HAT would you say to 52 acres of sugar-white sand? Add to that an unrivalled turquoise ocean vista, Water Villas that turn the sea into your private playground, and top-class snorkelling. Set on a private island in Noonu Atoll, a 45-minute seaplane ride from Male Airport, the Hilton Maldives, Iru Fushi Resort & Spa is a versatile escape and a splendid option among child-friendly Maldives resorts. If you enjoy fresh seafood, this could be the nearest thing to heaven.

Families can breathe easy with kids’ menus, a childcare centre, supervised activities and babysitting, that will keep tots entertained while parents claw some romance back into their lives. But this is no baby face address, serving up meetings and honeymooner distractions with equal aplomb. There is even a barbershop should you need a trim before popping the big question to a bride-to-be.

Water Villas with glass floor panels bringing the sea literally into the bedroom, serve up rain showers and top-notch bathrooms along with a Bose home theatre system to maintain the mood. Grab a full-bodied red from your own in-room wine cellar. Or a chilled white. Beach Villas get you right on the sand while an Infinity Villa could have you soaking in the rays from your own private lava-stone pool. Indulgence comes in many forms and it may be hard to choose.

Explore a range of fine dining and chill-out locations with a broad smorgasbord of menus and cuisines to suit the most picky palates. And there’s always an abundance of fun – fish, dive, snorkel, jet-ski, windsurf, sail or get a soothing après-dive massage at the spa. Now that’s what we call a holiday. This is a family-friendly establishment with a good mix of flair and frolic. Book your tickets for this top Maldives luxury resort. No pets allowed but your significant other is okay.