OUT OF THIS WORLD

Written By: Jenna Delaney

A trip to The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort begins long before you set foot on the pearl white sand of the island. When we landed in Malé, we were met by a resort representative who took care of all bags, check-ins, and transfers – a car was already waiting to whisk us away to the seaplane terminal, where the The St. Regis lounge awaited. Seaplanes don’t run to schedule, they’re on island time, but with the resort’s bespoke Bloody Mary in hand and all formalities ticked off, this is something we didn’t need to stress over. Encouraged to sit back, relax, and order from the breakfast menu, the transfer process went down as smoothly as the cocktail.

Escorted to our seaplane, bags already onboard, we were slightly hesitant to climb into the plane bobbing on water. The pilot reassured us that the 45-minute journey to the private island would be a pleasant one and that the resort was one of his favorites in the Maldives (no, he was not affiliated with The St. Regis). Half of the passengers looked smug as the pilot commended their booking choice, the other half just happy to be along for the ride. The propellers began to twirl and sea quickly turned to sky. In the air, we received the best introduction to the Maldives, soaring over sand banks and isles sprinkled across the Indian ocean, we even saw a rainbow dipping into a pot of turquoise treasure.

Once we reached the area of Dhaalu Atoll, we started our decline, hovering over a petite paradisiacal island with a wishbone of villas branching from it. As we descended, we spotted more branches, this time resembling sea creatures – a lobster, manta rays, and a whale shark – all afloat in the water surrounding the island. The architecture on the island is designed to mirror the nature that inhabits it, which explains the library housed in a spiraling shell and the lobster-like shape of the spa. When crustaceans were met at eye level, and only palm-fringed beach lay ahead, the pilot declared: “Welcome to Vommuli.”

Greeted by the White Lotus-esque wave of The St. Regis hosts, the warm welcome continued with a fresh coconut drink looking out to a view worthy of a Microsoft screensaver – yes, those places really do exist. Here, we met our butler Abanoub. The personal butler service is one The St. Regis’ signatures, along with Bloody Marys, and champagne sabrage ceremonies at sunset. Only ever a WhatsApp away, Abanoub would attentively handle our restaurant reservations, excursions, and activities (from beach yoga to deep-sea fishing or dolphin cruises), and even arrange for our clothes to be steamed during our stay. But first, we hopped in a buggy and Abanoub took us for a tour of the island.

THE ACCOMMODATION

The resort has a total of 77 villas, some perched on sand, some surrounded by tropical greenery, and some floating out into the Indian Ocean – or at least, it feels that way. Shaped like the manta rays that swim beneath them, the overwater villas open onto decks with plunge pools and hammocks lazing over the ocean which stretches out for miles and miles. The largest estate on the island is also located on the curling jetty of overwater villas. Named the John Jacob Astor Estate, the presidential villa features a private gym, spa suites, cinema room, and a 92-sqm infinity pool. Back on land, there are beach villas shaped like Maldivian boathouses that sit like shells on the white sand, while garden villas hide behind trees that seclude their jungle-esque pools and indoor- outdoor bathrooms.

We pulled up to a two-story villa surrounded by trees; bikes parked at the entrance ready for explorations and umbrellas ready for the Maldives’ monsoonal climate. Typically catering to families and larger parties, this was a two-bedroom ocean villa. Decorated in woods and natural tones accented by shades green, the interiors were polished and peaceful, complementing the spectacular ocean view. All villas are smartly operated, equipped with Bang & Olufsen BeoVision entertainment systems and tabelts that control every curtain and light switch. In a villa as spacious as ours, this is was a necessity.

The villa featured a two-tier deck with a plunge pool fit for a floating breakfast, plenty of loungers for afternoon naps, and steps leading straight into the sea, where many mornings were spent snorkeling. Located next to the Watersports Centre, we could also partake in kayaking, paddleboarding, or jet skiing. But we were quite content watching the boats come and go, the prettiest of them all was a Azimut Flybridge 66 yacht, christened Norma. On the sunset side of the island, the villa also offered a private show of a not-to-be-missed Maldivian sunset, which was particularly mesmerizing from the second floor balcony. NB: You don’t have to stash the heavenly scented soaps and bath salts into your suitcase. On your last night, a goodie bag is kindly left on your pillow.

THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Fresh from the sea, Maldivian lobster is served at every restaurant, in every style imaginable. Even the breakfast has a decadent lobster eggs Benedict – a New York tradition with a Maldivian twist, a sentiment fitting for the entire resort. Breakfast is served at Alba, an international restaurant overlooking the resort’s infinity pool. Serving lunch and dinner too, we enjoyed an authentic Spanish lunch on Alba’s alfresco terrace, with tapas followed by lobster paella and churros to finish. Another lunch spot, located on the beach just a stone’s throw from Alba, is the laid-back Crust & Craft, where we whiled away an afternoon with wood fired pizzas and fish tacos.

Before we dressed for dinner, we headed to Whale Bar for sunset sips. If you ever come across someone who has visited The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli, Whale Bar seems to be their most memorable takeaway from the resort. Sculpted into the colossal mammal it’s named after, with an open mouth swallowing up the sea, Whale Bar looks directly at the point where the sun slips into the horizon. This is where the atmospheric sabrage ceremony takes place as the sky bursts into pinks, purples, and oranges. Each day is different and one day, the sky even resembled the shade of our go-to sundowner, the Island Mary. Once the DJ set finishes and candles are lit, you can opt for a romantic dinner under the whale’s belly, where lobster is the catch of the day. Dinner is also served at Japanese Kaiseki-style T-Pan, Asian haute cuisine restaurant Orientale, and in the tropical garden setting of Cargo. All lobster dishes were divine, all restaurants exquisite, but in Cargo, we tasted some of the best Middle Eastern food we’d ever tried, despite living from Dubai.

THE SPA

At the overwater Iridium Spa, ultra-luxe treatments meet Maldivian techniques, striking the perfect balance for jet setters and yogis. Think: lava shell massages, caviar rituals, acupuncture, yoga classes, and a glass of champagne or two. Escorted to a private treatment suite atop the ocean waves, I tried Iridium’s signature massage, where warm sand bundles from Vommuli’s beach were dipped in coconut oil and rubbed over the upper back. After the treatment, I walked over glass portholes where fish seemed to paddle at my feet, which led to another signature of the resort, the Blue Hole. Described as an Instagram-worthy spot, the Blue Hole Pool has a much greater purpose (of course, I also put it on the grid, no filter needed). One of the largest hydrotherapy pools in the Maldives, it features powerful whirlpool jets that melt away tension, leaving muscles invigorated and the mind refreshed. The experience includes a mocktail and use of the surrounding steam rooms, saunas, and cold-drench showers, with incredible views to soak up too.

THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS

At The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, it’s not all champagne and caviar (or in our case, Island Marys and lobster), conservation is paramount too. In 2023, the resort teamed up with Reefscapers to start a coral propagation program that aimed to restore the island’s coral reefs and increase marine biodiversity in the area. While snorkeling was one of our favorite activities during our stay, it also opened our eyes to the effects of coral bleaching events, water pollution, and man-made developments on reefs in the Indian Ocean. By placing coral frames around its lagoons, the resort has initiated a conservation plan which will help the growth of coral over time. To further protect and preserve the natural beauty of Vommuli, the resort has also appointed a resident marine biologist who leads weekly interactive frame-building activities, conducts marine life educational workshops, and leads guided snorkeling tours for guests.