Planning a family vacation in the Maldives and have many questions on your mind? This article will provide you with all the information you need about vacation with kids in the Maldives, what to expect and be prepared for. I’ll discuss the finer points that may not be immediately obvious. Additionally, you will learn how to choose the right hotel for your family.
It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Maldives without these websites
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General points for vacation with kids in the Maldives
First and foremost, let me tell you that a vacation in the Maldives with children is fantastic – the country is an perfect destination for kids. There’s nothing to fear or worry about here. The country is safe for tourists, and children are well-loved. Although there are some nuances and peculiarities, I will explain them in detail later. But, for the most part, knowing about them is sufficient as in most cases, the principle applies: forewarned is forearmed.
- Useful articles about the local population in the Maldives and how they treat tourists:
Interesting to know:
The Maldives are a giant playground for children. It’s summer all year round here, and there’s only a two-degree difference between the coldest and warmest months of the year. The ocean is warm, with water temperatures around 30 degrees. And everywhere you look, there are sandy beaches without rocks or pebbles.
Two useful articles on this topic:
- Detailed information on the weather and seasons in the Maldives. It’s essential to note that it’s better not to visit during monsoon season when traveling with children.
- Beaches in the Maldives: everything you need to know about bikini beaches, where tourists can sunbathe, and where they cannot.
In reality, vacationing with kids in the Maldives can be divided into two types: those who fly to closed resort islands on tour packages, and independent tourists who fly to local islands in the Maldives. The scenery, ocean, underwater world, and palm trees will all be the same. However, the conditions of the vacation, budget, and infrastructure will be different.
I’ll delve into more detail on both types of vacationing.
Family vacation in the Maldives on a local island: best islands for kids
Here’s what you need to know about vacationing with kids in the Maldives on a local island, specifically when traveling with children:
- You will be staying in guesthouses, where you will need to organize your own meals.
- On the Maldives, there is no accommodation with private kitchen. Details can be found in the article “Accommodation options in the Maldives: where and how to book”. If there is a shared kitchen with a kettle and microwave, that’s an advantage.
- Private daycare centers or areas to leave your child with their peers for half a day are not available, except on the most popular local islands, such as Thoddoo. You will need to organize your child’s leisure activities yourself.
- All beaches are clean, and there are no sea urchins on the shore, or if there are, it is a very rare occurrence. The only thing that may be on the beach is pieces of dead coral. It is possible to cut your foot, but you have to try hard, so there is no need to fear this.
- Most likely, you will not be staying on the beachfront of a local island, but somewhere in the center due to the specific local construction. Depending on the size of the island, it may take 15-20 minutes to reach the beach. On larger islands, tourists rent bicycles with child seats and ride them to the beach. The price is around $5-8 per day.
Best local islands for family vacation in the Maldives (with detailed reviews of each island through the links):
On a resort island of Maldives with kids: how to choose a hotel
A package tour to a 4-5-star resort for a family vacation in the Maldives is a much better option than vacationing on local islands.
I won’t go into the details of hotels, but I can say this: if you have booked a tour to any good 4 or 5-star resort, you can expect:
- a children’s room with an animator where you can leave your child for half a day
- a perfectly clean beach just 10 meters from your bungalow or villa
- activities for children: some free, some for an additional fee
- a separate children’s menu in the restaurant
- a children’s pool, although it’s unclear why you would need one when there is such warm, clean, and shallow sea nearby.
Here are some articles that will help you choose a hotel where children are welcome and there is infrastructure specially created for them:
- Top 10 resort hotels in the Maldives
- Top 10 four-star hotels in the Maldives
- Top 10 five-star hotels in the Maldives
Important:
Please keep in mind that there are hotels where only 16+ are allowed. You won’t be able to book such a hotel if you’re traveling with a child.
Hazards for children in the Maldives: what not to worry about
Now, let’s talk about what you should be worried about when traveling with children and what dangers are not really dangerous.
- Mosquitoes are everywhere on all the islands, and they are particularly active at sunset. They are small and there are a lot of them, even on the islands where they treat the area every evening.
- Bring a plug-in mosquito repellent and sprays for children with you.
- There is no malaria on the islands, so there’s no need to worry about that.
- UV index. This is probably the biggest danger in the Maldives. You can read more about it in the article about the seasons and weather, the link to which was provided above. But, in short, the country is located on the equator, and the sun is merciless here. You can get sunburnt within 15 minutes. Be sure to have a hat and sunscreen with you at all times.
- Jet lag is a traveler’s disease associated with a sudden change in time zones. Children are more susceptible to it than adults. We often confuse acclimatization upon arrival in a warm country with jet lag. The symptoms are standard: fever, nausea, weakness, and headache. No one is immune to jet lag, so the most important thing is to have a first aid kit with you (there are few or no pharmacies on the islands) and insurance, especially for children. Here are two useful articles on this topic:
- You can read more about jet lag in the article about the time in the Maldives.
- And about mandatory insurance: what is included and what is not, and where to buy good comprehensive insurance with an online doctor consultation service, you can read here.
And now, here’s what you really don’t need to worry about when vacationing with kids in the Maldives:
- There are no dangerous animals or insects on land, none at all: snakes, spiders, scorpions, predators – they simply do not live on the islands.
- Everything about the wildlife in the Maldives: flying foxes and cats
- You don’t need to worry about sharks. There hasn’t been a single case of a shark attacking a human in the Maldives. This is because none of the 5 species that live here are dangerous to humans.
- The same goes for stingrays. There are tail-stingrays that can sting with their spines, but your child will never reach the area where they swim.
- Also, it is absolutely safe on any island at any time of the day. You will not be robbed or stolen from, and tourists are always welcome.
Feeding children in the Maldives
This can be challenging, especially if your child is a picky eater. So be prepared and bring purees, cereals, and whatever else is part of their diet from home.
Read more about the national cuisine, restaurants, tips, and prices by clicking the link. But in brief, here are the main points to consider when traveling to the Maldives with kids:
- Milk is hard to come by in the Maldives, including yogurts and kefir. You can find some, but the selection is very limited.
- The same goes for baby food. Don’t expect to find much variety on the islands.
- The main ingredients in the national cuisine are rice and fish, with some chicken dishes available. In general, the food is not spicy, with no exotic herbs or seasonings. You can find something neutral and not too salty or spicy for your child in a restaurant.
- Contrary to expectations, the Maldives is not a fruit paradise. Don’t count on finding an abundance of fruit. Bananas, coconuts, papayas, and mangoes are available on every island, but beyond that, it depends on the season and luck.
It is important to understand:
When it comes to fruits, the Maldives is not like Thailand or Vietnam; the selection is much more limited.
But every local store and resort hotel has a wide selection of ice cream. The article in the link above provides information on local stores, how they work, and what products they carry. The photo above is very illustrative.
Travel tips
Let me summarize everything mentioned above. A vacation with kids in the Maldives is wonderful, and you have absolutely nothing to fear. Of all the dangers on the islands, the most frightening for a child are:
- mosquitoes
- jet lag
- UV index
However, you can prepare for all these dangers and minimize all risks. And insurance is necessary in any case, as it is a requirement of the immigration service. It’s better to buy it with proper coverage right away, you’ll sleep better, and in case of anything, it will save you a lot of money.
In conclusion: come for a vacation with kids in the Maldives, believe me, it will be a memorable experience for them. Where else can your child see turtles, sharks, manta rays, and a thousand different fish in their natural habitat?
If you enjoyed the article and the content in this guide, you can buy me a coffee ^_^
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to the Maldives
- Flight tickets and the best deals
- Tour packages (from budget to luxury): Expedia
- Hotels and guesthouses on any island:
- 12go is the largest Asian transfer service. It gathers all Maldivian carriers, even the small ones that operate between local islands.
- Tours and excursions: Viator – a limited selection of excursions, but convenient and reliable.
- Comprehensive insurance: EKTA
- eSIM at the same price as in telecom office in Male.