Maldives

Typically, there is more rainfall in the Maldives between May – November, so ideally we would recommend visiting December – April.  However, temperatures can get very hot, so with active children as part of the travelling party, a little cloud cover at least can be welcome.  Temperatures also never dip, so if it rains, it will still be warm!

Some clients stay as few as 4 or 5 days when adding the Maldives to say a Sri Lanka tour, or break in Dubai, but as a sole destination holiday, stays of 7 – 12 days are popular.  If you have longer, we recommend splitting your stay between two resorts!

Most resorts are family friendly with connecting rooms and extra beds allowed, although twin beds can be hard to come by, unless you’re booking a 2-bedroom family unit.  Many Maldivian Hotels also have great childcare facilities and kids clubs.  The Club at Niyama for example has a splash park, stage, and outdoor kitchen!  It can be more a question of which are adult focused and there are indeed some that have a minimum age, such as Anantara Veli, adjacent to Anantara Dhigu.

Many resorts offer connecting family rooms – whether interleading doors, a one bedroom suite, or two bedrooms with central sitting room.   These get booked well in advance during the school holiday periods so plan early if connecting accommodation is required.  Larger residences are possible but may be harder to come by.

There is a plethora of activities that you can take part in, both above and below the ocean!  Sports facilities often include tennis courts and bikes of many sizes available for exploring the island.  On the water try paddleboarding, sailing and kayaking, even surfing in some resorts!  Some islands also provide motorised water sports, but not so many due to marine life protection. Dolphin watching and snorkelling boat trips are also often offered, but we recommend beginners try in the pool or off the beach first!  Children from age 10 can also learn to scuba dive (and from 8 can try a one-off dive).  You can even pass your theory qualification online in the UK, so that you can get straight out into the ocean!  If you’re looking for even more adventure, twin your beach stay here with Sri Lanka or India, only a short flight away.

Many of the islands are uninhabited, but some resorts such as Hard Rock, can take you on a visit a neighbouring island to share how Maldivians typically go about their normal life.  Visitors should dress conservatively where the population will be Sunni Muslim. Before tourism the main industry was tuna fishing, except the few islands that focused on agriculture or crafts (boat-building, carpentry, mat-weaving, clothes-making, lacquer, gold and silver ware).

Whilst once the preserve of Honeymooners, the Maldives is now a great destination for young families with most resorts offering excellent facilities.  We would recommend the direct BA service and perhaps considering a resort accessed by speedboat rather than sea plane, as the latter can be hot and noisy (although you can of course take ear defenders) and you will be closer to a major hospital if there are any illness concerns whilst you are away.  Sea planes cannot fly at night in the case of an emergency.

Most hotels have one or two main restaurants that offer a buffet service with live cooking stations and additional a la carte options with a kids menu, but it varies considerably; some islands only have one restaurant, others may have 5 or 6.  An increasing number of resorts are All Inclusive only,  but most still offer a range from Bed & Breakfast to Half Board and Full Board.  We recommend booking on at least Half Board (Breakfast and Dinner).   Also beware that sometimes pre-paid meals have to be taken in specific restaurants, or a supplement is payable.

Even the most luxury resorts are generally toe-in-sand when it comes to dining – we’re not aware of any that demand smart dress but can confirm upon booking – so plenty of swimmers, T shorts, shorts and dresses, umbrellas will be provided in case of rain, but you won’t need to wrap up!  Snorkel equipment is generally free of charge to borrow but you may need to return it at the end of each day, so you could consider bringing your own if there’s room in the suitcase!

Hotel rates vary considerably, dependent on when you travel (Christmas being the most expensive time) level of luxury, room type and also board basis –Room rates can vary from £250, to £25,000 per night so we’ll do our best to fit within your budget.