Joanna James
While you may have heard that the Maldives is a dream destination for honeymoons and romantic retreats, it's a great place for a family vacay as well. If you are travelling with a toddler, here are some things to keep in mind to help make an enjoyable holiday for both little ones and parents!
One of the main allures of holidaying in the Maldives is the chance to stay at a private island resort; however, keep in mind not all will be family-friendly and may have limited facilities for kids. Check what kind of features the property has to offer; ideally, it should have babysitting services, a kids' club, special meals for children at the restaurants and an onsite doctor available 24 hours. It also helps if a special welcome kit is provided with items like a colouring book, sunhat and pencil kit, while all the better if movie screenings for little ones are held too!
When it comes to accommodation, you mainly get two variations in the Maldives; water suite options perched over a lagoon or the Indian Ocean or beach villas both of which are on offer at family-friendly properties such as Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort. Keep in mind that since overwater villas have direct access to the water, those travelling with small ones should ideally consider beach villas. Some come with a walled private garden and a private pool which are great to have apart from direct access to the shore.
Don't worry about trying to think of various activities and things to do for your toddler to keep them occupied. The great thing about an island holiday at resorts in Maldives is that kids can enjoy all the beach time they desire. Once you take them to the shore, they are bound to find fun things to do; ideally, pack a few beach toys that they can play with while you lie back near them and work on your tan! Of course, you can also just spend time playing with them; be it building sandcastles to collecting seashells there is plenty to keep everyone occupied and happy.
While it's all fun and games spending time out in the sun, be mindful of your little one getting sunburnt which can turn bliss into bawling! Remember to pack effective baby or kid-friendly sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and provides protection against UVA and UVB rays; pack lots of it as well since you need to reapply it every two hours or so if spending prolonged periods in the sun. Additionally, bring along a sunhat for your child and if possible, get them used to mini sunglasses that will shield them from the glare.
While staying at private island resorts is great, keep in mind, unlike in cities, you can't just walk down the road to a supermarket or shopping centre! Thus, always pack enough essential items that you will need such as diapers since they may not be readily available; that said, some resorts will have them for emergencies. The same applies for prescriptions meds; make sure you bring all you need to cover the duration of your holiday as well as any special food items or snacks your little one likes.
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