If heaven were an island it would be The Ritz-Carlton Maldives

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is heavenly for families and a wild adventure for kids, Harriet Mallinson envelops herself in its want-for-nothing embrace.

EAU Bar, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

I’m trying to eat just a boiled egg, only it’s not going well. I can pretty much see the confused waiter side-eyeing the bulging buffet where bao buns, Indian dosas and local curries steam. Not to mention a pastry corner to rival Gails, and an actual cupboard of breads (Naarnia?). “How about the Maldivian breakfast?” he all but pleads.

Ostensibly it’s an attempt at low calories but honestly I’m overwhelmed by choice. I’ve arrived at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives a broken woman after a missed connecting flight left us stranded for a sleep-deprived 16 hours in Abu Dhabi, and decision-making is beyond me. I gratefully succumb to the suggestion, and to the entire easy, palm-rustling breeziness of a stay here, enveloping myself in its want-for-nothing embrace.

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Fari Marina Village, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives

Expect sheer escapism at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives

Escaping strife is par for the course amid the beauty of the Maldives, thanks to the islands’ shortbread-hued sands and clear turquoise waters so appealing you could stick in a cocktail umbrella. But, at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives’ four-year-old Indian Ocean outpost, existence becomes so luxuriously simple we run the risk of becoming as lazy and spoiled as sneer-worthy C-listers.

For starters, mums and dads can be almost relieved of parenting altogether: the Ritz Kids team meet children upon arrival, proffering tempting gifts of rucksacks, t-shirts, colouring books and more, before whisking them away from 9am to as late as 9pm, if a romantic evening alone beckons.

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Ritz Kids, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Kids’ entertainment is laid on by the conch shell load here

Equally, kids entertainment is laid on by the conch shell load, from pizza and lemonade making (best get that lesson about life in early) to palm leaf arts and bracelet making (in case Taylor Swift does another tour), as well as movie nights and fish spotting around the island.

Star-studded residencies also crop up throughout the year: YouTuber the DadLab attended this summer to introduce fun science experiments to little ones, and soon, a National Geographic shark scientist will be along to impart some sharp-toothed wisdom to the young.

Not that you need to wait for the experts. Holiday-report-worthy excursions for children and adults are always available as part of Ritz-Carlton’s extensive Halo of Discoveries (otherwise known as an activity programme, to you and me).

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Dolphin Excursion, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives rolls out the fun for adults too

One morning we head out aboard a traditional dhoni to a nearby dive spot and swim along a reef teeming with stripey fish, blue-tailed fish, weirdly long fish – a cast diverse enough to make a Gen Z Netflix crew proud. We’re hunting for sharks (a sentence I never thought I’d say) although luckily these are ‘vegetarian’, our guide reminds us. When we do spot the blacktips and whitetips shimmying through the deep beneath us, it’s clear the creatures couldn’t be less interested in GoPro-toting landlubbers  (even with staff diving down to secure the best shot) – while us overenthused bipeds bubble-squeal like boy band fans.

Just as unfazed is the nonchalant turtle I’m amazed to spot directly under me, after a pause to fiddle with my snorkel mask. The dozy yet elegant reptile meanders across my stinging vision, marine congregations parting as though making way for passing royalty. Nature nudges us too, the reef’s current bumping our group along like luggage at airport security, until soon we’re back on the boat, with drinks and snacks offered around, as we laze on the top deck’s brightly-coloured bean bags, nursing swollen lips and sun-drying our salty limbs.

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Eco Heroes Programme, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

The freedom to shape every day to fit your mood

Kids over eight can also learn to scuba dive here, but you don’t always need to pay extra to enjoy sports. Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are available free of charge, and one afternoon we strike up an impromptu badminton match and scamper around on the soft sand with a towering palm tree serving as umpire, while nearby, fellow guests start a beach football game.

Even if your own gang isn’t keen, staff at the tennis court will, ahem, play ball at no extra cost, to name just a fraction of the pursuits.

READ MORE: The best family holidays are all about sharing unforgettable experiences

One-bedroom beach pool villa, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives’ ‘no-need-to-lift-a-finger’ service

Whether you’re staying in a villa, signature villa or one of the residences, the pinnacle of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives’ no-need-to-lift-a-finger service is personified by the ‘Aris Meha’ butlers: part of a slickly-run operation worthy of a presidential security team.

“I don’t know if I’ve purchased a friend or a mother,” my indecently relaxed partner says of our (Ms) Jeeves after she pops round with insect bite cream following a plea by text, which was answered in seconds.

We even receive daily, inspirational WhatsApp messages from her, along with invitations to be ferried around in a buggy, should we need it.

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The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Go for a cycle, try yoga at sunrise or just chill on the beach

We rarely do, as getting around by bicycle quickly becomes an unlikely joy of our time at the resort (kids’ bikes, trikes and children’s seats are all available). After forcing myself up for sunrise yoga one morning I soon find the two-wheeled commute balmily energising – something else I never thought I’d say. Fitness here is easy to commit to: daily gym classes with the resident personal trainer are included, and I feel decidedly smug sweating on the beach before splashing into the blue to cool down.

READ MORE: Six really easy ways to save on family holidays in the Maldives

Spa, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives

Take time to heal in The Ritz-Carlton Maldives spa

If all this wasn’t enough to make you switch off from back-home toil, a trip to The Ritz-Carlton Spa will spell it out for you, literally. ‘Time to heal’, states the message written out in pebbles on the floor of my treatment room as I enter a sound healing session. A bold statement given how little this therapist knows about my niggling anxieties, but after an hour, I’m so relaxed I’ve fallen asleep  – which I’ve never done before – and awake to my own loud, pug-like snore.

Stumbling out into the tropical sunlight and crossing over the pale jade waters – surely a dose of wellness all by themselves – back to the beach, I relish a rare moment alone. Bats unexpectedly dart among the oversized canopy leaves, while flightless water herons bicker with skittering lizards among the roots, and a warm breeze kitten-soft kisses my face.

If our cheerful waiter from last night is to be believed, Maldivians say they’re “hot and spicy” when they’re feeling well, and as my face prickles in the growing sunshine and a post-spa bonhomie blooms, I can see what they mean.

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