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.

Everything perfect Rooms clean Staff really nice and friendly Food good Nice to snorkel and swim The pool is nice Location is perfect Atmosphere relaxing Good price (half and all inclusive) Noise level is quiet sometimes music is loud at bar

Beautiful natural island with amazing staff, but some improvements are needed We spent two wonderful weeks at Filitheyo Island Resort and overall had a very enjoyable holiday. The island itself is beautiful, the beaches are lovely and the atmosphere is peaceful. What we will remember most, however, is the staff. From the gardeners who greeted us every morning, to housekeeping, the bartenders, reception and management, everyone was genuinely friendly and welcoming. A special thank you goes to Feyasi, who welcomed us on arrival and always managed to make us smile, and to Raj, Ram and Zaman from the Sunset Bar, who made every evening enjoyable with their kindness and great sense of humour. We would also like to thank Nazan, our young waiter in the restaurant. Despite being only 17 years old, he always did his best to look after us and was consistently polite, hardworking and eager to help. We wish him all the best for the future. Our villa was initially far from the main facilities, but after speaking with reception we were moved to a much better location. We really appreciated how quickly management listened to our concerns and found a fair solution. We were also invited to meet with the management team before leaving, which showed that guest feedback is genuinely valued. The villas are comfortable and kept very clean, but they are clearly showing their age. Many of the beach villas are semi-detached, and the sound insulation is poor. If peace and quiet are important to you, we would recommend booking a standalone villa. Villa location also makes a big difference. In our opinion, villas around numbers 39–60 offer the best balance of beach, sea view and proximity to the resort facilities. The food was our biggest disappointment. Many dishes were heavily seasoned or spicy, and buffet labelling could be clearer, especially regarding ingredients and allergens. During our meeting, management acknowledged this and told us they are planning improvements. The chefs were always willing to prepare something simpler when asked, which we really appreciated. The desserts, however, were consistently excellent and deserve special praise. Fresh fruit is served behind glass. We initially found this unusual, but management explained that it helps protect the fruit from insects, which is understandable in such a tropical environment. The resort has two bars. We especially loved the peaceful Sunset Bar, while the Main Bar offers billiards, table tennis, darts and a small library. Pool towels are available directly at the pool, and guests can also borrow board games such as Monopoly by simply asking the staff. The spa deserves a special mention. The Balinese massages were outstanding and among the highlights of our stay. They are not inexpensive, but the quality was exceptional and absolutely worth experiencing. Excursions are enjoyable, but because some operate only once a week, they depend heavily on weather conditions. During our stay, some trips had to be cancelled because the sea was too rough. Although this was disappointing, we completely understand that safety must always come first. The resort also has an on-site dive centre and doctor, which provides additional peace of mind. One area we hope the resort continues improving is maintenance. Everything generally works, but many wooden structures are showing their age and would benefit from more preventative renovation rather than simply repairing things once they break. Finally, we would like to mention the cats living on the island. We hope the resort will continue working towards a proper welfare programme, including feeding, veterinary care and sterilisation, as this would benefit both the animals and the guests. Overall, Filitheyo may not be the newest or most luxurious resort in the Maldives, but it has something far more valuable: people who genuinely care about their guests. The staff are the true heart of this island, and they turned what could have been a much more average holiday into a memorable one. With continued investment in infrastructure, villa refurbishment, food variety and preventive maintenance, Filitheyo has the potential to become one of the best resorts in its category. Thank you to everyone at Filitheyo Island Resort for making our stay memorable. We wish the entire team every success in the future.

It is very beautiful jungle and reef,calm and quiet island,the building are old and worn but clean, the service is good. The dive centre is perfect