Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Help me choose where to stay in the Maldives

5 replies

gateacre1 · 06/06/2012 21:15

Our choices up to now are,
Hilton iru fushi
Centura grand.
But both would involve sea plane transfer

Or karumba which is near to male but has plane noise
Or Bandos, but some reviews not so great

We have a 18 month old and a 4 yr old,

My head says boat transfer near to male
My heart says nicer island with sea transfer

Can anyone recommend a good choice
Thanks in advance

OP posts:
MOSagain · 07/06/2012 12:51

I've been to Bandos 3 times, the most recent time being 3 1/2 years ago. I love it and plan to go back.

Its great as its only 20 mins maximum by boat from Male. The last thing you need after a long flight arriving in the early hours is a long transfer. It also has an excellent medical centre staffed by european doctors which I think is important if you have young children.

What sort of accommodation are you looking at at Bandos?
Standard is not great, very basic and no bath, just a shower so in my opinion a no no when you have kids. Stayed standard the first time and never again. Second time went deluxe which was good as there was a larger bathroom with bath and a sitting room area where they put a spare bed for DD and can fit a cot for your baby too.

The last time we went we pushed the boat out and stayed in one of the two watervillas (having been upgraded for our last 3 nights to one the previous trip) It was fabulous but a bit worrying if you have little ones and I think they don't normally let you book those.

In between are garden villas and jacuzzi beach villas which again I don't think are suitable with little ones They have the lounge and open air jacuzzi downstairs and open steps up to bedroom.

Buffet breakfast is good and half-board involves buffet dinner but we just went for B & B as the evening buffet was very late, think around 7pm which is no good when you have kids. There are three restaurants you can use. A posh 'fine dining' one, a coffee shop/cafe which is open 24 hours (handy when you have kids) and a lovely restaurant down overlooking the beach.

There is a small shop but I'd say take all the nappies, wipes and baby/toddler food/snacks you might want as supply very limited.

There is a free kids club which is open (I think) 8am to 5pm and you can get babysitters in the evening. They take kids from about 8 months which is great as most places its from age 3 or 4.

If you or your DH like diving, the house reef is fabulous, one of the best I've ever dived.

gateacre1 · 07/06/2012 13:39

Hi Mos
I ended up booking the centura grand as we got a really good deal, so excited, can't wait to go !

Thank you for your information about bandos!

OP posts:
givemeaclue · 07/06/2012 16:18

hi gate - can you let me know who you have booked with for centara and update when you get back!

gateacre1 · 08/06/2012 09:52

Hi giveneaclue
We booked with kuoni they price matched first choice, the flights with ba were better for us, and direct to male.
I will update when we return, it is meant to be very family friendly with a kids club!

OP posts:
givemeaclue · 10/06/2012 18:10

looks fabulous, do you happen to know what are the best times of year to go, and am I being very cheeky asking you how much its costing?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page