Island-living at its best, year round sunshine, warm water, water sports, top dive sites and a safe environment, Maldives has become a very popular travel destination now, more than ever. However, the reputation of being a honeymoon destination might put off families with children from going.

Have you thought of visiting Maldives with your children?

The first time I thought about it, I was skeptical but my online research reveals that more and more resorts are catering for families nowadays. And with several offering special rates and offers and airfare deals, especially in the off season, going to the Maldives as a family is easier than it was years ago.

We stayed at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi and it was very family friendly, offering time out for adults and lots of fun for the children. Look at the expression on his face!

We had the best holiday as a family this summer and everyone really enjoyed, most especially the kids!

Things to bear in mind though when booking your holiday in the Maldives, especially with babies and toddlers are:

1. Keep travel time as short as possible by booking direct flights for example, to Male or one with the minimum transfers.

Our flight was Dubai to Colombo (4 hours), an hour of layover at Bandaranaike International Airport and then 1.5 hours to Male.

At Male, we needed to get on a seaplane and the flight duration was 45 minutes. The littlest one in our family is almost 3 years old (2 years and 9 months to be precise at the time of travel) and he was perfectly ok.

There are several resorts that are near the main island but I will write about the difference between a resort near the capital (with minimum time transfer by speed boat compared to resorts in more remote locations).

2. Finding a resort near the mainland can give you peace of mind in the unlikely event you need hospital. Otherwise, pick a resort with a clinic.

The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi has a clinic and on-island doctor which we actually visited when Pristine got a case of mild motion sickness after a snorkeling trip. The consultation was chargeable at $30. The doctor was available at the clinic and could also do in-room consultation ($40). Medicines were readily available too.

While our resort is far from the capital city, there is a nearby island which is 20 minutes by ferry that has a hospital, I was told by staff.

3. Water villas are not the best choice if you have a baby or younger children. Water villas are only for adult guests or families with children 12 years old and above due to safety reasons.

Imagine waking up to this.

Staying in a water villa must be the ultimate Maldives experience and this type of water villa called Aqua Retreat at the Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is like something straight out of a dream.

The water villa can wait because Benjamin is still small, however, our Deluxe Beach Villa with private pool was no less than awesome.

4. Choose a resort with a kids club, preferable one offering babysitting services.

…because moms and dads need some alone time too.

The Koamas Kids Club at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is spacious and well run with lovely staff. Benjamin loved playing there.

Speaking of kids, I would add that the kid’s corner at Iru Restaurant is a huge plus! Finally, we can enjoy slow breakfast without having to chase Benjamin around. It is equipped with soft mats and slides for kids.

The kids corner at Iru Restaurant is massive and it is located in a separate section for families. Benjamin absolutely LOVED this corner and looked forward to it every single morning while we were there.

So, how kid friendly is The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi? Kids* stay, play and eat for free!

Children are well catered for with specific child-friendly food in the main buffet and outlets.

* 12 years old and below

We loved our stay at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi because they really made our time worth it. They made the children feel special – almost all of the staff knows the children by their first names!

That said, Maldives has definitely become a popular family destination too and I would suggest you keep it in your family travel bucket list. After all, this is one of Earth’s greatest paradise – with an expiration date! It’s undeniable that with the rate of how global warming is progressing, this island nation might not exist a few years from now!

We stayed as guests of The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives. However, all opinions in this review are mine. For more information about this resort, please visit the official website.