Holiday advice for VERY fussy family

[motherofeve]

We are after a special holiday this year - end July, beg August, dd 11, ds 12. We want direct flights only, luxury ideally all inclusive, fabulous beach with great snorkelling from the beach, water sports and loads of restaurant choice. Help!

Gili islands, Indonesia

Shame about BA direct flights as the best snorkelling I have ever had was in the Maldives - some of the Qatar transfers are less than an hour which is plenty of time. Apart from there maybe Mauritius or Cuba (the Cayo's). We stayed in the Grand Bahia Principe Akumel in Mexico which is amazing and is near some of the major tourist spots. I personally wouldn't stay in Cancun - too many American teenagers going mad at being allowed to drink!

Thank you! Will see if I can work in the husband. Now worrying about hurricane season and wondering if we should abandon this year and head for Mexico or Caribbean at Easter .....

Work ON the husband .....

Work ON the husband .....

Let me know if you want Maldives recommendations - we have been 5 times.

Yes please! Lots of people say that the kids get bored so was thinking to aim for largish resort, and near the airport to avoid long transfer time .... Would love your recommendations.

Difficult as most of the bigger island with the most facilities are further away (island such as Kuredu, Kuramathi, Centara, Sun Island and Meeru). One of the closest with decent facilities in Bandos but have never stayed there. I do think though if you only go to the Maldives once you should definitely get a seaplane transfer it is an amazing experience.

We only went to smaller islands (even when we took DD when she was 3). Our favourite island is Lily Beach but Veligandu, and Reethi Beach were also excellent.

Thank you - will check them out!

Caymans or BVI would be good if you want Caribbean. Other caribbean snorkelling is not a patch on the Maldives.

Maldives fab but will involve a boat or seaplane from the main island. Read reviews carefully as not all islands have good snorkelling. We went to Angaga which has a wonderful easily accessed reef and amazing beach - but not much else so might be boring unless your two can snorkel all day (I could...)

Sugar beach in St Lucia has the best off beach snorkelling in the Caribbean. I'm an experienced diver and snorkelling there was one of the best underwater experiences of my life. Steep cliff edge with gently sloping beach perpedciular to it, 20 ft of water within a couple of meters of shore and pristine coral. All just to right of resort when looking at beach. And a waterfall with hot springs on the driveway to the resort.

Just be careful of mossies- got worst bites ever when I didn't apply deet quickly enough on first day.

Actually restaurant choice not great in sugar beach as it's quite far from everything.
Residence in Mauritius is only place that's been good enough for me to return to. Amazing all inclusive water sports (including waterskiing, teddy in kids club is best teen entertainer I've ever known. Spa is unbelievable. Only two restaurants, the choice of food both is fantastic. And you are relatively close to a few other places if you want to eat out. No snorkelling from beach, but twice daily boat trips out to the reef where snorkelling is good. And you get a personal butler who on the first day unpacks your bags whilst you're at lunch, and will repack as much of your dirty washing as you want to on the penultimate day.

I came on to say Sugar Beach too. It's a really lovely AI hotel.
Mauritius would be a good option too if you can cope with a 12 hour flight.
There are some really good hotels, Dinarobin or Maritim.
BA only flies direct to the Maldives in the winter/spring but the flights via Dubai aren't too bad.

Barbados would be my recommendation. Weather in Mauritius is a bit ropey in July/August - not warm enough for me - and the snorkelling isn't that great.

Maldives is amazing, especially for snorkelling, but July/Aug is the wet season.. We found in Mauritius in July that the poor weather affected the snorkelling - not been to Maldives that time of year.