Maldives Vs Mauritius For Family Holidays

If you’re looking for a holiday in a tropical paradise – one with that elusive blend of indulgence relaxation and family fun – then both Mauritius and Maldives with their white-sand beaches, water sports and luxury family hotels galore will tick all your boxes. Take the Family is a UK-based travel agent that can arrange your dream family holiday in both of these locations, and in this guide we'll be exploring the benefits of both, so that you can decide which is best for you.

'Maldives does have the edge for its snorkelling and diving, with better coral reefs, more diverse marine life, including manta rays and whale sharks, and fantastic visibility, but you won’t be disappointed in Mauritius either.'

When it comes to which of these is best for your and your family, there are many questions and factors to be taken into consideration. We list the most important ones here.

Family Holidays to Maldives or Mauritius: Which is Cheaper?

The Maldives tends to be more exclusive and hence more expensive than Mauritius, although in the last few years the former has made incursions into the field of ‘affordable luxury’ (affordability being, of course, relative) with an increase in the number of four- and even three-star resorts. Maldives also has some local islands with basic hotels aimed at divers on a budget.

Maldives family holiday packages tend to be all inclusive – after all, there’s nowhere else to go to eat when you’re on a private island! But all inclusive means different things at different resorts – you might still have to pay extra for certain water sports and other activities, as well as for things specific to the Maldives, such as seaplane transfers to further-flung resorts in the archipelago.

Mauritius resorts do tend to have water sports included, which is one of the big plus points over Maldives – it generally offers more for your money.

On the other hand, in the Maldives you are paying for very unique experiences that you can get in few other places, such as overwater villas, restaurants, spas and even stargazing observatories! And in some some places, your overwater villa might even come with its own waterslide into the Indian Ocean…

Is Maldives or Mauritius Better for Activities?

It really depends what you want from your break. As some of the world’s best beach destinations, the Maldives and Mauritius are both excellent for water sports of all kinds. Maldives does have the edge for its snorkelling and diving, with better coral reefs, more diverse marine life, including manta rays and whale sharks, and fantastic visibility. But you won’t be disappointed in Mauritius either, especially in Blue Bay Marine Reserve in the south with its spectacular tropical fish, turtles and dolphins.

Hiking and Sports

Mauritius is obviously bigger and hence has more variety to its landscapes and what they offer – there’s lots of scope for hiking here, and the island also has a good reputation for its golf courses, some with kids’ tuition.

Culture and History

There’s also more opportunity for getting out and about exploring in Mauritius – and that includes not just its coastline, its forests and its jungles, but also its villages, towns and cities. The capital Port Louis is particularly fascinating for its rich cultural mix.

All this said, some resorts in Maldives offer guests the chance to visit local islands where you can meet locals going about their daily business and see how tourist revenue benefits them (for instance, by funding the building of mosques or schools, or by buying vegetables from them).

Childcare

And both Mauritius and Maldives have a great choice of hotels with childcare, ranging from babysitting and crèches for very young visitors to teen clubs via kids’ clubs for those in the middle. We can advise on the best kid-friendly resorts in Maldives and Maldives for those who want their kids to make new friends while trying fantastic activities such as nature walks and marine biology sessions – giving you the chance to escape to the spa!

Is the Mauritius Flight Time Better Than the Maldives?

Direct UK to Maldives flights (which are seasonal) take about 10 hours, or with a stopover in the Middle East you’re looking at 12 hours and up. On arrival in the Maldives, you may have to wait for your speedboat or seaplane transfer, but many resorts have their own lounges where you can freshen up and enjoy complimentary food and drinks. Maldives seaplane transfers (which are very exciting and include spellbinding views of the atolls) can take anything from 15 to 90 minutes, depending on your choice of resort. Speedboat transfers range from 10 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes.

Direct UK to Mauritius flights take 12 hours, so there’s not much in it. There are also cheaper connecting flights available if you can face a changeover and wait en route. The furthest resorts from the airport are about a 70-minute transfer away, but some are just 10 minutes or so by road.

Jet Lag

You are more likely to suffer jet-lag when travelling to Maldives, which is generally 4–5 hours ahead of the UK but can be more as some hotels operate on ‘resort time’ (one or two hours ahead of the time in the capital Malé). Mauritius is 3–4 hours ahead and you’re unlikely be jet-lagged.

Both Maldives and Mauritius holiday packages include flights.

Does Mauritius or Maldives have better food?

Again, this is very subjective. Being so exclusive and luxury-focused, Maldives tends to have more high-end restaurants, including fine dining and even Michelin-starred options at some resorts. It also has lots of lovely overwater restaurants, and even underwater versions in a couple of resorts! An increasing number of resorts also have Maldivian restaurants introducing you to the authentic cuisine of the islands, which makes wonderful use of local tuna and coconut milk.

But Mauritius hotels also have superb dining, and if you choose a half-board package you also give yourself the scope to try out authentic local eateries. Mauritius’ cuisine is a delicious blend of the island’s many multicultural influences, including Malay, Indian, Chinese, French and Creole.

Port Louis is great for a foodie tour and for visits to the markets to see daily life in action while sampling tasty treats such as roti rolls, Chinese sweets and alouda (a traditional drink made with basil seeds and agar agar).

Maldives or Mauritius: Which Has the Best Weather?

Both have a tropical climate, which means they both have very hot weather at times and also rainy seasons. Which destination you choose may depend on when you want to go. The best time to visit Mauritius is either April–June or September–December, while the best time to visit Maldives is November–April.

We encourage families to go to Mauritius in our summer, when it offers relatively reasonable prices (comparable to five-stars in the Mediterranean) and reasonable temperatures in the low 20°Cs (both land and sea), making it especially great for younger kids.

Choose Take the Family for Your Family Holiday

Whether you opt for Maldives or Mauritius, Take the Family can organise an unforgettable trip that makes precious memories for all the family. Talk to us about organising your dream trip, and see our best family resorts in Mauritius and our best Maldives resorts for families.

Alternately, check out family holidays in Seychelles.