Maldives

If your idea of paradise is powdery white beaches, turquoise waters and clear blue skies – the Maldives will not disappoint. Children will enjoy their very own treasure island to explore, making the Maldives a fabulous setting for a luxury family holiday. Up until around two decades ago, these 1,192 coral islands were sitting almost unnoticed by sun-seekers. Today, its popularity as the ultimate tropical hideaway has created a wealth of some of the best family hotels in the world.

For many centuries they’ve watched sailors from all nations come and go, or stay and settle, adding their different attitudes and beliefs to the cultural melting pot. And when you arrive, you’ll probably want to stay too – such is the peaceful beauty of the gleaming sands, the inviting call of the blue and turquoise lagoons and the gaudy thrill of the underwater coral gardens.

On top of all this, there’s the romantic feeling of having an island to yourself – a result of the ‘one island, one hotel’ policy on which the Maldivians insist. It’s your own personal paradise, surrounded by the whispering ocean that is the central feature of any holiday here. From the villas that stand at its edge, contemplating the eternal horizon, to the catamarans that cut across its gently rolling waters, it is the centre of everything.