, just good old plants, nuts, seeds & legumes. The lentil Bolognese was delicious!||We didn't eat at the Reethi Grill, although it has vegan options, its more focussed on meat & fish, as you might expect from the name. Ditto the Veyo poolside snack bar, which is so close to the Dhiyavaru, hence best just to go there.||The Dhiyavaru 'over-water' restaurant was one of our favourite dining venues, despite the limited vegan options. The menu is a sort of 'Asian fusion' style, which isn't our cup of tea, but they were happy to serve dishes from the other restaurants by prior request.||In general, this resort caters well for vegans, and goes out of its way to do so. Other resorts also cater for vegans, but almost by accident, if you know what I mean. Rarely did we see vegetables served in butter for example, and ditto with the salad bar.||4. All Inclusive|We had the 'dine around' all inclusive, which they also refer to as 'premium' on the resort, which allowed us to dine in any of the restaurants and pretty much unlimited menu choices (the vegan options at least). The wine list is also pretty good, maybe 6 red wine options within the AI package and other options at a modest extra cost. I have to say that I didn't enjoy the wine so much, possibly because of the temperature and maybe it wasn't appropriately stored, I cant be sure. Could even be my taste buds, as I often find this in hot climates, the red wine has a lightly 'cooked' taste. Many of the classic cocktails are not in the AI package, but the bar staff are always willing to make something unique and we enjoyed trying their surprise options. The AI also includes a basic SCUBA session, but we didn't take advantage of that.||5. Accomodation|We stayed in a water villa, which was nice, although showing signs of its age just a little bit. Nothing that would spoil our holiday, for example, temperamental (broken) shower taps, broken torch and water deck looking a little tired. Can't complain at this budget.||TIP: well worth taking a good torch, helpful for walking on the beach at night and also great for watching the sea life in the dark.||6. Sealife / Snorkelling|The resort has a reef almost all the way around the perimeter of the island, and hence plenty of sea life to see close to the beach, great for snorkelling. We saw very small sharks, the occasional ray and every shape, size and colour of tropical fish you could imagine. Wed did a 1hr jet ski trip to see the doplhins and were lucky enough to witness around 400 dolphins playing (jumping) all around us in the ocean, highly recommended (by boat or jet ski). Even just walking down the beach, or along the boardwalks, you will see plenty of fish and sharks etc.||7. The Island in General|Reethi Faru is a medium sized island, certainly far from the smallest of Maldivian resorts and also not so big. You can walk the circumference of the island on the beach in around 30 minutes. Inland is the usual vegetation, which is quite well kept, but definitely a little untidy in places. The 'engine rooms' of the resorts operations (staff quarters, generators, water treatment etc.) are not particularly well hidden either. We avoided walking inland, preferring the beach routes instead.||Again, some parts of the beach are a little 'untidy', particularly where they have used sand bags to retain the sand in place, understandably so, but it does rather spoil the desert island paradise image. Also, many of the sand bags are covered in black scum (mould?), which looks pretty unappealing and can be treacherous to walk on (i.e. slippery). As we walked around mostly by the beach, it was unavoidable to walk on the sand bags in certain locations. Also, some of the beach villas back out onto the beach via said sand bags, with which we wouldn't have been too impressed. Again, this didn't spoil our holiday and cant really complain for this price, but if I were in charge of this resort, I would be looking to improve that, and at the very least up their game on the maintenance and cleaning of those sand bags.||8. Service|All the staff were friendly and helpful, as you would expect for a Maldivian resort. Housekeeping left a little to be desired, but nothing to grumble about, just not very on the ball at times. For example, we had breakfast in our room one day and the plates etc. were still there at the end of the day, despite that fact that we were out most of the day and placed the 'clean our room' sign on the door.||Would we return? Yes, absolutely! For Vegans particularly, look no further, after extensive research, this resort is way ahead of any other that we have seen, certainly at...

A Humbling and Unforgettable Stay at Reethi Beach – Paradise in Every Way||My wife and I recently stayed at Reethi Beach Resort and chose it primarily for its renowned house reef and natural, unspoiled beauty. We were looking for an island that offered that authentic Maldivian feel—lush greenery, white sand beaches, and great snorkeling right off the beach. Although the resort is slightly dated, the abundance of glowing reviews and the number of repeat guests reassured me that we were making the right choice. And I’m so glad we did. It truly is paradise.||The Island & House Reef|The island itself is mature and simply stunning. The vegetation is lush and provides a real sense of seclusion and peace. One of the highlights for us was the house reef, which is recovering beautifully. There’s an absolute “fish soup” out there—thousands of fish of every color and shape. We snorkeled daily and were lucky enough to spot turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays, and even a majestic manta ray gliding by. The reef is very accessible, with multiple entry points and calm water that makes for a relaxing snorkel experience. It’s one of the best we’ve seen.||Accommodation|We began our stay in one of the overwater villas, which was a wonderful experience—waking up above the lagoon, with direct access to the sea and those serene ocean views, was truly special. Midway through our holiday, a renovated Deluxe Beach Villa with a private pool became available, and we were kindly offered the opportunity to move. We gladly accepted, and the room was absolutely stunning. The villa was spacious, beautifully finished, and felt fresh and modern while still fitting the natural style of the island.||The private pool was a real treat—perfect for a refreshing dip at any time of day, and a peaceful alternative to the sea. While the ocean was mostly calm and gentle, there were a few times when it became a little choppy for my wife, so having the private pool made all the difference. It was a lovely way to unwind and enjoy the surroundings in total privacy.||Food & Dining|We opted for the All-Inclusive Premium package, which gave us access to the à la carte restaurants. It was absolutely worth it. The food was consistently excellent, particularly the authentic Indian and Maldivian dishes. Every meal felt special, and the ingredients tasted fresh and vibrant. The service was equally exceptional—attentive without being intrusive. We also dined a couple of times at the main buffet restaurant, which had a good variety and quality for a buffet. Every dining experience felt relaxed, unrushed, and high quality.||The Heart of the Island – The Staff|What truly sets Reethi Beach apart, and what we will carry with us forever, is the people. The staff are the soul of this island. From the moment you arrive, you’re not just a guest—they make you feel like part of something greater. It’s their warmth, sincerity, and attention to detail that create the unforgettable memories you take home. Every smile, every conversation, every kind gesture adds something meaningful to the experience.||It’s easy to be impressed by crystal-clear water and white sand, but it’s the staff who make you feel like you belong in paradise. Whether it’s the gardeners who stop to explain the local flora, the servers who remember your favorite drink, or the chefs who go the extra mile to prepare a special dish—these are the things you remember long after the holiday ends.||Special mention must go to Reefa, whose service was simply outstanding—genuinely caring, attentive, and always with a smile. Amit and Mohammed were equally fantastic, and the gentleman from India who worked alongside Reefa—who’s been at the resort for over ten years—was another shining example of the dedication and heart that defines Reethi Beach.||The Closing Party – A Privilege to Witness|One of the most meaningful moments of our stay was being invited to the staff’s closing party. With the resort set to close for renovations, the event was a heartfelt celebration to thank the team for their dedication. It was hosted in the main bar and attended by both staff and guests—a simple but powerful act that demonstrated the deep respect the resort holds for its team.||Some staff had worked on the island for over 27 years. That says everything. Watching them dance and be honoured for their years of service was incredibly moving. I believe including guests in this celebration sent a powerful message: that the staff are not just here to serve, but are recognised as truly special individuals who bring the island to life. It made us, as guests, feel honoured to celebrate them—to acknowledge that they are the heart and soul of Reethi Beach, and the reason the experience feels magical.||During the event, management also shared proposed renovation plans. It was reassuring to see that while the resort will be updated and modernized, they are committed to preserving the natural, Maldivian character of the island. They emphasized that the mature, lush environment is what sets Reethi Beach apart from newer, more sterile resorts—and we couldn’t agree more.||Final Thoughts|Reethi Beach was everything we hoped for and more. Though the resort is now closed for renovation (which it was ready for), it in no way affected our holiday. In fact, it felt more intimate and personal than we could have imagined. We are already looking forward to returning once it reopens and can only hope the magic of the staff and the soul of the island remains just as it was.||We look forward to returning after the renovation and staying in a beach villa...

Well, it's the Maldives, so obviously beautiful. This was our second Maldivian holiday, and the Maldives are great; the sea, the colours, etc. are wonderful. But this island and resort had some aspects we didn't like. We paid a premium price for its eco credentials on a full board basis but discovered that the resort found ways to charge for every little thing. My husband was upset when they charged us for water at our first dinner. When he queried this, the server laughed at him. My husband asked what was funny, but we accepted that something was probably lost in translation. I enquired at reception the next day about this charge and was told all drinks were chargeable and all were priced in USD, so not cheap. I think it was over 6 USD for 2 glasses of water! All trips, snorkelling, food in other bars, etc. were also pricey unless you had also bought all inclusive premium at 100 USD per night per person extra! Having bought full board we, and I guess it's mine or my agent's misunderstanding, hadn't realised we would be incurring extra charges for the full package. Their pricing policy could be clearer. I personally found the island too big; there is a lot of walking. My mobility is not great, and some of the sand paths were challenging. My mobility was mentioned to the reception staff when checking in, but in the event we were placed on the polar opposite side of the island, not great. We were having to walk about 4 miles a day, in the heat, just to eat, visit a bar, or go to reception - personally, this was too much for me. We wanted to do snorkelling, so I enquired about joining the guided reef swim. We are not confident snorkellers and not young, so I thought this was the best option and told the centre guy this, including my mobility issue. However, when the guide arrived, this info was not passed on. The guide did not count the number of participants and set off at pace, at the front, chatting away to some obviously experienced snorkellers. After 5 minutes walking, we could no longer see the guide, and we asked another participant where we were actually going as the guide had not told us. By the time we reached the spot, the rest of the group were in the sea, and no assistance was available to us to get kitted up. I found getting flippers on in the sea a challenge. By the time we were ready, the party were already well out over the reef, and we didn't feel we could safely catch them up, so aborted the attempt for our own safety. I was particularly upset as I had been looking forward to what I thought was an escorted outing. We thought this attitude to safety was very poor. The guide had no idea of how many were in the party (is this safe?), and neither the dive centre nor the guide checked our ability or mentioned that it was solely for experienced snorkellers. No one followed this up for us, ie. asked if we'd enjoyed it or in the event even participated. My husband complained to no avail. This ruined our day. No care was shown to us at all. I was very upset about this. We also booked on the traditional dhoni boat sunset cruise. The info showed a picture of a beautiful traditional boat. However, in reality, this was not the case. It was an old boat, fibreglass, diesel, and very smelly. There was no gang plank and the gap from the jetty to alight the boat, was quite a jump, a challenge for me. Once underway, the doorways on both sides had no safety chains and were open to the sea, so I didn't dare move. Plus, the windows were high, so my viewing was restricted. The stairs to the top deck for better viewing were right at the back of the boat. Even my husband didn't fancy risking his safety because if you fell, you'd be directly over the prop as there was no safety rail. Very dangerous. All in all, we found the resort's duty of care to its residents and customers, very poor and individual staff members nonchalant when this was pointed out to them. As I said at the beginning of this review, it's the Maldives so beautiful, but we found this resort over commercialised and lacking in care. I wouldn't...