A dream destination for couples and families, Maldives is a tropical paradise. Dreamy white sand beaches and clear coral reefs, it was in my travel bucket list since forever. I am so glad I finally got to visit Maldives with my husband.
Saii Lagoon Maldives was our resort choice and it was a good one. We had a fabulous experience being here!
This resort is a part of Crossroads Maldives which is a new, first of its kind multi-island leisure spot in the Maldives. This gives it an added bonus as there are a lot more activities and dining options available here. If you’re wondering whether this hotel is the right fit for your next holiday, continue reading this review for all the details.
THE SAII LAGOON, CURIO COLLECTION BY HILTON
Location & Check-In Experience
Saii Lagoon as well as the entire Crossroads complex is only a 15-20minute speedboat ride away from the Velana International Airport nearby Malé. There is no hassle (and neither the high cost) of a seaplane transfer, which I think is very convenient.
Our flight was pretty early in the morning and we landed in Maldives somewhere around 10am. The resort representatives greeted us at the airport, and they arranged for our speedboat transfer. We really did not have to worry about anything, a little waiting and 20mins later, we arrived at the Crossroads Island.
Check-in at Saii Lagoon Maldives is at 2pm and Check-out is at 12pm. We were there much early and I was worried, we’d be exhausted waiting by the time we got to our room. However, there is really so much to do here on this island, we found ourselves loosing track of time.
Just to give you a background, Crossroads is an integration of 3 hotels including Saii Lagoon, Hard Rock hotel and SO/Hotels and Resorts. It also has The Marina where you will find multiple commercial shopping and dining outlets, a Maldives discovery centre, a dive club, a spa and so much more. It is a unique concept to the Maldives.
After arriving at Saii Lagoon, we were given a welcome drink and one of the staff briefed us on our dining options and answered all our queries. After a delicious lunch experience at one of their beachside restaurants and a tour at the Maldives Discovery Centre, the staff took us to our room.
Rooms and Villas
There are around 8 different types of rooms available at this property. We divided our stay between two different rooms which apparently also happens to be the ones that are most sought after; The Overwater Villa and The Beach Villa with a Private Pool.
The overall style of the rooms at Saii Lagoon is quirky with a lot of bright colors. There are colorful art pieces placed at every corner of the room. The vibe is fun and it just seems quite unique!
Overwater Villa
The Overwater villa was the first room that we stayed in. The room was spacious, with a wooden terrace overlooking the infinite blue ocean. We were welcomed with a celebratory anniversary cake, decorations and a bottle of non-alcoholic bubbly adding to our special honeymoon experience.
The room had a comfortable king bed and ample seating. Through a wooden sliding door, you enter the bathroom area that has a generous sized wardrobe, an enclosed toilet and a shower with views of the ocean.
You’ll also find a large outdoor bathtub at the terrace, along with sunbeds and a lounging net. There are stairs that take you directly to the ocean. It’s perfect for a quick dip or if you want to go snorkeling!
Beach Villa with a Pool
When in Maldives, you really want to be making the most of their sandy white beaches. Staying at one of these beach villas is a great way to get the beach near you. We opted for the one with a private pool and it came with a little outdoor lounge and sunbeds too.
This villa also has a private outdoor patio with a bathtub and a shower. You can access it directly from the pool or from the bathroom. This definitely has to be the highlight of the beach villa.
How private are the villas at Saii Lagoon Maldives?
In terms of privacy, the rooms at Saii Lagoon Maldives are not completely private. The overwater villas are fairly close to each other, all facing one direction. So, you can pretty much see the outdoor terrace of other overwater villas (and they can see you too from certain angles). Also, this resort being close to Malé, there are a lot of boats that keep passing by within the water view.
The Beach villas are basically two rooms in one building. One of the major concerns we had here was that there was no barriers in between the rooms at the beachside. This means we had a private pool that did not feel private at all. Most of the beachside villas have foliage on two sides to give it a more private feel. But it seemed to be missing for us which I’m not sure why.
However, upon raising a complaint, the staff came within a few hours and drilled in wooden barriers. I really appreciated their effort to make our experience pleasant and memorable.
As a hijabi, privacy is an important factor for me and from our overall stay, I didn’t find it to be too much of a concern. But if you are looking for a resort to give you the isolated island vibes, this one is not it.
The Restaurants at the Saii Lagoon Maldives
Food is the next most important thing for us, and with over 14 different restaurants to choose from, it was an unmatched experience. While Saii Lagoon in itself don’t have all these restaurants under it’s wing, their guests have access to all the restaurants at The Marina and Hard Rock Hotel.
If you are a foodie like us, I highly suggest choosing a full board or an all-inclusive package. They have a lot of different cuisines here which you can try. We tried a few, both ala carte and from a buffet. Needless to say, we were quite impressed!
Terra & Mar
Breakfasts were served at Terra & Mar with a lovely buffet that served Mediterranean cuisine. I really enjoyed the coffee and pastries here. The restaurant is located nearby the pool and have a large, gorgeous indoor ambiance with black and white tiles and comfortable seating. You can also have lunch or dinner here, especially during one of their themed buffet nights.
Miss Olive Oyl
A beachside restaurant that serves an array of seafood with a Maldivian fusion as well as perfectly made steaks. It’s a delightful culinary-dining experience. The food here is great quality and fresh. I loved the global flavours in the food we tried. The restaurant is also a bit romantic I’d say, compared to others, since it’s literally right on the beach. If you get the chance to go here, don’t miss out!
Hard Rock Cafe
Rock and Roll has always been the hallmark of the Hard Rock brand and it is no different to this one in Maldives. Live music starts around 8pm with a band playing on-stage. However, this is an all-day dining restaurant that serves classic American food. Burgers, Nachos, Steaks and ribs, they have it all. The food quantity is generous and shareable. After a satisfying meal, the Hot fudge brownie is a must.
Kinkao Thai Bistro
A lovely Thai casual dining restaurant in The Marina, the interior here is simple and wooden. I enjoyed the traditional Thai flavours in the food. Their menu names can be a little confusing, but their staff seemed very polite and ready to assist if needed. We ordered Thai soups followed by rice (in a pineapple) and a crispy chicken stir-fry. We ended the meal with Mango Sticky rice. Food presentations were on point!
Sessions
This is where we had our last dinner the night before we left. Sessions is a restaurant located in Hard Rock Hotel. They were having a themed seafood buffet and we were excited to see what was in store. The variety of options were great; with an entire sushi bar, live seafood teppanyaki, live pasta station and a delightful desserts and ice-cream counter. Needless to say, we had a fabulous evening!
Amenities and Facilities
There are plenty of amenities at Saii Lagoon Maldives. On top of that, you have access to all the facilities at the Hard Rock Hotel and The Marina. These are some of the highlights below:
• Maldives Discovery Centre
Learn more about the country at the Maldives Discovery Centre at Crossroads Marina. A very passionate local guide took us on a trip into Maldivian history, it’s islands, culture and it’s wildlife. It was a great way to learn about Maldives through an interactive session. The centre also has a museum with traditional clothing and instruments.
• Fitness Centre
You will find an air-conditioned gym within the resort, only a walk away from the beach and sky rooms. This fitness centre was well-equipped with treadmills, stationary bikes, dumbbells, and more. You can enjoy the view of the beautiful lush courtyard outside, or maybe even have an outdoor yoga session.
• Lèn Be Well Spa
Part of The Marina, you can find all your relaxation needs at the Lèn Be Well Spa. It’s open from 10am to 8pm.
• Pools and the Beach
There are plenty of white sand beaches throughout the island, a beach club as well as an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. So regardless of the room you choose, you will get to enjoy the gorgeous beaches and the pools at the property.
• Best Dives Maldives
Best Dives Maldives is located in the Marina and they are fully equipped with various watersport and diving facilities. There are plenty of paid and complimentary experiences to choose from. We rented the snorkeling gear from here and we also went on a kayak included in our package.
• Junior Beach Club
If you have little ones, you can leave them at the Junior Beach Club where they can learn, engage in different activities and enjoy.
Staff and Service
The staff really went above and beyond to ensure we had a comfortable experience. We needed to download a Saii App after checking in the hotel. Through this App, we had direct communication/ live chat feature available with the customer service staff. They were quick to respond to our requests.
We used their buggy service very often to go around the island. They were always there on time whenever we requested for a buggy. The staff were friendly and engaging, ready to have a conversation, answer our questions on the resort or even about Maldives in general.
The staff also seemed to have great in-team communication and co-ordination. To me, this was a great indication that they make it a priority to look after their guests properly and meet their requirements quicker.
My Final Thoughts about Saii Lagoon Maldives
If you are looking for a resort with a lot of facilities, plenty of food options, lesser travel time and priced more reasonably, you will like this one. The Crossroads is definitely more commercial in nature, rather than a private isolated island, but that also means that there are a lot more activities you will find in here than most other resorts in the Maldives.
Me and my husband really enjoyed this trip, it was an exciting holiday with something new to look forward to everyday. The staff made our stay very memorable, and if I was to recommend this resort, I would!
Book your stay at the Saii Lagoon Maldives
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Thanks for this informative details. Looking forward to our trip too.
I am so happy for you. Hope you have a delightful trip!