St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort echoes all things finest, intimate, and luxurious
With travel largely on pause this year, it seems what they may have missed most was a coveted beach vacation where they could get away from it all. The Maldives has a spot to suit every traveller, whether you want a laid-back stretch of powder-soft white sand, a family-friendly escape on a remote island home to palm groves and exotic sea wonders, or a luxury break on a lush boutique private island with swings that soar over the ocean.
Whichever you prefer, you’ll find a refreshing way to escape the bustle of life, soaking up the Maldives’ year-round sunshine before cooling off in the shimmering turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
Nestled between verdant rainforest and white-sand beaches in the southern Dhaalu Atoll, a spectacular 40-minute seaplane flight from Malé International Airport, St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is the platonic ideal of vacations: what nearly every traveller, whether active or armchair, dreams of. Overlooking the alluring waves of the Indian Ocean, explore the tropical beauty and rich marine life of this peaceful, eco-conscious setting. Their private lagoon, Iridium Spa, and outdoor infinity pool promise nonpareil relaxation. Get engaged in a large variety of water sports and excursions at the diving centre. In addition, an exquisite culinary fare awaits at the resort’s six restaurants and bars. Boasting refined furnishings and island-inspired design, each of the 33 on-land and 44 over-water villas promises picturesque ocean or garden views from private terraces and pools.
Villas with a view
The resort features 77 luxuriously appointed private villas, all with a distinct contemporary design scheme inspired by the island’s natural materials and colour palette. The villas are split into three categories: entry-level garden villas concealed in the jungle; peak roofed beach villas hugging the blinding white shore; and vast overwater villas, the best of which face west towards the sunset and expansive Indian Ocean. All are huge and every single one comes with its own private swimming pool. Interiors are sophisticated and soothing, decked out in classy shades of cream, cobalt and chartreuse. Relax and reinvigorate your spirit in your luxury villa, featuring a state-of-the-art Bang & Olufsen BeoVision entertainment system and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. Easy-to-use tablets allow guests to control the curtains, lighting and air-conditioning, as well as Bluetooth music and stream from Netflix, among other things.
A gastronomical adventure
Explore a delightfully vast range of dining options at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. Visit Crust, the family-friendly pizzeria, and design your own pizza from a selection of traditional Italian and other delicious toppings. Slip away to Decanter, the resort’s hidden subterranean restaurant, and enjoy a five-course dining experience paired with drink selections. Relax with a cocktail at The Whale Bar and watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean or wander inland and dine at Cargo, a pop-up restaurant located amongst our tropical gardens. A tour de force of marine-inspired architecture, the Whale Bar’s distinctive shape recalls the majestic whale shark. The ceiling is adorned with a signature St. Regis ceiling mural, a sea life inspired pyrographic work designed by renowned artist Maya Burman. The installation depicts a father and son discovering a paradise of corals, fish, and plankton—a celebration of the Maldives’ vibrant sea life. Enjoy a fresh spin on everyday classics like burgers and tacos at Craft. The signature restaurant, Alba, offers dishes inspired by locally sourced ingredients for a romantic, alfresco meal. The impressive breakfast deserves a separate mentioning. The buffet is laid out in several interconnecting rooms (including the open kitchen) at the Alba restaurant and features literally everything that you can wish for, from Maldivian Eggs Benedict with Yellowfin Tuna, Lobster Omelette, Waffle, Duck Leg Confit, tens of bread variants, high quality cheeses and an impressive selection of fresh fruits. No matter your tastes, there’s something for everyone.
Services and experiences
Each villa is assigned a personal butler who will attend to your every wish and is happy to recommend customised recreational activities on the island, from beach yoga and sandbank picnics to deep-sea fishing and dolphin or sunset cruises, as well as luxury perks such as curated books for bedtime reading. A St. Regis Butler is accessible at any hour. There’s also a sweeping infinity pool, a top notch gym, an airy library, and a lobster-shaped spa; it has six overwater treatment rooms positioned in the pincers. Behind the pool area is the Vommuli House, the largest recreational centre in the Maldives. The massive building houses a yoga studio (don’t miss the antigravity yoga classes), fully equipped fitness centre, hair salon, and an impressive children’s club. Childen aged 4 to 12 may attend yoga classes, cooking courses in the dedicated children’s kitchen, or take part in creative arts and crafts including origami and painting. Located adjacent to Vommuli House, the Socialite Club welcomes teenagers aged 16 years and older to take part in a variety of entertainment options including table tennis, foosball, pool, and air hockey as well as video and board games.
Water sports and more
The most exciting is the Vommuli Dive & Watersports Centre, whose marine biologists are currently cataloging the biodiversity of this barely explored area. Recent unexpected encounters include meetings with mantas, hammerhead sharks and a pod of orcas – a rare sighting in the Indian Ocean. The water centre provides for any active pursuit whether deep-sea fishing, kayaking, speed boating, parasailing, jetskiing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, sea-bob, catamaran sailing, and windsurfing. The fully equipped centre, which is recognized as an international dive centre by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), provides scuba and nitrox diving lessons, certification and expert ScubaPro equipment to ensure safety. Most guests stop here on their first day at the resort to collect their complimentary snorkeling gear to explore the vibrantly hued sea life in the resort’s private house reef. Kayaking and paddle boarding are also complimentary.