Depending on the age of your children, you may choose to pick and stick to an atoll to avoid back-and-forth seaplane flights or long speedboat journeys. The most popular are North Male Atoll, which is close to the airport and ideal for families with young children, and South Ari and the UNESCO-protected Ba Atoll, both of which have excellent snorkeling and diving. We split our trip between the Maldives’ grand dam, the one and only Sand Rah, said to be a favorite of the Beckhams, and Huvafen Fushi, which is at the other end of the spectrum in terms of scale and feel.
The first is everything you’d expect of a One&Only resort: impeccably luxurious, with six themed restaurants, a full-scale Missoni Beach Club, decked out in the fashion house’s signature striped fabrics. Spa A club for adults and an impressive kids club. The villas are spacious and modern, and retain their features since the hotel’s opening in 2005 by Jean-Michel Gathy. The Belgian designer is behind many Aman and Four Seasons addresses around the world. Sand villas are spread over the island garden And with many beaches, as well as some over water, for those after a postcard Maldives experience. The island is spacious, with bicycles or golf buggies on hand to assist guests Travel from top to bottom.
For families, I would recommend the Beach Villa. Everyone can walk around the gardens or the pool or jump straight into the sea. Lunch is concentrated at the Beach Club or Rhubarbaro Restaurant. For dinner, Funditha serves Lebanese, Persian and Indian fusion dishes in a low-key setting with tables right on the sand. Botanica is hidden in the inner gardens and has a menu of staples like grilled fish and meat, while Japanese restaurant Tapasak, the newest addition, is the most inventive, giving kids a chance to engage with new flavors.
There are countless family outings that can entice you after you’ve spent the day lying on the beach. We took it Dhoni (Traditional Fishing Boat) Out to sea for handline fishing at sunset, the chef returns with bags full of our catch to cook for dinner. Days later, we still found ourselves getting lost in the labyrinth of sandy lanes surrounding the sand dunes – the scale of the island lends itself to longer stays, with each day leaving a new beach or corner of the garden to explore.
