Bucket list destinations have a lot to live up to. And no place in the world draws the same reaction when you say you’re going away as the Maldives. But, with two kids in tow – both under five, I might add – does the hype match the reality? And can a family-friendly resort really offer the same luxurious escape that you see on your socials?
Where we stayed
The Maldives has over 100 resort islands, all accessible from Male via sea plane. Choosing one can feel overwhelming, because let’s face it, no resort in the Maldives is going to be bad. It all comes down to the tiny decisions; how can you tell which sea villa from the hundreds on offer is going to be the best? Which beach looks like it has the finest sand? Which sea, the best for snorkelling? My advice would be to nail down just one or two things that are non-negotiables for you and take it from there.
Jawakara resort initially appealed to me for its family-friendly feel – it’s got the largest kids club in the Maldives – but eventually won me over for completely different reasons. Think: all the paradise from your FYP, with the added benefit of facilities and activities to give you lots more ways to fill your days beyond the sunbed and the sea. Ideal for families, yes, but also groups or even just couples who like to fill their days with more.
This island, in Maldivian terms, is big. In fact, it was described as a ‘city’ by a fair few people that we met. Well, a city with only one two storey building, zero pollution, uninterrupted beaches and good, chill vibes only…
You get around the island by buggy, bike or foot – and while nowhere is particularly far (I think our longest bike ride was sub five minutes) – it did feel like a benefit to have all that extra space. I liked stretching my legs to get from A to B. It also gives you a few options when it comes to choosing a beach, or a pool to lie by, which keeps things varied for a longer stay.
The resort itself is split into two islands that you can independently move between – Mabin and Dheru. Plus there's a newer, adults-only offering across the sea from the same parent company (Crown & Champa Resorts).
Everyone's clicking on...
The accommodation
We stayed on the bigger island, Mabin, in a one-bedroom beach villa, which sits in its own plot facing an uninterrupted ocean view. There’s a small front ‘garden’ – aka the beach, complete with lounge chairs and umbrella and is shielded from neighbours thanks to conveniently placed hedges. The beach then opens up in front, so you can move from bed to ocean in about 30 steps. The villa itself is spacious but if you're adding beds like we did (two extra singles), you may be better off with one of the larger accommodations just to keep things less busy. There's a huge indoor/outdoor bathroom, complete with rainfall shower and two sinks - a big thumbs up in my view. Plus, the beds had my entire family sleeping soundly which, I’ll be honest, is an extremely rare feat indeed.
The beach villas are the most affordable of the accommodation on offer, but if you prefer a fancier affair, there are beach villas with jacuzzis or pools, as well as the iconic water villas the Maldives is so famous for.
What we did
Honestly, I could have spent the entire time simply paddling around the sea with a snorkel, but the kids needed a little more stimulation. Jawakara offers so many options in terms of entertainment and activities compared to other islands. In my view, that makes it an ideal place to stay if you’re travelling for a slightly longer period of time, regardless of whether you have kids of not.
Across just four days we packed in several different excursions and activities and still left a long list of things we would have liked to have done if we had more time. First up, a Sunset Dolphin Cruise – a must-do in my opinion and that’s coming from someone who didn’t even get to see dolphins. (Apparently, we were very unlucky). Despite this, the scenery and sunset couldn’t be beaten – and if you do get treated to a dolphin sighting, it’ll no doubt be a memory that lives long. Similarly, the hand-line fishing excursion kept the entire family entertained with the bonus of dinner; as our fish were passed to one of the restaurants on site and cooked the next evening, just for us.
For those without their sea legs, a nine-hole golf course sits in the middle of Mabin island, complete with driving range and golf simulator. It’s a great spot for a break from sunbathing, offering a fun activity for any age or skillset (there’s no snobby, pros-only vibes here).
In the kids’ club, there truly is no end to the activities little ones can enjoy; from sushi-making, to Zumba, wall climbing and more. Our kids particularly enjoyed a movie night under the stars (which we joined, because how cute!), set on bean bags, lit up by candles and served with sweet treats as the film played on a projector. The setup inside the club feels premium, too – clean, safe and engaging, we were very impressed with the standard of care on offer. There is one club for younger guests, 4-12, plus another for teens included in your stay, as well as a babysitting service for infants under 4 which is chargeable.
The resort also has padel, pickleball and tennis courts which we would have loved to have tried if we had more time. Plus, a football pitch, yoga classes, spa, watersports centre offering kayaking, jet ski tours and tonnes more, as well as a variety of snorkelling and diving excursions. When I’ve heard people say ‘but wouldn’t you get bored of paradise after a while’, the answer is very much: no. At least, not at Jawakara.
What we ate
There are a few different dining options you can add to your package when booking a stay at Jawakara: Bed and board, full board, all-inclusive and premium all inclusive. It’s worth looking at all the extras you’d get with the premium all-inclusive package, as it’s way more than just food and drink (think excursions, spa treatments, golf, snorkelling and even one free bag of laundry – which is a gamechanger, by the way). We also found food and drink to be so expensive on resort that it really wasn’t a money saver to go for a cheaper board option.
Jawakara has two main buffet restaurants on Mabin and one on Dheru, plus three a la carte options which are free for premium all-inclusive guests. The buffet restaurants were great, but in my opinion, you just can’t beat a la carte, especially when there are little mouths to feed and you don’t want to spend all meal getting up and down. Umi was a stand-out for us, with a delicious Asian-inspired menu and views for days (this is the only two-storey building on the entire island). Molo is the place to go if you’re craving a good bowl of pasta, and The Hideout is a surprisingly nice spot by the golf course, offering a change of scene from all the ocean views (and a yummy pina colada), just in case you start to tire of turquoise.
The need to know
The Maldives gets a rep for being difficult to get to, but we found the journey surprisingly easy: direct from London into Male’s Velana airport where we were met by a hotel rep and escorted seamlessly to the sea plane transfer. The flight to Jawakara takes about 45 minutes and feels more like an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience, rather than a commute.
While usually billed as a romantic getaway for couples, the nature of the Maldives makes it ideal for young families who want all the luxury and none of the stress. Plus, you can often find deals if you’re strategic. We used two companion vouchers (via the BA Amex Platinum) to cut costs on flights.
The starting room rate at Jawakara Maldives is US$749 for a Beach Villa on a Bed & Breakfast basis, based on double occupancy, including green tax.
Jess Edwards is Cosmopolitan UK’s Deputy Editor, working to deliver the very best experiences across the brand's platforms (print, social, video, digital), products and events, including a focus on our membership offering, Club Cosmo. Jess has worked in the media industry for almost 20 years and at Cosmopolitan for over 10 years, joining the brand as Fashion Editor and later going on to lead the digital team as Site Editor. With her background in lifestyle journalism, it is no surprise that you’re most likely to find her in the Fashion section and exploring the very best in hospitality via our Travel pages.
