Could have been more sunbeds by the bar area

Amazing resort, the reef was alive with the best snorkeling, the staff were brilliant and we had the most romantic and relaxing break away from life!

Stayed in April 2024

The facilities are feeling a little dated and need a minor refresh. But this does not detract from the beauty of the island, the staff, the food and the natural beauty. It is a beautiful resort!

We love the snorkeling, food, and the fact that it is a quiet and calm place for adult couples. The staff were excellent as always (it is our second time here).

Stayed in April 2024

Loved the breakfast and the peacefulness of the island. Loved the books and games provided.

Stayed in March 2024

I would say everything. Friendly and helpful staff, great rooms, everything sparkling clean, well maintained, amazing food, perfect location with rich sea life. It was a perfect choice and we definitely recommend it. Thank you Drift for the amazing memories

Stayed in March 2024

Nothing. Everything was as I had expected.

Drift is a small resort, exactly how we were looking for. You will not find extreme luxury, or activities coordinators, or banana-boat rides, but that is exactly the point: it is a small, calm and relaxed environment, where people go to rest and enjoy the beauty of Maldives.

Stayed in March 2024

At our first stay we thought - yeah we had to take a plane to get of the island so they had to schedule this early and according to other guests. But this time we had a (private) boat transfer and they scheduled our departure for early morning - so we had to leave again very early on departure day - we would have loved to stay a bit longer - but we will be back some day. ;-) And just a short notice (after we visited other islands/resorts) - the prices for drinks are quite high compared to other 4 star resorts (more on the level of a 5 star resort)

This was our second stay. And we had high hopes since our first stay was excellent - they didn't disappoint at all. The staff was friendly and competent again. The cleaning of the room was superb. The food was excellent - although since this time the resort was nearly full booked we hoped to get a bit more variety on the buffet, but this was no issue for us. They even renovated or fixed the AC - it is much quieter now and very efficient. The lagoon is amazing and great for snorkeling, swimming or just enjoying the water.

Stayed in March 2024

The light switches are wired strangely in the villas, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Other than that, none.

The island is small and intimate, perfect for those looking for a truly peaceful getaway. The water villas are breathtakingly beautiful and well equipped, the cleanliness of the rooms is immaculate. The restaurant welcomes guests with an extremely wide selection (international too), a show kitchen and themed dinners. The spa is nice (also the staff there are well trained), the daily excursions are well organized. The whole staff is always very friendly, humble and courteous. Special thanks to Maria (at reception) and Emdadul (waiter).

Stayed in March 2024

Full board didn't include soft drinks, and that soft drinks were priced the same as alcoholic ones. The English skills of most staff, other than those at reception, wasn't very good.

Loved the food at the restaurant. I enjoyed that the property only had a limited number of bungalows, this made the experience very intimate and private.

Stayed in February 2024

The only downside would perhaps be the food and drinks. While none of it was 'bad', for the price it was noticeably below the standard of what you'd expect. The buffets were always very varied, but often some of the items felt tacked on or basic. The coffee in particular was a weak point, and it was clear the drinks were all made by a machine rather than a barista, which was surprising as some staff mentioned that the island is very popular in Italy, but maybe that's leaning into stereotypes too much. The internet was also very patchy everywhere except the rooms. My wife's iPhone in particular couldn't get reception at all. The water in the room each day wasn't enough. When you consider the cost of the hotel as a whole, the extra cost per day of buying water isn't so bad, but it would be more convenient if it were factored into the price that you get a larger bottle every day so you didn't need to order it.

Fantastic honeymoon location, Drift is exactly the sort that you'd imagine when thinking of the perfect island holiday. The water villas were great, somehow exceeding our expectations. I couldn't believe how modern and new they felt given the difficulties I'm sure they must have with maintenance. The staff were similarly all incredible, faultless in fact. The banana chips offered with drinks were delicious, we'll be trying to find them back home. We'd definitely happily return. The island being so small really adds to the intimate nature of a visit.

Stayed in February 2024

Everything was great!

Drift is a small small resort with a wonderful house reef. We saw sharks, plenty of dish, beautiful corals and was fortunate to meet two turtles several times. We stayed in a water villa and a beach villa. Both was very nice, but the water villa felt lux and we really enjoyed the direct access to the reef. The staff was extremely professional with a polite yet relaxed attitude. The food was also great, good selection and everything we ate was fresh and tasty (we are gourmet eaters..) Execpt enjoying the ocean, there is not much to do except relaxing. Our daughter had a massage and it was very good. Don't miss going down to the yetti at 21:00 to watch the large amount of nurse sharks and other fish, feeding in the light from the yetti.

Stayed in December 2023

The coffe is not good :(

It is a small beautiful island , the resort is for adults only , so if you want to relax and to be in a peaceful quiet place that’s the right resort for you. We stayed in a water villa and i was impressed that the rooms looked exactly like in the pictures on the website. It’s peaceful and beautiful, we saw baby nurse sharks , rays, swimming near the villa, lots of colourful fish straight from your water villa where you can snorkel too. The staff is very very polite and nice, friendly, helpful. We had a boat trip and we saw big turtle and dolphins. You walk mainly on sand , so no need to pack to many shoes . They make up the room twice per day . On our last night, we got a beautiful surprise on our bed written by flowers and leafs “good night”.

Stayed in January 2024

Outdoor activities are subject to cancellations due to weather conditions, and they are also very expensive, like anything which is not included in your package, so please purchase the correct option accordingly to your needs.

The island is very small and cozy, since there is few people around at all times it becomes a paradise for relaxation. Staff was extremely gentle and supportive at all times; also the food was excellent and you get plenty of choice every day, with lots of variations. The beach villas (we booked one of these) are well spaced, with all the comforts, and obviously the sea was amazing.

Stayed in December 2023

Sun chairs in water villas are not comfortable. Fruit choice is limited. Drinks are very expensive (we did not have all inclusive package), but if you want to be in the paradise, you need to pay some extra money.

Drift is real paradise on earth. Calm, relaxing and unique. Great spot for snorkeling. Food is good. Staff is polite.

Stayed in December 2023

Found the food options a bit limited at times, even though allergy information was given to the hotel.

The view, rooms and most importantly the Padi diving centre.

Stayed in November 2023

If you consider to book with breakfast only, dont, take the option with meals. Services are quite expensive but that is something you should expect

Amazing place 👌 everything was perfect. Beautiful island and villas, private, well designed. Reef very good for snorkeling. Food was delicious, huge thanks to the Chef and Staff who made our stay unforgettable (I will dream about beetroot curry and pad thai 😋 )

Stayed in November 2023

Breakfast could have better bread, that’s all :))

Fantastic stay. I loved everything about drift thelu. Amazing food , staff are wonderful, beautiful rooms and really clean. It’s a small island, perfect to relax and rest. We saw baby sharks, dolphins, beautiful fishes and even star fishes. I want to go back so badly. Beautiful stay

Stayed in September 2023

Lack of options for food - we went through a lot of the menu over 5 days. But it is a small island so totally understandable, and the chef was great!

Lovely and personable staff, incredibly beautiful location. Everything you could imagine for a Maldivian holiday!

Stayed in July 2023

No TV Hair dryers are old version

The resort is captivating , a beautifully preserved place for the comfort and relaxation, a combination of greens , white sand and crystalline water . Amazing , friendly and polite staff at your service all time . Maria and Rayyan from the reception are great and willing to assist with your needs. The restaurant Chief Mr Wasana ( I hope the name is right) prepares the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten in a resort. His hands are Gold !! ( luckily we were few guests and were offered a La carte menu instead of buffet) Stayed in water villa , the room is cozy , we had complete view of sunset.. magical. Beauty in each corner of Drift Retreat resort , must try the bar for a drink with stunning views . Budget friendly compared to many resorts in Maldives and honestly should be rated 5 stars including service .

Stayed in July 2023

Great Island, very nice staff, Nice spots to go snorkelling, great food with a big variety…it actually feels like being in paradise. Absolutely awesome!

Stayed in May 2023

It is a small resort, restful, relaxing, quiet- we loved it, but it may not be for everyone.

Food was really lovely, thought the chef did an excellent job with cooking lamb😀,my favourite. We liked our water villa, lots of fish on the house reef, very friendly. Bar area was perfect for star gazing.

Stayed in March 2023

a small note we would have liked to be reminded that there is an online immigration form to fill out before leaving maldives. we didn’t know this and it created unnecessary stress at the airport - also when leaving drift, the seaplane arrived quite late and did a large drop off /pick up on the way to the airport (which is fine if arrives earlier) so we arrived last minute at the airport, exactly one hour before our 11 am BA flight takeoff. thankfully we made it through all the large queues - immigration and two security checks - and onto the plane at the last minute. I am sure it had to do with events outside the seaplane operators control like people arriving late to the seaplane on the way to us etc - but still worth mentioning.

love this place , very peaceful. great staff. very barefoot and relaxed, and still chic. just how we like it. don’t worry too much about dressing up for anyone but yourself. I personally find that vibe fabulous. you do you at Drift. balenciaga or matalan, who cares? very clean - I think maybe it would be nice to be able to opt out of having towels and sheets replaced so often? (for environment etc.) I personally do not need my sheets replaced more than once a week, but the housekeeping staff did their job to perfection and with such care. they clearly work really hard to keep everything perfect. they were brilliant. re. tipping we just kind of spread our tips best we could amongst bellboys cleaners cooks waiters etc. i don’t think you have to. not everyone tipped. it’s up to you. they were just grateful. I would like to know that staff is looked after - that there is a a lovely place for them to spend leisure time etc as they live on the island, stuff to help them stay fulfilled (they seemed happy though! just my thoughts) suggestions aside - the place is tiny and pure magic , fabulous gardening/landscaping, magic little walkways. great food. the chefs try hard to offer a variety which is appreciated. we had three massages - they were great. the rest of the time just a lot of relaxation, snorkelling, kayaking, food and wine! they have great cocktails and mocktails too. will be back. thank you so much to everyone at Drift. it’s fabulous value.

Stayed in April 2023

This place is paradise on earth! It not only exceeded our expectations but as well made us experience our best summer vacation so far! The property is on a small unique island and consists of water villas and bungalows. They created a small tropical forrest on the island part so that the bungalows are well hidden and you can have your privacy. The water villas have their privacy on the terrace where you can directly enter into water. The villas were spacious, very clean (they provide twice a day housekeeping!) and had tasteful decoration. Because it is a 'retreat', there are no big loud parties or screaming people or children. You can really relax and get most of the experience. The sea is just fabulous! We were able to experience most of the underwater wildlife from reef sharks (baby to middle size), turtles, rays to various tropical fish. You don't need to be excellent swimmer there. You just need to bring your snorkelling gear or use one from the property (for free). And in the evening, you can just spend hours with star gazing if you want. Food has been delicious. There was always something for vegetarians. Dinner menu is different each night. The staff has always been very kind and showed excellent hospitality. For us this has been an unforgettable stay. We will come here for sure again.

Stayed in March 2023

Alcohol is very expensive

A truly beautiful and very peaceful island. Our water villa on the sunset side was light and airy, well furnished, spotlessly clean (cleaned twice a day) with efficient air con plus a ceiling fan, which was great as it was extremely hot in the middle of the day. The views are truly amazing with a big deck and direct access to the ocean. The sunsets were lovely and the night time sky equally so. The coral is a short swim and largely healthy with many different types of fish. The staff are unfailingly friendly and smiley and cannot do enough for you. The food is eclectic but good and plentiful with a different theme every night at the live cooking station, manned by a really cheerful chef! Be aware though that alcohol (unless on AI) is very expensive. The island is tiny which may not suit people looking for a lot to do, though there are various trips available. It is beautifully kept and there is no need for shoes from the moment you arrive until you leave. If you are looking for a relaxing holiday in lovely surroundings this is the place. Read less

Stayed in March 2023

All was amazing, but juts one comment we had regarding breakfast - we were missing the cream cheese :)

We fell in love with this amazing resort, amazing view we could not take our eyes off it, great professional service from all staff, great food and especial great service from the chef. The water villa was amazing with all what we could just dream of. We took SPA treatment that was great. Lucky us the weather in 90% of the time was great to us also :)

Stayed in March 2023