Scores at a Glance
Hotel Riu Palace MaldivasMermaid Hotel & Club
Overall
8.9
7.8
Beach
8.9
7.4
Food
8.8
7.7
Service
9.0
8.4
Rooms
8.7
7.6
Value
8.8
8.1
Romance
8.7
—
Scores out of 10 — higher is better
Quick Stats
8.9
Overall Score
7.8
5-star
Star Rating
4-star
4.7 (1,161)
Google Rating
4.3 (1,702)
From $272
Price / Night (pp)
Rates TBD
No
Adults Only
No
Yes
Kids' Club
Yes
Near coast
Beachfront
Near coast
Mid-size
Resort Size
Mid-size
60 min
Airport Transfer
120 min
All Scores
8.9
Beach
7.4
8.8
Food
7.7
9.0
Service
8.4
8.7
Rooms
7.6
8.4
Pools
7.8
8.8
Value
8.1
8.3
Family
—
8.7
Romance
—
7.9
Nightlife
—
Vibes
Yes
Romance
—
Yes
Lively
—
Activities
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
Water sports
Yes
Yes
Nightlife
—
Yes
Kids
Yes
Hotel Riu Palace Maldivas
- 1 pools
- 3 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
- Overwater bungalows
- 60 min from MLE
Mermaid Hotel & Club
- 2 pools
- 1 restaurants & bars
- Full-service spa
- 120 min from CMB
Pros — Hotel Riu Palace Maldivas
- Strong guest ratings across TripAdvisor, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Booking.com.
- 24-hour all-inclusive model is straightforward and value-oriented for the Maldives.
- Modern rooms, including overwater suite categories.
- Guests repeatedly praise food, cleanliness, and friendly staff.
- Access to neighboring RIU Atoll adds activity and dining flexibility.
Pros — Mermaid Hotel & Club
- Officially all-inclusive
- Direct beachfront location
- Strong staff sentiment
- Good-value positioning
Cons — Hotel Riu Palace Maldivas
- The modern built environment may feel less natural or boutique than older-style Maldives islands.
- Transfer logistics and inclusions need careful verification.
- Some activities are located on or shared with the RIU Atoll side.
- Not ideal for travelers seeking an ultra-secluded, high-design luxury resort.
Cons — Mermaid Hotel & Club
- Sri Lanka is a new country value for the catalog
- Beach swimming may be rough
- Limited resort-specific Reddit evidence
- Some upkeep complaints in guest sources