Maldives with 2 under 5s? Are we crazy?

bylromarha

Does anyone have experience with little kids in the Maldives?

It's our 10th wedding anniversary this year and OH has always wanted to go.

We have Clubcard vouchers to pay-and the way the CC scheme is going, it'll be our last holiday on them for a while!

We've only found 1 hotel in Cosmos/Virgin range that we can all stay in the same room. We recognise Maldives isn't a kiddy destination, but that's fine with us. Our kids will be happy on a beach for days building and splashing about, plus this hotel has a kids club which we'd probably use a bit.

However, if we go B+B, is it easy to find places to eat at a reasonable cost with fairly mild food?

Are hotels catering so much for couples that kids don't get much slack?

Any advice gratefully received-thanks.

lynn44

Hi
Maldives is paradise...But which Island you planning on ? our Island only had the 1 hotel!!!
Our son was 3 at the time and loved every minute of it whole 2 weeks of swimming and making Banana boats paddling with the baby sharks, beach combing first thing before the beaches were swept,dancing with the crabs ...we had no kids club either...Done 2 separate days of island hopping

stressedoutmother

Hi. We took our 11 month old son with us and had a great time. It was a small island with only one hotel on it but the staff were fabulous. Most of the people who work on the island live away from their families and don't often see children so when they do, they spoil them rotten! They played with him for ages and made him non alcoholic cocktails! There were no rules about children not being allowed here or there or any frowning etc. These islands are so peaceful and the people are so loving and accepting I think you'll find it a great decision to take your kids with you and the younger the better in my opinion. It was a bit of a risk due to the distance of a hospital in case of accidents but the people are very accommodating and all speak English. I have no doubt they would whisk you away in a speed boat at the first sign of any ill health. Have a great time xx

bylromarha

As we'll probably B+B, how easy would it be to find food outside the hotel complex in your opinion?

The hotel is http://www.bandosmaldives.com/

Located on North Male' Atoll

glidergirluk

If you think of each island as one hotel complex, so if you go B&B you will only have the hotel you are staying in to by food and drink from. Check out tripadvsior for reviews on the hotel you want to stay in, they 9/10 have details about food & Drink prices as well.

Incapuppy

bylromarha wrote: »

As we'll probably B+B, how easy would it be to find food outside the hotel complex in your opinion?

This statement suggests to me that you have done very little in the way of research for the Maldives. I would strongly suggest that you do more research on Trip Advisor as glidergirluk recommends, especially with reference to the cost of food and drink if you are considering going on a B&B basis.

I'm sorry if this comes across as rude, it's not meant to be, but I fear that you may be in for rather a nasty shock when you read first hand accounts of how much spending money would be required.

lou29

Just found this on the Trip advisor web site:

"We went B&B, which proved ideal as we could then use the other 3 restaurants as we both tend to get fed up with buffet type meals.
Our bill for all our food, drink, excursions & 4 Spa visits came to approx. £1100 for our 9 night stay."


This was for 2 people seems a lot to me. Also there is only one hotel on the island.

saffiedale_2

we did meeru last year, plenty of kids. no club but even though the kids were english, french, italian, german, the kids just comunicated great.we dont have kids with us but you will have the shock of your life of prices. we do ai. its ok if your loaded and can cope with that hudge bill at the end.:eek: have you looked on intenet at chaaya reef. we looked and hayes and jarvis worked out cheaper than cosmos ect? lookes very nice and got own house reef. we have just had a bargain:j we just wanted a small island, no fancy room as long as we can see the sea from room, house reef, ai. we got two weeks in september with shrilankan air, kuioni for two thousand one hundred and ninteen. no pool but with a beach and price like that , do i care.:T just love the maldives.:o

sammie383

Hey!

Thanks for asking this question!

Myself and Dh would like to go to the maldives in late 2010, early 2011, when our DD wil be 3 coming 4, and was wondering about taking her with us. This would be like our honeymoon as we never had one when we got married.

We were looking at Bandos Island actually. Looks really nice, and its nice to hear that people have found taking the kids a great experience. So thank you for posting! x

bylromarha

Not got as far as researching costs of food-more concerned about establishing suitability for 2 under 5s before getting to the detailed research point as that is usually the point of no return for me.

Thanks to those who've reassured me that under 5s in the Maldives is do-able, even if there's only 1 hotel with both Virgin and Cosmos which will let you sleep 2A, 2C in the same room for under 10k!

jillie1974

is it bandos island??

i've been here and it has a great kids centre however once you are on the island thats it. no hopping across to the nearest island to eat there. the only choice of restaurants are the ones on that island. think of it as one hotel per island and nothing else. you are about 45mins from the capital but you wouldnt go there for a meal as there are hardly any restaurants on the island.
i;m not saying dont go but i think you need to do a bit more research on the maldives as they are totally unique and very very different to any other tropical destination.