It's number one on our travel bucketlist, but is a trip to the Maldives with the family all it's cracked up to be? Our answer: YES. The water really is that blue. Here's how to get there, and where to stay, eat and play in the Maldives with kids!
If you think that the Maldives is exclusively for honeymooners, think again! Though generally thought of as a romantic destination, this stunningly beautiful island nation dotted across the Indian Ocean has tons of options for families looking for a luxury holiday. Yes, you can definitely do the Maldives with kids and the whole holiday can be family friendly, if you stay in the right hotel! We’ve explored all the best options where kids can run on the sand, see dolphins in the wild, go snorkelling and cycling, and of course, enjoy that all-important kids club. Here is our guide to enjoying this world-renowned, once in a lifetime destination!
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Getting to the Maldives from Singapore
Where to stay in the Maldives
Top things to do in the Maldives
How to get to the Maldives with kids from Singapore
It’s around a 4.5-hour flight to Malé from Singapore, and the key to booking flights is to communicate with your hotel first. Many of the islands in the Maldives can only be reached by seaplane transfer, or by speedboat. Transfers only happen at certain times of day, so if you arrive in Malé on an evening flight, you will need to stay overnight in the capital. We flew via Singapore Airlines and took the morning flight, and we highly recommend this option. You can also transfer via Kuala Lumpur and go with Air Asia, which may be cheaper.
Where to stay with kids in the Maldives
All the properties we have chosen are great for holidaying in the Maldives with kids, and offer baby-sitting services as well as family-friendly facilities (cots, playpens, bottle sterilisers, etc.), and a little something extra to make your stay that much more memorable. After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime destination!
1. Anantara Dhigu Maldives
We had the pleasure of staying at the Anantara Dhigu Maldives with the family, and we can confirm it was amazing. Offering overwater pool villas, bicycles to explore the island, and numerous restaurants, it was perfect for our family of five. The hotel’s Kids Club is shaped as a Dhoni, a traditional Maldivian boat, and had the kids dreaming of becoming pirates! This resort has a bonus of connecting islands, with two more associated resorts only a boat ride away, which means you have access to a wider range of restaurant options. We especially loved the reef on Gilhifushi Island, complete with sun beds and a bar, and perfect for family snorkelling experiences every morning!
2. Avani+ Fares Maldives
Imagine a kids-only restaurant, where the kids can wear chef’s hats and aprons and create their own culinary masterpieces (no parents allowed!) Avani+ Fares Maldives is a kids paradise, with a super cute kids club. There is also a teens-only club complete with pool table, game stations, and adventures and activities just for teens. We love Avani as a (slightly) more affordable option on the Maldivian holiday scale, without sacrificing the awe and wonder of being in the Maldives.
3. Soneva Fushi
It’s all about the villas at Soneva Fushi, with incredible two-storey accommodation that even includes your own private pool and waterslide into the sea. If you’re looking for arguably the largest playground in South Asia, we’ve found it. At the size of six tennis courts, the dedicated playground at Soneva Fushi is a paradise for kiddos, with two pools, a water slide and rooms for dressing up, Lego, music and more. Everything is overseen by qualified childminders, while older children and teens also have access to Soneva Academy.
4. One&Only Reethi Rah
Family-friendly doesn’t even begin to describe One&Only Reethi Rah. Its proximity to Male make it an easy journey for families with babies or younger children. Once on the property, children of all ages (from toddlers to teenagers) will be overwhelmed by all the activities on offer. Tennis and swimming lessons, sushi-making, and lifeguard training are all on the list! The kiddos will also love the shark safaris, hand line fishing excursions and turtle adventures. Children and infant meals are also on their own special menu, no need to worry about bringing too much formula! To make the experience even more memorable, kids can make friends of their own age group – OneTribe is for nine to 11-year-olds while KidsOnly is for four to nine-year-olds (two and three-year-olds are welcome, but must be accompanied by a nanny).
5. Six Senses Kanahura Maldives
On the eastern rim of Lhaviyani Atoll lies Six Senses Kanuhura Maldives, 40 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport. Here, you’ll fin 100 luxury villas, located close to one of the best diving sites in the world! There’s a fantastic kids club for kids aged four to 11, with a sand-filled playground, shallow swimming pool and highly dedicated staff. If you’re holidaying in the Maldives with kids, the hotel has all the equipment you need for little ones (baby cots, high chairs, sterilisers and more). Kids receive a welcome gift pack and a farewell present as a souvenir of their stay at Kanuhura – but we won’t tell you what’s inside so as to not ruin the surprise!
6. Six Senses Laamu
Take going to the cinema up a notch with Six Senses Laamu’s Jungle Cinema! There’s a big screen located in the wilderness that takes watching “The Lion King” to a whole new level! The kiddos will enjoy it even more with the friends they’ll make at the kids club, The Den, which has an array of activities and games. There’s both indoor and outdoor games, treasure hunting, and cooking classes available. The kids will also be spending A LOT of time in the hotel’s chocolate and ice cream rooms – an endless flow of chocolate and ice cream all day, every day? Yes, please!
7. Four Seasons Landaa Girravaru
Here’s a hotel kids (and parents) will have a hard time leaving! Four Seasons Landaa Girravaru’s Kuda Veela Kid’s Club has your typical ‘wear them out so they fall asleep instantly’ activities, but also educational ones. Children can build their own coral reef and feed baby clownfish, enabling them to understand the importance of preserving our environment. Kids receive welcome amenities and complimentary toiletries. For those of us who are extra-cautious, the hotel can provide items to childproof your room – it’s great to have peace of mind! And just look at the resort’s amazing seaplane.
Things to do in the Maldives with kids
Every resort offers different activities, but there are some key highlights you shouldn’t miss!
1. Snorkelling / Diving
If you are a family of keen divers or just enjoy snorkelling at the surface, the Maldives is a haven to sealife with around 2,500 incredible coral reefs. Many of these are home reefs to the hotels that are inhabiting the islands, so you can snorkel straight from the sand of your hotel! We recommend buying your own snorkelling gear with a high quality mask as there is so much to see – everything from turtles to tropical fish and eagle rays. For the serious diver, hop on a liveaboard boat and visit a range of dive sites.
2. Dolphin cruise
Spinner dolphins are the most popular species you can spot in the Maldives, and it really is a magical experience. We saw a pod of up to 100 dolphins, all breaching together and swimming against the wake of the boat. It’s an incredible sight. Some of the hotels include a swimming experience, where guests can snorkel close to the dolphins (no touching though, as they are wild animals).
3. Watersports and jet skiing
Surfing, parasailing, kayaking, water skiing and wakeboarding – name a water sport, and you can probably try your hand at it in the Maldives. Many of the hotels own speedboats and water sports equipment for you to hire, and lessons are also available. There’s something pretty special about the thought of carving up the aquamarine water on a jet ski, although it does kind of ruin the serenity and can disturb the wild life, so we gave this a miss. If you’re staying in the Maldives with kids, you’ll want to do a family kayak. So fun, and definitely core memories made!
4. Stargazing
Stargazing in the Maldives is a must. Being far away from populated cities on a island in the middle of the Indian Ocean means that when the sun sets (which is a stunning sight in itself as the sun sinks into the sea!) the stars really get to shine. It’s location on the equator means that you can see both the Southern and Northern consteallations, which is pretty spectacular! The dry season is November to April, and this is when the skies are clearest. Some of the hotels even offer stargazing educational programs and observatories – such as the Anantara Kihavah.
5. Spa time
If there is one place that offers spectacular spa experiences, it’s the Maldives. Some of the beds even have glass viewing windows over the ocean so you can see fish swim by while you’re relaxing. Many of the spas offer open air spa huts or private beach set ups, so you can feel the sea breeze while you’re enjoying your massage or facial. Check with your hotel about their spa options, as they’ll vary island to island.
6. Culinary journeys and celebrity chef restaurants
Our very own Burnt Ends chef extraordinaire, Dave Pynt, has set up a new restaurant called ‘The Ledge’ at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives, and he’s not the only awarded chef to do so. You’ll often be offered unique dining experiences, if you know where to book. Many of the hotels offer specially curated beach picnics and private dining experiences, including catch and cook where you go fishing and cook what you catch!
Enjoy the Maldives with kids, and unlock core family memories!
