Maldives with kids – the WIOTTO experience

Every third family vacations in the Maldives with children. These are the statistics for tourists who booked vacations on the wiotto.com website. The glory of a romantic corner has been entrenched in the paradise islands, where the newlyweds aspire to get. However, families with children in the Maldives will have an equally exciting holiday. As an expert in booking exotic islands, at Wiotto we share eight years of experience with the Maldives. Oddly enough, it’s worth starting with islands intended only for adults – so that families with children do not have embarrassment when booking a hotel in the Maldives.

Do all Maldives resorts have age restriction?

There are some hotels in the Maldives that do not allow check-in with children. Or they do not allow children to certain villas. Conventionally, such hotels can be divided into three categories.

1. Adults only. This is a category of hotels that, depending on the policy of the resort, allow guests from 14, 16, 18 years old. These islands are popular with honeymooners. Those who want privacy and silence choose Adults only hotels. There are not many of these in the Maldives, there is a corresponding filter in the Wiotto catalog.

2. Partial Adults only. Some resorts close part of the island to children. For example, the Sun Siyam Olhuveli hotel occupies three closely spaced islands, one of which – Romance Island – is for adults only.

3. Ban on water villas for small children. Some hotels do not allow small children to stay in water villas. This is due to security measures, since water villas and walkways often do not have protective railings. The age of children who are allowed to stay in water villas – usually from 6 years old – depends on the individual hotel. Most resorts allow children of any age to stay in a water villa. When booking a hotel on Wiotto, indicate the age of the children – the system will display a list of only those hotels where you can relax with children.

In addition to the categories of hotels listed above, the Maldives is a real paradise for children. Families-friendly resorts have everything from kids menus in restaurants to diving courses for toddlers.

Things to do for kids in the Maldives

For very young children, many resorts offer babysitting services. While the children are engaged with professionally trained staff, parents can relax in the spa, have a romantic dinner or go diving. There are many options for adults too.

Snorkeling 

Perhaps snorkeling is the most favorite activity for children in the Maldives . They admire the colorful underwater world with delight. In fact, no matter which island you choose, you can snorkel everywhere. Of course, there are islands with a more vibrant and diverse house reef. For example, Lily Beach Resort & Spa, Bandos Island Resort & Spa and many more. Contact online chat Wiotto – managers will suggest hotels with a bright reef, especially if the main purpose of your visit to the Maldives is snorkeling.

Diving 

Diving in the Maldives for children is available from 8 years old. Young divers will participate in the PADI Bubblemaker program. This requires parental permission. Diving depth does not exceed two meters for this course. Classes are held in the pool or in shallow water with professional instructors. Children are taught how to dive correctly, breathe underwater, and use diving equipment. On average, the cost of a single dive starts at $45.

Water sports

Depending on age, children will be interested in: trips on a catamaran, surfing, kayaking, stand- up surfing, tubing, water skiing, banana riding, kayaking, water scooter. In addition, you can ride a boat with a glass bottom, go on an excursion. Resorts that offer best water activities: Adaaran Select Hudruhanfushi, Kurumba Maldives, Sun Island Resort & Spa, Kuramathi Maldives, Veligandu Island Resort & Spa, Niyama Private Islands and others.

Visit the kids club

Before booking a hotel, make sure it has a kids club. Depending on the hotel, kids club programs can be designed for different ages – from toddlers to teenagers. Animators, instructors, trainers and many others are engaged with children. In addition to the playground and often a children’s pool, the children’s club offers:

• cooking Maldivian dishes,

• jewelry making,

• kites,

• painting,

• sand castles,

• various crafts,

• karaoke,

• playing musical instruments,

• Maldivian dances,

• teen parties,

• talent show,

• kids cinema,

• Play Station rooms,

• treasure hunt,

• various competitions,

• board games and much more.

According to the experience of Wiotto and the feedback of our tourists, the best kids clubs in the Maldives are organized by these resorts: Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives, Soneva Fushi, Lily Beach Resort and Spa, LUX South Ari Atoll, Kurumba Maldives, Niyama Private Islands Maldives, Four Seasons Kuda Huraa.

Get to know the natural world

For children in the Maldives, however, for adults too, there is a unique opportunity – to touch nature and help preserve it. Many hotels offer programs to conserve coral reefs and their inhabitants. Children can:

• learn how to plant corals (Anantara Kihavah Maldives),

• take part in the conservation program for sea turtles (Six Senses Laamu),

• attend classes with a marine biologist at the ecocenter and receive the appropriate certificate (Six Senses Laamu),

• feed stingrays manta rays (Sun Island Resort & Spa, Dusit Thani Maldives).

Land entertainment

Here the choice of entertainment is even wider. Again, it depends on age – opportunities open up for children in the Maldives:

• big and table tennis,

• football,

• gym,

• basketball and volleyball,

• cycling,

• pools and slides, including slides in a private villa (Siyam World , Ozen Reserve Bolifushi, Cora Cora Maldives, Soneva Fushi),

• ice skating rink (Ozen Reserve Bolifushi),

• excursions to neighboring islands, to the capital and other places,

• Observatory stargazing (Anantara Kihavah Maldives).

Tips for choosing hotels in the Maldives for families with children

For those who are going to the Maldives with children, we advise you to pay attention to some of the nuances:

1. Transfer. If you are traveling with young children, a long local airline or seaplane transfer can be tiring, especially since you have previously had a long flight from your home country to the Maldives. In this case, it is better to pick up a hotel with transfer by speedboat, not far from Male. These are resorts that can be reached in 10-20 minutes by speedboat.

2. Water villas. Families with small children are advised to choose villas on the beach. The experience of our tourists suggests that a beach villa is more practical for families with children. It is more convenient for parents to look after the kids on the sandy shore, near a private villa.

3. Hygiene items and medicines. Take these hygiene and protection items with you. There are no shops or pharmacies on private islands. Not all hotels have the necessary items for leaving for children, and if they do, they will cost significantly more than in a regular pharmacy.

4. Sunscreen and silicone reef slippers. Be sure to bring a cream with an SPF factor of at least 30. The Maldivian sun warms all year round, regardless of the season. Also buy special silicone slippers in which children will not hurt their feet on the reefs.

5. Children’s menu. If your child is a picky eater, look for hotels with restaurants that offer a children’s menu. To do this, contact the online chat Wiotto – managers will help with the choice.

The Maldives with kids is an adventure for the whole family. There is always something to do here. The bonus is that the weather in the Maldives allows you to relax there all year round. Follow our advice in the article and you are guaranteed a great vacation.