Elite Traveler HRS 2024

elite traveler HOTELS, RESORTS &SPAS2024 92

St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

Dine on the beach

ingredients, including local Maldivian seafood, and enhanced with classic Japanese seasonings. For a wider selection of Asian fl avors, head to TPan’s neighbor Orientale. This beachside restaurant specializes in Chinese-Japanese-Korean fusion, including everything from melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef nigiri to delicate black miso cod. Alternatively, follow a lantern-lit path into the jungle for dinner at Cargo, which serves upscale Middle Eastern fare under the swaying palm trees. For a decadent evening of wine pairings and tasting menus, try the subterranean Decanter — Vommuli’s spectacular wine-cellar-turned-private-dining option. RELAX Services at the overwater Iridium Spa range from body scrubs and massages to yoga classes and facial treatments. Each of the treatment rooms has been designed for pairs; many of the signature treatment packages work for couples. The Iridium Spa is home to the Blue Hole, an ingenious outdoor hydrotherapy pool that uses the seawater beneath; it is consistently fi ltered through the pool to ensure the water is always fresh and invigorating. EXPLORE The Vommuli experience can be summed up by the fact that, upon arrival, watches should be set to ‘Island Time,’ which is one hour ahead of Malé, to give each day more sunlight hours. Make the most of the extra time — there is an abundance of excursions available including sailing trips on the resort’s yacht Norma , speedboat trips across the atoll and picnics on secluded sand dunes. Choose from a wealth of water sports including jet skiing, sea bobbing, windsur fi ng and glass-bottom kayaking. There is also a health and fi tness center complete with a world-class gym and tennis courts. By Sophie Killip From $2,435 per night. Contact stregis.maldivesvommuli@stregis.com, +960 676 6333, mariott.com

Vommuli’s considerations. Golf carts and bicycles are the only forms of on-island transport. The resort consistently tracks its energy resources and has its own on-island recycling plant. It also boasts an award-winning eco-design across the resort buildings, created by Wow Architects, that is respectful of local Maldivian traditions and the natural environment. STAY There are a total of 77 accommodations across the island, ranging in size and location — 44 villas are overwater and 33 are situated on land, split between the ‘Garden’ and ‘Beach.’ All accommodation types bene fi t from private pools and an outdoor space, but the view varies from the lush greenery of Vommuli’s forest to the expansive Indian Ocean. Vommuli’s pièce de résistance is the John Jacob Astor Estate, the largest and most impressive of the overwater accommodations. Less a villa and more a mansion on the sea, the 18,500-sq-ft, two- fl oor John Jacob Astor Estate includes three private pools, three bedrooms, a lounge, dining room, study and media room, as well as a separate kitchen. It hovers over the best strip of Vommuli’s house reef, allowing guests to take the plunge into a marine wonderland directly from the property. DINE There are six spots for eating and drinking on the island; the famous Whale Bar, designed in a shape reminiscent of its namesake, is the perfect spot for enjoying sunset libations and pre-dinner cocktails. The newest addition to Vommuli’s dining options is T-Pan, a modern exploration of Japanese Kaiseki cuisine. Found nestled between the jungle and the beach edge, TPan only seats a small number of guests at a time to ensure the best culinary experience. Diners will fi nd themselves delighting over the tasting menus, which are prepared by chefs on Teppan counters directly in front of them. Each dish is carefully constructed from the fi nest

ST REGIS MALDIVES VOMMULI RESORT DHAALU ATOLL, MALDIVES Covering 22 acres of an island within the Maldives’ dreamy Dhaalu Atoll, St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is as exquisite as the natural environment that surrounds it. Though the island is a 40-minute seaplane journey from Malé, or a four-hour cruise aboard the resort’s private yacht, the St Regis Vommuli experience starts the moment you touch down. Guests are greeted by airport butlers and can refresh themselves within The Great Room (St Regis’ airport lounge) before their seaplane journey. This level of personal service continues once on the island; each party is allocated a St Regis Butler for the duration of their stay. Take in the idyllic surroundings, enjoy the fi ne dining and explore the wealth of experiences on o ff er, knowing that any request will be quietly dealt with — everything from restaurant bookings to garment pressing. With its unique and precious island backdrop, conservation and sustainability are at the forefront of

The Whale Bar

Photos Ralf Tooten