“WHEN you see the manta ray, you need to jump off the boat and swim really fast behind me,” the guide explained, to my two wide-eyed daughters.

“I am a very quick swimmer, so you’ll just have to keep up,” he added, before turning his attention to the ocean’s horizon.

5

5

Advertisement

5

I couldn’t work out if he was joking or not.

But while I was inwardly panicking, my daughters weren’t scared in the slightest and before I knew it they were in, paddling around and in awe of the majestic creatures.

This certainly wasn’t the first “pinch me” moment of the week.

We were in the Maldives on a holiday of a lifetime and from the moment we stepped foot on Villa Park Sun Island resort we were mesmerised.

With water bungalows overlooking a crystal clear ocean teeming with fish, and villas plonked on pure white sands, you could see why many honeymooners jet off to these Indian Ocean islands for some romance.

But how would we fare as a family with two youngsters under the age of ten in tow?

Luckily, our beach bungalow had plenty of space with two double beds and a private pool – not that we needed another place to swim with the large resort lagoon pool and the whole of the Indian Ocean at our fingertips.

Although, parents should be warned that the currents can be strong.

Elsewhere on the resort are two beautiful, beachside restaurants dishing up cuisine from all over the world — and they play a very strong curry game.

One day I had it for breakfast, lunch and dinner – just because I could!

The only means of travel around the island, with its banana grove and lush green gardens, is by foot, bike or golf buggy.

And even as one of the biggest resort islands on the South Ari Atoll, with 462 villas, it still only took me 50 minutes to march around the edge one morning — and I wondered how we would keep the kids entertained for a whole week in such a small space.

The good news is, the resort has a kids’ club every other night, and regular entertainment, ranging from crab racing to musical performances, plus a disco most evenings.

But that wasn’t what made Sun Island worth flying all this way for.

What made this spot unique against other kid-friendly resorts was the location itself.

After all, where else in the world can you swim alongside whale sharks, turtles and manta rays with almost guaranteed sightings year round?

5

5

And as well as some fantastic snorkelling with shoals of colourful fish, every day at 6pm the resort has manta ray feeding sessions on the beach, and you can also watch a shiver of friendly whale sharks thrashing over food at the end of the pontoon.

If the parents fancy a bit of downtime, there’s a beautiful spa with a blissful “signature experience”, combining massages, coconut milk foot rubs and breathing exercises to bring a sense of calm to mind and body.

But even with an all-inclusive package, this does come at an additional cost.

Most romantic place in the world

What all-inclusive guests do get though (on top of food and drink), is free snorkel hire for the trip, windsurfing and canoeing, access to sports facilities and one special night-time fishing excursion per stay.

So can you bring your kids on holiday to the most romantic place in the world?

Simply put, yes. But it’s only worth doing so if they can swim.

You can guarantee they’ll be boasting about those manta rays for years to come.

A POPULAR Christmas steam train experience is set to return this year – with cheaper ticket prices.

Santa Steam Express, run by railway experience company Steam Dreams Rail Co., is returning for its fourth year.

3

3

Advertisement

It is running this Christmas at London on December 20 and December 21.

The trips begin at London Victoria, where passengers will climb aboard the train’s vintage carriages that date back to the 1960s.

You’ll then embark on a 1hr30 minute adventure through south London, passing Chiswick, before heading towards Barnes and Clapham Junction.

The exact route is yet to be confirmed, but Steam Dreams Rail Co have said the route is likely to be similar to previous years, ending at London Victoria.

When onboard, children can expect to receive a sweet treat, drink and gift, while adults can enjoy some mulled wine, tea or coffee and a mince pie.

Families will also be riding along with festive characters, such as Mrs Claus, along with a merry band of elves who will hand out children’s gifts.

A copy of the International Elf Service North Pole Star newspaper with up-to-date stories and announcements from the Christmas Workshop, written by the Elves, will also be available.

And once the drinks and nibbles are done, children can get stuck into some Christmas activities, before meeting the man in red himself, Santa.

The festive trips will be hauled by two iconic steam locomotives – either the 700000 Britannia or 34046 Braunton, which date back over 70 years.

They’ll depart four times a day on December 20 and December 21, with slots running at 9:30am, 11:45am, 15:30pm and 18:15pm, with booking starting from £55 per person in Coach Class.

This is cheaper than last year, where the cheapest tickets were priced at £65.

For passengers who want something more private, you can opt to book a private carriage instead.

Head of Communications at Steam Dreams, Juliet Soley, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the magic of steam and Santa to London Victoria for the fourth year.

“It is a joy to be part of the Christmas countdown traditions of many families and we look forward to welcoming guests on board this year to create special memories.

“With only two dates this year, we encourage guests book early once tickets are available.”

Tickets for Club Class, with luxury cushioned seating and spacious tables within a festively adorned carriage, start from £75.

For a private compartment which seats up to six people, prices start from £550.

Elsewhere in Europe, a new train route linking two of Europe’s most popular cities will be up and running in time for Christmas market season.

The high-speed service will run from Berlin to Paris, between Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Paris Gare de L’Est, with stops in Frankfurt, Strasbourg and Karlsruhe.

3

DOWNHAM Market in Norfolk has been dubbed a “Gingerbread Town” – because of the colour of its buildings.

The moniker is because of the colour of the sandstone bricks, created by fusing local white brick and carrstone to make the gingerbread colour.

5

5

Advertisement

Having been a town for over 2,000 years, it officially became a market town in 1046, making it one of the oldest of its kind in Norfolk.

Because of its long history, there are plenty of noteworthy buildings to visit including Downham Market Town Hall, which is one of the main buildings to have the gingerbread ‘slabs’.

Another example of the “Gingerbread brick” can be found on the corner of Priory Road and London Road.

Head to the Discover Downham Heritage Centre to find out about the town’s history as well.

The tiny museum has a number of artefacts and interactive displays to look at as well as workshops including weaving and mosaic making.

Entry into Discover Downham Heritage Centre costs £4 per person.

Downham Market’s black and white clock tower is another key landmark in the town, which opened in 1878.

Meanwhile, The Fen Rivers Way Footpath also runs directly through the Norfolk town, which means day-trippers to Downham Market will be able to get into the countryside without a hitch.

And if you need a drink at the end, the town has a much-loved Wetherspoons which locals have raved about.

The Whalebone is a Grade II Listed building, that dates back to the 18th century.

Its name is a nod to the whaling trade that once flourished in the area, with its walls adorned with other historical memorabilia.

The pub has a 4/5 star rating on Google from more than 1,600 reviews.

One person wrote: “Easily one of, if not, the best beer garden I’ve come across at a Wetherspoon pub and restaurant.”

Another person added: “It’s friendly and I love the way they have incorporated historical elements into the decorating of the Whalebone.”

5

5

Advertisement

There are several other pubs in Downham Market, including The Live and Let Live.

The Norfolk Cheese Co & Delicatessen is a highly-rated restaurant in the area too, with a 5/5 star rating on Google.

For holidaymakers who want to stay overnight, rooms at the Crown Hotel start from £83 per night.

The unassuming hotel was where the “Bread Riots” took place in 1816.

King Charles I was also said to have hidden in an Inn in Downham Market in the 17th century.

The former king disguised as a clergyman in an attempt to evade capture by Parliamentary forces after the battle of Naseby.

Downham Market can be reached on a direct train from London King’s Cross, with services taking 100 minutes.

Another tiny village in the UK has been compared to a retro 1940s film set.

And an abandoned village in England only opens to tourists once a year.

5

Advertisement