Our recent stay at RIU Palace Maldives in an overwater villa was truly unforgettable. We visited for our honeymoon, and it was made even more special because my birthday happened to fall during our stay as well. From the breathtaking scenery to the warmth of the staff, it was an experience we will cherish forever.
The property itself is absolutely stunning — crystal clear beaches, beautiful coral reefs full of marine life, gorgeous overwater villas, and consistently fresh, delicious food. But what really made this trip so special was the incredible staff who went above and beyond every single day to make us feel welcomed, cared for, and at home.
A very special thank you to:
• Desy at Paradise Bar, who learnt our names from day one and always remembered our drinks and favourite snacks. She made us feel genuinely welcomed every day.
• Saleem at dinner service, who was always kind and friendly.
• Musab, who helped set up the private birthday dinner my husband planned and paid for. Even though the weather didn’t allow it to happen on the beach due to rain, he still made the evening feel incredibly special.
• Mujeeb, the pastry chef, who was always smiling while making fresh donuts in the mornings.
• Ryo from Paradise Bar and the beach team — always smiling, so humble and kind. Truly one of the highlights of our trip and genuinely such a gem of a human being.
• Anu from Paradise Bar, who was always sweet and incredibly attentive with cocktails.
• Amin Gihon, Executive Sous Chef, whose warmth and hospitality elevated our dining experience every single day.
• Puja from Paradise Bar, who was lovely and friendly throughout our stay.
• Chamara from Paradise Bar, who was always pleasant.
• Suvina at dinner service, the sweetest girl — always humble, helpful, and welcoming.
• Nilan from lunch and dinner service, who went out of his way to get us mangosteen because we had never tried it before. His service was exceptional and always delivered with a smile.
• Nathalie at dinner, who remembered our drinks order as soon as we walked in and was always polite and friendly.
• Ray, one of the cart drivers, who was consistently friendly and kind.
• Sameera from Paradise Bar, who was lovely and welcoming.
• Edi Surya, Sous Chef, who was absolutely top class. His dish recommendations, personal touches, and genuine passion made dinner service memorable every night.
• Sandra, who specially prepared a pasta dish for my husband that he absolutely loved.
• Shifaz at lunch service, who always made time to stop and chat with us and check in on how we were doing.
• Mechielle at the Japanese restaurant, who kindly brought my husband extra gyoza after seeing how much he loved them.
• Jihad from the main dining cleaning team, who always kept the buffet spotless with such friendliness and humility.
• Zaain, our room attendant, whose cleaning was exceptional and whose daily towel art always made us smile.
• Nithu, one of the drivers, who always chatted with us during rides and made us feel completely at home.
• Jason at reception, who was very professional and friendly throughout our stay.
• Mord, one of the drivers, who made our rides between the atolls so interesting by showing us stingrays, sharks, and teaching us about the fish and Maldivian lifestyle.
• Nashid from the transfer department, who handled an issue we experienced during checkout with professionalism, patience, and care. He truly prevented what could have ended our holiday on a stressful note.
The level of warmth and hospitality from the staff at RIU Palace Maldives is honestly what sets this resort apart. Every interaction felt personal and genuine, and they played such a huge part in making both our honeymoon and birthday celebration so memorable.
A few areas we do feel could be improved to better match a true 5-star experience:
• The room service menu is extremely limited and the absence of hot drinks on the menu was disappointing.
• The waiting times and frequency of the carts can sometimes be quite long.
• Spa treatment prices felt excessively high.
• Evening turndown service in the villas would be a lovely addition.
Despite those small areas for improvement, we had a beautiful stay and made memories we will cherish forever. Thank you to the entire RIU Palace Maldives team for such a special honeymoon and birthday experience.
