Filitheyo is a popular island resort for 2 main reasons: firstly, it has all the features that make a typical Maldivian island resort special and secondly, it is not in the category of the more expensive resorts. The superb beaches are unbroken on each side of the island offering, great walks and views, and the diving here is typically superb.
The resort itself is very well done, integrating nicely with impressive coconut palms and other typically exotic indigenous vegetation. The resort is also a little special compared to some other resorts in that it allows you to walk through the island as well as around it with a network of interior trails. The wooden walkway through the public area is the only change in surface from the smooth sandy floors, so if you wish to spend your whole vacation barefoot then you will not have any problems here.
This resort was once predominantly German-speaking but now has a more cosmopolitan flavor with a mix of European and Japanese visitors. Although the resort does not advertise itself as a family center, it treats them very well and has therefore become popular with visitors who have children in their group.
The bar is very well done with a wide selection of cocktails, ice coffees and other drinks, and the tables that run right down to the waters edge. The dining here is probably the best to be found in a resort in this class. There is a wide range of meal options in the main bar and the a la carte restaurant, from where, of course, you can watch the sunset as you eat. You can also choose villa or beach dining, and half-board is a good option here since the resort allows guests to choose lunch or dinner as the included meal.
The Accommodation
The majority of rooms on the island are in the superior class and face eastwards onto the narrower beach. These rooms are semi-detached, unlike the deluxe rooms and water villas, but do have an advantage in that they offer the most convenient access for snorkeling on the reef. The deluxe rooms have the same standard of furnishings as the superior ones but are detached, are a bit larger and have an extended bathroom.
The water villas have a Maldivian swing joli, cushioned sun loungers and the snorkeling is just a few steps away. The villas are lovely but are open on each side to the neighboring ones, so visitors who value their privacy may be better suited in a superior or deluxe room. Some guests split their holiday between different room types to vary the experience.
Activities
The diving at Filitheyo is excellent for all levels of ability. With a channel adjacent to each side of the island and several shallow thilas inside the atoll for inexperienced divers, the resort offers challenging diving for all. The house reef is popular for both day and night dives and with a healthy level of coral re growth, the reef provides a habitat for many fish species and there is a good opportunity to see big fish here.