Holiday Inn Kandooma, Maldives

A contemporary resort with good facilities that attracts families. It perhaps lacks the authentic Maldivian feel of more traditional resorts, and there is no house reef from the beach, but it prices well and is a short ride from Male, so a good option for a quick getaway, especially if you're taking the kids!

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma is a contemporary, lagoon-facing, tropical island hideaway just a 40 minute speedboat ride from Male International Airport. Slip into island life from the moment you arrive at the resort, with world-class South Malé Atoll diving and surfing on your doorstep. The beach villas ooze style and boast luxury touches like outdoor showers and i-Pod docking stations.

Grab a coffee and wood-fired pizza from the Bokkuraa Coffee Club beside the sparkling infinity pool, or unwind with a good book and views over the peaceful lagoon. You can indulge in a soothing Thai massage and beauty treatments in the Kandooma Spa, and book the Spa Suite's private garden with plunge pool for a romantic afternoon.

Learn to sail on a catamaran trip around the region's sandbanks and take it easy with alcohol-free cocktails on a sunset cruise. It's just 5 minutes by boat from Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives for diving and snorkelling among colourful tropical fish on the reef.

Face-painting and fun games keep the children entertained in the Kids' Club, while parents unwind with a game of tennis or a workout in the gym....or a cocktail!

Round off a perfect day with a Maldivian seafood feast and breathtaking sunsets on the deck at The Kitchen restaurant.