The allure of the Maldives as a romantic getaway is everywhere these days, and our comprehensive St. Regis Maldives guide will help you plan the perfect trip. As travelers look for the perfect place for a romantic escape, the thought of luxurious villas and crystal-clear waters often come to mind. In our exclusive St. Regis Maldives guide, you’ll be transported to a stunning, remote island getaway, perfect for couples, friend groups, and even families. It is truly one of the most romantic resorts in the world.
Our guide and complete review walks you through what to expect, how to plan, and how to make the most of your St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort vacation. In the travel guide, you will learn:
- How to travel in style and make the vacation start when the plane takes off
- How to book on points and maximize your travel hacking
- What to expect in transit and how the seaplane transfers work
- The differences in room types and categories at St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Island
- An insider’s peek at some of the stunning suite options on site
- A primer on the St. Regis butler service and how to maximize their value
- A secret dining experience that is only available if you know to ask
- A review of food and beverage options on the island, fine dining, and how they handle food allergies
- A review of the overwater spa services, fitness center, wellness activities, and children’s center
If you’re ready to dive in, get your guide today!
But first, let’s address some common questions about the Maldives and the St. Regis.
Can you drink alcohol in the Maldives?
As a Muslim country, alcohol is strictly regulated in the Maldives. Alcohol is available within resorts, but will be impossible to find outside of a resort setting. It is also prohibited to bring your own alcohol in, even if purchased in the airport duty-free stores. Luggage is screened upon arriving at the international airport in Male, and any alcohol found will be confiscated and stored at the airport until your departure, when you can reclaim it.
Though alcohol is available at all the best Maldives honeymoon resorts, it is significantly more expensive than you will find it in the US or many other countries. We used the Vivino app to scan the wine bottle labels in our room’s mini fridge and found a confusing markup scheme. Some bottles were marked up 2x from the retail price, while others were 8x or more the price you could buy it in the US.
The St. Regis is known for its vast wine collection, and you won’t lack for excellent choices.
As a St. Regis, they of course have a signature bloody mary, which is beautiful and served in a conch shell, but which I found too acerbic. One was enough, and I enjoyed other signature cocktails along with wine. Most guests congregate each evening at the Whale Bar, where they enjoy drinks and snacks and enjoy sunset views before jetting away (usually on a golf cart, sometimes on a bike) to tempt their taste buds at one of several restaurants on the island.
What is there to do in the Maldives?
Our last trip was 10 nights at the St. Regis, and I admit that I worried I would get bored sitting around on a beautiful island all day. While there are a number of water-based activities available – snorkeling, diving, fishing, and yachting, to name a few – I found that we mostly wanted to relax either on our balcony or at the beach with my toes in the warm waters and a book in hand. I always miss my kids and am ready to head back after a few days, but I had no trouble keeping as busy as I wanted on site.
A few of the water sports and activities available for guests at the St. Regis include:
- Snorkeling
- Scuba diving
- Fishing
- Jet skis
- Paddleboards
- Kayaks
- Yacht rental
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Water aerobics
- Anti-gravity yoga
- Spa treatments at Iridium Spa and the “blue hole” experience
- Tennis courts
- Fitness centre
Most of these are free activities, though some, like the anti-gravity yoga and water aerobics, incur an additional charge.
Water activities are the name of the game at the St. Regis Maldives, and many guests go out snorkeling on the house reef every day. Those wanting to go further afield can sign up for a paid excursion, where they boat you to different coral reefs. I heard that this experience is better because the house reef is still recovering from the hotel’s construction and is therefore a bit colorless. For someone who just wants to experience the water and enjoy the Dhaalu Atoll, you won’t need to do the excursion.
Water Sports at the St. Regis Maldives
If a private pool doesn’t cut it for you and you need to get in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, the St. Regis Maldives is one of the best resorts for water sports. The white sands give way to direct access to coral reefs, where you can snorkel and observe a variety of marine life, include tropical fish, manta rays, sea turtles (I saw one of these) and whale sharks (we heard others speak about these but didn’t see them ourselves). The St. Regis Maldives excels in the little things, and your butler can bring snorkeling gear to your room when you arrive so you can walk down the steps of your overwater bungalow and straight into the pristine waters around the resort. Though Vommuli is a tiny island, it is quite the workout to snorkel around the entire thing, so you will want to pay attention to the currents and tides so you don’t overtax yourself.
What is the Best Room at the St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort?
Hands down, the best room at the St. Regis Maldives is the John Jacob Astor Estate. It is a 1700 sq-meter, 3-bedroom suite (with additional rooms for your security guard and nanny, of course) and features a private gym, a 92-square meter swimming pool, and the best views on the property. It was rented during my stay, so I didn’t get to peek inside, but we did get private tours of some of the other named suites like the Caroline Astor Estate, which is also a 3-bedroom villa, though it is beachfront as opposed to overwater. You almost wouldn’t notice you weren’t on the water, though, with its two pools.
Other named suites include the Knickerbocker villa and the Cesar Balsa villa, both 2-bedroom.
The main room category for the more financially-conservative traveler is going to be the overwater villa. Within the ocean villas, there are several sub-categories, including the St. Regis suite, which has a separate living room and king bed bedroom. This is the room category I stayed in, and I highly recommend my room (535) for its privacy and unobstructed view. Some of the overwater villas can see into the patio of other overwater bungalows, and you can see into some villas from some of the resort’s restaurants like the Whale Bar. While that means you are closer to the main infrastructure of the island, it also makes you think twice before skinny-dipping in your private sparkling pool or getting busy on the sun loungers.
The sunset overwater villa is more of a junior suite with a living area that is not closed off from the bedroom. It is situated to get sunset views over the Indian Ocean. Finally there is the overwater villa, which is the same layout as the sunset villa but in a different location on the property. All the over-water villas have an outdoor shower, a plush daybed on a private wooden deck, and a private plunge pool.
If you’re not in an overwater villa, you’re likely going to be in a beach villa, which still has its own pool. I found the beach villas to be more interesting for families, as Vommuli’s white-sand beaches are enticing to kids. The beach villas also benefit from lush vegetation, giving them a more private feel that families will appreciate. And finally…while your child could always wander into the ocean from the beach, the beach villas ensure that they won’t fall off the deck into the water!
If you’re visiting the St. Regis Maldives on a budget, the garden villa is your best bet. These are the only rooms without an ocean view, but you do get some lovely tranquil garden views. Like all rooms at the St. Regis, they feature private plunge pools and a private deck. The floor to ceiling windows and endless palm trees give these villas a castaway feel and ultimate privacy. You will be much closer to dining and activities in a garden villa than in an overwater villa, making them the best place for guests with mobility challenges. That said, your personal butler in any room category can ensure a golf cart transport to anywhere on the island you wish to go.
Dining Options at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Our review goes into detail about the resort’s restaurants, including how they handle food allergies. There is not an undersea restaurant at this hotel, but it is still an ideal place for a romantic meal. The main restaurant serves daily breakfast, and it is not to be missed! The buffet with bottomless mimosas was a hit with all the guests we met, and was worthy of any five-star resort. The St. Regis isn’t an all inclusive resort, but most guests who visit have status with the Marriott rewards program and get free breakfast as an amenity.
Is the St. Regis Maldives worth it?
The guide covers all the ins and outs of the resort, and whether it is for you depends on the experience you wish to have in the Maldives. As a luxury resort, its focus is on relaxation, pampering you, and peace and quiet. The Maldives in general, and the St. Regis in particular, is one of the most romantic destinations in the world and a great place to share quality time with loved ones. It’s one of the most romantic Maldives resorts, with white sandy beaches and a deserted island feel.
The Maldives is not the perfect choice for those wishing to island hop or experience vibrant nightlife. Transportation between the islands will eat up a half day, and isn’t cheap. Because the entire country is a series of tiny islands, populations are small and nightlife is not a focus.
The St. Regis Maldives is not for you if you are looking for:
- An adults-only resort
- An all-inclusive resort (though they do have half-board options)
- An easy-to-access, low-effort destination
What the St. Regis does to perfection is make you feel special. From being welcomed by a smiling and waving general manager as your seaplane lands and being handed a welcome drink, to surprising returning guests with personalized bike tags (first-time guests have their room number on their bike, and suites with names have the suite initials on their bikes), to sending out a search team to find and return dropped sunglasses minutes before we departed, the St. Regis staff makes the ordinary feel exceptional. When you have the pick of the most romantic hotels in the world, as you do in the Maldives, those little details really matter.
Get Your Insider’s Guide to the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Are you ready to plan your own unforgettable trip? Get your guide today for so many more insider tips on making the most of your bucket list experience at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort.
Best Honeymoon Resorts in the Maldives
If you’re not convinced yet about the St. Regis as your private island resort of choice, look into a few of these other options.
South Ari Atoll – South Ari is home to several gorgeous resorts with private villas, include the Lily Beach Resort. It is close to Male, making for an easy seaplane transfer, and there are multiple resorts, making it easy to move around if you crave variety.
Gili Lankanfushi – If you’re looking for convenience (relatively speaking…), this is one for you. Very close to Male and the international airport, it is still one of the most lavish resorts in the Maldives and a place you could truly live out your love story.
Hurawalhi Island Resort – One of the best things about this Maldives resort is its underwater restaurant. While the idea of dining underwater makes me a little nervous, it is one of the unique features of the Maldives and certainly makes Hurawalhi a contender for the most romantic resort in the area.
Looking for more insider content? Check out our guides to New York City with kids and Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa outside Dubai, another ultra-luxe Marriott property.
