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For dinner, we love The Lighthouse, the fine dining option with 360 Indian ocean views where I’m not surprised to hear the chef trained at El Bulli. The tuna steaks are perfect, and the location, even more so. After dark, the kids run in and out of the fresh air warm waters trying to spot baby sharks in the shallows! Another option is the more casual Fish Market on the pier, where the menu has a South-East Asian twist. My tip? The Seafood Pad Thai. Before dinner, every night, we visit the pool bar too for sundowners and enjoy the show, as the sun sets into the ocean, pink skies alight.
The Weather
Did I mention the heat? Proximity to the Equator makes it very warm. Coming from Europe, we seem to have forgotten how to function in 30+ degrees but thankfully the plan isn’t to do very much and we soon get used to the balmy atmosphere. Another tip? Don’t over-pack clothes, but do bring large quantities of SPF.
The Activities
Our first trip out is to track the giant Manta Rays that live in the waters off the atoll but, unfortunately, it’s the end of the season and they seem to have moved on already. All is not lost, however, the kids bond with Jessica who runs the programme and we go snorkelling off Turtle Reef. We spot turtles and an array of multi-coloured fish. The kids are hooked. Lennox, 10 is a convert, and even Tess, just six, is impressed with the snorkelling experience so arrangements are made to go and discover the resort’s home reef. The next day, when we swim out to the reef, in the warm shallows, I find it even more beautiful and teeming with fish and with even better visibility. The experience was amazing. We even spot a shark, but thankfully it seems more afraid of us than we are of him! Sadly, the kids decide they don’t want to attend the Planet Trekkers Kids Club every day, even though it’s got great facilities, so while Lennox zooms across the island on his bike with new-found friends enjoying the independence, Tess, definitely a water baby, spends time in the pool and on the beach. The list of action-packed activities is endless, from jet skiing to excursions but we take it slow. We head out on a pedalo one
afternoon for a different view of the ocean, and there’s a father and son Stand Up Paddle outing too. I fit in a cheeky afternoon at the spa, for a massage with yet more incredible views. Relaxation is key. Somehow, the week speeds by although we’ve done very little – but perhaps that is the whole point? We came here to find a change of scenery, to disconnect and spend time together without worrying about mundane logistics. It works!
The Verdict
It’s hard to say exactly what is the best thing about a break in the Maldives but for me it’s the total change in scenery. It’s the very definition of extraordinary and therefore every day, every minute spent there is special.
My only regret might be that I was so busy enjoying it all, so busy taking it all in, that I didn’t take any pictures. Photos are few and far between because we were too busy doing. Perhaps that means we have to go back? It’s a long way to go, but I know that if we are lucky enough to go back, there won’t be any whingeing en route because since we got home, all I hear is ‘when can we go back?’. For the kids it was the perfect escape somewhere beautiful, where they could roam free, with great food on tap, and pool time aplenty. No obligations either. What’s more, parents miraculously detached from laptops – and that is worth travelling 20 hours for any day.
Intercontinental® Maldives Maamunagau Resort
Maamunagau Island,Raa Atoll, Republic of Maldives
