Family
JOALI Maldives unveils new kids club
This summer, JOALI Maldives is set to take young guests on a journey filled with joy, creativity, and learning.
The first and only immersive art and design resort in the Maldivian archipelago, JOALI Maldives, has announced a new Kids Summer Club programme for its young guests staying between August 1-31, 2022. The all new complimentary club at JOALI Maldives has been specially crafted for children between the age 4 and 12 years.
The two-week programme will run through June, July, and August. Calling all budding artists, chefs, and little adventurers, the club will roll out fun and immersive activities at the Muramas Kids Club. All experiences have been carefully curated by JOALI’s expert team of resident artists, marine-biologists, and chefs, providing the ideal blend of joy, creativity, and learning.
Think art-related experiences like Ceramics Art Class where resident artist will conduct a hands-on creative arts experience through paint and ceramic workshops; tropical island-themed art workshops including Tote Bag Painting, Palm Leaves Crafting, etc.; a ‘Trach to Treasure’ paper-beads making class focussed on the importance of recycling and reducing wastes; Island of Art Treasure Hunt; Make Your Own Puppet Class; and more.

The young, aspiring chefs will get to have a lot of fun with food through activities like Pizza Making in the Kids Club Kitchen where they’d discover the beauty of culinary arts and Fruit Kebab Creation that promotes healthy snacking habit in kids through an interactive session with tropical fruits. Budding biologists can count on Under the Ocean workshop offering a deeper understanding of the ocean through a guided snorkelling trip as well as a Five Senses Nature Walk that offers a truly sensory experience close to nature.
What’s more? Yoga sessions with easy-to-learn asanas and mindful breathing exercises, Junior Ping-Pong tournaments, paddle boarding, beach walks, a Hermit Crab Race, Beach Treasure Hunt, and more! While the children enjoy hours of fun with new friends, parents can explore the island’s many delights, from inspiring art to “me-time” at the peaceful ESPA spa and fitness centre.
Spend some bonding time with the entire family later with open-air beach cinema evenings, desert island ‘Robinson Crusoe’ beach picnics, dolphin cruise adventures, snorkelling, glass-bottom kayaking, and family cooking classes.
Elevate your family celebration dinners through an immersive culinary journey hosted by Chef Theodore Falser, JOALI’s Michelin-starred Italian Food Consultant, during the months of June and August. Falser will host special culinary art evenings at Bellini’s – JOALI Maldives’ fine-dining Mediterranean restaurant.
The chef will be using the Maldivian flavours of the ocean as ingredients for his Italian-inspired meals. This July, award-winning Chef Hidemasa Yamamoto will also be at JOALI Maldives to host exclusive gourmet events for all ages at Saoke, JOALI Maldives’ overwater Japanese restaurant.
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.
Action
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.
-
Meditation1 week agoImron Zulfikar returns to Niva Kuramathi Maldives for festive wellness residency
-
Action1 week agoCentara Mirage Lagoon Maldives develops next generation of dive instructors
-
Cooking1 week agoMichelin-starred Chef Karim Khouani to lead culinary residency at Sirru Fen Fushi
-
Action1 week agoChef Jake Norman and Molly O’Donoghue join Niva Dhigali for November programme
-
News1 week agoVakkaru Maldives elevates overwater luxury with new pool villas
-
Meditation1 week agoReconnect with nature at Milaidhoo Maldives this World Wellness Weekend
-
Action6 days agoMaldives’ Dhigurah ranked among world’s 10 most valuable beaches
-
News7 days agoReiki Master Nikki begins August residency at Amilla Maldives’ Javvu Spa


