If you’re like me, you probably always pictured the Maldives as a destination just for honeymooners or those looking for a romantic vacation.
Luckily, the Maldives have plenty to offer for families with kids of all ages. There are plenty of family-friendly resorts scattered throughout the island nation – from budget properties to the most luxurious resorts you can dream up.
Our family of five (with kids ages almost 3, 6, and 9 years old) just returned from our trip to the Maldives and we had an amazing holiday!
If you’re on the fence about taking your kids to the Maldives, read on for my seven reasons you should book a family trip to the Maldives.
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A Vacation in the Maldives is Actually a Vacation for Parents Too
As a mom of three young kids, this was one of the biggest reasons I booked a vacation to the Maldives. I’d read great things about family holidays in the Maldives, and I can confirm it’s all true – the Maldives is a fantastic family holiday destination.
If you’re a parent, you know that ‘vacations’ are not really vacations for parents – you’re just parenting your kids in another place. And, sometimes it’s even more challenging and tiring because you don’t have your routines, your things, or your space. You return home from your ‘vacation,’ and need another few days just to recover.
Cue the Maldives!
If you do your research and stay at a kid-friendly resort in the Maldives, you’ll come home feeling rejuvenated, refreshed, and full of memories with your family. The things that were key to our high ‘parent happiness level’ on our Maldives family holiday include:
- Booking an all-inclusive stay – Food and drink in the Maldives is very expensive. All-inclusive in the Maldives usually means you pay an extra fee for your meals, most drinks, and many activities to be included. That means no stressing if your 3-year-old drops his expensive ice cream cone in the sand (speaking from experience) or your 6-year-old only eats part of his dinner. Yes, all-inclusive plans are pricey, but I found it was so relaxing to not have to worry about the prices, and to know my kids could go get snacks on their own or try new things.
- Having a great selection of restaurants – Most Maldives resorts have multiple restaurants, which means you’ll find something for everyone in your family. The best option in our case was usually the buffet – it had so much variety that I can’t imagine even the pickiest of eaters not finding something satisfying. Another bonus of having restaurants is no making or cleaning up meals (which we often do when we stay at an apartment on vacation).
- Having many kid-friendly activities available – True, the gorgeous sand and shallow, turquoise water is a perfect play setting for kids, but there’s so much more at a kid-friendly resort in the Maldives – water sports, swimming pools, snorkeling, beach soccer, nature walks, local island visits, arts and crafts, gorgeous seashells, hermit crabs, cooking lessons, game rooms, and more!
- Booking a resort with a kids club – Our three year old had a blast swimming, playing at the beach, and exploring the island with us. And, he also loved spending time at the kids club! The lovely staff kept him entertained and laughing, and he was always smiling when we picked him up. Our two other boys also spent a little bit of time at the kids club and the recreation area. This allowed my husband and I to have a little bit of kid-free, relaxing time on the beach.
- Service in the Maldives is incredible – Everyone was so sweet with our kids and always came up with special treats for them – from spider web pancakes for my Spiderman-obsessed preschooler to extra golf cart rides for my 6-year-old. As a storm rolled in, we had a special delivery of coconuts and tropical fruit to enjoy in our room until it passed. Sometimes I felt like the staff at our resort was reading my mind.
Photos are the Best Souvenirs to Bring Home
If you’re like me and constantly fighting clutter coming into your home, you’ll be happy to know that your kids won’t be tempted with souvenir stalls or knick-knacks at markets in the Maldives.
It’s just you and your little island.
You’ll be spending time playing at the beach and eating delicious food.
The best souvenirs from your family Maldives trip are photos (and maybe a few extra pounds if you over-indulged at the buffet like I did).
Your Children Will Forget About Screen Time
You won’t need to worry about setting screen-time limits or asking your teen to get off his or her phone.
With plenty of beach time and other activities, your kids won’t even ask to look at the iPad.
When we did have ‘chill time,’ my kids happily napped, drew, or read.
Weather – Showers are Short
Even though we visited during December, we still had rainshowers in the weather forecast. That was a bummer to see, but I soon found out that the rain showers in the Maldives are quick. On our trip, they typically passed through in an hour, and we were able to get back to the beach.
Or, you can also still play in the rain! I went for a couple of beach walks in the rain and we swam in the rain a couple of times.
Family Time is Fun
If you’ve entered the stage where your kids don’t really want to hang out with each other or you, then the Maldives is the place for you! We’re not quite there yet (my kids are still young), but we saw other families with older kids here and they all seemed ‘in sync’ – no kids on phones at the restaurants, kids were playing at the beach with their families, families were laughing and smiling on excursions together.
When you’re on a tiny tropical island, there aren’t ton of distractions to keep you from playing and being together.
Kids Can Sample Other Cuisines
I love visiting other countries with my kids, in part so they can try new foods (we live in Italy, home of Italian food and… Italian food).
Maldives resorts do an amazing job of offering food to satisfy even the pickiest tastebuds. You’ll likely find multiple restaurants and a buffet at your resort. On our recent trip, we were able to eat at a fantastic buffet, plus other restaurants. My boys sampled and ate seafood, Indian food, Thai food, Mexican food, Indonesian food, Maldivian food, and yes, even Italian food.
Kids Will Learn About Sustainability
When you’re in the Maldives, there are no distractions that keep your kids from seeing how our actions affect the planet. It’s just you, your family, other guests, the hotel staff, your small island, and Mother Nature.
You can ask your kids things like:
- Where does fresh water come from in the Maldives?
- Where is the food grown and how does it get to the island?
- What happens to plastic water bottles? The trash created during our stay on the island?
- Why is taking coral or seashells home not allowed?
I have trouble getting my kids to turn the lights off at home, and sometimes I have to nag them to recycle or take quicker showers. I loved that in the Maldives they adjusted their actions when they learned the answers to the questions above.
I hope this has helped you imagine the Maldives as a destination for your next family vacation!
Be sure to check out all of our Maldives with Kids posts:
Maldives with Kids – How to Plan the Perfect Trip
7 Reasons to Book a Family Trip to the Maldives
6 Helpful Tips for Your First Visit to the Maldives with Kids
30+ Maldives Family-Friendly Resorts – Compared by a Mom (Includes Table & Notes)
How Many Days to Spend in the Maldives
Family Packing List for the Maldives
Maldives with a Baby – Yes or No?
Maldives with Teens
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Review – Family Paradise in the Maldives
Where to Eat at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi with Kids
Overwater Villa or Beach Villa – Choosing One for Your Maldives Family Trip
Family-Specific Questions to Ask Your Maldives Resort – Before You Book
Taking a Seaplane in the Maldives
Tips for Taking a Seaplane with Kids
Maldives Regrets – From Resort Choices to Packing Mistakes
