Featured
CROSSROADS Maldives unveils upbeat experiences for tropical holiday season in Maldives
CROSSROADS Maldives, the fully-integrated lifestyle destination and premier multi-island resort, is inviting the world’s travellers to celebrate the festive season in a tropical paradise this December and January, with a series of exciting, immersive and engaging activities overlooking the idyllic Emboodhoo Lagoon.
Nestled in the South Malé Atoll, just 15 minutes from Velana International Airport, CROSSROADS Maldives is a “one-stop, non-stop” destination where adventurous families, friends and couples from all over the world can cross paths and explore a wealth of attractions, including five-star resorts, diverse dining, world-class wellness, specialty shopping and more, all surrounded by powder-soft sands and shimmering seas.
The heart and soul of the destination is The Marina @ CROSSROADS, an 800-metre beachside boardwalk which is lined with cool cafés, refined restaurants and upmarket boutiques. This lively district sets the stage for sparkling celebrations, starting on 21st December with the CROSSROADS Lighting Ceremony at Village Plaza, accompanied by a live local band. For the next two weeks until early 2023, this lifestyle hub will be illuminated by uplifting occasions for all ages, including street festivals, music, games, kids’ activities and a pulsating Pool Party at the Beach Club on Christmas Eve!
The seven days leading up to New Year’s Eve will be Carnival Week with a Street Fest at Maritime Plaza featuring four hours of fun and games every day, while other engaging events will include a Maldivian Cultural Day at the Maldives Discovery Centre, Open Mic Night & Karaoke and an Authentic Maldives Fashion Show. Then on the final day of the year, revellers can ring in 2023 with the Gala Dinner & Countdown Party at Bean/Co!
At SAii Lagoon Maldives, the playful and free-spirited resort, a full calendar of activities will keep every guest entertained from 23rd December onwards. With Gingerbread House Decorating, Kids’ Mini Discos, Sandcastle Making Contests, a Children’s Talent Show, and even a Kids’ Costume Party, youngsters will enjoy a season of thrills. Adults can soak up the holiday spirit with DJ by the Pool sessions and live music by the beach, and generations can come together for a spectacular selection of dining experiences, from Sunday Brunch, Indian Ocean Buffet Dinner, and Levantine Buffet at Miss Olive Oyl, the vibrant Mediterranean seafood grill and bar, to the beachfront Christmas Dinner Buffet Beach Seafood BBQ and Wine Dinner at Mr. Tomyam, the Thai-inspired seafront restaurant.
Then on New Year’s Eve, SAii Lagoon Maldives is inviting little ones to a Kids’ Pool Party and grown-ups to a glittering Guest Cocktail Party and Gala Dinner with Live Music, culminating with a glamorous, classic Hollywood-themed New Year’s Eve Countdown Party on the beach! What a wonderful way to end 2022 in paradise. Rates at SAii Lagoon Maldives start from just USD 895 per night.
Across the lagoon at Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, this rocking resort will be tickled pink with a series of colorful celebrations! Following the bright pink Tree Lighting Ceremony. Hard Rock Hotel Maldives will light up its traditional and creative tree, a little earlier than usual this year to bring extra fun to its Rock Stars and be part of the Pink Festive, starting from 7th December 2022 the lighting ceremony will be held three times and the celebrations will continue throughout the month. The official and grand tree lighting ceremony will be on 21st December, and the upbeat retreat will stage four weeks’ days of exciting cultural and culinary happenings. From Maldivian Folklore evenings, a Wonderland Show, Picnic Party, Navidad Buffet & Samba Show, and Colorful Island Show at The Elephant & The Butterfly, the Latin American-inspired beachfront restaurant, to the Pavilion Night Parties, Rock Shop Fashion Shows and an exhilarating DJ Pool Party, every event will hit the right notes!
Guests can get dressed up and party on down at the Pink Christmas Gala Dinner at the beach and Christmas Eve Party in the marquee, before Santa Claus Comes to Town on Christmas Day, with fun kids’ activities, a Deck Lunch by the Pool, and Kids’ Christmas Party. Then, as the sun sets over the Maldives on 31st December, loved ones can come together for the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner and dance the night away at the New Year’s Eve Countdown Party. Rates at Hard Rock Hotel Maldives start from just USD 1,180 per night.
With a prime location just 15 minutes by speedboat from the Maldives’ main international gateway, these enchanting island resorts are suitable for shorter stays and even weekend breaks, as well as longer vacations. So, if you’re seeking an exotic alternative to your traditional end-of-year vacation, CROSSROADS Maldives promises truly unforgettable festive escapes.
For more information about CROSSROADS Maldives and to book your end-of-year escape in the Indian Ocean, please visit crossroadsmaldives.com.
Featured
‘Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom’ comes to Sun Siyam Vilu Reef this festive season
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Privé Collection within the House of Siyam, has announced its festive programme, “Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom”, which will run from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027.
The seasonal programme features activities and experiences for guests of all ages. Dining will take centre stage with Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve gala dinners by the water, exclusive Chef’s Table experiences and seafood barbecues on the beach.
The evening entertainment programme will include live acoustic performances, island DJ sets, aerial dance shows and Maldivian cultural performances.
During the day, guests will be able to explore the resort’s lagoon through activities such as house reef snorkelling, sunset Jet Car rides and sandbank excursions. The Spa will offer wellness rituals and couples’ therapies, while younger guests can take part in gingerbread decorating, a fashion show and Santa’s arrival on the beach.
“Eutopia is our invitation to celebrate and embrace nature, meaningful moments, and the relaxed luxury that defines Sun Siyam Vilu Reef through our festivities,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager.
“From unforgettable ocean adventures to starlit beach celebrations, every experience has been thoughtfully designed to create lasting memories that will continue to flourish long after the season ends.”
The programme will culminate with a New Year’s Eve celebration on the beach on 31 December, featuring live music, midnight toasts and a fireworks display over the water.
The resort’s festive programme is available to view online, with bookings open for stays between 22 December 2026 and 7 January 2027.
Awards
Sun Siyam Iru Veli earns top wedding destination honour at TTM Awards
Fresh from being named Best Honeymoon Destination in 2025, Sun Siyam Iru Veli was recognised as Best Wedding Destination at the Travel Trade Maldives Awards & Gala 2026, held at Crossroads Maldives on 27 August. The award further reinforces the resort’s commitment to celebrating romance in all its forms.
Surrounded by turquoise lagoons and white-sand beaches, Iru Veli provides a natural setting for couples seeking an intimate island retreat. Every villa features a private pool, while secluded beaches, private sandbanks and a 24-hour all-inclusive dine-around experience offer guests privacy and flexibility throughout their stay.
The resort hosts celebrations of different scales, ranging from barefoot ceremonies by the ocean to larger events encompassing the entire island. Dedicated wedding planners work closely with each couple to personalise every element, ensuring that both the ceremony and the wider stay reflect their individual story.
This flexibility extends beyond the resort’s wedding packages. Simple Romance, Grand Gesture and Sandbank Magic provide couples with a starting point, with each celebration customisable through décor, dining, wellness, entertainment and island experiences. For occasions requiring complete exclusivity, full-island buyouts allow the resort experience to be tailored around the couple and their guests.
The celebrations can continue beyond the ceremony through candlelit dinners beneath the stars, spa rituals for two, sunset cruises and time spent together across the island. These experiences enable couples to shape the occasion around their preferences, with personal moments unfolding throughout their stay.
“Every couple arrives with a different story and a different vision for their celebration. There is no template here. From intimate ceremonies for two to full-island celebrations with family and friends, our role is to create moments that feel completely personal. That is exactly what our team does. They listen first and then create a ceremony that truly reflects the couple. This award is a testament to the dedication and care they put into making every moment memorable,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager of Sun Siyam Iru Veli and Sun Siyam Vilu Reef.
The annual TTM Awards & Gala brings together travel professionals and hoteliers to recognise achievements across the Maldivian hospitality industry. Iru Veli’s latest award further strengthens its position among the Maldives’ leading destinations for weddings and romantic escapes.
Action
Chef Jake Norman and Molly O’Donoghue join Niva Dhigali for November programme
Niva Dhigali Maldives will welcome visiting chef Jake Norman and British pickleball champion Molly O’Donoghue for a curated programme of island experiences this November, bringing together dining and active wellbeing in the Maldives.
Norman began his culinary career making pizza in the markets of Guadalajara, Mexico, before working in several London restaurants, including St John, Ottolenghi and Sabor. He now leads the kitchen at Updown Farmhouse in Kent, where his cooking focuses on seasonal ingredients, live-fire techniques and Mediterranean influences.
On 18 November, Norman will host an exclusive dinner at Faru, presenting a menu that combines Mediterranean flavours with influences from Mexico and the Middle East, while incorporating ingredients sourced from the Maldives.
The shared dining experience will feature Indian Ocean produce, grilled dishes and smoky flavours, with a menu designed to reflect the setting and encourage guests to dine at a relaxed pace.
The programme will also include pickleball sessions hosted by British champion Molly O’Donoghue. A national champion in mixed and women’s doubles, as well as a European champion in mixed doubles, O’Donoghue first discovered the sport while studying in Australia. She has since competed internationally and worked to introduce the sport to players around the world.
At Niva Dhigali, O’Donoghue will conduct beginner sessions and advanced coaching, giving guests of different skill levels the opportunity to learn, play and develop their technique.
Located in Raa Atoll, Niva Dhigali Maldives is surrounded by tropical vegetation, a lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The November programme, featuring Norman’s dining experience and O’Donoghue’s pickleball sessions, forms part of the resort’s approach to offering guest experiences centred on food, wellbeing and the island environment.
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