Family
JOALI Maldives reveals enchanting Easter 2025 festivities
JOALI Maldives, the first and only art-immersive island in the Maldives, has announced its 2025 Easter theme, ‘Where Wonders Soar.’ Drawing inspiration from the Painted Lady Butterfly, known for its migration to hidden corners of the world, the resort invites guests to embark on their own journey of freedom and transformation. From April 11th to 21st, 2025, JOALI Maldives will offer a series of festivities designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, joyful bonding, and connection.
For this Easter celebration, JOALI Maldives will host world-renowned pastry chef and chocolatier Chef Gonzo Jimenez, star of Netflix’s ‘Bakesquad.’ Recognised for his exquisite chocolate artistry and commitment to sustainability, Chef Jimenez will conduct a week-long residency from April 16th to 23rd. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the art of chocolate making, indulge in decadent desserts inspired by the Painted Lady Butterfly, and participate in masterclasses designed for both children and adults. A limited-time dessert crafted by Chef Jimenez will add an extra layer of delight to the Easter celebrations.
Additionally, the resort will welcome back acclaimed Visiting Chef Alex Webb, known for his innovative culinary expertise and his winning dishes on BBC’s ‘MasterChef: The Professionals.’ Chef Webb will present a specially curated five-course set menu, combining bold flavours and inventive techniques for a memorable dining experience. The ‘Flavours of Joy Gourmet Dinner’ will be available from April 19th to 21st.
Beyond gastronomy, a diverse calendar of daily ‘Where Wonders Soar’ Easter activities will be offered from April 11th to 21st, featuring:
- Creativity and Art: As the Maldives’ first and only art-immersive island, JOALI integrates art throughout its offerings. Guests can participate in art classes focusing on recycling and sustainability, including ceramic crafting, hand-painting repurposed glass bottles, exploring butterfly sanctuaries through a Spring Reflections class, fluid painting, and traditional Easter egg and chocolate bunny decorating.
- Culinary Explorations: Alongside Chef Webb’s five-course menu, guests can enjoy a celebratory Easter breakfast and a Joyful Easter Feast buffet-style dinner featuring signature JOALI dishes paired with classic holiday favourites. Other specialty dining experiences throughout the week include a Good Friday breakfast, a Sundowner Reception, Sushi by the Sea, the Old World Wine Dinner, The Love of Levant six-course wine-paired dinner, the Street Food Fiesta market-style buffet, and Tastes of Soake, a five-course experience at the resort’s over-water Japanese-Peruvian restaurant.
- Land & Sea Adventures: Guests can embrace the vibrant nature of spring with a range of outdoor experiences, including a Seas of Gold sunset cruise, jet-ski adventures, eFoil electric board rides, family fitness challenges, and an Easter Football Cup match.
- Wellness: The Easter theme of rebirth, wonder, and transformation is reflected in an array of mindful wellness experiences. Guests can partake in gratitude meditation, a cacao ceremony, and various yoga classes, including aerial yoga, core activation, and Yin Yoga, all within the serene environment of JOALI BEING Cure.
For families, the Muramas Kids Club will offer engaging activities designed to foster creativity and adventure, including:
- Rainbow Doodles: Easter Decoration – A fun-filled Easter-themed doodling session where children can decorate eggs, bunnies, and seasonal symbols using vibrant colors.
- Easter Bunny Quest: Family Easter Egg Hunt – A lively egg hunt featuring the Easter Bunny, bringing excitement and laughter to the whole family.
- Floating Fun: Bubble Party – A beachside bubble celebration where children can chase and pop shimmering bubbles under the Maldivian sun.
- Galactic Explorers: Stargazing – An educational session led by an in-house astronomer, allowing children to observe stars, constellations, and distant planets.
- Movie Under the Stars – An open-air cinema experience on the beach, where families can watch a movie under the starry sky with the soothing sound of ocean waves in the background.
General Manager Shifaz Hassan expressed excitement about welcoming new and returning guests to the ‘Island of Joy’ during the Easter season. He highlighted JOALI Maldives’ unique approach to hospitality, where art, creativity, and adventure come together to offer an unparalleled experience for guests of all ages.
Family
Kuda Villingili to host ‘Friendly Spirits & Ghosts After Dark’ this Halloween
This Halloween, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives invites families to reconnect over a week of island celebrations. From 28 October to 1 November 2026, Friendly Spirits & Ghosts After Dark brings together imaginative children’s activities, Halloween evenings and time shared in the Maldives.
Home to a 150-metre swimming pool—one of the largest in the country —Kuda Villingili is among the best places to stay in the Maldives for families seeking space, privacy and experiences to enjoy together. Spacious one- to four-bedroom private pool villas provide space and privacy for multi-generational stays, complemented by eight restaurants, a dedicated Kids Club, spa and wellness experiences, watersports, surfing, tennis and pickleball. The five-star luxury resort in the Maldives is located just 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport.

Designed for young explorers, this year’s celebration introduces Kuda Fiyo & the Friendly Ghosts, an original island story that brings Halloween to life through imagination and discovery. Throughout the week, children can follow Kuda Fiyo on an adventure featuring creative workshops, themed games, arts and crafts, treasure hunts, cookie and cupcake decorating, mocktail experiences and a Halloween Party— giving families a collection of family experiences in the Maldives to enjoy together.
As the sun sets, Ghosts After Dark takes over with Halloween-inspired experiences for families, couples and friends. Guests can enjoy haunted cocktails at sunset, set sail on a themed sunset cruise, explore the house reef during guided night snorkelling, try their hand at Halloween mixology or settle in beneath the stars for an open-air movie night. A Halloween Buffet Dinner with seasonal dishes and live entertainment anchors the celebrations, while themed cocktails and mocktails are served throughout the week.

Beyond Halloween, families have the freedom to shape each day around what they enjoy most. They can discover the marine world together, dine across the resort’s restaurants, retreat to the privacy of their villa or spend an afternoon beside the expansive pool. With experiences for different ages and interests, there is space to come together as well as time to enjoy the island individually.
This Halloween, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives offers families the chance to reconnect, create new traditions and experience the season differently. Friendly Spirits & Ghosts After Dark brings together children’s adventures, evenings by the sea and the freedom of an island holiday.
Because the best family traditions are not simply celebrated—they are created together.

View Kuda Villingili’s Halloween 2026 brochure here. For more information about Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, please visit www.kudavillingili.com.
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Joy Island Maldives expands guest activities with new Joy Arcade
Joy Island Maldives, part of The Cocoon Collection, has expanded its leisure offering with the launch of Joy Arcade, the resort’s first dedicated gaming room.
The new facility has been introduced as an indoor entertainment space where guests can play individually or with friends and family, adding another activity to the resort’s programme beyond the beach, lagoon and outdoor experiences.

Joy Arcade features four gaming stations built around simulation and virtual reality technology. The line-up includes a three-screen racing car simulator, equipped with a force-feedback steering wheel and pedals; VR Moto, a motion-based motorcycle simulator that moves in response to the virtual terrain; a 9D VR Platform, featuring two motion pods and a selection of adventure, horror and flight experiences; and VR Gun Shooting, which combines a headset with a motion-tracked controller and an in-room leaderboard.
The racing simulator accommodates one player at a time and is recommended for guests aged eight and above, while VR Moto is recommended for those aged 10 and above. The 9D VR Platform can accommodate up to two players and is recommended for guests aged six and above, while VR Gun Shooting is designed for one player at a time and recommended for ages eight and above.

The arcade operates daily from 10am to noon, 2pm to 6pm and 9pm to 11pm. Walk-in guests do not need to make an advance booking, with passes available from the arcade desk during operating hours.
Guests can choose from one-, two-, three- and four-hour Play Passes, as well as an Unlimited Day Pass. Each pass provides access to all four gaming stations, with the duration determining the amount of playing time available. The resort advises guests to check with the arcade desk for current pricing and any rates linked to resort or stay packages.
Joy Arcade is open to guests of all ages, although younger players may require a parent or guardian when using motion-based equipment. Headsets, controllers and safety equipment are provided and sanitised between uses. The room can also be booked for birthday parties and other events, with private sessions, party host assistance and refreshments available for groups.

The addition expands the range of recreational facilities at Joy Island, which positions activities as a central part of its guest experience. The resort also offers tennis and padel, fitness and wellness sessions, excursions, diving and water sports, while its Kids’ Club, Kiddie Cove, provides supervised activities for children aged three to 12.
Its Dive & Water Sports Centre offers activities including scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, jet skiing, parasailing, wakeboarding and waterskiing. Other experiences include dolphin cruises, fishing trips and marine excursions.
Joy Island is located in North Malé Atoll, around 40 kilometres from Velana International Airport and approximately 40 minutes away by speedboat. The resort has 151 villas, comprising 91 beach villas and 60 overwater villas, with accommodation options that include villas with private plunge pools. Interiors feature furnishings and design elements by Italian design company LAGO.
The resort also operates Oasis Spa, where treatments combine Eastern and Western wellness approaches, including Balinese massage, hot stone massage, aromatherapy and couples’ treatments. Its fitness programme includes yoga, Pilates, Zumba, aqua fitness, gym sessions, beach volleyball and racquet sports.
Joy Island’s food and beverage offering comprises three restaurants and a bar. The Market serves international cuisine through buffet and live cooking stations, while Il Basilico focuses on Italian dishes, including wood-fired pizza. Palm Beach offers beachfront dining, including seafood and grilled dishes, while Rainbow Bar, located beside the swimming pool, serves drinks throughout the day. The resort also offers destination dining experiences, including sandbank picnics, lagoon dinners, beach dinners and garden dining.
With Joy Arcade, the resort is adding an indoor gaming component to an activity programme that already spans water sports, diving, wellness, excursions, children’s activities and racquet sports, providing guests with an additional option for entertainment throughout their stay.
Family
Outdoor adventures, football sessions planned for Velaa Kids Week
Velaa Private Island will host Velaa Kids Week from 3 to 9 August 2026, bringing together outdoor activities, team challenges and sports sessions for young guests.
The programme will be delivered in partnership with Sharky & George, which specialises in activities and experiences for children. It has been designed to encourage creativity, curiosity and confidence through games and island-based exploration.
Activities will include outdoor adventures, interactive games, team challenges and opportunities to discover the resort’s natural surroundings. The programme will also provide children with opportunities to form friendships and develop teamwork skills during their stay.
World champion freestyle footballer Tobias Becs will join this year’s event, adding a sporting component to the programme. Becs will conduct sessions and demonstrations in which children can learn freestyle football skills, take part in physical activities and try new techniques.
His involvement is intended to introduce young guests to freestyle football in an accessible format, with sessions combining demonstrations, participation and play.
Velaa Kids Week forms part of the resort’s family programming and will offer a scheduled series of activities throughout the seven-day event.
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