Reviews of Riveli Retreat Mathiveri

The property is simple but has everything you need for a stay in Mathiveri. It’s very welcoming and feels just like home.

Warm people, great location, great view.

Breakfasts were delicious, the cook is fantastic. Don't hesitate to try his Sweet and Sour fish with rice. Perfect. Ali the manager is also very helpful and kind. Prepared to help at any time. Dear Ali thank you for everything! The location is near the public beach, but very peaceful and beautiful. Don't forget to go to the port at night to see nurse sharks and sting rays swiming bellow the bridge. Swim to Finolhu Island near by the Bikini beach and bring the camera with, you won't regret it! The current is quite strong, but with fins you won't have any problems.

Organization of excursions is a little poor, but probably because of lack of tourism on this Island.

Good place, very kind staff, position close to the public beach with nice view

The bathroom has a shower at floor level, this leads water to go all around and being with no shoes it's not so comfortable nor practical for keeping things tidy.

Very clean . Best bit - Balcony looking over the sea room 105 . Use of mini fridge. You can help yourself to tea and coffee . Nice toiletries in the shower room. Quality bedding and towels. Great staff . Best local breakfasts we’ve had in the Maldives .

Nothing it was all good

Situated in the best place on the island. Peaceful. Stunning setting with beautiful beach and gorgeous blues of the Indian ocean in front of the hotel. Room was very clean.

The booking said boat transfers were included in the price - they were not. We were told the wrong time for the boat departure from Malé to Mathiveri. We booked a room with a sea view showing in the pictures, but it didn't have one. The pictures on booking.com don't match the room type so be careful when booking. Limited food choices for vegetarians and vegans.

We had a wonderful holiday at Riveli. There were a few tourists at the island during our stay, and as we prefer quiet and private pastime, we were more than happy to have all the island beauty just for us. We spent 10 days at Riveli and on Mathiveri island, and I guess it’s the best place to stay. Location is perfect with great ocean view rooms, very clean, wi-fi is good enough. The host Faruhad is friendly and helpful. We would definitely stay at the place again. The only issue for us were mosquitoes 😔 better take repellents of all sorts with you, you won’t regret it. Also i would recommend to wear lycra long sleeve swimming t-shirt and shorts. Firstly, you won’t get burnt. Secondly, you will be able to swim on any beach you like including “no bikini” beach for the locals, which are more nice to my taste.

Amazing view, everything very good

N/A

Exceptional location with WOW views. Beautiful huge very clean palm grove in front of the hotel. . Small bnb type hotel. Good responses to questions; efficient port pick up and drop off. Courteous staff. Let me stay in my room until my ferry came- a big bonus. Best location on the island. Incredible view from balcony(family room 6 or the double next to it, I think, 5). Sea views-sunsets -super. Quiet location Good air con, good shower. Nice beds and linen. Hot water works fine. I highly recommend this hotel. I would definitely return.

Breakfast although tasty was always the same, choice is either “ continental “ or Maldivian. Bathroom window needs to be repaired in room 6-doesn’t close, we stuffed a towel in it. The hotel could use a little TLC but generally in good condition. The “free transport “ is to and from the PORT (5 minute walk)- not from Male. it would be advisable to specify this. You may have to insist to get your balcony room. Write beforehand and get it in writing. We did fine. Another 2 guests did not. A bonus would be some lounges to use under the palms and umbrellas on the observation patio. Breakfast on that patio would be much more enjoyable. There is NO good snorkeling on Mathiveri but excursions are good and can be arranged on a small boat. (Ask for a six passenger boat) There is one OK snorkeling spot just outside the harbour - requires climbing over the boulders.

Ocean was crystal, bikini beach was massive, room was spacious, staff were helpful. Would love to come back.

I liked everything

Great staff, lovely room with balcony overlooking the sea, tasty breakfast . Very good value for money

Nothing

The best hotel location on the island in my opinion. just near the public beach which is really pretty with lots of palm trees and swings to relax. I really enjoyed watching the locals go about their business, especially the children! I absolutely loved my room with a partial view to the sea and a private terrace with glass sliding doors. Lots of breeze so no need for air conditioning. Fan worked beautifully. Nice little bathroom With good hot water. Very clean. I would definitely stay here again. The staff were very kind and even let me do a late checkout because my boat wasn't leaving until late afternoon. The water in Mathiveri, especially near the picnic island in bikini beach is the most beautiful I've ever seen . 

You can't have it all but there's nowhere really to snorkel that is particularly good. You have to order your meals well in advance so you need to plan! Some environmental issues : one of the guests went on a snorkeling trip organized by the hotel, and said the guide picked up a starfish to show to her girls. That is a big NO NO! Nobody is allowed touch the creatures or the coral because it can kill them and guides should know better! One of the staff was spraying the beautiful big ants with insect killer by the entrance. The ants are an integral part of our ecosystem! I wish we had been given filtered water for our rooms and not plastic bottles. Also, a huge amount of leaf raking was going on one morning, and yet nobody was picking up the plastic. The hotels need to club together to let the council know that plastic is a real turn off for visitors and very bad for the environment. Who cares if there are organic leaves on the ground? But plastic bottles, bags and cans being left around is really detrimental to the environment. Please, manager, let the council know they could do a much better job! there is a plastic problem on the island which needs to be addressed. However, despite my very small grievances, this is a fabulous place to stay and the staff are very kind. I would definitely stay here again!

The staff was very pleasant and accommodating. The meals were excellent. The room was very accessible to the beach and everything needed was easy to walk to on the island including restaurants, the market, souvenir shops, ATM. I liked that the room had a balcony with a beautiful view of the beach. Excursions were limited during my stay as all they had listed wasn't available but they could be reserved through the resort. Very personalized snorkeling and manta/shark experience with all equipment provided. The public beach had several swings and hammocks for leisure and there was a private beach for tourists accessible within a 5 minute walking distance.

There were a lot of ants in the room and all over the bed, which was very uncomfortable but not enough to disrupt all the other many things I loved about the property. There also were only sheets with no blankets accessible in the room.

I had a fantastic view to the beach and had my breakfast at the balcony. The staff is very helpful and friendly. They organise the Speed boat from the airport, one way takes around 2hours and costs 50USD. To the Bikini beach it's a 10min walk. There are a few restaurants on the island and also some small shops. There is a dive club on the island with very good service. The dive sites are fantastic. I really enjoyed my stay here.

Just be prepared to take Mosquitoe spray with you as there are a lot mosquitoes and sandflys.

Great view right in front the public beach, even the great addition is all staff that are so welcoming and take care fully about their guests. Due to the poor weather we faced few inconveniences such as lack of electricity and water for a couple of Hours but there was a big thunderstorm that hit the entire Maldives. We did with them The Sunset fishing and was amazing, a private experience organized properly and was really impressive. If I have to suggest something is to refresh a little the rooms (bathroom area) that are fine but perhaps a little basic, apart of this i fully recommend Riveli Retreat and I hope to visit them again in the future, great place, great island and great people: Mathiveri in my heart!

Bathroom a little old fashion Breakfast too repetitive

I stayed in a room with a balcony and a stunning side view of the ocean and the local beach lined with palm trees. The room was clean with a large, comfortable bed. The breakfast was good, offering both continental and local options .The staff was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and always ready to help. I have fond memories of my stay and would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a peaceful and enjoyable getaway.

The location of the hotel is the best. It's very close to the palm forrest, public (not bikini) beach and the harbour. Staff is very friendly and helpful (they organized a laundry for me). Room has an aircon. It was very clean.

I was expecting (as per the pictures from booking my room) to get a front view on the palms and the ocean. I got side view so I think I didn't get the exact room I saw on the pictures. Also, breakfast could be a little bit more diverse.

Everything was great. The accommodation was right next to a beautiful public beach and close to the harbor. Everything was very clean; the room was lovely, with a beautiful view of the beach. They cleaned the room daily, changed the bed linens, and provided fresh towels. It was a pleasant, quiet place—truly an oasis. The staff was excellent and always smiling. They were always ready to help us—greeting us at the harbor when we arrived, carrying our luggage, and giving us advice. They took care of everything for us, preparing delicious meals, excellent breakfasts, and tasty dinners—whether pasta or fish. Coffee and fresh water were always available. They even became friends with our little son, who they occasionally looked after so we could enjoy a peaceful meal :-)... Overall, it’s a beautiful island, and everything is close by. As it says on the harbor gate, "Goodbyes are not forever. See you soon." Thank you. We had an amazing time with you.

Nothing

Everything was perfect. Room with ocean view is amazing - you can chill at the balcony. Staff is nice and breakfast is awesome. They arranged speedboat and kayak for us. Guest house is very clean and safe. About 10 minutes to the bikini beach

Nothing

Very clean, a separate terrace. Staff very friendly. A special thanx to Shohag who cared of all the requests and activities.

A bit far away from the airport