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Maldives

Soneva Fushi, Maldives

The island eco resort of Soneva Fushi, Maldives: the epitome of barefoot luxury and the perfect place for toddlers to take their first steps across the beautiful sandy beaches .And when you want some time alone, there’s lots to keep the kids busy.

Why go?

If you want a relaxing holiday in paradise, there’s nowhere more perfect than Soneva Fushi in The Maldives.

One of the world’s original eco resorts it’s philosophy is SLOW LIFE (Sustainable, Local, Organic, Wellness, Learning, Inspiring, Fun, Experiences).  

The resort is designed to complement the natural landscape with tree-top walkways, thatched rooftops and outdoor showers – the epitome of barefoot luxury.

Over the years Soneva Fushi has made a concious effort to improve the resort experience for families. It now boasts the largest selection of multi-bedroom villas (many with private pools) anywhere in The Maldives, from two bedroom villas to unique tree houses. All have stunning views and direct access to the beach.

Activities

Soneva have loads of activites for you to enjoy as a family, from exploring the marine life, to watching movies together at the outdoor cinema, complete with pizza and popcorn.

Dolphin watching from a traditional dhoni is also a must, as well as checking in with one of the resident astronomers for a spot of star gazing. 

And when you want some time alone, there’s lots to keep the kids busy. They’ll love meeting friends at onsite picnics and outdoor sleepovers or at shorter activities like treasure hunts, coconut bowling, beach sports and crafts. 

You’ll even be given bikes to get around, but really this is about kicking off your shoes and enjoying your very own desert island experience.  

Food: To complement their eco ethos the resort has cultivated gardens where guests of all ages can choose organic ingredients and create dishes with one of the chefs.  Dining options include Japanese and Mediterranean, with separate children’s menus, half-portions and specialist foods on request to suit the fussiest of eaters. Whatever your age though, you won’t be able to resist sampling the resort’s homemade icecreams – there’s an amazing 60 flavours. 

There’s also The Den’s kids club, which opens in October 2013.

Don’t Miss: Spa-time is a big part of the Soneva Fushi experience. The Six Senses Spa provides specialist treatments from around the world, many using homemade products such as coconut rubs and papaya wraps. There’s also mini treatments for kids and family yoga sessions. 

The lowdown

Price: Stay from £4,500 for a family of four staying in a Villa Suite, with pool for seven nights. Kids under one year stay free. Early booking and longer-stay discounts are also available. 

How to get there: Fly British Airways; from £818 return.  On arrival, you will be greeted by a Soneva Fushi host and escorted on a 30 minute seaplane cruise to the resort.

Flight time:  A flight from London to Male takes 10 hours.

Best time to go?: The dry season from December-April is the best time to go. Though monsoon season (May-November) still offers a pleasant climate and is less busy. 

What to pack

WATERPROOF CAMERAS

Available from

There’s a wealth of underwater cameras on the market, lucky for you we’ve sifted through them and pulled out the best of the bunch.

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OUR FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S SUNSCREENS

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We round up the best sunscreens for your family holiday, to keep your kids protected.

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Categories
Tech

The Best Waterproof Cameras

Don’t fear ruining your camera in the rain or by the pool, make sure you’re equipped with the best waterproof cameras to make great family holiday photos.

OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH TG-2

The lowdown: The Tough TG-2 claims to be virtually indestructible and has some great features that its rivals don’t offer. Among them, the addition of wide-angle or fisheye lenses to the 5X optical zoom, and 11 filters to get creative with.

We love: The Beauty Make-Up Mode, which allows you to choose from 18 different effects such as eyeliner, lipstick, eye brightening and cheek lift. Well who doesn’t love instant beautification?

Where to buy: Amazon; from £200

 

FUJIFILM FINEPIX XP200

The lowdown: The latest underwater camera from the Fujifilm family can be used in depths of 15m, which makes it one of the best on the market, and has a 5X optical zoom. The quality of pictures is high and it has fun settings, such as pop colour filters and soft focus for a romantic look. It also comes with wireless transfer to upload straight to social networking sites. 

We love: The motion panorama, which produces 360-degree images just by panning the camera. 

Where to buy: Amazon; from £259.99

 

NIKON COOLPIX AW110 

The lowdown: This camera is so hardcore it’s even camouflaged. It can withstand depths of up to 18m, temperatures for up to -10°C, and has a 5X optical zoom.

We love: Its barometer, which measures atmospheric pressure and can also be used to forecast the weather, as well as the built-in GPS and world map – so the adventurers among you can not only record the location of your photos, but also track journey routes.

Where to buy: Amazon, from £200

 

CANON POWERSHOT D20  

The lowdown: Canon’s second underwater camera isn’t all about the gimmicks, it produces great quality, sharp photos too. Its wide-angle lens has a 5X optical zoom, and while it can be used in water up to 10m deep, you can buy a case allowing you to go 40m.

We love: That it allows you to focus on subjects above and below water at the same time. The menu is easy to navigate and the screen clear even in bright light.

Where to buy: Amazon; from £255.50