Pros

  • Nature-filled small island surrounded by one of the region’s best house reefs
  • Powder-soft beach and crystal-clear waters with shallow swimming fish and reef sharks
  • Renovated rooms have contemporary decor, stylish bathrooms, and rainfall showerheads
  • Some bathrooms have indoor and outdoor showers, deep tubs, and textured shower tiles
  • Small infinity pool and wooden deck with loungers and beach views
  • Two restaurants; one with buffet and another with a la carte options
  • All ages property with game room, volleyball court, and gym
  • Small on-site spa with Balinese-style treatments
  • Boutique with clothes, souvenirs, and travel/beach essentials
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Cons

  • Fee for Wi-Fi
  • No free water
  • Huge disparity between same category renovated and non-renovated rooms
  • Speedboat-only transfers (50 minutes from Male airport)
  • Most rooms have thin walls
See More Cons

Bottom Line

Located near several popular dive sites in the North Male Atoll, Eriyadu Island Resort was one of the Maldives' first tourist resorts. With more than 30 years under its belt, this 76-room, upper-middle-range resort is slowly updating its style and moving toward four-pearl status. Pluses include an excellent, easily accessibly house reef; on-site activities; and direct beach access off all rooms. However, the lack of free water or Wi-Fi, average buffet quality and selection, and slow renovation process (there's a huge disparity in room quality) still leave much to be desired. Prices are fair for what you get, though; competitors such as Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, which also has an on-site reef and simple rooms, typically cost more. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

smartline Eriyadu

Scene

One of the first resorts in the Maldives, with quiet guests and a slow renovation process

With over three decades under its belt, Eriyadu Island Resort is one of the oldest properties in the Maldives. In the local Dhivehi language, the eponymous island name translates to mean “young coconut island," and true to form, there are plenty of coconut palms rustling in the sands. In fact, the resort has made a concerted effort to showcase only indigenous plants across the island, with minimal crafted landscaping, making for a very natural look and feel. Guests here are quiet and mostly keep to themselves, although there are several spots for social interaction, including the pool deck, game room, and large lounge bar. There are mostly couples, families with children, and, in the off-season, many Asian guests and groups. 

For its relatively old age, Eriyadu is in good shape, though, during our visit, just over half of the resort still had a dated look and feel. However, ownership is slowly trying to update the entire property by renovating some public spaces and, ever so slowly, giving the rooms a much-needed facelift. Unfortunately, for some spaces, like the lobby and dining room, updates only included a fresh coat of paint and contemporary wicker furniture, leaving in place many of the dated design and decor elements. Also, renovations here are expensive, which could explain the slow timeline at Eriyadu -- as well as the extra costs for Wi-Fi, speedboat-only transfers, and the absence of any free water in the rooms or otherwise. 

See More Scene

Location

On a small, private island in the North Male Atoll with speedboat-only transfers

Eriyadu Island Resort is located in the northwest region of the North Male Atoll. Although this resort is far enough away from Male international airport to offer a pleasantly short seaplane ride, the only airport transfer option available is a 50-minute (in good weather) speedboat transfer. The island's location in the North Male Atoll makes it an ideal spot for divers who can access some of the Maldives' most well-known and explored diving spots. This area is reef heavy and characterized by plentiful fish, reef sharks, and even mantas. 

See More Location

Rooms

All rooms have direct beach access; great disparity between updated and non-updated rooms

Eriyadu’s 76 rooms are broken up between Beach Club Rooms and Deluxe Beach Rooms. Renovation in 2014 gave a much-needed facelift to the latter, by way of faux light-walnut-paneled floors and matching, manufactured wood furniture for easy sand removal and a contemporary look. However, not all of these rooms have been renovated, so make sure to request a renovated room when booking. Until renovations are completed on the remaining Deluxe rooms, guests should expect great disparity between the two styles, most noticeably in the musty air, general wear and tear, and less cheerful vibe. 

The 16 Beach Club Rooms, added at the beginning of 2015, have the same contemporary decor and features as the renovated Deluxe rooms, though are slightly smaller. Surrounded by greenery and facing the beach, Beach Club Rooms also have small, wooden decks with patio furniture and two padded loungers in the sand. Beach Club Rooms have indoor bathrooms with walk-in rainfall showers, while Deluxe Beach Rooms have open-air bathrooms with showers and tubs, plus robes and slippers. All rooms have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, coffee/tea facilities, air-conditioning, sitting areas, and balconies or verandas. Unlike at nearly all other Maldives resorts, there are no free waters in the rooms.  

See More Rooms

Beach

Lots of soft beach surrounding the island and a fantastic house reef

Eriyadu has 475,000 square feet of land including loads of white-sand beach wrapped around the island, though most guests tend to congregate on the soft sands by the Beach Bar -- whether or not it's open. Here, the reef is easily accessible by simply walking out from the sand into the warm water. Many guests will venture out farther, but those who wade around waters ankle- to waist-deep could spot reef sharks at dusk. Otherwise, the entire island is surrounded by a fantastic house reef offering up-close-and-personal encounters with fish, coral, and, again, harmless reef sharks.

See More Beach

All-Inclusive / Food

Good quality buffet, and private or a la carte meals 

Eriyadu has two restaurants on the island. The main restaurant has open, indoor seating and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet style. There's a slightly smaller selection of items than at other resorts, though guests can also check out the all-day, a la carte menu with international dishes at the two-in-one Coffee Bar slash Blitz Bar. Seating is available on the large wooden deck or inside an open-air spaced under a vaulted roof; the venue has a vaguely New England maritime vibe. The kitchen here can arrange special dishes and private meals, and hosts food events like the live lobster barbecue. 

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Drinks

Two official bars, stocked minibars, and drink service at the restaurant

Technically, Eriyadu has four spots to grab drinks: the main restaurant, Blitz Bar (also called Coffee Bar), beach bar, and in-room minibars. Since the main restaurant only has a mealtime drink service, those looking for a bar atmosphere should head over to the Blitz Bar/Coffee Bar which has a pub-style feel, late evening happy hours, sea and sunset views, and a pool table lounge area. Cleverly designed menus are disguised as wooden bottles and barrels. Those looking to stay on the sand while having cocktails or soft drinks can head to the aptly named Beach Bar on the northern shore of the island, though there's no guarantee someone will be behind the bar to serve. Guests should note that all-inclusive plans do not include drinks at the Beach Bar -- or the in-room minibars, which are filled with international liquor, snacks, and soda brands.

See More Drinks

Features

Beautiful, easy-to-access house reef, dive center with fluorescent night dives, infinity pool, and game room

One of Eriyadu’s most stunning features is the house reef. It's one of the better-quality spots in the region, reached by one of five channels, and offering 350-plus different marine life species. The crystal-clear waters and waist-level, high tide lagoon are also great opportunities to spot feeding reef sharks up to three feet long. All-inclusive guests each get a free hour of snorkeling equipment use from the Euro Dive Center per day; otherwise all equipment has a fee. A special treat are nighttime bioluminescent snorkel trips, when special UV lights and mask filters light up corals and other creatures in fluorescent colors. The third-party Dive Center also runs PADI-certification courses and several drive trips.

Other usual features include non-motorized water sports like canoeing, windsurfing, and standup paddleboarding; a small fitness center with cardio machines and weights; game room with ping- pong, pool, and darts; boutique selling jewelry, clothes, toiletries, and souvenirs; and lobby lending library. There’s also a small Balinese spa off the lobby with one double-bed treatment room.

See More Features

Things You Should Know About smartline Eriyadu

Also Known As

  • Eriyadu Island Resort

Address

Chandhanee Magu Maledives , Maledives 20189 North-Malé-Atoll, Male, Maldives

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

smartline Eriyadu

Scene

One of the first resorts in the Maldives, with quiet guests and a slow renovation process

With over three decades under its belt, Eriyadu Island Resort is one of the oldest properties in the Maldives. In the local Dhivehi language, the eponymous island name translates to mean “young coconut island," and true to form, there are plenty of coconut palms rustling in the sands. In fact, the resort has made a concerted effort to showcase only indigenous plants across the island, with minimal crafted landscaping, making for a very natural look and feel. Guests here are quiet and mostly keep to themselves, although there are several spots for social interaction, including the pool deck, game room, and large lounge bar. There are mostly couples, families with children, and, in the off-season, many Asian guests and groups. 

For its relatively old age, Eriyadu is in good shape, though, during our visit, just over half of the resort still had a dated look and feel. However, ownership is slowly trying to update the entire property by renovating some public spaces and, ever so slowly, giving the rooms a much-needed facelift. Unfortunately, for some spaces, like the lobby and dining room, updates only included a fresh coat of paint and contemporary wicker furniture, leaving in place many of the dated design and decor elements. Also, renovations here are expensive, which could explain the slow timeline at Eriyadu -- as well as the extra costs for Wi-Fi, speedboat-only transfers, and the absence of any free water in the rooms or otherwise. 

See More Scene

Location

On a small, private island in the North Male Atoll with speedboat-only transfers

Eriyadu Island Resort is located in the northwest region of the North Male Atoll. Although this resort is far enough away from Male international airport to offer a pleasantly short seaplane ride, the only airport transfer option available is a 50-minute (in good weather) speedboat transfer. The island's location in the North Male Atoll makes it an ideal spot for divers who can access some of the Maldives' most well-known and explored diving spots. This area is reef heavy and characterized by plentiful fish, reef sharks, and even mantas. 

See More Location

Rooms

All rooms have direct beach access; great disparity between updated and non-updated rooms

Eriyadu’s 76 rooms are broken up between Beach Club Rooms and Deluxe Beach Rooms. Renovation in 2014 gave a much-needed facelift to the latter, by way of faux light-walnut-paneled floors and matching, manufactured wood furniture for easy sand removal and a contemporary look. However, not all of these rooms have been renovated, so make sure to request a renovated room when booking. Until renovations are completed on the remaining Deluxe rooms, guests should expect great disparity between the two styles, most noticeably in the musty air, general wear and tear, and less cheerful vibe. 

The 16 Beach Club Rooms, added at the beginning of 2015, have the same contemporary decor and features as the renovated Deluxe rooms, though are slightly smaller. Surrounded by greenery and facing the beach, Beach Club Rooms also have small, wooden decks with patio furniture and two padded loungers in the sand. Beach Club Rooms have indoor bathrooms with walk-in rainfall showers, while Deluxe Beach Rooms have open-air bathrooms with showers and tubs, plus robes and slippers. All rooms have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, coffee/tea facilities, air-conditioning, sitting areas, and balconies or verandas. Unlike at nearly all other Maldives resorts, there are no free waters in the rooms.  

See More Rooms

Beach

Lots of soft beach surrounding the island and a fantastic house reef

Eriyadu has 475,000 square feet of land including loads of white-sand beach wrapped around the island, though most guests tend to congregate on the soft sands by the Beach Bar -- whether or not it's open. Here, the reef is easily accessible by simply walking out from the sand into the warm water. Many guests will venture out farther, but those who wade around waters ankle- to waist-deep could spot reef sharks at dusk. Otherwise, the entire island is surrounded by a fantastic house reef offering up-close-and-personal encounters with fish, coral, and, again, harmless reef sharks.

See More Beach

All-Inclusive / Food

Good quality buffet, and private or a la carte meals 

Eriyadu has two restaurants on the island. The main restaurant has open, indoor seating and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet style. There's a slightly smaller selection of items than at other resorts, though guests can also check out the all-day, a la carte menu with international dishes at the two-in-one Coffee Bar slash Blitz Bar. Seating is available on the large wooden deck or inside an open-air spaced under a vaulted roof; the venue has a vaguely New England maritime vibe. The kitchen here can arrange special dishes and private meals, and hosts food events like the live lobster barbecue. 

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Drinks

Two official bars, stocked minibars, and drink service at the restaurant

Technically, Eriyadu has four spots to grab drinks: the main restaurant, Blitz Bar (also called Coffee Bar), beach bar, and in-room minibars. Since the main restaurant only has a mealtime drink service, those looking for a bar atmosphere should head over to the Blitz Bar/Coffee Bar which has a pub-style feel, late evening happy hours, sea and sunset views, and a pool table lounge area. Cleverly designed menus are disguised as wooden bottles and barrels. Those looking to stay on the sand while having cocktails or soft drinks can head to the aptly named Beach Bar on the northern shore of the island, though there's no guarantee someone will be behind the bar to serve. Guests should note that all-inclusive plans do not include drinks at the Beach Bar -- or the in-room minibars, which are filled with international liquor, snacks, and soda brands.

See More Drinks

Features

Beautiful, easy-to-access house reef, dive center with fluorescent night dives, infinity pool, and game room

One of Eriyadu’s most stunning features is the house reef. It's one of the better-quality spots in the region, reached by one of five channels, and offering 350-plus different marine life species. The crystal-clear waters and waist-level, high tide lagoon are also great opportunities to spot feeding reef sharks up to three feet long. All-inclusive guests each get a free hour of snorkeling equipment use from the Euro Dive Center per day; otherwise all equipment has a fee. A special treat are nighttime bioluminescent snorkel trips, when special UV lights and mask filters light up corals and other creatures in fluorescent colors. The third-party Dive Center also runs PADI-certification courses and several drive trips.

Other usual features include non-motorized water sports like canoeing, windsurfing, and standup paddleboarding; a small fitness center with cardio machines and weights; game room with ping- pong, pool, and darts; boutique selling jewelry, clothes, toiletries, and souvenirs; and lobby lending library. There’s also a small Balinese spa off the lobby with one double-bed treatment room.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Gameroom / Arcade

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pets Allowed

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Smoking Rooms Available

  • Spa

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.