Hotel Riu Atoll

Hotel Riu Atoll is a beachfront resort on Maafushi Island, in the Dhaalu Atoll, reached by seaplane or boat from Male. The Indian Ocean sits at the door of every room block, some opening straight onto sand, others raised on stilts over the lagoon. Built in 2019, the property runs on 24-hour all-inclusive terms, with three restaurants covering buffet, Italian and steakhouse menus, plus a lounge bar, sports bar and a swim-up bar at the pool. Rooms are modern. Standard doubles, beach-access doubles and overwater junior suites all carry a balcony or patio and full air conditioning. A walkway connects the resort to Hotel Riu Palace Maldivas on the neighbouring island of Kedigandu, giving guests use of both properties' restaurants and pools during their stay. Families are handled through RIU Land, a children's club with its own pool and daily programme, while adults have the Renova Spa and a gym running fitness classes. Water sports include kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, snorkelling and scuba diving, with a PADI centre on site for lessons and dives out to the reef. You can hear the ocean from most rooms after dark. The island runs long, so distances between reception, the beach blocks and the main pool can take a ten-minute walk. Check-in starts at 3pm.