Kani Resort Club Med ****

The maldives according to club med

Jerome, 37 years old, Achille’s dad, 5 years old, from Brussels

This winter I went to Club Med Kani, a very popular destination among the family clientele of our travel agency. I spent 4 nights there to make sure that Kani really lives up to its reputation. Here is my testimonial.

An exceptional destination

The Club Med’s private island is surrounded by lagoons with crystal-clear waters where you can admire manta rays and sea turtles. The scenery is truly breathtaking. That is when you realize how beautiful the Maldives are, one of the most idyllic countries in the world by far. This destination is not so difficult to reach considering that I flew 6 hours from Brussels to Dubai, and then 4 hours and a half to Male.

The rooms are distributed on each side of the island and are either built on the beach or on stilts. The rooms on the beach offer the comfort of a 4-star hotel and are closer to the centre of the resort. They are ideal for families travelling with young children.

The villas on stilts are located at the far end of the island, in the ‘Exclusive Collection’ part corresponding to a 5-star hotel service. These luxury cabins are very large and have a separate living room that can host up to 2 children. However, for safety reasons related to the fact that they are built on water, these rooms are not recommended for children under 8 years old. There is all the comforts: huge bathroom with a bathtub offering a breathtaking view of the lagoon, welcome products, king-size bed, large dressing room, terrace with direct access to the ocean and much more. I stayed in one of these rooms and every time I walked through the door, I realized how lucky I was to be here!

In addition to enjoying a more comfortable room, guests who choose to stay in the ‘Exclusive Collection’ have nice benefits such as access to a beach and a VIP bar, more personalised service, as well as invitations to cocktails and other festivities particularly dedicated to them. A real plus that I appreciated.

Happiness for everyone

What is unique about Club Med is the diversity of activities that always delight all members of the family. Whether you are here to rest, do sports, enjoy fine dining or parties, you will always find something that suits you. There are many activities and most of them are free: snorkelling, catamaran initiation, volleyball tournaments, petanque, table tennis, giant trapeze initiation, etc.

Jet skiing and diving courses are, however, not free of charge. I really enjoyed my morning dive during which I was able to observe turtles very closely, as well as small harmless sharks and an infinite quantity of multicoloured fish. If you rent a jet ski, you will certainly also have the chance to see dolphins.

If you are looking for relaxation, you will appreciate the Balinese-inspired spa located right onto the beach. I recommend the four-handed massage of 110 minutes, which costs €200.

Club Med’s all-inclusive formula allows you to fully enjoy life’s little pleasures. It is very pleasant to be able to order the drinks you like (alcoholic or not) at any time of the day. Because it’s hot here and you need to stay well hydrated. The main restaurant is a buffet served on the plate. Each chef runs a small food corner dedicated to one type of cuisine: Chinese, Indian, Italian, etc. The dishes are very refined and well presented. The Chefs tend to showcase local ingredients, and it is not rare to see them picking aromatic herbs from the vegetable garden near the restaurant. Several times a week, themed dinners are organized: dinners on the beach, under the banana trees, or dinners featuring grilled lobster and scallops served à la carte. These special dinners are offered with no extra charge. The South African wines (red, rosé and white) served at the table and included in the all-in formula are quite qualitative. Wine lovers will be able to try (with extra charge) good bottles of Minuty Rosé (€59) or Veuve Cliquot (€89), but also Bordeaux wines.

These festive meals and the aperitifs on the beach or on the pontoon usually go with music. Singers, musicians and DJs beautify the atmosphere and transport you to another world.

Evening shows are a great strength of Club Med. Every evening, a quality show is held by staff members in the theatre. It is often followed by a crazy after party during which guests are invited to dance to the rhythm of Club Med’s famous choreography. Children love it … and parents love it too!

During the day, games and entertainments are organized around the swimming pool.

Everything has been well planned at Kani: guests who want a bit more peace and quiet are not at all disturbed by these activities, nor are they obliged to take part in them.

The G.O. (Gentils Organisateurs or ‘nice organizers’, the name given to the Club Med staff) are very friendly and form a nice team of nearly 65 different nationalities! They all speak many languages, including French. Their friendliness is infectious, and it encourages clients to open up to others and get to know each other. Travelling alone, I had the opportunity to meet several friendly families who welcomed me at their table for dinner or lunch. Most of the clients come from France, Belgium and Switzerland but I also met some Russian and German families.

For the children

The Mini-Club is free for children from 4 to 12 years old. The instructors speak French, English, Russian and many other languages. They organise various activities throughout the day: sandcastle competitions, games on the beach, treasure hunts, football games, etc. They also rehearse with the children for the big weekly show in which the little ones are very proud to take part under the amazed gaze of their parents. The children also love to try their hand at the giant trapeze, supervised by the members of the circus. Most of the activities take place outside, which is not bad either because the kids-club would need some repairing. One evening, I saw from afar the private dinner on the beach organized for all the little friends of the Mini-Club. Dressed as pirates and princesses, the children were enjoying their own moment, facing the sunset. This scene was so cute!

During the day or in the evening, children under 4 years old can also be looked after by certified babysitters at the very reasonable price of €12 per hour.

I also met a lot of pre-teens and teenagers who seemed to have a lot of fun together. For them, there is always one of the instructors available to entertain them.

Conclusion

I visited Club Med Kani to understand the destination better in order to offer it to families travelling with Little Guest. I came back satisfied. On the last day, I took the boat back to the airport with a family where the mother and daughter were crying as they said goodbye to the hotel staff. That is how much this place brings you happiness! An addictive feeling that makes you want to come back but also discover other Club Med destinations…

Now it is your turn to share your experience with us!

Jerome

FOR THE CHILDREN

A true paradise for all, the Kani knows how to pay special attention to its youngest guests. The two kids-clubs (for children on the one hand and teenagers on the other) are the most convincing example of this.

From 4 to 10 years old, the children have 3 activity rooms at their disposal; books, musical instruments, adapted games and colourful footstools make them happy. The activity leaders compete in inventiveness to offer them varied and fun activities: sandcastle competitions, treasure hunts, puzzles to solve, etc.

From 11 to 17 years of age, your teenagers will be able to take part in sports tournaments (football, beach volleyball, badminton, etc.), games of skill and logic as well as creative activities and excursions on and around the island, always under the benevolent supervision of the hotel staff.

In addition to these exceptional kids-clubs, the Kani offers a lot of activities for children of all ages. There are singing, dancing and circus shows, baking workshops, snacks on the beach, but also sailing lessons, water polo matches and many water activities (jet-ski, surfing, catamaran and much more.)

FAMILY EXPERIENCES

As you can see, your children will have plenty of thing to do on their own. However, if you wish to share good times with them, rest assured, Kani has everything planned. On the program: parasailing, kayaking, sea scooters, towed buoys, catamaran trips, scuba diving and many other surprises.

The crystal-clear waters of the Maldives are teeming with marine life. To discover the wonders of the deep, book a snorkelling trip! During this exciting adventure you will have the opportunity to see a wide variety of colourful fish, as well as sea turtles, sharks and various types of corals.

Do you want to gain height while enjoying the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean? Take off on a flyboardadventure. This unique activity propels you up to 15 meters in the air before plunging back underwater, adrenaline guaranteed! Far from being dangerous, this activity is suitable for the whole family. While mom and dad will be able to fly on their own, children from 5 to 12 years old will be accompanied by an experienced instructor. Those over 12 years old will be able to launch on their own, under the supervision of a dedicated instructor.

After the sport, a bit of relaxation! Under the guidance of the hotel biologist, you will have the unique chance to create your own coral habitat. The principle is simple: choose the size of the metal frame you prefer, attach the coral of your choice to it and place it in the sea to create a new reef for the fish to explore. You will then be able to follow the evolution of your coral thanks to photos published regularly online. In addition to contributing to the preservation of one of the most beautiful places in the world, this activity is sure to offer you an incredible moment of sharing with your family.

Because holidays also rhyme with culture, Kani also offers several excursions organized around the habits and customs of the region. Discover Male, the capital, become a master of traditional Maldivian angling or embark on a sunset cruise, the choice is yours.

FOR PARENTS

After entrusting their children to the hotel's babysitting service, parents will be able to go to the spa by MANDARA! In the heart of the idyllic setting of the island, discover one of the oldest Asian rituals, between beauty and exotic luxury. Combining Balinese traditions and European techniques, the spa team will be able to satisfy your every desire.

If you are a sports fan, you will make the most of the cardio-training room at your disposal but also of the various sports fields (football, beach volleyball, badminton) and the numerous courses offered by the Kani staff. Yoga, fitness, flying trapeze, meditation... there's no lack of choices for a good workout.

Finally, to end the day on a high note, treat yourself to dinner on the beach and party all night long at parties organised by the hotel. Start the evening with a white dinner on the sand to enjoy a choice of barbecued seafood, Indian specialities or French dishes, then as the night progresses, enjoy a wild party to the rhythm of live music.