Both diving and snorkelling are second-to-none here. Often you can snorkel straight from your luxury hotel room into waters full of tropical fish and beautiful coral. All hotels have their own dive centres.
Imagine an exquisite luxury hotel room that hovers over turquoise water. Soneva Gili and Cocoa Island are two great options. Some offer glass-bottomed floors while others are built to resemble the traditional dhoni boats used by local fisherman.
Like to feel the sand between your toes? Then opt for a luxurious beach villa and have your own slice of the shore. Soneva Fushi may be just the place.
Needless to say, the seafood is fabulous in the Maldives. And despite their isolation, gourmet hotel restaurants here offer menus to rival some of the best city dining. Apart from diving and eating well, most hotels offer fishing, windsurfing, sailing and tennis.
Mauritius tends to have the monopoly on Indian Ocean family holidays, but the Maldives can work too, especially for slightly older children. Check out the KidsOnly club at One&Only Reethi Rah.
Chartering a yacht around the Maldives is a blissful way to explore the thousands of atolls. Or have the best of both worlds at Huvafen Fushi, where you have the use of both a beach bungalow and a 65ft sailing boat.
All of our hand-picked hotels in the Maldives have superb spas. Our favourite is probably at Huvafen Fushi, where you can have your worries massaged away surrounded by tropical fish in their under water treatment rooms.