White-sand beach; overwater spa with treatment rooms; tennis court; two boutiques (one selling jewellery, one selling clothing); kids club; departure lounge with showers; free WiFi. In rooms: TV, DVD player, minibar.
Do you want to wake up bang on the beach or in an overwater villa? (This is about as stressful as decision-making gets here.) We’d opt for the latter, thanks to the overwater villas' overwater plunge pools and chic sea-and-sand colour scheme. Number 90 is the very last villa on the jetty, so feels very private (but be prepared for a 1km walk to breakfast… perhaps just order room service?).
Spy on the ocean from the glittering main pool, next to Jahaz restaurant and the bar. When you want to cool down, stake out sun loungers under an umbrella or in the shade of one of the swaying palm trees. Each villa has its own plunge pool.
Wannabe Nadals can leave their rackets and balls behind – the hotel has a stash of tennis kit for guests to borrow. Snorkelling equipment is also on loan.
Welcome. Extra beds (from US$190 a night, depending on board options) and cots (free) can be added to rooms; the various restaurants all share a children’s menu. Babysitting is available (US$20 an hour, plus tax, before 7pm; US$25 after that).
Best for
All ages.
Recommended rooms
For bags of room, book a Beach Villa: the Family Beach Villas are best for parents with younger children; the Double Storey Beach Villas are perfect for parents with teens in tow.
Crèche
None, but there’s a kids club for 4-11-year olds (younger ones can come too, if they’re accompanied by a parent). There’s no charge for using the kids club, which offers a different set of themed activities every day.
Activities
Kids will love the beach, pool and watersports on offer (wakeboarding, water skiing, windsurfing, pedalos and catamaran lessons). Diving courses are available for over-7s. The kids club offers plenty of special sessions for young ‘uns, including pizza-making, arts and crafts, pirate adventures and more.
Swimming pool
Kids will love the swimming pool and the sandy beach in front of it. There’s no shallow end, just steps leading into the pool, so keep an eye on hesitant water babies.
Meals
Each of the three restaurants has a children’s menu; highchairs are also on-loan at all three.
Babysitting
Babysitting with hotel staff is available for around US$20 an hour (plus tax) before 7pm, US$25 after that (two-hour minimum).
No need to pack
The hotel can provide beakers/feeder cups, indoor/soft toys, books, crayons/paints and paper, outdoor toys, arm bands/swimming aids for infants, board games and puzzles.
Also
Extra beds are free for under-7s; for children aged 7-12, it's US$190 a night (US$240 a night for half-board, US$305 for all-inclusive). Extra beds for guests aged 13-and-up are US$380 a night (US$480 a night for half-board, and US$610 a night for all-inclusive).