Hotel Riu Atoll — Hotel in South Nilandhe Atoll

We have just returned from 12 nights at the wonderful Riu Atoll. We came to celebrate our silver wedding and this holiday exceeded our expectations. From the moment we were greeted on the jetty to the staff waving us off at the end we were well looked after. The hotel is a typical RIU style hotel but what makes this place work is the staff. Every single member of staff go over and above to ensure guests are happy. I have stayed in many RIU hotels (you sort of know what to expect and feel quite safe wherever you are in the world) but the staff here far exceeded other trips purely for the experience due to the friendly, welcoming but always professional staff. We|It is a long journey from UK to get here but we managed better than we thought. Arrived in Male about 12.15pm and finally got to the hotel around 4pm. Look for the RIU desk at Male airport and their representative will take you to the domestic terminal and then they follow you through to a comfy waiting area where you can get complimentary food and drinks whilst waiting for your flight. Then after a short flight of about 45mins you get to Dhaalu where staff help you get your bags and take you to the minibus which takes you round the corner to the boat which gets you to the hotel. It was all very well organised. Hardest bits was finding the RIU desk (it was on the far right as you look in the hall at the desks). Then you can relax!|Another reason for booking this hotel was the various activities they offer as I feared my husband would get bored being stuck on one island. They have the usual various RIU fit and RIU fun activities but again the staff that run them totally exceeded our expectations, they are welcoming but not pushy and offer quite a variety of exercises (I tried suspension training as had seen it online and always wondered what it would be like and Sanjay was so welcoming. It was clearly not the exercise for me (I have since been told that it is one of the hardest types of training) but he was so patient and let me carry on for as long as I could so I could at least get a bit of a feel for it. They also do aero yoga which looked good and then stretching and total body workout but I didn’t try those (think there are a couple of other activities on too). Then there is aqua fit/gym/fun which I loved! Sanjoo and Vladim made this so much fun but I did actually do some proper aqua exercises in the meantime. Aimee was also fab entertaining guests but she is so lovely and friendly and working in the intense heat of the sun I do not know how they can constantly keep a smile on their faces. It must be such hard work so hats off to them all! Then you are surrounded by the beautiful lagoon of the Indian Ocean. The snorkelling opportunities must be taken up, the marine life in the house reef is so varied and interesting. I was lucky enough to win a trip out with the resident marine biologist who was excellent touring us around the reef so we could spot various marine life and she also explained the reef conservation project, showing us the nurseries where they grow new coral and attach it to the more damaged coral. It was so interesting. She also does a little talk about it on a Sunday night which is really interesting then you can play kahoot to try and win a trip. I think other activities offer this as a prize too. Well worth trying as this trip was one of the best parts of my holiday. The Scuba Caribe water sports centre offer various activities and trips too. Paddle boarding, kayaking and pedaloes plus hire of snorkel equipment is included for AI then they have the I aqua and jet skis as payable extras plus a few boat trips. We did the snorkelling tour out to Leopard reef which personally I also found very enjoyable. The marine life is less varied but we were in the open sea and it was a different experience to house reef. We also did the sunset cruise which was pleasant, it is just a boat ride out to get a different view in the sunset but it was interesting just sailing past the different islands and seeing the flying fish as we went (sadly no dolphins). The team also offer free scuba diving demonstrations in the pool every so often which I thought was an excellent idea so you can get a bit of a feel for it before paying for a proper session. I tried this and again they were so good but due to my DVT history I was not sure if I would be insured to do the proper thing so did not do that but I would certainly trust they do a fab lesson and dive in the house reef.|Our room was in block 1500, I felt this was ideal for us, a little quieter but not too far to walk to the main hub of hotel. The hotel layout has the bars, restaurants and pools etc as you enter the island then the villa accommodation is situated spaced out walking towards the other end of the island. The villas hold about 8-10 rooms I guess so it is pretty quiet and then each villa overlooks the beach and has sunbeds so you can chill in the peace away from the activities if you choose. If you have a ground floor room you can walk out from your terrace to the beach directly which is ideal if you want to pop back for drinks/toilet etc. It was so peaceful lying here and we chose to do this most afternoons walking left and snorkelling in the house reef which is also situated at the other end (if you want to be situated near the reef I would recommend asking for a higher number room, think it might be 2000ish block but ask for reef side as villas are on the other side too which are very peaceful by the look of it as less people walk that way). Then at the very end of the island they have a few hammocks and sunbeds in between the trees which does give the look and feel of a deserted island I suppose and this is so peaceful. Our room was always meticulously cleaned daily and stocked up with water and sodas (no alcohol except from beers), tea and coffee. Room was right size for us with a large double bed, settee and coffee table, good size bathroom with large shower.|The restaurant and bars did not disappoint either. We did just eat in the main restaurant as I could not see any veggie options in the specialty Italian or Steak house but we were not bothered really as we were well catered for and looked after by the lovely restaurant staff (thank you Annabella - you knew exactly what we liked and were so lovely but professional finding us a table in our favourite area and making sure we never ran dry with drinks). The food was in my opinion very good, plenty of choice and variety to cater for everyone. The counters are set out with various dietary styles such as Asian, Mediterranean, Maldivian etc. Then there are salads, cheeses and fruits in the middle. The chefs (especially on the Asian counter) were so proud of their dishes and he always helped me knowing I was vegetarian. I tried all sorts of different foods there and thought they were high quality, especially for an AI resort. There are signs to explain the foods too, marking the type of meat or if vegan etc, but the chefs will explain a little more as to the style and taste of a food and how it is made if you ask. The puddings are varied too, I recommend the dish in the silver container as these were really tasty and I think more local at times. There is probably not so much fresh fruit as I expected, mainly pineapple, melon, bananas and oranges but I expect that might be due to availability to them. The fruit that was there though was tasty, especially the oranges.|Shivaz and the other waiters kept a constant presence overseeing everything and they ran the restaurant well I believe. They tried so hard to cater for everyone, even big groups coming in arranging tables so everyone can sit where they want.|The bars were well run too. The pool bar with lovely Niko and Jessica - they are so friendly and Niko constantly checks you are ‘good’ and updates you with what is going on in the hotel that day so you don’t miss anything. He also remembers your name, even after not seeing him for a couple of days. Then the bartenders the other side of the pool bar were so good too and remember your favourite drinks, can’t remember the lads name, Ash I think he was really good. Then there is the sports bar which is well ran too and the evening bar and entertainment area. This was well set up I think partly inside with a stage where RIUland and some other entertainment is based and then it flows outside on to. ‘Beach style’ area with sand on the ground and rattan chairs and sofas dotted around under the palms with a stage which is where the main parties are hosted from. Thanks to Nagenda whom I think oversees all the bar areas, he is super professional but very friendly and got to know we liked a cup of milk at bedtime for our tea that night and morning and would make sure we had some to go back with! Thank you. He also keeps a constant eye on the guests checking we are okay and also looking out for any possible trouble if someone has drunk too much (we didn’t experience anything like this but expect he would nip in bud if it did which was reassuring). Lastly I need to mention the lovely, kind gentleman that oversaw the cleanliness of the toilets, I especially saw him in the area between the sports and evening bar. What a lovely, gentle gentleman! He keep those toilets so clean constantly throughout the night and greeted you as you would pop in. Literally every single member of staff should be rewarded for their exemplary work ethic as I have never seen anything like before. They all seem to work together as a team too, coming from various parts of the world and getting on so well.|Overall I would definitely recommend this resort. If you are considering the Palace or Atoll I think the Palace is probably quieter as I think most of the activities (including water sports etc) are all held in the Atoll area so you would need to get the buggy or walk down the jetty to participate in those. Personally I was very happy in the Atoll area and I normally sway towards a quieter hotel as there are plenty of spaces away from everyone if you want but then I didn’t enter the Palace area to be able to compare.|Thank you again to everyone, wish I could mention all your names as if I could not read your name badge your efforts certainly did not go unnoticed. We have made some fantastic memories here and I...

This is the exact kind of review I wish I could’ve read before booking so wanted to give thorough details to any future potential customers!

Pros: Airport: The airport process was smooth, with staff and representatives attentive and well-organized. Everything moved efficiently, which set a positive initial tone for the trip.

Snorkeling: The house reef was beautiful if you like to snorkel. An array of kayaks and pedal boats are offered for free to guests although we didn’t get a chance to use it was nice to have that option.

Hotel Room: The room was also a really good size which was surprising. We felt the cleaning staff did an excellent job. The AC in the rooms worked very well so we were pleased.

Sadly, this is where the good ends.

Cons:
Unfortunately, the resort itself fell short in several major areas:

Front Desk & Communication: The reception staff were shockingly unprofessional and incapable of handling basic communication. Despite multiple follow-ups, they ignored nearly half a dozen emails. This created unnecessary stress in the days leading up to our trip. Not only did we email several times but also tried via booking.com to no avail. We had no choice but to contact the RIU call center and pay international fees just to get a response. Frankly, management should strongly reconsider who they hire—this level of disregard is unacceptable. We would never book with RIU again based solely off of how distressing they made our experience trying to communicate leading up to the trip.

$460 Resort Credit: This is misleading at best. The so-called “credit” is actually a compilation of minimal discounts (e.g., $4 off a $175 massage) disguised as a generous perk. It’s deceptive marketing, and in many places, would be considered fraudulent.

The Pool: It’s outdated and clearly in need of a deep, thorough cleaning. It doesn’t reflect the standards you'd expect from a resort in the Maldives.

No AC in main restaurant: No air conditioning in the main buffet area or in the steak restaurant. They didn’t even have an option to turn the fans up. When there is no breeze you are simply just sitting there steaming. Not resort standard at all.

“All inclusive restaurants”: is deceiving. One “speciality” restaurant outside of the buffet is offered at a time (while the other is closed for a few days.then they switch). It is first come, first serve so to ensure you get a seat you have to rush at 6:15PM and stand in a long line. Not worth it.

The food: The food was both a pro and a con. The diversity was there, lots of healthy options. However, 99% of the meats and fishes we had were overcooked. I did not have one slice of chicken, roast beef, even fish that was not way too chewy and overdone. This was disheartening as the rest of the buffet options were suitable and well prepared.

Drinks & Bar Service: Cocktails were poorly made, with no frozen alcoholic options available. When I asked for a daiquiri, I was served a liquid version—something I’ve never encountered before. The liquor used was of very low quality, making most drinks taste watered down or overly harsh.

No espresso at breakfast: Yes, you heard that right - an all inclusive resort that does not offer americanos, espresso, cappuccino, latter, etc at breakfast. Solely black coffee. We were directed to the “sports bar” at 8AM if we wanted anyting but black coffee.

Beach Area: The beach was extremely overcrowded, noisy, and lacked enough seating. It felt like a daily scavenger hunt just to find a spot to relax.

Sports Bar: The “games” were outdated, ripped apart, missing key elements and were in desperate need of a refresh. We couldn’t play anything because not all the necessary pieces were present.

"Entertainment”: The entertainment in the evenings was abysmal. It’s like no thought or effort was put into it. It seemed as if it was organized 20 minutes prior. Extremely disappointing and not up to par whatsoever with other all inclusive resorts...

We’ve had an amazing week on this island, I’m still amazed how you can get all this luxury in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Transfer is well organized, even if we didn’t see anyone once we arrived, we asked a few people and after we found the RIU desk with a staff member. While you wait for the domestic flight you have access to some food and drinks. Once landed at Dhaalu airport, there is a 5 minutes bus ride to the port and then a 10 minutes boat ride to the resort, I really like their boat and the fact that you can go on the upper deck. The checking experience wasn’t great, I didn’t like the fact that how the explanation are made for the whole group and the RIU bracelet is made by group as well. I would have preferred an individual explanation of the main things to know about the hotel, like every other hotel you go to… this made the experience not so exclusive. Not what you expect when you pay that price. Also, once you have paid, they explain you the way to the room and say someone will bring your luggage afterwards. If your room is at the end of the island you will have to walk at least 15 minutes under the tropical sun and hotness, I wish they could bring you to your room by electric car at least when you arrive the first time, especially after 24 hours of travel… And by the way, I don’t know what is it about the welcome drinks but that was not good at all, and we were apparently not the only ones to think that way as most of the others arriving guests didn’t drink their drinks either. Once you have cleared the bad checking process, the good experience starts. All of the animation team, waiters, spa team were absolutely professional, helpful and friendly. They made us spend a wonderful time everyday. The activities were so great. I really liked the beach-volley scheduled everyday at 5 pm (there was nobody at the 11 am session at it was too hot I guess). They was also Petanque, slack-line, waterpolo, pool party, Sunset DJ every day. You can’t get bored I can assure you. Regarding the food and drinks, I found the main buffet to be of good quality. The main disappointment was the local food (Asian type) which was way too spicy, I tried several times, and every time I couldn’t eat it. As the clientele is mostly from Europe, I don’t really understand why they don’t make those dishes more “accessible”. The two à la carte restaurant where good but it can get tricky to get a booking as it sold out fast. The beach bar offers good cocktails, coffee etc. However I was very disappointed that they do not offer any fresh juices or coconut, especially if you do not drink alcohol or soda like me. Rooms are spacious, modern and confortable with a nice balcony with breathtaking view on the clear waters. Their body lotion smell very bad in my opinion. Also the main issue of our stay was the air conditioning system. Every 10 to 30 minutes, the ventilation stops and start again 3 seconds later. This process sometimes woke us up several times during the night, we ask for assistance four times but every time they said it was normal functioning. I am quite surprised because I checked all the other guests reviews and I found no complaint about that. Fortunately I had earplugs with me but even with that I got waken up sometimes. Very disturbing not to be able to sleep well when you pay that price. Also when you open the balcony door, the air con stops, which is a good thing, but when you close the door the air con reset itself to its default temperature of 23 degrees Celsius which is way too cold in my opinion as we found 26 to be a reasonable temperature to limit the difference with the outside while having a minimum level of comfort. The place itself is what makes the real value of this resort, having this wonderful sea next to you all the time is amazing, the vegetation was well taken care of, and the resort was very clean...