Review: St. Regis Maldives Vommuli

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli is a dream destination I’ve been looking forward to visiting for a long time.

This resort is one of the crown jewels of the Marriott Bonvoy luxury hotel portfolio, and it’s considered one of the best resorts out here in the Maldives and an incredible use of Bonvoy points.

Rohin and Amy, two members of the Prince of Travel team, also stayed here and contributed to this review. Rohin’s stay overlapped with mine in May 2022, while Amy’s stay had taken place in late 2021. 

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Booking

Ricky

I booked my three-night stay at the St. Regis Maldives for 255,000 Bonvoy points in total. This was back before the March 2022 devaluation of Marriott Bonvoy when the program moved to dynamic pricing.

These days, you’ll find this resort pricing in the region of 100,000–120,000 Bonvoy points per night.

If you’re staying for five nights, you can also take advantage of the Fifth Night Free perk, and you’ll only need to pay for four nights on points. However, since I was combining this visit with another three-night stay at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, I decided to only book three nights here at the St. Regis.

I had redeemed points for a Sunset Overwater Villa at a slightly higher rate than the base-level Garden Villa, as I was very keen on securing the overwater villa experience rather than relying on a space-available upgrade.

In addition to the points, there’s a mandatory round-trip seaplane charge of US$745 per adult. This is certainly a significant barrier to entry, but one that results in the ultra-exclusive and private experience that you’ll find out here in the Maldives.

Amy

Our family had a great time in the Maldives. We stayed five nights at the St. Regis Maldives in a Two-Bedroom Sunset Overwater Villa.

This resort was one of the few Marriott options in the Maldives that allowed points redemptions for a family of five. The redemption came to a total of 400,000 Bonvoy points for five nights, along with a US$1,000 co-payment for the upgrade from the standard one-bedroom villa.

At the time, the cost of the villa for one night was over US$2,500 a night, so even with the co-payment, it was well worth it.

Rohin

I booked a total of six nights at the St. Regis Maldives, and invited some friends and family along to join me.

Taking advantage of the Fifth Night Free perk when redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points, I booked a five-night stay in a Sunset Overwater Villa, for a total of 390,000 Bonvoy points.

For the sixth night, I added a one-night stay in a Two Bedroom Beach Villa at 90,000 Bonvoy points to spice up the stay.

Book with Prince of Travel and Marriott STARS

Book a hotel stay with Prince of Travel through Marriott STARS and enjoy exclusive additional benefits at no cost to you, including:

• Daily breakfast for two guests
• Room upgrade, subject to availability at check-in
• $100 (USD) property credit
• In-person welcome and personalized welcome amenity and note
• Third, Fourth, or Fifth Night Free at select properties

 

Book St. Regis Maldives Vommuli

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Location

Located on Vommuli Island in the Dhaalu Atoll, the St. Regis Maldives is around 160km southwest of Malé.

The resort, which opened in 2016, features 33 beach villas and 44 overwater villas, spread out across the private island and a single jetty.

This would be the third resort that I’ve visited in the Maldives, so we were quite familiar with what to expect: white sand beaches, lush rainforest, buggies, jetties, and the endless turquoise blue waters of the Indian Ocean.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Airport Lounge

Our experience at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli began with a seamless handoff between airport butlers from the Waldorf Astoria, where we had just stayed, to the St. Regis.

Upon stepping off our yacht from the Waldorf Astoria, we were immediately met by the St. Regis butler and passed along into their care.

(If you’re arriving to the Maldives by plane, then your butler will similarly meet you at the airport.)

We were escorted to the dedicated St. Regis van, which brought us to our airport lounge, and the St. Regis signature service level was immediately evident. We were asked if we would like some water, and invited to help ourselves to a few bottles of Evian.

Then, we were offered a refreshing cold towel and a tablet with a recorded greeting from our butler at the resort, Ali. Wi-Fi was also available in the van, and we were invited to make ourselves comfortable as we drove over to the airport lounge.

The St. Regis airport lounge is tucked away on the more secluded side of the Malé airport. The lounge has a few options for seating, dotted around to make enough room for individual groups of travellers, and has a peaceful Maldivian atmosphere.

It’s a very comfortable place to wait while you wait for your seaplane ride. For those returning home from the St. Regis, you’ll also get to spend a few hours here as you to catch their flight out of Malé.

There’s a range of complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks available. I opted for a Maldivian fish cake as a snack and some iced tea to pass the time in here.

Furthermore, the lounge has some restrooms and a shower room in case you need to freshen up before boarding your flight or seaplane.

The airport lounge is certainly a special space that adds to the anticipation of staying at the resort, and is one of the St. Regis’s distinguishing features out here in the Maldives.

There is a seaplane dock connected directly to the seaplane lounge, although we didn’t actually make use of it for our departure. Instead, we got back into the van and drove out to the public seaplane dock to board our Trans Maldivian Airways flight en route to the St. Regis.

It was about a 45-minute seaplane ride before stopped at the St. Regis, with the seaplane continuing onto a different resort afterwards.

If it’s your first time taking the seaplane, there’s a certain novelty factor about the experience that you’ll definitely enjoy; however, having already taken the seaplane on our last visit to the Maldives to the JW Marriott, we found it a little more uncomfortable this time.

It was a hot and sweltering day, and it also gets very loud up there. But it was all worthwhile as we touched down smoothly on the waters outside the St. Regis and arrived at our new paradise for the next three days.

Arriving at the welcome pavilion, we were offered coconuts as welcome beverages. Then, our butler Ali sat down with us and introduced himself, before walking us through a few details of the resort.

Ali then mentioned that our Sunset Overwater Villa was ready, so we hopped in our buggy and drove out to our villa.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Sunset Overwater Villa

Ricky

The Sunset Overwater Villa is one of the higher-tier villas at the resort, available for an upgrade with cash, points, or on a complimentary basis for elite members, depending on the resort’s occupancy patterns. As the name implies, these villas face west, offering beautiful sunset views but limited sunlight during the mornings. 

We were assigned Room 538, a short distance down the jetty, which meant that we didn’t have to cycle too far to reach the main island. 

All of the accommodations here at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli are designed with a strong sense of eco-awareness. The design is intended to protect the fragile ecology of the Maldives, while also offering a luxurious escape.

The overall design of the overwater villas are reflective of the patterns and textures that can be found on the island, but of course, with a modern touch. The Sunset Overwater Villas in particular resemble manta rays, with sweeping sides extending out over the ocean across the outer edge of the arc-shaped jetty.

The villas at the St. Regis Maldives feature a natural colour palette, consisting of mostly light timber woods covering the walls, floors, and ceilings, with a few dark oak elements scattered throughout.

The space carries a modern oasis-like atmosphere, accompanied by a touch of coziness thanks to the plush carpeting.

The Sunset Overwater Villa is arranged in a fairly traditional hotel room layout, consisting of a separate seating area, bedroom, and bathroom, all fronting the outdoor deck. 

The careful placement of walls in the villa creates separation between individual areas of the wider open-concept space, with the entire suite facing out towards the Indian Ocean through a series of large expansive sliding glass doors. 

Upon our arrival, which was on the day of my birthday, I was thrilled to find the villa thoroughly dressed up with birthday decorations.

The first decorated area was the living room, with a few more surprises popping up as I explored our new surroundings.

In the living area, there’s a small loveseat next to an armchair and ottoman, and a circular table set over a plush carpet.

Directly behind the loveseat is an extended dark oak desk with USB and charging outlets on the wall to the right. 

The desk was proactively set with a bottle of Champagne, which was thoughtfully arranged by Prince of Travel team member Rohin, who was staying at the resort at the same time. Furthermore, the resort themselves had left us a bottle of sparkling wine on ice as a welcome gift as well. 

Moreover, there was a series of birthday greetings and messages from the Prince of Travel team, coordinated by Amy. This was also a very nice surprise to discover upon entering the room.

Behind the desk is a bar stocked with soft drinks, water, and some alcoholic beverages, as well as a coffee and tea station.

A small bar cart is positioned in the walkway, playing host to the more premium alcoholic items in the room’s minibar. 

The bedroom is located in the middle of the villa. The king bed, which I found to be extremely comfortable, is flanked by two side tables. Above the headboard is a Maldivian beaded wall, while a bench sits at the foot of the bed.

The TV sits between the two panes of sliding glass doors, and can be rotated for your viewing comfort from either your bed or from the couch.

The bathroom is located to the right of the bedroom. The space features a combination of wooden timber and delicate white marble walls and flooring.

Set against the back wall of the bathroom is the double vanity, featuring stunning backlit marble countertops with a pop of orange, along with a single large mirror and a small chair underneath to rest on while getting ready in the morning.

Near the windows of the bathroom is a large soaker tub, which was also filled with bubbles and decorated with an elaborate flower-cut design for my birthday upon arrival.

The tub was had a rather unique curvature to it, which made it a good size for one person to take a bath, but quite small for two people.

In the left corner of the bathroom, the toilet and walk-in rain shower are both found within glass enclosures. I took great enjoyment in the luxurious marble-clad shower, though I was somewhat disappointed that the toilet wasn’t a Japanese-style bidet-equipped “smart toilet”.

Lastly, connecting the bathroom to the foyer is a spacious walk-in closet and another additional vanity. There was ample shelf space at the top of the closet and two benches below.

The desk was sizeable, and I appreciated having a desk here. The quiet, tucked-away space still allowed for ocean views through the beaded wall and made for a nice environment to work in.

While it was an absolute dream to stay in the Sunset Overwater Villa, I did have one minor gripe in the grand scheme of things: the towels in the villa were not as plush and fluffy as I would have expected for a resort of this calibre.

Whenever I’m staying at a higher-end luxury resort like this, I tend to expect the towels to be fresh and plush, and that wasn’t the case here. Instead, they were a little too thin and coarse for my liking, and felt a little cheap; while this isn’t necessarily a big deal, it was indeed something that stood out negatively to me.

The villa’s sliding doors give way to the outdoor deck, where there’s a sizeable plunge pool and a few seating options dotted around.

In the left corner is a two-person dining table, as well as a twin set of lounge chairs with an umbrella in between.

On the right-hand side of the deck is a daybed, and then spread across the front of the deck are four hammocks where you can lie above the ocean.

The hammocks make for a great photo opportunity, but they are a little rough on the skin and not quite as comfortable as relaxing on the loungers. 

The highlight of the outdoor deck is of course the outdoor plunge pool. Unlike some other resorts in the Maldives, the pool is closer to the base of the outdoor deck, rather than splashing directly into the ocean. 

Because this is a Sunset Overwater Villa, the deck doesn’t get a lot of sunlight during the mornings, and as a result, the pool can get fairly cold at this time. In the afternoons, however, it makes for a refreshing spot to take a dip and enjoy the sunset.

Finally, the deck features a set of stairs leading down to a small jetty and a ladder directly into the ocean, which the Maldives’ overwater villas are famous for.

The Sunset Overwater Villas in general are a fantastic jumping-off point for the excellent snorkelling experience here at the St. Regis, as the reefs extend a fair distance from the villas before dropping off into the abyss. 

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Two-Bedroom Sunset Overwater Villa

Amy

The Two-Bedroom Sunset Overwater Villa was one of the nicest we’ve ever stayed in as a family, and truly one of the highlights of our stay at the St. Regis Maldives.

The villa is very spacious, with high ceilings, and was decorated in dark wooden furniture with subtle tropical accents.

When we first arrived at the villa, to the left of the entrance is a covered storage area that had five bicycles set up for our whole family. They even had training wheels for my youngest.

Upon entering the villa, you’ll find a small entryway. To one side is a door that opens up into a stairwell that leads upstairs.

The layout of the villa is such that the two bedrooms are located on separate floors, with the primary bedroom on the first floor and the second bedroom upstairs.

Past the front door, there’s a work area with a large desk, phone, and lamp.

On the other side of this work station is the large primary bedroom, with a king bed facing the floor-to-ceiling windows that look into the ocean. There’s also a sofa with a coffee table and set of drawers with a large flat-screen TV.

The outdoor deck is two-tiered. On the upper tier is your own infinity plunge pool, which was a decent enough size that my kids treated it as their private swimming pool. There’s also a large circular sofa lounger, a small dining set, and a wooden bench.

On the lower tier of the deck are two loungers and a ladder that leads directly into the ocean. This was a great setup, allowing me to watch the younger kids in the upper tier pool while my husband and older son went snorkelling right from our villa.

We were told that this side of the island was where the best snorkelling is to be found. I really appreciated the resort supplying life jackets in the villa for the whole family so we could all snorkel safely.

Going back inside the villa, there is huge bathroom that wraps around one side, with one entrance from the work area and another from the bedroom itself.

The bathroom had a large walk-in closet on one end and a bathtub with views of the ocean on the other.

In between is an expansive vanity area that has two large sinks, a toilet room, and a grandiose walk-in shower.

The bedroom on the second floor requires a keycard to enter, just like for the main entrance. There are two queen beds and a small sitting area with a table.

A small wraparound deck and a second expansive bathroom like downstairs, minus a bathtub, make the second floor its own little retreat.

If you are travelling with your kids, I will mention a couple things to consider in terms of safety.

First of all, there are no railings around the lower deck, so there’s a risk of falling into the ocean. There are some places where the water is shallow and the bottom is rocky, especially at low tide, so you need to keep a close eye on the kids.

We didn’t allow our kids out on the deck without adult supervision. If you’re travelling with younger kids, I would recommend booking an Ocean Villa or a Beach Villa rather than an Overwater Villa.

The stairwell connecting the two floors of the villa is located just outside of the villa. Technically, you must use your keycard to enter your villa, and then once inside, open another door to gain entry into the stairwell.

This is a good arrangement if you have older kids or if you are travelling as two couples, as it affords each bedroom a bit of privacy. However, with younger kids, the degree of separation may not be ideal.

There is also a door from the bike storage area outside that enters into the stairwell. It can be secured by a latch on the inside; however, once again, if you have younger kids, this may be a safety concern. Lay down strict rules about staying in the villa after hours, or divide and conquer with one parent on each floor.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Two-Bedroom Beach Villa

Rohin

My stay in the Maldives lasted a total of six nights. Taking advantage of Marriott’s Fifth Night Free benefit when using points, I booked into a Sunset Overwater Villa for the first five nights, and then decided to upgrade myself by booking the sixth night in the 3,594-square-foot Two-Bedroom Beach Villa.

Many of the room designs and functionalities were common across both the Sunset Overwater Villa and the Two-Bedroom Sunset Overwater Villa, which Ricky and Amy covered in detail above.

Unlike the overwater villas, however, guests access these Ocean Villas directly from the island as opposed to the jetty. 

A small clearing between trees led us to the front of the villa, which looked a little tired. For a property that has only been open for six years, the wooden exteriors are quite literally weathered from the extreme rains that occur during monsoon season here in the Indian Ocean.

The interior, however, is still fresh and modern, so don’t be discouraged. With the property currently undergoing renovations during the summer of 2022, I am sure these exteriors will quickly be brought back to life. 

Similar to Amy’s villa, as you enter, there is a staircase that leads up to the second floor. It should also be noted that there is a separate outdoor entrance that can be used to access just the second floor, allowing this suite to be used as two separate rooms as opposed to a traditional two-bedroom suite. 

The rest of the room was identical to its overwater counterpart, with a large king bed on the main floor, and spacious living spaces. I particularly enjoyed how the closet and bathroom were connected, which gives a good sense of privacy on the main floor where the common areas are most frequently used.

Unlike the large king bed located on the main floor, the second level has two small queen beds and, unfortunately, doesn’t sport the same ocean views as the bed on the floor below. 

The outdoor terrace on the main floor has an infinity style plunge pool, as well as a large daybed, which is similar to the one found in the other villas. I liked how this pool overlooked the ocean, as opposed to the pool in our overwater villa which was quite close to the building. 

The terrace is also equipped with a larger four-person table, making it an ideal place to enjoy a meal while escaping the direct sun.

The second-floor terrace also features lounge chairs and a four-person table; however, they remained unused during our stay as we spent most of our downstairs on the larger terrace.

This villa sits right in front of the ocean, with a staircase that leads into its own little beach area. However, it’s not the same beautiful sand you will find elsewhere on the island.

Instead, there are plenty of little stones and washed-up coral strung across the sand, making it less ideal to walk around or have your kids play in. 

Furthermore, the beach-like area is only really visible during low tide, and as you get to high tide, it quickly becomes submerged. 

The St. Regis house reef is steps off the balcony, making it an ideal location to start your snorkelling adventure. The coral-filled shallow waters make for plenty to see while still remaining relatively close to land. I would advise heeding extra caution during low tide to avoid scratching and bruising yourself, or harming the corals below.

Ultimately, while I absolutely loved my Sunset Overwater Villa for the first five nights, the Two-Bedroom Beach Villa certainly had a charm of its own.

Aside from not being overwater, the most notable difference in the outdoor living space here was the lack of hammocks you could lie in. Incorporating these into the design of this villa would go a long way to making it the perfect accommodations for a larger group at the St. Regis Maldives.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Resort Layout

Ricky

The St. Regis is a fairly intimate resort overall, consisting of a densely forested main island and a jetty fanning out into the ocean, which provides access to all the overwater villas.

On one side of the jetty is the Sunset Overwater Villas, whereas on the other side are the Sunrise Overwater Villas. 

The primary mode of transportation out here at the St. Regis Maldives is by bicycle, and every villa has two sets parked outside. You do have to be careful biking on the jetty, as the walls are very low. Thankfully, they’re wide enough to ride pretty comfortably.

Halfway down the jetty, there is a hexagonal “intersection”, with one side leading to the presidential John Jacob Astor Estate.

In the middle of the intersection is a hexagonal platform, which serves as a communal gathering place with a series of hammocks that you can relax and lie in.

Meanwhile, a circular trail on the main island takes you to all of the resort’s facilities, such as the Vommuli House, the dive centre, the spa, the welcome pavilion, and all of the restaurants.

Other facilities, such as the tennis court, community garden, and staff quarters, are situated in the interior of the island in the middle of the circular path.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Breakfast

Breakfast is served buffet-style or à la carte in Alba, the resort’s all-day dining restaurants. If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member or higher, then you’ll have access to complimentary breakfast every morning of your stay.

The breakfast offering is very comprehensive, and you certainly won’t leave disappointed.

The selection is a little more streamlined than what you may find at other St. Regis locations around the world, although the quality of the ingredients is naturally excellent. 

You’ll find a few different styles of dim sum and a noodle bar with rotating soup bases, which was my preferred way to kick off my breakfast sitting each morning. 

Among the remaining hot breakfast items, you’ll find a wide range of Western, Indian, Maldivian, Asian, and Middle Eastern items – everything from tuna curry, to shakshouka, to stir-fried noodles, to chicken and beef sausages.

If you’re not in the mood for hot food, there is a variety of cold items available, including pastries, parfaits, fresh fruit bowls, cereals, salads, and charcuterie. 

The à la carte menu offers a wide range of more elaborate items, such as duck confit waffles, Eggs Benedict, a Japanese bento box, and poached eggs with avocado. These are served with various luxurious accompaniments on the side or on top, such as caviar, black truffle, and soft shell crab if requested.

(And yes, you can even just ask for an entire plate of soft shell crab, and they’ll bring it to you.)

Indeed, you can always dress up your breakfast order with some of these luxurious trimmings, and you can also ask for customized food plates above and beyond what’s available on the menu or at the buffet.

In terms of fancy drinks, Champagne mimosas are available with either orange or watermelon juice, as well as a wide range of hot or iced coffee or tea beverages.

We also indulged in quite a few tropical fruit plates across our three breakfast sittings, and the staff were happy to put together full plates of mangos, mangosteens, and rambutans.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli certainly has a very impressive breakfast spread. We left each morning feeling absolutely full and satisfied, especially with the extra luxurious indulgences you can ask for at breakfast, such as a whole plate of deep-fried soft shell crab.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Dining

There are five dining options at the St. Regis Maldives, each with its own unique offering. Across all of our stays, we were able to try a couple of the restaurants and enjoyed pretty much all of them. 

If you’re staying here for, say, five nights, you could end up trying each place once. Meanwhile, if you were staying for longer, you might end up returning to the same restaurant a few times, but they each have enough variety on the menu to try out something new each time.

Alba

Ricky

The resort’s signature restaurant and largest dining venue is Alba, where breakfast is served. 

Alba is open for all-day dining and offers various interpretations of both Indian and Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner. The atmosphere is bright and airy, with large, open windows that allow sunlight to pour in and offer stunning views of the resort.

Rohin

I ordered the butter chicken dish with a side of garlic naan for my first dinner at Alba. I have to admit I was taken aback by the price (a feeling that lingered throughout my stay), and when I received my meal I was disappointed in how small the portion size was for a US$60 main dish.

However, all of my woes very quickly dissolved as soon as I had my first bite. This may have been the best butter chicken I have ever enjoyed in my life. It was perfectly creamy, with a strong depth of Indian spices and tender pieces of chicken. 

The rich butter-based dish left me struggling to finish my last two bites, and my initial impression of the portion size was no longer a concern. 

Over the course of my six night stay, our group primarily dined at Alba, and we loved every dish that was served. Despite others in my party sharing the same initial concern over portion sizes, I will admit there was an occasion or two where we had leftovers.

The Whale Bar

Ricky

The Whale Bar is the resort’s sunset bar nestled over the water. The uniquely shaped architectural space focuses on tapas, locally sourced seafood, and hand-selected wines and spirits.

The bar’s distinctive shape draws inspiration from the whale shark, the largest species of living fish in the world. It provides guests with unobstructed views of the Indian Ocean, as it protrudes from the small island and over the house reef. 

We came out here for some drinks on one of the days, and enjoyed picking from a fairly wide selection of creative alcoholic drinks.

Rohin

Around 6pm, the team at St. Regis performs their evening ritual at the Whale Bar: the sabrage of Champagne, which is the act of opening a Champagne bottle with a sabre. 

In the past, guests would be able to enjoy a complimentary glass of Champagne as part of the evening sabrage, but recently the St. Regis Maldives has done away with this, and now offers these bubbles for US$90 per glass. 

Aside from serving up signature cocktails and tapas, The Whale Bar is known for its extensive menu of fresh seafood. Unfortunately, during my stay, I was unable to dine here in the evenings, as the restaurant was unknowingly closed for some of the nights during my stay. 

On the nights it was open, I found The Whale Bar to be the perfect location to watch the sunset, sip a cocktail, and snack on some tapas.

Crust & Craft

Ricky

Crust & Craft is the resort’s beachside eatery. We had lunch here one day with the group, and split a few pizzas among us. 

The seafood pizza was certainly flavourful, making for a wonderful midday snack between breakfast and dinner. I also appreciated how the beers were served in individual ice buckets.

Rohin

Crust & Craft was my go-to spot for lunch, and I enjoyed the wood-fired pizza from this beachside pizzeria daily. 

If you are looking to enjoy a pizza while on this island, lunchtime is the only time to go, as they close down before dinner time.

The pizza menu was well structured, from the classics, like margherita, to more extravagant pizzas that had lobster and smoked Maldivian tuna on it. 

Crust & Craft also has a “create your own pizza” option on the menu, so if one of their house pizzas doesn’t grab your attention, you can mix and match to create your own perfect pie.

Orientale

Ricky

For my birthday dinner, we went to Orientale, the resort’s Asian fine-dining restaurant, which features a sushi bar and a seasonal pan-Asian selection. The space is also quite bright and airy, but with an elevated ambiance thanks to its sparkling chandeliers and creative patio seating.

We had a really nice dinner with a couple of sushi plates, which were on par with the top-quality sushi that we have back home in Canada.

We then had the main course of chilli garlic crab with rice, which was delectable, well-executed, and a wonderful birthday meal. 

To wrap things up, the restaurant treated us to a complimentary birthday dessert of chocolate cake and ice cream. 

Overall, the meal came to around US$250 with drinks, which is very much reflective of the expectedly exorbitant food and beverage costs at this resort. 

Cargo

Ricky

On our last night, we joined our friends for dinner at Cargo, the resort’s Middle Eastern venue.

At Cargo, dinner is served barefoot in the middle of the jungle under a canopy of trees strung with dazzling lights, which makes for a very unique. dining experience. Note that if it’s raining, the hotel will move your reservation into Alba and serve you the same food there.

Jessy had the shawarma wrap, while I shared the mixed grilled plate with Rohin. This meal was also quite delicious, and the experience under the trees and lights added a touch of magic; however, but I would definitely pick Orientale as my first-choice dining venue at the St. Regis Maldives in terms of the quality of the meal. 

Rohin

Cargo’s jungle-like location provides a welcome change of scenery to the rest of the island’s oceanside eateries. It’s a wonderful venue to get lost in conversation with friends and family while enjoying shared plates of Middle Eastern cuisine.

I would highly recommend trying the shawarma, mixed grill, or any dish containing lamb. If you are a vegetarian, the falafel dish is also spectacular.

The restaurant is catered by a shipping-container-turned-kitchen set up in the middle of the trees, which fits well into the jungle vibe the venue emits.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Pools & Beach

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli has a single primary pool and beach area, rather than separate family and adults-only pools. These occupy the space in front of Alba, facing out into the lagoon and offering a sweeping view of the Whale Bar on the left and the jetty and overwater villas on the right. 

The shared pool stretches across the entire width of the beach fronting it, and there’s also a small splash pool for the kiddos to enjoy close by.

The resort offers complimentary kayaking and paddleboarding, as well as a series of paid watersports, although the real highlight in terms of ocean activities is the excellent snorkelling. You can rent the snorkelling gear from the dive centre and keep it in your villa to use when you please.

The reefs are strong all around the resort, including right outside many of the Overwater and Ocean Villas. Since Vommuli is an all-natural island, there’s endless sea life to look at and coral reefs to observe.

A short distance out from the island, you’ll arrive at the edge of the coral reef, where it drops off into the endless deep blue ocean. Coming out here into the abyss and observing the sea life at the very edge was certainly one of our favourite ways to experience the snorkelling.

On our last day at the resort, we tried to snorkel around the island, from the dive centre all the way underneath The Whale Bar and over to the beach. The sea life was beautiful, although it did get fairly stormy midway through, so we ended up cutting the journey short. 

With so much coral and sea life to explore in the immediate surroundings of the beach, I’d be sure to set aside some time for snorkelling if you’re staying at the St. Regis Maldives, as it made for a very enjoyable dimension to our stay.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Other Facilities

Ricky

Jetting out from the island at the far end of the resort is the Iridium Spa. The manta ray-shaped spa facility includes a number of overwater treatment huts, as well as a central spa area with a few partitioned-off waiting areas.

The spa is home to an impressive hydrotherapy pool known as the Blue Hole. The expansive pool splashes out towards the ocean and can accommodate up to 12 people at once, and certainly looked like a very enticing space to spend time for a few hours.

If you’ve booked a spa treatment or are visiting the St. Regis Maldives on a honeymoon or anniversary, then you get complimentary access to the Blue Hole; otherwise, it’s subject to a payment of US$180 per couple.

We didn’t end up spending time here, but it does look like a very enticing place to relax if you do book a spa treatment or if you’re eligible for a complimentary session.

In the middle of the resort is Vommuli House, the hotel’s community space, which houses a salon, fitness centre, and the Kids Club.

Unfortunately, the fitness centre is fairly small and limited in square footage. Still, it fulfills your basic fitness needs with a variety of cardio equipment, cable machines, free weights, and a Smith machine. 

The gym does start to feel crowded when two or three people are in here at the same time. There is the option for morning yoga at the resort if you’re keen on finding other ways to get a workout in.

There was a resort-wide happy hour hosted here at Vommuli House on our first day at the resort, with complimentary alcoholic beverages available. At these weekly happy hours, you could meet and mingle with the other guests, which I thought was a rather unique, if a little amusing, thing to do at a Maldives resort.

(As a side note, over the course of our three-night stay, I ran into no less than five sets of Prince of Travel fans out here at the St. Regis Maldives, which is a testament to just how popular this place is when redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points.)

Near Vommuli House, there’s a tennis court and a communal gathering place called Socialite. This area has a few bean bag chairs and ping pong tables for you to entertain yourself.

Amy

The St. Regis Maldives’s Kids Club was staffed by professional childcare attendants who were absolutely fabulous with kids. It’s located very close to the Two-Bedroom Overwater Villas, making it an easy bike ride for the kids.

The club consists of a spacious indoor and outdoor area, and is available daily from 9am–6pm for kids aged 4 to 12.

Inside, there was a play area for younger kids, with a kitchen set and other make-believe toys, as well as comfortable seating for those who want to read. There is also a large floor for playing board games or doing puzzles.

There is a separate activity room where scheduled activities are held, such as crafts, games, and educational sessions. Here is a sample from one of the activities they did.

There are five supervised activities a day. There is a capacity limit for the activities, and it’s suggested that they be reserved ahead of time, which can be done onsite or through your butler.

The outdoor space is a sandy area with a large ship-themed play structure and a few picnic tables scattered around.

The childcare attendants were extremely friendly and welcoming. My one daughter is quite shy, but she felt quite comfortable in their care.

My son is getting to the age where kids clubs would normally bore him; however, the staff were still able to keep him just as engaged as the younger ones, which was a big accomplishment in my eyes.

He was also a fan of the entertainment pavilion located just outside of the kids club, which had a pool table, air hockey table, chess table, and most importantly, video games!

On our last day, the childcare staff even wrote a personalized farewell note to the kids, along with a photo souvenir to take home.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli – Service

Rohin

The team at St. Regis Maldives does one job, and they do it very well. That job is knowing your current needs, anticipating your future needs, and being prepared to execute at a moment’s notice to give you a seamless experience.

Furthermore, they leave you wanting for nothing, as everything has been looked after. The level of detail in the service provided is exactly what you would expect from a luxury property, and from my own personal experience, some of the best service I have received at any hotel.

While I can certainly say that our butler, Sarrah, was the face of our service experience, you can tell that a deep sense of hospitality is ingrained in every staff member on the island.

This is most apparent as you make your way through the island, as every staff member you pass will take a moment to stop what they are doing, put their hand over their heart, and nod hello.

Butler Service

The signature St. Regis butler experience begins prior to arrival, when a member of the butler team will reach out to you to obtain your arrival and departure details, as well as take note of any special occasions or requests.

Upon arrival at the resort, your personal butler will introduce themselves to you, welcome you to the island with a fresh coconut, and allow you to soak up your new home with a tour of the island by way of buggy.

Your butler is there for you at every turn, and is dedicated to making your trip the best it can be. Some of the butler services include, but not limited to: making dinner reservations, booking you in for activities, pressing up to two items per day, packing and unpacking your luggage, transporting you around the island on the buggy, and so much more.

I was impressed by the unpacking service. As someone who is content living out of a suitcase and hardly ever unpacks on a trip, I welcomed the thought of being able to access my belongings without digging through a suitcase every time. Sarrah carefully unpacked everything and either hung or stowed away my clothes in the closet.

I also found the butlers to be quite adamant on making restaurant reservations on your behalf. In my opinion, reservations were not required, or at least not during the low season when we went.

Still, I would recommend making them through your butler, for the sole reason of allowing them to know your location. I know that might sound strange, but letting your butler into your daily routine allows them to assist you better. 

If you go to breakfast around the same time everyday, you may find them already parked outside your room waiting for a pick up call. When they know you are at breakfast, they inform the housekeeping team to fix up your room. If you are at the beach, they may drop by with snorkelling gear, or sun lotion. 

Housekeeping & Turndown Service

Housekeeping at the St. Regis was done daily, typically during the morning hours while guests enjoyed their breakfast. 

The housekeeping team did an exceptional job throughout our stay, bringing the room back to a picture-perfect state everyday. Standard duties were done, such as making the bed, refreshing the towels, and stocking the minibar, but it was the smaller details that really stood out to me. 

I really appreciated things like having my charging cables rolled up nicely, our snorkelling gear placed neatly in the corner, and the bathroom countertops organized. 

Further, the housekeeping staff picked up on personal cues, such as providing additional bottles of water, coffee pods, and coffee cups as we consumed more than what was initially provided in the room.

While I could have most certainly done without these things, the level of care and attention that go into the day-to-day experience really builds into the overall luxury experience you have here at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli. 

Like housekeeping, turndown service was also offered daily, and is designed to make the guest feel as comfortable as possible before going to bed. Just as housekeeping is done during breakfast, turndown service typically occurs while you are out for dinner. 

I wish I had a photo of this, but the foot towel that is placed on each side of the bed with your slippers says “Goodnight” as you face the bed to get in, and “Good morning” as you get out of bed.

The overlay stitch is very subtle, and I only noticed it as I reached for something I had dropped on the ground beside it, but it was the perfect example of the small details that elevate a stay from excellent to outstanding. 

Restaurant Service

Keeping in line with the rest of the service at the St. Regis, the hospitality at the restaurants was top-notch.

The team here went out of their way to build rapport with you and had a genuine interest in not only your well-being but in you as a person as well, taking the time to get to know you. 

Each staff member works across the resort’s multiple restaurants, and will truly make the effort to learn about your dietary preferences and favourite items.

After only a few meals, I noticed that the staff started to make recommendations on dishes I would like, not only at that current restaurant, but at the restaurant where I had a reservation for later that day.

Amy

Staff at the St. Regis Maldives were well-trained, polite, and attentive to our needs. They were really good with conversing with our kids as much as they were with us.

The most outstanding service at the resort was from our butler, Hussain. He left such a positive impression with my kids that to this my day, they still ask when we can go back to see him again.

We tried not to bother him unnecessarily, but when we needed assistance, he was always just a text away. He would help book our Kids Club reservations and handle any changes to our dining reservations.

On arrival, he laid out a stuffed whale for each child in our bedroom, which the kids quickly fell in love with.

He brought our kids their own hats, equipped them with beach toys, and even walked them back from the Kids Club a couple of times. When it was raining, he would come pick us up in a buggy to bring us to where we needed to go.

What’s more, for a few of our meals, the Food & Beverage Director didn’t even charge us for a few of our kids’ meals. My family and I have never felt so pampered before in our lives!

Ricky

I have very fond memories of St. Regis’s hallmark butler service across many different properties around the world, and the flagship Maldives resort was no exception. We were assigned Ali as our butler, who was also in charge of another party of friends who were staying here at the same time.

Ali was proactive and responsive throughout our stay. He was great at handling our dinner reservations and ensuring all of our needs were met, including anytime we needed a buggy ride or whenever we needed something delivered to the room.

The staff seemed to really take pride in their work across all areas of the resort. All of our interactions were positive and friendly, and everyone was proactive to help and had clearly underwent rigorous training as part of their service culture.

Conclusion

Between three separate experiences across the Prince of Travel team, we unanimously agreed that the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli well and truly lives up to its reputation as one of the leading resorts out here in the Maldives. 

The highlight of my stay was undoubtedly revelling in the oasis-like interiors of our Sunset Overwater Villa, jumping off the outdoor deck, and snorkelling in the clear-blue waters around the island, savouring every moment of the overwater villa experience the way it was meant to be.

However, the impressive resort facilities were effortlessly matched by the soft product as well: the breakfast spread impressed me with its sheer range of luxury trimmings, while the dining options at the resort were also excellent, the exorbitant prices of food and drink somewhat quelled by top-notch quality. 

Furthermore, hospitality at the resort was prompt, attentive, and deeply ingrained in every staff member, with a great deal of attention paid to the finest of details. I particularly appreciated all the birthday touches on the day of my arrival, which made my 28th birthday an unforgettable one. 

It’s worth noting that the resort is closing for a few months in the summer of 2022 for some light refurbishments, and we’d therefore expect the experience to be even better going forward, especially if you’re able to book your stay here using Marriott Bonvoy points at an outsized value.