Hotel Review: The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

With well over 170 resorts scattered across 26 atolls, choosing where to stay in the Maldives can feel like a serious commitment, especially if it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip. And given the amount of time I spend in the country, experience has taught me the three non-negotiables are simple: a location that feels genuinely removed yet easy to reach, design that goes beyond the usual thatched-roof castaway clichés, and seamless service that allows you to stop thinking and simply just be. 

For me, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resorts ticks all three. Set on its own nine-hectare island in the Dhaalu Atoll, just 45-minutes by seaplane from Malé, it hits that sweet spot between escapism and accessibility. Once there, palm-fringed stretches of white sand circle the island, slipping into clear aquamarine water where hawksbill turtles glide past the villas, blacktip reef sharks trace the shoreline at dusk, and eagle rays drift through deeper blue.

Then there’s the design, which is perhaps the resort’s most defining feature and one that’s most notable from above. As your seaplane banks towards the jetty, the overwater villas arc across the lagoon like manta rays, their curved forms a deliberate nod to the marine life below. The Whale Bar extends over the water in homage to the whale shark, while the Iridium Spa sits offshore in a sculptural crustacean-like form. In a destination dominated by predictable pitched thatch roofs and barefoot Robinson Crusoe tropes, The St. Regis feels considered and architectural yet still anchored in its surroundings.

While I tend to favour overwater villas for the immediacy of stepping straight into the lagoon, I was pleasantly surprised by my Two Bedroom Ocean Villa. Unlike many resorts, where beach villas sit slightly set back and wrapped in greenery, the St. Regis version is positioned right on its own private stretch of sand, so that the transition from terrace to sea feels just as effortless. Unfolding over 300 sqm across two floors, the space feels closer to a private residence. The second bedroom on the upper level mirrors the one below in scale and restraint, with pale timber floors, soft neutral upholstery, subtle marine references framed by floor-to-ceiling glass that keeps the ocean in constant view. Downstairs, the living room, master bedroom and bathroom are all aligned along the front of the villa, each opening onto the same expansive deck. Here, the private pool projects outwards from the terrace, cantilevered slightly so it feels suspended between the villa and the gently lapping shoreline.

Of course, this being a St. Regis, every villa comes with a butler. And as with other St. Regis stays, mine – whose name is Sareer – operated quietly in the background, smoothing the edges of the day, whether adjusting spa appointments, pressing garments or shifting lunch and dinner reservations at the drop of a hat.

Breakfast and lunch are best experienced under the shade of low-hanging palm trees at Alba, the all-day dining spot located on the beachfront near the main infinity pool. Here, a buffet spread is served alongside à la carte options including the fluffiest of pancakes, while the lunch menu has a Mediterranean flavour with dishes like the goat’s cheese and beetroot salad, perfectly charred lamb chops or, my favourite, spaghetti vongole with the clams still in their shells.

The St. Regis champagne sabrage ritual is the best way to start your evening – and not just because it’s held at the Whale Bar, which is also the ultimate spot to watch the Maldivian sky turn a soft shade of pink. From here, Orientale satisfied my Asian food cravings with a decent offering of Cantonese favourites including steamed whole fish and fried rice. 

On rainier days, we retreated to T·Pan, the resort’s indoor Japanese restaurant where the usual over-the-top teppanyaki theatrics give way to a refined, modern Kaiseki-style menu of delicately marbled wagyu – still cooked in front of you – along with silky chawanmushi and Dassai sake, all served against uninterrupted sea views.

C&TH Key Notes

– Drink to order: A glass of Champagne at the nightly sabrage ritual.

– Room to request: The three-bedroom John Jacob Astor Estate for larger gatherings; it comes with a private gym, cinema room and its own spa suite

– Best bit: The main bathroom, which opens directly onto the outdoor infinity pool.

– You should know: The Two Bedroom Ocean Villa is one of the most private spots on the island for an intimate wedding ceremony, as I discovered firsthand.

– Don’t miss: Time in the hydrotherapy pool at the Iridium Spa, particularly after a long flight.

THE LAST WORD

The Maldives rarely disappoints, but The St. Regis stands out for getting the balance right. Design-led, well located and efficient, it makes a complicated choice feel remarkably straightforward.

BOOK

Garden Villas with pool at The St. Regis Vommuli Maldives start from £1,109 including breakfast, excluding taxes and service. marriott.com