Barefoot in paradise
Our family time-out at COMO Maalifushi
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Some places just won’t let you go. COMO Maalifushi in the Maldives is one of them for me. When I first arrived on the small island in the Thaa Atoll with a friend in 2019, I quickly realized that I wanted to return here with my family one day. Since then, this place has been at the top of my vision board – as the epitome of tranquillity, nature and COMO vibes.
Six years later, the time has finally come. My husband, our two daughters and I stand barefoot on the white sands of Maalifushi and experience a week that brings us together as a family in a new and very special way.
Our way to island happiness
Even the journey there is an experience. After landing in Malé, a seaplane takes us to Maalifushi in around 50 minutes, straight to paradise. From the air, we marvel at the turquoise-blue islands of the Maldives – an unforgettable sight.
Maalifushi is a green oasis with lush vegetation, coconut palms and plenty of space for families and couples who value their privacy. We reach our villa in style by bicycle. Barefoot, of course. Shoes? We won’t need them for a whole week from now on.
Cordiality that gets under your skin
We are welcomed by our German-speaking, warm-hearted and ever-present butler Jessica. She immediately becomes an island friend for our children and an attentive companion for us, who makes every wish possible – unobtrusively and charmingly. Just like the entire team on the island: honest, warm, attentive and authentic. Everyone knows our names, knows what we do and what we enjoy – and is happy to tell us about themselves. This connection is what makes Maalifushi so special. It doesn’t just feel like a vacation, but like a home in paradise.
“That special COMO feeling – hard to describe, easy to feel.”
Of sharks, turtles and white hares
If you think you can just laze around on a small island, you’ll soon be proven wrong: one highlight follows the next. How about snorkeling in the house reef, where you can swim with the resident sharks? Diving with turtles. A sunset tour with Bottlenose dolphins. My daughter Sara was able to experience her first diving adventure during the Bubble Maker program – professionally, lovingly and child-friendly. I now have a new little diving buddy!
Surprises also await on land: Just around the corner is an uninhabited neighboring island that can be reached by SUP, kayak or homemade raft. Two small white rabbits live here. Nobody knows exactly how they got there. A real Robinson experience for young and old.
Balance between movement and stillness
Even my mountain-loving husband, who was rather skeptical at first, quickly took Maalifushi to his heart. Maybe it was the morning yoga sessions on the overwater deck, where he could really switch off. Or the new padel tennis court, where we played family duels. Or maybe it was just that special COMO feeling, which is hard to describe but very easy to feel.
Culinary delights COMO style
Maalifushi is a culinary feast: COMO Shambhala Cuisine – healthy, creative and surprising – brings pleasure and well-being into harmony. Whether freshly caught fish, high-quality sashimi in the Tai restaurant, green bowls or sweet temptations in MADI: the food here is as honest as the people. And at least as good.
Sustainability in the middle of nowhere
On the exciting back-of-the-house tour, we learn how drinking water is produced, an organic garden is run, electricity is generated and waste is avoided on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. We take a look behind the scenes and are impressed by the honest pursuit of sustainability.
Play by COMO – Playing with purpose
An integral part of Maalifushi and a real highlight for families is “Play by COMO” – childcare that is far more than classic entertainment. Here, children develop their creativity and learn about nature and the environment without television or consoles. Instead, they build rafts, design coral frames, discover marine science or organize island rallies. In the evenings, the open-air cinema on the beach invites you to chill out. Our daughters were thrilled – and so were we. Because Play by COMO shows that children don’t need artificial hustle and bustle. They need space, ideas and people who take them seriously. Childcare like we’ve never experienced before – and another reason why Maalifushi is so special.
The literature workshop – fantasy in the island world
A very special stroke of luck: during our stay, Nadine Schwengenbecher is on site with her literature workshop for children. With a lot of heart, pedagogical depth and creativity, she manages to get children excited about stories, books and nature in a playful, sensual and imaginative way.
At the “Sepia and the Great Sea” workshop, our children immersed themselves in the world of the oceans, solved puzzles about octopuses and created their own underwater landscape with fluorescent colors and oil pastels. In the “Robinson” adventure, they learned how to survive in the wilderness, imitated animal sounds, made dream islands and took aim with bows and arrows. Every day was a new experience – imaginative, educational and full of little discoveries.
Our daughters also found the yoga sessions for teenagers particularly exciting, which were not only about movement, but also about the elements of water and fire. What does “flow” mean in life? What is inner strength? What does clarity feel like? With a lot of mindfulness, in a playful and dance-like way, yoga became a real self-awareness experience – including the creation of our own scented tea blend made from spices and flowers.
Each workshop involved crafting, playing, practising and, above all, experiencing with all the senses. From underwater palaces and pop-up costumes to fragrant “moon magic” in small glass bottles, every child was allowed to take home something they had made themselves at the end. But the most valuable thing was what remained inside: courage, curiosity, imagination and the magic of experiencing stories.
Our daughters were enthusiastically involved every day and we parents had real peace and quiet in the meantime – and at the same time the wonderful feeling that our children were experiencing something that would leave a lasting impression on them.
Conclusion: More than just a vacation!
Maalifushi is more than a destination – it’s a feeling. A connection to nature, to family – and to yourself. This week has enriched, strengthened and enchanted us as a family. Our children were curious, courageous and free. We were able to experience something that is often neglected in everyday life: real time together.
And perhaps a new dream has crept onto our vision board with this trip.
Tip for the summer
Our story continues in August – this time in the mountains. The COMO Alpina Dolomites is located on the Alpe di Siusi and is surrounded by a breathtaking mountain backdrop. Here, everything feels wide, quiet and clear – perfect for a little break with the family.
From August 25 to 29, 2025, the next literature workshop for children with Nadine Schwengenbecher will take place at the COMO Alpina Dolomites. For five days, everything revolves around reading, puzzles, handicrafts and creative design, embedded in nature and with plenty of room for imagination. There will be painting, playing, writing and experiencing with all the senses.
Another highlight: children up to the age of 12 stay for free in their parents’ room.
About Nadine Schwengenbecher
Nadine Schwengenbecher is a teacher, Montessori educator and founder of the Literature Workshop for Children. She puts her heart and imagination into her workshops, which now take place all over Europe – from Schloss Elmau and the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm to selected boutique hotels.
She combines language, creativity and education in a playful yet profound way. Her children’s musical “Conference of the Animals” was awarded the Lotto Sponsorship Prize. Anyone who has experienced Nadine immediately senses her passion: Nadine is passionate about what she does.
