Riu guests #30140804 – Booking #WRC37KTE
We have stayed at several Riu hotels, and this was another lovely holiday. The all-inclusive formula is always very much appreciated.
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Gadifuri, where the Riu Palace is located, is a small island connected to Kedhigandu, home to the other hotel, Riu Atoll, by a footbridge (approx. 1 km).
Most activities took place at Atoll, which had both advantages and disadvantages. The Palace had a more relaxed atmosphere as it is smaller, and, obviously, more expensive. At Atoll, you will find the diving centre, shop, 24-hour bar, gym, fitness area, and spa.
• Gold buggies ran regularly between the two islands for guests who preferred not to walk when going from one point to another.
• The pool was never too crowded. We preferred the beautiful beach, where there were plenty of sunbeds available. Pool towels were always ravailable.
• A DJ set played every day from 4:30 p.m. by the bar. Occasionally there was evening entertainment (mainly music), while larger parties were held at Atoll.
• Wi-Fi was good.
• All members of staff were exceptional, they made the difference.
• The house reef, an artificial, but still impressive spot for snorkelling, is located at the end of the Atoll.
• Some excursions are available, including snorkelling and diving.
ROOM
• The room was large and spotless, there was a glass partition between the bedroom and the bathroom. Finally, a hotel where the bathroom is separate from the main room!
• The shower was huge, and the minibar was stocked daily.
• We opted for a first-floor room. Ground-floor rooms have direct access to the beach, but we felt they offered less privacy. Many guests occupying the ground-floor ones placed their sunbeds directly in front of them.
• The air conditioning needed to remain on most of the time, otherwise dampness can develop in the room.
RESTAURANT
• The buffet offered plenty of choice, including a very good Asian and local food corner.
• At the Palace there were two theme restaurants, Japanese and Fusion, both serving good food. We didn’t try the theme restaurants at Atoll because reservations were not required, and we didn’t want to risk long queues on the other island.
TIPS
• Carry small dollar bills for tips. Staff work very hard and certainly appreciate them.
• Aqua shoes are recommended.
• Very high-SPF sunscreen is essential.
FINAL COMMENTS
• The sea is quite shallow, which may not be ideal for people who enjoy swimming (like me!). Aqua shoes were also necessary because of the corals. There were areas where the water was slightly deeper. You can easily spot small sharks, fish, stingrays, and, sometimes, even turtles.
• Most fitness activities were held at Atoll (not enough participants at the Palace), so it could be a bit inconvenient to go back and forth if you wanted to join more than one activity on the same day but at different times.
• The app was somewhat unreliable, especially for the daily activities list. We needed to go checing the totem in the restaurant for updated information.
