Filitheyo is a popular island resort because, firstly, it has all the features that make a typical Maldivian island resort special, and secondly, it is one of the most affordable resorts around. Stunning beaches are unspoiled on each side of the island offering great walks and views, and the diving here is excellent. The complex itself is well done and blends in very well with impressive palm trees and other indigenous vegetation. The complex is also a bit special compared to other complexes in that you can walk through and around it via a network of interior paths. The wooden walkway through the public area is the only change in surface from the soft sand floors, so if you want to spend your entire vacation barefoot, you won’t have a problem here.
The bar is a laid-back spot with a wide selection of iced coffees, cocktails and other beverages, and the tables reach right down to the water’s edge. The dining here is probably some of the best we’ve experienced at a resort of this class. There is a wide variety of dining options in the main bar and restaurant, from where you can watch the sunset while you eat. You can also choose to dine in the villa or on the beach, and half board is a very good option here, as the resort allows guests to choose dinner or lunch as their included meal.
Where the resort was once predominantly German, it is now more cosmopolitan, with a mix of European, American, and Japanese visitors. Although the resort does not advertise itself as a family resort, it caters very well to family groups, and this is one of the reasons why it has become popular with visitors who have children in their group.
The accommodations
Most of the rooms in this resort are superior class and face east towards the narrower beach. These superior rooms are semi-detached, unlike the deluxe rooms and water villas, but they have the advantage of offering very convenient access for reef diving. The water villas have a jolie Maldivian swing, cushioned loungers, and snorkeling is just steps away. The villas are charming but open on either side of their neighbors, so visitors who value their privacy may be better off in a superior or deluxe room. The deluxe rooms have the same level of furnishings as the superior rooms, but are separate, slightly larger and have a larger bathroom.
Activities
The house reef is popular for diving both day and night, and with a healthy level of coral regeneration the reef provides habitat for many species of fish and there is a good chance of seeing big fish here. Diving at Filitheyo is exceptional for all skill levels, and with a channel on each side of the island and several shallow thilas within the atoll for inexperienced divers, the resort offers challenging diving for all.
