Maldives Holidays

[redrobininmygarden]

Looking to book holiday in Maldives , how much budget is needed for two adults and three children under 12 and which hotel is more child friendly? which website is good for bargains ? i would really appreciate it

anyone??

Bargains and Maldives are not really words that go together....

Lots of islands have kids clubs and activities now. But the place is a giant beach and aquarium so if they can snorkel that might keep them amused most of the time.

For budget pre-covid we used to spend about £1k a week for two of us for meals and a couple of five trips. It will be more now as everything has gone up everywhere! A lot of islands have moved all inclusive though, so you'd be paying more for the holiday price but less while you are there.

Of the islands I've visited my favourite was Lux, but that was pre-kids.

It's my favourite place in the world - enjoy!

Dive trips not five trip🙄

@eurochick I know it's once in a lifetime trip, we were hoping that £8k budget would be enough for a week. But I am getting all inclusive deals for 14k from all major travel websites.

Are you really set on the Maldives or would you consider Mauritius.
You would get that within your budget and it is a beautiful location.

Their are some gorgeous resorts. Especially the Beachcomber brand who specialise in family resorts.

We went to Lux South in 2019 and paid £6k for 2 adults and a 2 year old. We looked to do it again with now we have two kids (6 and 3) and can't find anything cheaper than £14k either. Unless you go super off season like May and even then it was still around 10.....

I don't think £8k will go very far there anymore.

We're looking at Lux Mauritius instead.

We went last summer for 12 nights - 2 adults, 2 kids in a 2 bedroom beach villa at Reethi Faru, full board and it was £12,000. Then needed money for drinks, excursions on top. This was last August.

We paid around 5,000 last November for 2 adults 8 nights AI and seaplane transfers, booked last minute, most activities were included. Booked with TUI though it was a BA flight and hotel completely separate from them. Maldives and bargain aren't really two words that go together.

Sri Lanka was cheaper and Costa Rica by quite a bit on the packages. Not many children at our hotel in Maldives either, full of couples, most middle aged.

We are going soon for two adults, 1 child for 10 nights and paid just over £12K (sorry OP).

I would go and have a chat with trailfinders (or similar) I found it impossible to search online pricing and in the end we went to local agent.
2 adults, 8 days, all inclusive with sunset beach villa and 2 free trips (dolphin watching and sunset cruise), travel insurance, sea plane transfer 6k

I've book Adaaran Select Meedhupparu for Aug 2a & 2c and for wrap around all inclusive its £14k

Sorry thats for 15 nights

That's where we went. It was lovely! Enjoy and I am also v v jealous 😊

@LBF2020 Ooh that's lovely to hear we can't wait! X

I would look to book an all inclusive resort. I love the look of Kuredu Island. It's quite large with lots to keep people busy.

Dinoswearunderpants, I have friends who went to Kuredu and said it was amazing. My only concern with it was there were lots of 'tiers', i.e. if you had this level accommodation you can't use this area, etc. and I didn't love that idea of feeling second class (daft I know). As it is the island we went to (Siyam World) had that in a slightly smaller way in that there were about 6 super exclusive houses separate from the rest of the island but they were so far away I'd have never found them anyway ...

First of all, what time of year?

December to April is high season and is FAR more expensive. Also best chance of good weather. Although weather is increasingly unpredictable all yr round. Christmas/NY is peak peak peak.

May to November is hit and miss weather wise (May is worst) and not too bad price wise although summer (Jul/Aug) is getting pricier. But still cheaper than peak.

3 kids - tbh you may find it tricky to find places that have big enough rooms. Are you happy for one of them to be in with you?

Always check prices on the resort’s own site as well as booking.com etc. Sometimes they have better offers especially if you sign up to their site.

Sometimes you can get a good deal if you book somewhwere that isn’t open yet - but you are taking a punt on it opening on time.

I would suggest looking at: Centara Grand, Hideaway, Kuramathi, Lux, Bandos, Reethi Beach, Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, the various Sun Siyam resorts as mentioned above. All of these are on the more affordable end and have family rooms. All but Reethi have kids clubs.

Not everywhere has a house reef around the island so decide whether this is crucial (ie do you want good snorkelling right off the beach). Of my list, Lux doesn’t have a reef and not all of the Siyam ones do.

Be aware that Kids Clubs are generally aimed at little ones ie gentle craft rather than watersports.

Forgot to say … we managed to get a deal, 8 nights in Dec (returng just before christmas) for £5.5k for four of us AI but not including flights. I had already booked flights a long way in advance for £2.6k for four. I had booked another hotel in the meantime but cancelled it (free cancellation) when the Centara deal came up. So I’d say what you want may be possible, but requires quite a lot of effort watching the deals. And possibly booking flights ahead.

I would also say 1 week is not long for the Maldives, it’s a hell of a journey and time difference. I would say 9 nights is the minimum with one of those being an overnight flight. I agree you will get better value in Mauritius if that appeals.

We paid 2k each for 2 adults all inclusive. But booked it 2 years in advance

Not sure it's hugely child focused place, tbh there's bugger all to do. In your shoes I'd look for something with lots of water sports, paddle boarding etc. but where we were had none of this, the odd boat trip to snorkel at a reef but that was it.