Diva flies the flag for Family-Friendly Maldives
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Diva flies the flag for Family-Friendly Maldives
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Category: Asia Pacific - Maldives
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2010-06-17
Pioneering luxury resort Diva has revealed yet another surprising side to its personality, bringing a maternal touch to the Maldives with the creation of its complete Family Experience. Embracing kids of all ages, Diva’s Family Experience dispenses with hand-me-down concepts such as fold-out beds, boring board games and tagging along with Mum and Dad; at Diva, tots, teens, and everyone in between can enjoy their own magical Maldivian experience.
Traditionally regarded as the preserve of canoodling couples and hideaway honeymooners, the picturesque resorts of the Maldives have invariably catered for kids as something of an afterthought. Yet with fantastical, picture-book natural surroundings and warm, shallow lagoons teeming with multicoloured marine life, the islands are an inspiring, eye-opening treasure trove for young adventurers. Recognising this, Diva has further enhanced its already unrivalled family facilities - including no fewer than 18 interconnecting rooms and three interconnecting water villas - by adding a host of new services, facilities and activities designed especially for families.
Younger children are treated as guests in their own right from the moment they land at Diva, from being greeted in reception with a soft toy and fruit ‘mocktail’ to the personalised welcome letter and basket of sweets from The Nest that awaits in their villa. Equipped with indoor and outdoor play areas; soft ‘sleep’ room; special dining area; and TV and video games room, The Nest is a dedicated, supervised club for guests aged three - 12 years. An imaginative range of fun, educational activities include traditional Maldivian arts and crafts such as shell necklace making, palm weaving, Bodu Beru dancing and Henna painting; the Young Mixologist certificate, where kids learn to mix their favourite juices to make the perfect drink; and the Young Environmentalist programme, in which they explore the island’s tropical flora, herb gardens and orchid nursery and learn to respect and care for nature.
Kids as young as eight eager to get their first glimpse of the Maldives’ kaleidoscopic underwater seascapes are welcome at Diva’s PADI-certified dive centre, which offers ‘Bubblemakers’ and ‘Discover Scuba’ introductory lessons, with special children’s diving equipment provided.
Families with babies and toddlers under three years of age can even stop by The Nest to stock up on essentials such as extra nappies, swimming nappies, milk bottle sterilizers and baby care kits. Young families will also be reassured to know that rooms can be equipped with comfortable baby cots on request, baby sitters can be booked to give Mum and Dad an evening off, and staff have a “nothing is impossible” approach to even the most pernickety parental requests. Even mealtimes are a breeze: all of Diva’s seven restaurants are equipped with baby chairs and colouring packs to keep younger children entertained, and offer specially devised, healthy kids’ menus which can be tailored by the island’s chefs to suit specific dietary requirements. Baby food products are also available.
Independent-minded teenagers craving their own space can avoid having their style cramped by parents or younger siblings by hanging out at The Place, Diva’s sports café-style club especially for 13 – 17 year olds. Teen guests can enjoy PlayStation and Wii games; table football; table tennis; big-screen sports events; and their own non-alcoholic, no-smoking bar. There are regular opportunities to meet and socialise with other teenage guests, from movie nights and video game contests to a teens’ club night at Musik on Tuesdays, a sunset cruise on Thursdays and sunset fishing trips every Tuesday.
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