This is the most wonderful p[lace to relax and do very little and enjoy it. We arrived via sea plane from Mlae which in istself is an experience and would have said this was almost an excusrsion flying over the hundreds of islands with the clearest blue water you will ever see. Yes just like the adverts. We wwere greeted with cool wet towel to freshen up along side a fruit punch. Yakem to our beach bunglaow that was clened twice daily and had a turn down service and some wonderful towel sculptures that made that little extra something. The traditional Maldivian bathroom was partially open air and always fresh towels daily. Our room was literally 20 paces to the waters edge......wonderful. there is house reef and if you swim to the edge can snorkel for hours looking at the fish and other marine life.Take your own snorkel kit as it is very expensive to hire from the dive shop and to buy from the gift shop is daylight robbery. We were on an all inclusive board basis and was quite happy with the buffett resturant, The food was pletiful and varied. Your table that you choose at the start of your stay is the table allocated with waiter for the continuation of your holiday. Waiters were very attentive and very good. Entertainment in the evening was vey sparse but to be honest if there was over the top entertqinmnet it would have spoilt the wonderful ambiance of the holiday for us. This was the most wonderfully relaxing holiday, I thpought that my husband would be bored but no he was more than happy with the snorkeling and watching the rays being fed by the staff on a nightly basis.All the staff seemed to be happy nad were always polite and freindly.I have nothing negative to say about the rheeti beach I can't even think of a silly little one to report. Every box I can think of is a plus WHICH IS A FIRST EVER FOR ME. Usually there is somethng that can be seen as a little irritant but not with this Island in paradise.

We stayed in a water villa at the Reethi Beach and it was fantastic. The view from our balcony was just amazing and we could watch the sunset every night. Staff were really nice and helpful especially Nashaid in the restaurant and Paul in the sunset bar. Snorkeling was great as the sea is so calm and clear, you can see so many varieties of fish.

We stayed in two basic villas (us and 2 teenagers) on the east of the island. We originally thought about asking for an upgrade, but found that we did not need anything more than we had. Although these villas are set back a little more from the beach you still only have to walk a few yards, not hard! The plus side of this part of the island is that there is always something happening, with the boats, the dive school and the sting (not manta) ray feeding. The other side of the island sees the sunset, and has a wider section of beach. If we wanted evening sun we just walked across to the other side. As it takes only 25 mins to walk around the island ( about 6 to run it!) nowhere is very far.
Our room was a wonderfully cool haven, I loved the open air bathroom... going to the loo in the night under the stars surrounded by plants and the odd lizard!! And each evening we would return to find our sheets tweaked into wonderfully artistic patterns, and fresh beach towels for the next day.
This was our first visit to the Maldives, so I have nothing to compare with ...but I loved the snorkelling. So many fish ... all around. It was like swimming in an aquarium. We were glad that we had splashed out on good quality masks and snorkels in the UK, but invested in some fins from the local shop to enjoy the local and boat snorkelling trips more. At first I was afraid to snorkel over the edge of the reef, but once I did... wow... it was just wonderful. There are purple velvet fish that swim all around you as if you are one of them. I learned that I could be afraid and do things anyway.
We tried the free 'try dive' and then went on to do the 'discover scuba' which involved learning some basic skills and having a wonderful dive around the house reef. Then we were hooked and decided to do the whole PADI course. It was such a brilliant experience. More skills to learn, and 5 more dives. It has changed me forever. I have seen such sights and such colours. I have swum with Manta rays and turtles. I can do anything...even if I am scared to try!
There is a great water sports centre too, though we did not get to try this, not the tennis or sports centre. There are lots of organised trips, and every evening something is arranged in the main bar. The Coconut Spa was definitely unmissable, with massages and treatments in huts right by the sea. The only minor moment of consternation was from my 18 year old son (first massage) when he realised he had to wear a paper thong!
The food was varied with different themes but always enough variety to please even the fussiest eater. We were glad that we went All Inclusive as prices were not cheap and we were glad not to have to keep totting up what our bill would be. We did try one of the other restaurants once, (you get 25% discount if you book it before 1pm) but to be honest were happier with the main restaurant. You could book romantic meals on the beach by a bonfire, but we will save that for when we return on our own!
And we will return. No doubt about it.
From the moment when you arrive, hot and sticky from an amazing seaplane flight, to a warm welcome with refreshing icy flannels and cool drinks you start to relax into the Reethi beach atmosphere. No shoes, no rushing, friendly staff and as much or as little as you wish to do. I worried that my 16 and 18 year olds would be bored, but there was no chance of this! I worried that the monsoon weather in July would be bad, but we had one rain storm at night. Although weather cannot be guaranteed anywhere, the benefits of this time of year are the slight breeze to keep you cool, and the larger fish like Manta and whale shark. In the dry monsoon the sea is flatter and the water clearer, but there is no breeze and no large fish (so I am told).
It was the best experience ever.

Reethi Beach is one of my favourite Maldivian resorts (been to 5 so far): it has bizarre-looking rooms (we had a deluxe villa) with funny wicker furniture (chairs and lamps) but given the only time you spend in your room you are asleep, it doesn't really matter. The bathroom was spectacular -- as is traditional, half of it open to the elements, with a little feng shui garden thing: and marble everywhere. We got little notes in our room every day telling us what the weather was going to be like the next day (a bit like the weather report in Good Morning, Vietnam! "it's going to be hot and sunny"!) which was a good touch. The bar area is great on Reethi Beach -- really comfortable chairs and very good for lounging in, overlooking the nicest part of the lagoon, but with plenty of trees to keep you shady. They do a nice line in bar snacks just before dinner as well, with home-made things you think wouldn't work (spicy fried plantain chips -- yum) which are good to try. There are also plenty of watersports to watch or participate in -- we took a catamaran out (dull sailing compared to Poole Harbour as the winds and waves are entirely predictable and very gentle, but that's not their fault) and they have water-skiing, and other activities that are fun to watch even if you don't participate in. While we were there, people in the water bungalows saw dolphins more than once -- we saw dolphins when we went out on boat trips, and once we got up at sunrise to watch the dolphins from the jetty. They also feed the manta rays every day at 5 o'clock and that is fun to watch. Snorkelling is OK but not the best I've seen (though if you've never been to the Maldives before you will still be blown away by the fish), but they do have snorkelling safaris to other sites where you can see more. The food is good and a wide variety so even someone like me who is very picky always found enough to eat. If you go, take mosquito repellant because although we weren't bothered by mossies on the island, if you take the day trips to the local fishermans island or the local atoll capital island (worth doing as it is really interesting and you might get to see dolphins on the way back!) then you'll want to slather yourself in mossie repellant or (as I did) get eaten alive. One of the best (for me) Maldivian islands: I like a relatively quiet island, with a good lagoon, decent snorkelling and a nice bar area and no plastic chairs. I've recommended this island to friends of mine going on their honeymoon.