Six Senses Laamu

Six Senses Laamu is a brilliant hotel for families.

Our Overwater Villa had plenty of room and could easily accommodate two adults and two under 12's. I also had a look at one of the Beach Villas which are a really good option for families with children under 5, especially with the natural shaded area by the pool.

On arrival we were met by our GEM (Guest Experience Maker) who organised all our activities and dining for us. There is so much to do at this resort and it never felt busy or overcrowded.

Six Senses Laamu could be the ultimate Maldivian experience for children. The kids club put on numerous activities each day and had regular beach buffet and film evenings (from 7.30pm), so the parents could eat separately if wanted.

The resort is very eco-friendly (e.g. you get round on your allocated bike, or golf buggy for those with mobility issues). For kids this is great fun, and there are a number of activities hosted by the resident marine biologists, including the house reef snorkelling.

One of the reasons we picked this hotel was for its Junior Marine Biology programme. Children from the age of 7 upwards can take part in the thrice weekly two hour sessions (approx. USD $100 per session), where they get to do a variety of classroom and water-based activates. As the full programme is 10 sessions, even a three week stay would mean they would never repeat a session.

The hotel offers a wide variety of water-based activities for all, from snorkelling and diving lessons to jet skis and game fishing. It's also a great place to surf, or even to learn to surf, as it offers world class waves. A number of guests come just to surf, and the hotel has its own dedicated surf centre and board room (for regular guests they'll even store your surfboard for you until your next visit!).

Barefoot luxury is pointless without the food and drink to match, and here the Six Senses Laamu really excels with some very imaginative local and international cuisine. Vegans and vegetarians are well catered for, and the hotel grows a decent amount of its own produce.

Finally, the place everybody visits at least once a day is ICE for complementary ice cream and sorbet (with around 50 different flavours each day available).

Top tip: The half board upgrade is well worth it, as it includes all restaurants, and there's no restriction on what is included.