Maldives holiday alternatives?

[Letitbe24]

I hope this post isn’t tone deaf but I’m hitting a bit of a dead end. I’m pregnant with our first and we’re looking to book a holiday for when they’re approx 7 months old (October time). A bit early I know but I love holidays and I need something to look forward too as we’re not doing long haul whilst pregnant.

We’ve been looking at the Maldives as I don’t know how high maintenance baby is going to be and Maldives looks like it could be very chilled, just spending time playing with the baby and then taking it in turns to go diving whilst the other watches baby. We want somewhere with a private pool in case baby is fussy so it’s less hassle to have to get ready to go out.

However the costs are getting ridiculous - We’re looking at £8k AI without flights/activities and then at least another £1.5k on top of that for diving costs, this is for a week which seems crazy!!! Is there anywhere else anyone can recommend that would be similarly suitable?

Some key points:

• want to go in October/November time so would prefer long haul, we can afford business class on points so flight time not much of an issue, but direct from Heathrow a big plus
• preferably all inclusive but absolutely no to self catering!
• must have a private pool as I think this will be much easier with a baby
• good food is a must, absolutely don’t want to be buffet focused so needs to have at least 4 a la carte restaurants
• Maldives is looking at about £9.5k AI so would prefer something more around the £7k mark or cheaper if possible! Note this is not including flights which we’ll buy separately

Thanks for your help kind mumsnetters :)

Are you looking at half term? For us it is the last two weeks in October. It might be cheaper if you avoid that time.

Also, if you are going there with diving in mind, would you be comfortable going off island for a few hours leaving the baby with an untested nanny? We went to the Maldives when our daughter was older. She enjoyed the kids club on the island but we would have felt uncomfortable going off on a dive boat while she was there. We stuck to snorkelling around the house reef so we weren't leaving the island.

Have you thought about Mexico? A lot of ai to choose from. We went to seadust a few years ago and they had maybe 5 al la carte restaurants and some buffet restaurants. They have a kids pool but no private pools. Some rooms have jacuzzis in them.

Side note, I worry it's risky booking a holiday for when your child will be 7 months. You don't know the temperament of your child yet to know if this will work or not. You might have an easy going baby and it will work out well, or you might have a baby that suffers from reflux that cries all the time. Could you wait to book until your child is born and give it a few months to see if it's possible? Or just plan something for when baby is older.

Maybe pick something local in Europe? Greece or Cyprus as a tester for when they are 7 months?

If you are really set on a private pool it may be worth considering a private villa in the Cayman Islands (or elsewhere). Many of the people who stay in them have them fully serviced for their stay - private chef, cleaner etc.

is diving/snorkelling important?

I have no suggestion about hotels/villas, but I follow someone on Instagram that goes to the Philippines and it looks stunning, I’m sure it’d be cheaper than the Maldives.

although personally, I would find a long haul flight with a 7 month old (business class or not) way more stressful than having to put a bag together and walk down to a probably quiet pool at a 5 star resort closer to home.

We had an amazing time at sugar beach st lucia - privare plunge pool villa - when it came to it I couldn't bring myself to dive in case I never came back! But snorkelling and great kids club. And they drivw you around in tuk tuks

Any short haul flight to a five star resort will give you access to a swim up pool you share with just one-three other suites.

Much cheaper. Sorted.

That’s a good point, we’ll try and avoid half term.

The plan was for us to dive separately whilst the other looks after the baby as definitely wouldn’t be happy to leave with a nanny.

Will definitely check this out as St Lucia is on our list of places we’d like to go.

Egypt - Sharm
We did this when ours were little and stayed in top end 5 star. We are fussy and it was really lovely. Don't go to normal AI though make sure you pay for higher level or it's just awful. Our place had AI then a premium you could pay for for an A la carta section which we used for breakfast and dinner.

Honestly with a baby that age I wo

Won’t the weather be rubbish in October/November though?

We’ve been to Mexico a few times and really enjoyed it. Will definitely be going back with older kids.

I think we’re going to try and go a Europe one in June time so if it’s really crap we won’t bother with the October trip.

Weather is hit and miss wherever you go in October. You won't want it scorching hot anyway. Is there a reason you can't go when the baby is younger?

Honestly with a baby that age i wouldn't go somewhere without medical facilities.

I can't suggest specific hotels but overall I would recommend the canaries probably as it's a shorter flight (baby doesn't care business class or not) and it's Spain quite frankly, hospitals are decent. For mid haul I would be thinking about Middle East as food I'm told is good, not been myself.

I've been to the Maldives and there's always a transfer , ours was helicopter but an hour in a noisy helicopter isn't great. I'd suggest Sri Lanka perhaps over the Maldives as food was excellent, very accommodating with multiple restaurants in 5 star hotels, easy to get a private driver going out but I wasn't travelling with a baby.

Interesting! Where did you stay? I’ve always been put off Egypt for fear of being eaten by a shark while diving or getting horrendous food poisoning.

I too was thinking if St Lucia for you. I’ve been several times. Avoid Oct and aim for Nov when there’s fewer downpours. Barbados is also stunning.
Sri Lanka is amazing but I’d go when baby older so you can travel around and do more. So much to see. I’m suprised you didn’t like Mauritius. The Lux resorts there are lovely.
Have you looked at Dubai? The Jumeirah resorts are lovely with some great restaurants.
Morocco? The weather will be great and it’s only a 4hr flight. I’ve not been to the beaches there but could be worth a look? Especially if you’re choosing 5 star. Similarly Egypt - great diving!
If you’re thinking October then Cyprus is still reasonable weather. Less so November.

No except more time to lose baby weight 😂 is it better to go when they’re younger?

I'd double check that you can definitely take the baby in business class, particularly if it's an overnight flight in a "fancier" than usual seat. Several of our friends have been caught out by this recently from LHR - they were able to book it fine online but then when they arrived on the plane the cabin crew said that they couldn't have the baby on their laps as there was no provision for that in the business class seats on the plane, so they were forced into downgrading.

I'm also not overly sure if the fellow passengers would enjoy having a baby in business on a long haul flight either. We've only just started doing it with our son, and he's 5.5 and obsessed with planes, as we personally don't feel it's fair to other passengers who have paid a premium but if you're ok with being "those people" then fair enough, it's your money/points. Also, as others said, a 7 month old is pretty portable (other than potentially in business class) - they're not going to "need" their private pool as they still sleep loads at that age. Toddler years - perhaps, if you've got that level of money.

we have done long haul with babies of all ages and the flight can be hard (but ok at 7 months really), but totally worth it. Babies are really very easy to travel with. Harder when they’re toddlers!

I definitely recommend a private pool - the main benefit is when baby naps you can sit outside the villa and enjoy the sun / pool in peace, also if you have 5am wake ups you can have an early morning splash with baby before breakfast.

If budget doesn’t allow the private pool, still worth choosing the Maldive in my opinion. You’ll likely have immediate access to the beach from your room so you can swim in the sea!

You could look at UAE which will be nice weather October onwards but there isn’t really the all inc / private pool set up there.

Thailand? Bit of a trek but much more affordable for hotels.

I'd also suggest considering Greece or Sicily or Cyprus, drop your budget and consider it as a first holiday to learn how to go as a family. I know you said no buffet but honestly, for breakfast it can be a huge advantage.

Never heard of this. We’ve done it with babies several times on various airlines. The previous flight I was on had 3 babies under 1 sitting in my section.

No one should be guilted about flying with a baby in whatever class.

For the canaries the Gloria Palace Amadores have semi private pool rooms on the ground floor with sea views and they are AI hotel as well

we stayed in one of the pool rooms 2 years ago and it was fab and the room is more than big enough to accommodate a baby

beautiful hotel set in the cliff path with 2 pools amazing spa and family friendly

no idea what the diving is like but I did see a fair few diving boat trips

Really? I’ve never heard of any airline doing this, you can always just have the baby on your lap, and the vast majority of airline provide bassinets. Babies are definitely welcome in business class on BA, there’s a few designated bassinet seats. It’s going to be much easier with the space and smaller queues for the loo etc. As for “paid a premium” so have we?!

If the baby cries inconsolably I’ll move up to the galley to jig about and take turns with DH. All business class passengers also get free noise cancelling headphones. We’ve flown BC loads and I’ve never had an issue with babies in the cabin, you usually hardly hear a peep. It’s the drunk/obnoxious men who are almost always the most annoying including one on a recent flight who was very rude and arguing loudly with the cabin crew because they asked his (20-30 years younger SE Asian) girlfriend to return to the economy cabin.

A resort with a toddler pool/splash park could be much better. Baby can sit up and splash, roll about etc without having to be constantly in your arms. They also love seeing other kids playing so a shared pool is probably better for them.