While the Maldives as a whole has an air of romance about it – some resorts are just in the market for honeymoon and romancing couples – if you’re travelling with older children, you can pick an island that is more focused on watersports and family activities.
Older children who love the water will love the Maldives: it’s full of watersports and underwater wildlife – great for keen scubadivers.
It’s also the perfect break if you’re looking for lots of relaxation and a feeling that you’re getting away from it all on an island hideaway – especially good in school holidays after a lot of exam stress.
Keep energetic teens busy with underwater activities
Lend a hand in conserving nature’s treasures
Teenagers are hardly likely to be bored – with a choice of swimming, snorkelling or learning to scuba dive around the beautiful coast, there are many ways to explore the colourful underwater wildlife.
In recent years, some islands have begun conservation projects in which they actively encourage guests to participate, including assisting with turtle conservation and planting coral gardens.
Complimentary activities in the late afternoon are provided by some of the resorts, such as a cooking or a cocktail making class (virgin cocktails are part of the menu too). Many resorts also provide entertainment a few evenings a week that often turn into relaxed parties.
Accommodation in the Maldives tends to be villas more than hotel rooms. This means you’re much closer to the beach and living the island lifestyle, but make sure it is suitable for teenagers.
Family-friendly resort Bados Island Resort is great for children and young teenagers, and close to the capital of Malé. Prices start from £519 per night. Another family-friendly option, the luxury hotel Velaa, is just 45 minutes from Malé by sea-plane. A two-bedroom Beach Pool House starts from £2,064 a night.
Angsana Velavaru is an option for older teenagers and the furthest island in the atoll. Rooms start from US$430 (approx. £279) per night including breakfast (extra charges include a service charge and tax charge per person). We’d recommended the Deluxe Beachfront Pool Villa, Velavaru Villa, Angsana Villa or Sanctuary InOcean Pool Villa for family groups.
Most islands serve buffet meals and offer half board or full board packages. It’s recommended you opt for one of these as teenagers enjoy the opportunity to mill around, choosing what they want and blending in with other guests. It also provides a chance for friendships to be struck up with other youngsters.
Make sure your kids understand that there may not be lots of other teenagers around on your trip to The Maldives. Luckily, the resorts do bring all the kids together with their great kids’ clubs, which offer scuba diving, watersports, and beach games.
Broaden your teen’s horizons at the Maldives
How to get there
British Airways flies from London Gatwick to Malé, several times a week from November to March.
Travel time
A flight from London to Malé takes around 10 hours and 10 minutes.
Resorts can take everything from ten minutes to reach via speedboat to forty minutes on a seaplane from the capital, which you can organise when you book the resort.
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