Our daughter is a social animal and so her definition of a “good holiday,” is “I made a friend, and have a new penpal!" With this in mind, we started to look at European resorts with a kids’ club for our summer holiday. There are some truly excellent ones out that there that would have ticked all of our demanding boxes, but the price tags were hard to justify for a room with four of us bundled in together.  Our usual camping week in the Pyrenees would have afforded us more space & privacy!

So we looked further afield this year to the Indian Ocean and found direct flights – tick, kids clubs – tick, pristine beaches – tick, reliably good weather without it being 40+ degrees – tick, less expensive than Europe - tick, new destination & experiences - tick, tick. Booked.

So, what’s the verdict? The kids have loved feeding giant tortoises, taking a 12-seater plane to get to a remote island, spotting turtles on snorkelling trips, our nine-year-old has got her PADI seal certificate, a conservationist has shown us how sustainable tourism works in practice, and how important it is to protect an island’s indigenous species. And between my husband and I, we’ve slotted in six dives, a spa treatment, morning yoga, our first game of squash in 10 years and finished three books…so definitely feels like we’ve had a holiday. And, one of the key elements of a holiday for me, the food, has been divine. In particular, the farm-to-table experience at Denis Island – one of the most remote places I’ve visited – is an inspiration, and wonderful for the children to experience too.

Our advice? Book ahead to ensure a good fare on your flights, choose your resort carefully as not all kids clubs are made equal, and split your time between at least two islands. If you do this, the Seychelles can work brilliantly for your Easter or summer family vacation. 

Take Note | The Seychelles sits 4-11 degrees south of the Equator, and as such enjoys a tropical climate. Expect the odd tropical storm at all times of year.