Crossroads Maldives: a unique resort in the archipelago

As we approached the impressive, perfectly circular marina where huge yachts and catamarans dock, as well as a yellow submarine, just like in the Beatles song, it was hard to imagine that there was nothing here! We're in the middle of a paradise lagoon in the South Malé atoll, where sea turtles, baby blacktip sharks and other multicoloured fish swim! Three artificial islands have been built, housing the Saii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton on the artificial island of Ehmma Fushi, Hard Rock Maldives on the artificial island of Akasdhoo, and the Crossroads area itself. It is open to tourists from outside the island on day trips, including many Malé locals! They can have lunch or dinner in one of the many restaurants, treat themselves to a spa treatment, spend the day at the Café del Mar and its upmarket club around a beautiful infinity pool to the sound of a DJ, or listen to a concert at the Hard Rock Café.

Located at the tip of theHard Rock Maldives island, facing the ocean, the Rock spa offers Rhythm and Motion massages, to the rhythm of the music through headphones! As in all the Rock Spas on the planet, the brand of cosmetics used is Emergin C, from the USA. The menu includes Swedish, Balinese, Lomi Lomi and hot stone massages.

The second spa is located at Crossroads Maldives, just a 15-minute walk from Saii Lagoon. It has nine treatment and massage rooms, including four double rooms for couples and one for Thai massages. They are based on five elements (adventure, romance, family, culture and relaxation) and are adapted to the customer's needs.

There are no fewer than seven restaurants in the Crossroads Maldives marina, giving you the chance to try Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Thai cuisine, as well as award-winning restaurants where you can sample crab or a steakhouse. There's even an ice-cream parlour and a shisha bar!

For breakfast, Saii Lagoon guests will have to leave the hotel and go to Crossroads Maldives. Don't worry, it's just across the small bridge that links the two islands. He takes his place at Café del Mar. Afterwards, Café del Mar resumes its role as a private beach club. There is an entrance fee, with its large infinity pool facing the sea, hot tubs and DJ nights.

At lunchtime, head to Miss Olive Oyl, between reception and the swimming pool, for a wide choice of dishes with Moroccan (tajine), Lebanese (mezze, kebab...) and Mediterranean influences (fish of the day à la provençale, octopus a la plancha...) not forgetting the classics, pasta, pizza, hamburger...

Another option, for lunch or dinner, is Mr Tom Yam, a very successful à la carte Italian-Thai fusion restaurant! It's at the end of the Saii Lagoon island (which isn't very big, don't panic), between the gym and the villas on stilts. The tables are literally placed on the edge of the paradise lagoon! To give you an idea of the concept, you can enjoy carbonara noodles or ham and cheese egg rolls, and for dessert you can enjoy Thai rice misu, a version of tiramisu where tea replaces coffee!

At the Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, the day begins with a dream breakfast in the main Sessions restaurant, under the reception desk next to the large infinity pool. Then sit back on the beachfront terrace and admire the lagoon and the villas on stilts! In short, it's a postcard of the Maldives every morning as you savour exotic fruits, smoothies, fruit juices, Brazilian black beans...

At lunchtime and in the evening, again at Sessions, you can enjoy reef fish carpaccio, crab, prawns, spicy Thai fish...

Another option, for lunch and dinner, is the Mexican restaurant The Elephant and Butterfly by the large infinity pool. It's delicious and, as an added bonus, on certain evenings the Hard Rock Café band performs, giving you the chance to enjoy a top-quality concert while you dine, a wild evening where your guests end up on the dancefloor!

One evening a week, the management offers aperitifs and amuse-bouches in the Sunset Pavilion at the entrance to the hotel, next to the large footbridge, for a beautiful sunset!

Right next to the dive centre is the Coral Protection Centre. Following a particularly violent El Nino episode in 2016, much of the coral in the Maldives died and turned white. The situation is gradually returning to normal, and you can help to preserve the coral by cutting off bits of coral and sticking them with glue onto large stones, which will then be put back into the water.

Another curiosity, at the other end of the marina, is a marine discovery centre, a fascinating little museum on the Maldives, its traditions, history, aquatic fauna, the challenges of global warming, etc., with plenty of explanations, as well as life-size models of sharks, rays and sea turtles. Nearby, the Event Hall offers two 200-seat meeting rooms, the largest capacity in the Maldives, and is regularly used by government officials.

At Saii Lagoon, the superb infinity pool merges with the sea and boasts three whirlpool baths. A large sofa for two overlooks the pool and makes the transition to the bar, where you can sip a good cocktail while admiring the sunset from the comfort of your own chair. "The place to be on open-air cinema nights, when a big screen is set up right in the pool! It's also a hot spot for watching dolphins cruising offshore at dusk!

The Hard Rock's elevated lobby is extended by a small outdoor terrace from which the violet waterslide launches you into the splendid, immense infinity pool that merges with the translucent sea. Underwater, you can hear the music! Open from sunrise to sunset, it extends to a submerged swim-up bar, where you can sip your cocktail in the water.

Café del Mar is a well-known brand with locations all over the world, the original of which is in Ibiza. It's a private beach club with an entrance fee, a large infinity pool facing the sea, whirlpools and DJ nights.

Crossroads Maldives is a Maldivian paradise of soft, fine white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water, where you can watch baby blacktip sharks swim right up to the shore in 15 cm of water! A place where you can swim with a sea turtle 10 metres from the shore and one metre deep, particularly at Hard Rock Maldives. Snorkelling equipment is provided free of charge at the diving centre on the edge of the lagoon, where you can also pedal boat or kayak free of charge. The lagoon is home to six underwater sculptures of sharks! You can also enjoy a wide range of activities for a fee, including the traditional jet skiing, parasailing, Padi diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing, catamaran sailing and water skiing, as well as more unusual sports, such as transparent kayaking, seabob (underwater scooter) to make like James Bond, or flyboarding, the water jetpack invented by Frenchman Franky Zapata!

There are two hotels to choose from: Saii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton and Hard Rock Maldives.

Campfire tents at the Saii Lagoon mini-club!

The 198 villas at Saii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton are spread out on the beach or on stilts. A small bridge overlooking a heavenly lagoon links it to Crossroads Maldives. Children have to go to Crossroads Maldives for the mini-club, but don't worry, it's just across the bridge. The Junior Beach Club and Camp is fully equipped, with a large outdoor play area, climbing walls, a trampoline and even tents for campfires!

Music everywhere at Hard Rock Maldives!

Located just 20 minutes by boat from Malé and its airport, Hard Rock Maldives is part of the Crossroads resort complex. True to the Hard Rock Hotel spirit, the resort offers a wide range of music experiences, including the Rock Spa, the mini-club and the superb infinity pool with its waterslide, where you can listen to music underwater, as well as quality concerts on certain evenings in the poolside restaurant. The architecture blends Maldivian culture with contemporary design. Facing the lagoon or on stilts, the villas are spacious and comfortable. A huge pontoon overlooking a heavenly lagoon links it to Crossroads Maldives. A luxurious island hotel that adds a touch of originality to the Maldivian postcard!

The access to the Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is magical! You have to cross a huge pontoon several hundred metres across a heavenly lagoon. The buggy drops you off in front of the reception area, which has been cleverly raised to give you a 360° panoramic view of the villas on stilts, the huge swimming pool and the incredibly colourful sea. At the mini-club, music is omnipresent, with play areas featuring xylophones, drums, synthesizers, guitars, tam-toms, djembes and other drums, while a professional gives your budding musician a music lesson.