|

Tips for the Maldives with kids: holiday guide

Once upon a time, the Indian Ocean islands were seen as for honeymooning couples only – but with more on offer at resorts for families, all that white sand and turquoise sea is just as tempting if you want to visit the Maldives with kids.

My daughter looks towards the turquoise sea from the path to the beach with a life jacket in her hand - my tips for the Maldives with kids

contains affiliate links*

In fact, with sea and pool, plus some fantastic marine life, my daughter was pretty much in heaven the whole time.

Our first visit to these fabulous islands, on a press trip with Four Seasons resorts, there are a few things to consider to make sure you have the best family holiday though – these are my top tips for visiting the Maldives with kids.

Travel to the Maldives with kids

There are a string of flight routes from the UK to the Maldives so the flight itself can cost less than you expect, especially if you book in advance.

British Airways fly direct between November and March which takes around 11 hours, and there are some charter flights as part of packages, but otherwise you’ll have to stop somewhere along the way.

A lot of the routes travel via Oman and the UAE, including ours with Qatar Airways. The new airport in Doha is clean, efficient and blessedly cool when it’s 35C (or more) outside – we had a 90 minute transfer on the way out, and everything went smoothly.

On the way back it was longer at around 3 ½ hours but there are plenty of seats, plugs and places to get food, plus WiFi. The only drawback for an overnight flight is that the first leg is around 7h and the second is around 6h, so you can never get a long stretch of sleep.

Alternatives include flying via Sri Lanka – some routes from the UK touch down in Male on the way to Colombo (or on the way back) so you effectively get a direct flight. Others require a transit in Colombo itself though.

The rates were cheaper and you get one long leg from the UK to Colombo. Otherwise, alternatives include Singapore Airways via Changi but that just adds extra time to an already long day of travel, as well as some via European cities which tended to be pricier.

It’s worth bearing in mind that even once you land at Velana International, you’ll have another journey to get to the island – ferry if you stay on an inhabited island, speedboat or seaplane to the resorts.

Seaplane docked on the water at the terminal near Velana airport in Male - my guide to visiting the Maldives with kids, including how transfers will affect your holiday

Where to stay in the Maldives with kids?

What’s the transfer like?

To start, consider the transfers you’ll need to take to get to your resort – and if you’re staying at a resort, the options are usually limited.

The first resort that we stayed on was around a 20-minute speedboat ride from the jetty outside the airport – beats the usual airport exit looking for a taxi or bus hands down.

Our second resort was a 35-minute seaplane flight away and the plane was travelling on to two more resorts, so you could easily be looking at an hour with several touch downs.

You also have to be driven around to the seaplane terminal, about 5-10 minutes from the main airport, as well as any wait for the flight – the resorts all have their own air-conditioned lounges with WiFi and drinks, with staff to help with bags, tickets and all the practicalities, which makes it considerably easier.

But it’s worth bearing in mind that after the long-haul flight, you could easily face another 90 minutes or more before you land at your destination – not to mention bumping up the costs (keep reading for budget tips).

If you’re taking a seaplane with younger kids, you might be given ear plugs but it can be worth packing ear defenders for babies and little ones as the planes are quite noisy. We didn’t get any on our second flight and my seven-year-old managed though.

It’s also worth knowing that the seaplane schedule is as laid-back as the rest of the Maldives. You don’t find out the exact time of departure from your resort back to the airport until the night before – and ours changed three times (from 8am to 8.50 within the space of an hour and back to 8.25am the next morning).

What facilities are there?

Does the resort have a kids club, for example? Even if you don’t use it, it shows kids are catered for rather than tolerated.

If you do want your kids to use it – or know that they’ll want to – do check the minimum age requirement. A lot are for age four upwards, although some will allow younger if potty trained.

The kids club at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa and why you should always check the facilities at your resort before booking - tips for visiting the Maldives with kids

The different activities will vary as well: along with arts and crafts, you can find fantastic marine conservation programmes where kids can even get involved in helping plant coral.

Some activities will have a minimum age or height restriction, including some of the watersports options and snorkelling tours. If you’re travelling with kids under eight – or more petite ones – you may find the specific activities are more limited.

There’s often babysitting for an additional fee, but again it may only be in the kids club, so if you’re looking for childcare in your own villa, not all resorts have this as an option.

What accommodation is there?

Most resorts split their accommodation between those dreamy water villas set on stilts over the Indian Ocean and land-based options, including beach villas as well as sometimes garden/jungle villas depending how big the resort is.

As an adult, water villas are unbeatable but for kids, the beach villas can be far more tempting. At those resorts where the villas have private pools, they’re normally bigger at the beach villas too.

Some resorts won’t let you check in to the water villas with kids under a certain age, although others are more flexible (though they may insist on a liability waiver to be signed).

There are safeguards as well so toddlers couldn’t open doors and wander out onto the deck, but it depends how happy you are staying right above the water with younger kids – if they’re likely to keep bolting off down the wooden walkways leading to the villas, it’s not going to be as relaxing as you’d like.

With a seven-year-old who can swim (and was under firm instructions not to go outside without me) I loved the chance to sleep above the waves. With a baby, sound seems slightly more muffled between the beach villas which might also appeal!

The beautiful overwater villas might be the classic dream accommodation in the Indian Ocean but it's not always the best choice with a family - my tips for the Maldives with kids

What about medical facilities?

If your child suddenly starts running a fever, you don’t want to face a long speedboat journey back to Male, or a wait for a seaplane to see a doctor – it’s a major undertaking if you just need reassurance or some antibiotics.

So it’s worth checking what healthcare facilities there are on the island (and taking your own basic first aid kit). Even if, hopefully, you’ll never need to use them.

The only vaccinations recommended beyond those for everyday life in the UK is tetanus, so it’s a great option if you’re looking to avoid getting extra jabs for younger kids too.

There is no malaria in the Maldives but there is Dengue Fever and Zika, so it’s worth taking mosquito repellent. Resorts often have steps put in place to eradicate the mozzies in the first place, including getting rid of areas where they breed (plus additional fogging at times) and we didn’t encounter any during our stay.

What we did encounter were sand flies – not dangerous but the bites were itchy for the first day or two. I was nibbled about a dozen times, my daughter escaped with a single bite.

My daughter plays in the infinity pool at the luxurious Four Seasons Kuda Huraa resort in the Maldives - tips for visiting the Maldives with kids

How pricy is a holiday in the Maldives with kids?

As with any trip, it depends… since 2009, a change in the law meant that more guesthouses have sprung up on the ‘inhabited’ islands – ie the ones where Maldivians live, as opposed to the uninhabited and resort islands.

Staying there will cut costs considerably – but if you’re after the dreamy luxury of the resort villas, it’s never going to be a bargain.

You can make it less expensive though – for example stay in a resort island closer to the airport, so you can take a speedboat transfer rather than the more expensive seaplane (or look for deals where the transfers are included).

Travel during rainy season (May to November) can also mean you get better deals than during the dry season – we went during half-term at the end of October, and apart from one wet afternoon, managed to avoid anything worse than a light shower the whole week.

It’s also worth looking at all-inclusive deals. Once you’re in the resort, you’re a captive audience for food and drink (and you can’t bring alcohol into the Maldives) so it’s not hard to spend $100 on lunch for a family, more for dinner with drinks with a glass of wine at $20 and main courses starting at $30.

The food is fantastic, and lavish buffet breakfasts mean you won’t go hungry but it’s something to bear in mind if you think you’ve found bargain flights and a great accommodation rate.

Bear in mind too, that you can’t drink the water in the Maldives so you’re reliant on the resort for bottled water – at the Four Seasons resorts, it was all complimentary and more than we ever managed to drink before it was refilled (in glass bottles, happily) but if that isn’t included, you don’t want to be counting the pennies in the heat with kids.

Other tips for visiting the Maldives with kids

Money

Whatever your budget, if you’re staying in a resort, you’re unlikely to actually need any cash – everything is settled by credit card at the end of the stay.

If you want cash to tip, US dollars are absolutely fine (pounds and Euros are also usually happily accepted) so you needn’t get Rufiyaa unless you’re staying in a guesthouse, or taking a trip to one of the local islands (or Male).

It’s worth knowing that if you do get Rufiyaa from an ATM, you can’t change it back to a hard currency, so don’t get carried away!

Weather

Take the weather forecasts with a pinch of salt – the information given is usually for Male, and depending where your resort is, some of the islands are miles away.

Even if the forecast does show rain, it’s often a single sharp shower or overnight. Our forecast for the end of the rainy season was almost always quite different from the weather we had – forecast rain never appeared, and the one afternoon of bad weather had been showing as cloud.

It goes without saying to wear a high SPF, even if it is cloudy – the lovely ocean breezes can lull you into a false sense of security, but if the wind drops and the clouds clear, you’re reminded just how hot it is.

If you’re snorkelling, a rash vest and shorts are a good plan – even with SPF 50 on, I regretted not having swimming shorts with me!

For the actual weather on various islands in the atolls, you can watch these live cams – perfect for getting you excited before your trip too.

Time difference

The Maldives are five hours ahead of GMT (or four hours ahead during British Summer Time) – but the resorts may have their own time zone anyway.

Both Four Seasons resorts were one hour ahead of local time.

My daughter wearing a life jacket provided on our boat trip to see dolphins in the Maldives - my guide for visiting the Maldives with kids

Things to pack

The resorts do have shops but they’re geared more to souvenirs, beachwear and extra SPF than much else, so unless you know it’s provided, bring your own – especially if you need particular nappies and wipes for babies and toddlers.

Having said that, the bonus of staying in one of the luxury resorts is that a lot is provided. We had life vests for adults and kids in our rooms, which was ideal for snorkelling (or if you’re in a water villa!) as well as on any boat trips.

For the snorkelling trips, you could borrow mask, snorkel and fins as well – we brought our own: my daughter’s all-in-one mask as I knew they wouldn’t be available, plus fins for her small feet, while I chucked in my own mask and snorkel to save borrowing one.

Staff did come over to me on the beach and ask if I wanted fins though.

You could also borrow sand toys, a beach bag, even aftersun lotion in the room (always a bonus if you want to keep your luggage weight down)

If you’re travelling from the UK, you should be able leave the travel adaptors at home too, as the plugs in the resort were standard three-pin sockets.

What to wear

The Maldives are a Muslim country, which means if you’re visiting or staying on one of the inhabited islands, you’ll be expected to dress modestly and to cover up if you’re visiting a mosque.

On the resort islands, you can be as relaxed as you like though.

 

PIN FOR LATER: TIPS FOR THE MALDIVES WITH KIDS

Tips for the Maldives with kids - if you're visiting the Maldives with kids, here's what you need to know before you head off on your family holiday, from choosing a resort to sticking to a budget in the Maldives #maldives #maldiveswithkids #mummytravels

Disclosure: My trip was courtesy of Four Seasons resorts but all opinions, tips and sand fly bites are my own, based on our experience. Contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission.

Images copyright MummyTravels

LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER

 

4 Comments

  1. I have always wanted to travel to the Maldives and was concerned we would be waiting another 18 years once our daughter came along. But I have seen a lot of people traveling there with children lately, so now I am more keen to go than ever. The direct flight with British Airways is also very tempting, as when we lived in Australia it would have taken a lot longer to get there. Thanks for all the great tips, I’ll be sure to check back when we book those flights!

    1. You definitely don’t need to wait – so many of the resorts are really focused on families now (all those honeymooners going back again, I guess! 😀 ) and it really is paradise for them as well. The direct flight is a distinct bonus if you’re travelling in the right months too. Reviews of the two resorts will also be on their way!

  2. Amazing article! A friend of mine is planning to travel to the Maldives with her children and has been trying to find out about the accommodation and medical facilities- will let her know. 🙂 As for me, the blue paradise has always fascinated me! Have always wanted to travel there.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.