The Maldives: From Honeymoon to Family Getaway

Angela Li and Jung Shao’s relationship with the dreamy Asian archipelago known as the Maldives began 11 years ago with their honeymoon. The Bellaire residents hail from China, where the islands are a top honeymoon destination, and they had both always wanted to go. So when they married, it was the perfect time.

Their trip took them to exotic beaches in Thailand, to the cosmopolitan sophistication of Singapore, and finally to the Maldives. They loved it all, but in the end, it was the Maldives that really captured their heart.

The couple were enchanted by the turquoise waters, the soft white sands, the luxurious overwater bungalows. The underwater world that surrounded them was equally enticing, with the coral reefs teeming with tropical life. Each island is a tiny paradise, many of them home to their own resorts, and romantic seclusion is a part of the package.

“It was incredible,” Angela recalled. “It’s just like an isolated heaven.”

Their honeymoon resort, the Conrad Maldives on Rangali Island, is one of those that has its own private island, and their over-the-water villa had a glass floor through which they could sit and watch the tropical fish swimming beneath their feet. 

The snorkeling was splendid, and with good reason: the Maldives is famous for its extensive coral reefs. These reefs form the basis of the archipelago, which consists of 26 atolls made up of more than 1,000 coral islands. The Maldives’ coral reefs are among the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world, home to a vast variety of marine life including manta and stingrays, numerous species of tropical fish, sharks, and sea turtles.

One of the most unforgettable highlights at the Conrad Maldives was dining at Ithaa, the world’s first undersea restaurant, where guests enjoy fine wines and fusion menus as fish and sharks swim by.

There on their honeymoon on their private island, they fell in love with the place, and would go on to plan three more trips, returning time and time again. Once more alone, then with Jung’s parents, Jack and Amy Shao, and finally, with the whole family, including the couple’s children. 

Jayden, 11, and Stanley, 9, were thrilled to learn about their island adventure last spring. Their parents took them out of school for 10 days to experience a different sort of education.

The trip took 30 hours in all, with a 10-hour layover in Istanbul. From there they took another 10-hour flight to Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and from there the boat transport to the hotel where they spent their first two nights, The Hilton Maldives Amingiri, near the capital.

From there they took a 45-minute flight to Anantara Kihavah Villas, located on the Baa Atoll in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where they spent another five nights. The low-flying flight gave them a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the archipelago, which they especially enjoyed.

In keeping with its sustainability goals, the hotel has an unusual approach to guest services; it has no lobby or front desk for check-in. Instead, they were met at the entrance by their “Villa Host,” who accompanied them to their overwater villa and helped them plan every detail of their stay.

Anantara’s efforts to conserve the rich biodiversity of the Biosphere are notable, said Angela. For instance, during construction, care was taken to avoid cutting down trees by designing and building villas around them, giving the island a decidedly greener feel. 

“It's really gorgeous,” said Angela. “We didn’t worry about the sun during the day because they keep the most natural trees, like a little forest.”

The hotel also has its own research program aimed at documenting and protecting the hundreds of marine species in and around the reef, including some 300 fish species and more than 130 varieties of coral.

The family’s stay was unforgettable. The Kids’ Club, one of the biggest in the Maldives, offers daily activities from a Kids’ Pirate Cruise to marine biology courses. The boys especially enjoyed an outing to a local island to explore local flora and fauna.

PARADISE FOUND TOGETHER An unforgettable family moment walking along the beach, bathed in the glow of a stunning sunset. Pictured (front) Jung, Jayden, Stanley, and Jack; back: Angela and Amy.

Together, the family enjoyed snorkeling, fishing, and biking – they could circumnavigate the island on the hotel’s bicycles. They went fishing in the traditional way, using a baited line held in the hand instead of a pole. Indeed, they learned that most fishing in the Maldives is done with line fishing.

“People told me why they choose the wild fishing,” said Angela. “It’s because they only want to take the needed resources from the sea.”

Stanley was excited to catch a large sturgeon on a hand line. Looking back, the 9-year-old recalls that moment as the most exciting of the whole trip.

“I was surprised,” he recalled. It was big and gray, and had shark-like fins. “And the skin was special because it was like sandpaper.”

The boys especially loved that they could snorkel right outside their villa and even watch the fish through a glass window on the floor. 

Big brother Jayden had a special moment when he was lounging on a bed that hung from the ceiling on the porch of their villa. 

“I was just relaxing there, and then I saw a sea turtle,” said Jayden. “And then my dad went up to it and got very, very close – he was close to touching it. And then it swam away.”

Jung’s parents, Jack and Amy, enjoyed the family time with their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, and they loved the authentic Asian foods there. Amy also enjoyed morning and sunset yoga classes, while Jack’s favorite part was snorkeling and sunset fishing.

Dining at the resort was memorable as well, said Angela. The restaurant’s offerings include private seafront seatings on the beach, two seaside restaurants, and a “Stranded in Paradise” option that includes a private boat excursion. Perhaps the most magical is SEA, the resort’s underwater restaurant, where guests enjoy a top chef’s tasting menu as a colorful variety of marine life swims by. The family missed out on this one, however, as it was entirely booked.

The overwater villas offer serene tranquility amidst crystal-clear waters.

Special memories include snorkeling with the boys and watching them identify multiple varieties of fish. Stanley rattled off a list including stingrays, reef sharks, sea turtles, clownfish, a sea cucumber, and even a puffer fish.

Visiting with hotel employees who shared stories and insights about their local culture was another highlight. Indeed, they met people from a variety of cultures, including a woman who had escaped from the war in Ukraine, which served as a powerful reminder for Angela of the interconnectedness of the planet.

“We’re so connected in ways that make us feel the world,” Angela reflected. “And actually, it’s just like an Earth village; it's very small.”

This most recent journey was especially poignant due to both of Jung’s parents having recently recovered from lung cancer. Both were diagnosed at the same time – fortunately, they caught it early, and their surgeries were minimally invasive.

Nonetheless, it was a wakeup call for the whole family. 

“What they told me was that maybe that would be the last long-distance trip for them,” said Angela. “So we had a chance to do some activities together and live together for 10 days in one of the world’s most beautiful places.”

Tips from Our Travelers

From Angela Li

Worth the splurge: Dining at an underwater restaurant. We really loved the one at the Conrad on our first trip, but they were all booked this time. Be sure to make a reservation! 

Don’t miss: Snorkeling, line fishing, and morning and sunset yoga.

Favorite restaurants: SPICE seaside restaurant at Antara was beautiful and delicious. 

Packing: Swimming suit, snorkeling gear, and a beautiful dress, of course.

Don’t bring: Drone, unless you are an influencer!

Don’t forget: Plenty of money (US dollars can be used there), and a good mood.

Don’t do it: Never bring back the beautiful shells you find, unless it’s from a souvenir shop. Shell collecting is prohibited.

Beware travel rating scams: You can trust most Google reviews, in our experience.

Unexpected hit: I thought it was just a family getaway, relaxing, taking a break, and doing nothing. But actually, it is a good opportunity to meet different people with different backgrounds; it's a good connection to the rest of the world.