Filitheyo Island Resort

​We had a wonderful 10-day family stay at Filitheyo. If you are looking for an authentic, natural Maldivian experience rather than a hyper-modern luxury resort, this place is ideal. ​The Reef & Wildlife: Absolutely outstanding. Snorkelling yielded daily sightings of colourful fish, with occasional turtles, and reef sharks right off the island. ​Atmosphere & Cleanliness: Relaxed and rustic. While a few service-oriented areas around the island could do with a slight tidy-up, everything in the main guest areas and rooms is kept spotlessly clean. ​Service & Food: The staff are lovely, welcoming, and brilliant with families. Food quality was good, with a strong Indian menu influence across the buffet. ​Internet: Contrary to older reviews mentioning paid Wi-Fi, we enjoyed free internet access throughout our stay. ​What to Pack: As well as snorkling g equipment, bring strong mosquito repellent as there are plenty waiting to bite you and definitely pack coral shoes as there is a lot of coral along the beach shoreline. ​Overall, a fantastic experience if you appreciate a genuine island feel.

Our second visit to Filitheyo has left us with somewhat mixed feelings. There is still so much to love about this island. Filitheyo remains a truly beautiful and unspoilt Maldivian island, with pristine beaches, lush vegetation and a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere. The food is consistently good, and the staff are warm, friendly and welcoming. One of the absolute highlights of our stay was our experience with the PADI Diving Centre. The team was excellent, and we would particularly like to mention Samy, who made our diving experience especially enjoyable. Both the diving and snorkelling around Filitheyo are exceptional. The house reef is undoubtedly one of the island’s greatest assets, offering an extraordinary variety of marine life and making it a wonderful destination for anyone who appreciates the underwater world. Unfortunately, there were also a few aspects that were disappointing this time. The infrastructure is beginning to show its age and would benefit from some attention and renovation. In my case, the lock on my room door repeatedly jammed, meaning that it could sometimes take me up to ten minutes simply to get into my room. The maintenance team came to repair it, but unfortunately the same problem returned the following day. While this may seem like a relatively minor inconvenience, it became rather frustrating when it happened repeatedly and is perhaps symptomatic of the fact that certain parts of the resort are becoming somewhat dated. I also had an ear infection during our stay, which resulted in fluid draining during the night and staining my pillow. The room boy came to the room twice afterwards, yet despite the obvious condition of the pillow, it was never replaced. Having to sleep on a pillow that had been soiled as a result of a medical issue, when the room had already been attended to twice, was both unpleasant and disappointing. This is a small matter in terms of cost, but it says quite a lot about attention to detail and the level of care one expects from a resort of this category. Our greatest disappointment, however, concerns the pricing for next year. We are aware that prices across the Maldives have increased considerably and understand that resorts are facing higher operating costs and may need to adjust their rates accordingly. Nevertheless, the increase at Filitheyo appears particularly substantial. We had genuinely intended to return next year and were grateful that the management offered us a reduced rate as returning guests. Unfortunately, even with this reduction, we felt that the price was simply too high for what is currently being offered. Filitheyo is a four-star resort, yet we were able to find several five-star properties at comparable or even lower prices. This is a shame because Filitheyo remains an island for which we have a great deal of affection. Its natural beauty, tranquillity, outstanding house reef and friendly atmosphere make it very special. We sincerely hope that we will be able to return in the future, particularly if the pricing is reconsidered and some investment is made in updating the ageing infrastructure. Filitheyo has all the ingredients to remain a truly wonderful Maldivian destination; we simply feel that, at the current price point, the standard of the resort, its facilities and, importantly, the attention to detail no longer quite correspond to the rates being charged.

Splendid experience. Very kind and welcoming staff. The food is really good, dishes are well-prepared and flavorful. Clean and well-kept place. I recommend it!