Drift Thelu Veliga Retreat

We just came back from a week at Drift to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. The island is amazing- a proper tropical paradise- and the water bungalow was very comfortable: excellent bathroom, shower, bath, lots of space, comfy bed and seating and fantastic balcony with steps straight into the warm ocean. The staff we also very friendly and attentive, looking after us well. However, a number of small issues ended up causing us to feel a bit unsatisfied. - the thatched roofs on some of the water bungalows were being renovated which was fun to watch: however they started at 8am which meant we were woken up by hammering. Then by 10am no-one was working. It would certainly have been better for the guests if they simply started later - we mentioned it was our 25th anniversary, and saw a number of other couples get a celebratory private dinner, but were not offered anything like that - we were told there would be a fishing excursion but this never materialised due to bad weather- these things happen, but there was no attempt to offer some sort of alternative - we were told our all inclusive package allowed us 2 soft drinks from the mini-bar each day but were then billed $50 at the end of the week for the fruit juices we had drunk. The small print stated that fruit juices were not included, so fair enough I guess, but it felt deliberatively confusing and petty So nothing major, and we still had a very relaxing and enjoyable stay- but given the amount of money we spent, I was hoping for a better.

I decided on a solo relaxing holiday for my birthday this year. First time in the Maldives too. I don’t think I could have chosen a more perfect hotel. It was everything I’d expected and more. Reasonably priced for the stay. Massages, drinks and diving were quite pricey though. The entire team made me feel special for the 5 days I was there. They even brought out cake and wine for my birthday and created a cute design on the bed. I can’t wait to go back!!

We stayed at the resort from August 26th, 2024 to September 7th, 2024, and can recommend it with some reservations. If you're looking for peace and quiet and don't expect a lot of activities, the resort is ideal. It only offers a standard spa area and has a dive center attached. I highly recommend the dive center: The main person in charge, nicknamed Dude, is an incredibly pleasant person. He takes great care of his diving guests and has a very good sense of what they want. He is excellent at assessing their diving skills. Safety is his top priority. Additionally, he is very knowledgeable about the dive sites and knows where the highlights are. Since the resort only has about 30 rooms, you can expect that the dive groups will never be too large. I was more than satisfied with the care provided by Dude

My stay at Drift Thelu Veliga retreat was nothing short of magical! Surrounded by stunning natural beauty, the resort offers an easily accessible house reef that's a paradise for snorkeling. The hospitality was exceptional, adding to the perfect romantic ambiance for couples.

We wanted to get away from the stresses of life. And spend some quality relaxing time together. We couldn't of chosen a better place. So quiet here no noisey night life or people. The island is very clean, small and beautiful. The staff are all excellent. The food is plentiful, varied and well cooked. The reef is just a short swim away, it is still recovering from bleaching. But this hasn't deterred the fish from living there. An amazing variety of fish and it was a pleasure to share their space so take your snorkel. It's a holiday we'll always remember for all the right reasons.

Excellent holiday on a truly beautiful and very peaceful island. We had a water villa on the sunset side which 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.