St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort [Master Thread]
Dec 14, 2016, 5:42 am
#136
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,917
That's the soap opera effect
http://hometheaterreview.com/what-is...ke-it-go-away/
There should be a setting somewhere for gaming mode that would sort it out.
http://hometheaterreview.com/what-is...ke-it-go-away/
There should be a setting somewhere for gaming mode that would sort it out.
I learned something today.
[edit] I was too optimistic. No remote in sight, and "the IT guy" (as the butler called him) refused to help because "the TV only has one setting" (this is after consulting with a "manager" for half an hour).
The TV, along with the glass door toilet that can be seen from the working desk, the entrance, and the bathroom, are the two major failures of this suite. I can't believe they didn't just set it to some sort of defaults and not put smoked glass on the toilet door.
Last edited by Pseudo Nim; Dec 14, 2016 at 6:30 am
Dec 16, 2016, 12:19 am
#137
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: NYC
Programs: SPG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 106
Honestly, the St. Regis suite is nice but I certainly wouldn't say it's worth the extra (what is it, $650/night?).
I toured most of the room categories last week, and yes it's bigger and has a few more features, such as jets in the pool, but for that price...just not worth in IMO unless you're REALLY set on a slightly bigger room with bubbles in the pool. Keep in mind the standard villa is already quite .......
I toured most of the room categories last week, and yes it's bigger and has a few more features, such as jets in the pool, but for that price...just not worth in IMO unless you're REALLY set on a slightly bigger room with bubbles in the pool. Keep in mind the standard villa is already quite .......
But what the hell, bubbles sound worth it, to me!
Isn't the daybed on the deck larger for the suites?
We'll be doing the first night in the Garden Villa, the second night in the Beach Villa, and nights 3 through 7 in the Suite.
Fiancee hasn't seen pictures, thinks we're flying coach both ways, and isn't expecting an overwater room. Can't wait to surprise her! ^
By the way, really appreciate all of your guys notes. TylerC and Pseudo, thank you!
Dec 16, 2016, 1:37 am
#138
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,917
I was a bit afraid of this-- I'm one of those that spent 72K points/night for the St. Regis Suite.
But what the hell, bubbles sound worth it, to me!
Isn't the daybed on the deck larger for the suites?
We'll be doing the first night in the Garden Villa, the second night in the Beach Villa, and nights 3 through 7 in the Suite.
Fiancee hasn't seen pictures, thinks we're flying coach both ways, and isn't expecting an overwater room. Can't wait to surprise her! ^
By the way, really appreciate all of your guys notes. TylerC and Pseudo, thank you!
But what the hell, bubbles sound worth it, to me!
Isn't the daybed on the deck larger for the suites?
We'll be doing the first night in the Garden Villa, the second night in the Beach Villa, and nights 3 through 7 in the Suite.
Fiancee hasn't seen pictures, thinks we're flying coach both ways, and isn't expecting an overwater room. Can't wait to surprise her! ^
By the way, really appreciate all of your guys notes. TylerC and Pseudo, thank you!
As for pictures - wait till I post breakfast pics. I'm seriously taking one for the team here and ordering a new trio of mains every day! You know, for glory of science.
Dec 16, 2016, 3:40 am
#139
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Marriott LT Platinum+Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Delta Plat, United Silver, AX Biz Cent
Posts: 705
So, I've heard from others "I don't know why anyone would book a beach villa here" ... I haven't actually been inside the beach villa, but having walked around the entire island now, the sand behind the beach villas is MUCH softer than the 'main beach' by the pool which is intended for the overwater villas.
The main beach is artificial, which in this case means the sand is course, and full of dead coral. There are also some really really nice seashells on the artificial beach, so that is cool, but absolutely see the appeal of the beach villas. If you are like my wife and in love with seashells, the artificial beach should be a fun playground.
If you go for a beach villa though, you should Definitely request something that is near the reception area or the Caroline Astor estate, as the beach is much deeper there. The ones closest to the overwater pier have only a couple of feet of sand between the villa and the ocean at high tide.
We went snorkeling around by our villa yesterday, and while there were some colorful fish, the reef was basically 25% dead, 60% bleached, and 15% recovering from bleaching, but still not healthy.
I've heard that the reef closer to the Caroline Astor Estate is supposed to be the best one on the island, and plan to check that out tomorrow.
Tonight, we go on the dolphin cruise.
The main beach is artificial, which in this case means the sand is course, and full of dead coral. There are also some really really nice seashells on the artificial beach, so that is cool, but absolutely see the appeal of the beach villas. If you are like my wife and in love with seashells, the artificial beach should be a fun playground.
If you go for a beach villa though, you should Definitely request something that is near the reception area or the Caroline Astor estate, as the beach is much deeper there. The ones closest to the overwater pier have only a couple of feet of sand between the villa and the ocean at high tide.
We went snorkeling around by our villa yesterday, and while there were some colorful fish, the reef was basically 25% dead, 60% bleached, and 15% recovering from bleaching, but still not healthy.
I've heard that the reef closer to the Caroline Astor Estate is supposed to be the best one on the island, and plan to check that out tomorrow.
Tonight, we go on the dolphin cruise.
Dec 16, 2016, 5:15 am
#141
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 32
Has anyone stayed in the Garden Villa? We chose that one for the overall privacy and bc we'd prefer to sit on the beach vs the sun deck. I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts.
Dec 16, 2016, 5:29 am
#142
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,917
The problem is the garden villas face north so I'm not sure how much sun you'd get. Also, we already get tons of mosquitoes even on the water, so i shudder at the thought of how many of them are in the jungle.
Dec 16, 2016, 7:08 am
#143
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Marriott LT Platinum+Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Delta Plat, United Silver, AX Biz Cent
Posts: 705
Today the staff was fogging the island for mosquitos, so perhaps it will be better in a few days.
Dec 16, 2016, 7:09 am
#144
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 32
On the other hand we may just have to take one for the team and upgrade
Dec 16, 2016, 9:39 am
#145
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: NYC
Programs: SPG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 106
@Some Dude: Awesome pics! Will take your advice on the Beach Villa. Are those pics from that Sony camera you recommended?
Speaking of mosquitoes, how big of a concern is Zika in the Maldives? Haven't done the research yet, but what have guys heard?
@Pseudo: maybe I'm just weird, but I'm looking forward to trying out the 3 different rooms. The mosquitoes are a bummer...
Speaking of mosquitoes, how big of a concern is Zika in the Maldives? Haven't done the research yet, but what have guys heard?
@Pseudo: maybe I'm just weird, but I'm looking forward to trying out the 3 different rooms. The mosquitoes are a bummer...
Dec 16, 2016, 9:41 am
#146
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,917
@Some Dude: Awesome pics! Will take your advice on the Beach Villa. Are those pics from that Sony camera you recommended?
Speaking of mosquitoes, how big of a concern is Zika in the Maldives? Haven't done the research yet, but what have guys heard?
@Pseudo: maybe I'm just weird, but I'm looking forward to trying out the 3 different rooms. The mosquitoes are a bummer...
Speaking of mosquitoes, how big of a concern is Zika in the Maldives? Haven't done the research yet, but what have guys heard?
@Pseudo: maybe I'm just weird, but I'm looking forward to trying out the 3 different rooms. The mosquitoes are a bummer...
Dec 16, 2016, 10:03 am
#147
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Dec 16, 2016, 10:25 am
#148
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Dec 16, 2016, 10:55 am
#149
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 72
I'm still not sure about which room/suite to take. Of course, the sunset villas sound amazing, but then the water/reef there doesn't look very nice and inviting (close to the dark blue ocean that my gf is scared of 
)...the water on the inside concave looks a lot nicer and more "maldive like"....there's a couple of st. regis suite at the very end of the pier which could be nice. any advice here from people who stayed at the sunset villas re the water over there?
)...the water on the inside concave looks a lot nicer and more "maldive like"....there's a couple of st. regis suite at the very end of the pier which could be nice. any advice here from people who stayed at the sunset villas re the water over there?
Dec 17, 2016, 5:44 am
#150
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Marriott LT Platinum+Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Delta Plat, United Silver, AX Biz Cent
Posts: 705
@Ants1: No, I ended up bringing my SLR - Canon 5D Mark 3 along with some prime lenses - including the 100mm f/2.8L macro which I used for those seashell photos.
Totally normal to have 3 different rooms in one trip -- I did two rooms when I did Conrad Maldives a few years back, Beach Villa and Over Water Villa, and I enjoyed both.
We didn't see anything on the dolphin cruise yesterday sadly, but I did do more snorkeling today, both by the beach villas (from reception area up to the over water pier/beach area), and from the pool / beach area (near Crust) all the way around the sunset water villas, past the John Jacob Astor Estate, and up to my room (one of the last on the northwestern side).
I think the best snorkeling I've seen so far on this trip was along the sunset overwater villas -- the coral was healthier (though still not in great shape), but lots of colorful fish, and stars. I did the swim at high tide, and while there was a very reasonably deep area close to the villas for swimming, the area where the reef is (about 20 feet from the villas) is VERY shallow at parts, maybe 3 feet or less, which requires being at least a moderately good swimmer in order to stay off of the coral. I did it just fine, but I don't think my wife could. Took about 40 minutes to do the whole swim at a moderate pace.
I plan on checking out the lagoon side of the over water villas and perhaps the family beach villa area tomorrow.
Totally normal to have 3 different rooms in one trip -- I did two rooms when I did Conrad Maldives a few years back, Beach Villa and Over Water Villa, and I enjoyed both.
We didn't see anything on the dolphin cruise yesterday sadly, but I did do more snorkeling today, both by the beach villas (from reception area up to the over water pier/beach area), and from the pool / beach area (near Crust) all the way around the sunset water villas, past the John Jacob Astor Estate, and up to my room (one of the last on the northwestern side).
I think the best snorkeling I've seen so far on this trip was along the sunset overwater villas -- the coral was healthier (though still not in great shape), but lots of colorful fish, and stars. I did the swim at high tide, and while there was a very reasonably deep area close to the villas for swimming, the area where the reef is (about 20 feet from the villas) is VERY shallow at parts, maybe 3 feet or less, which requires being at least a moderately good swimmer in order to stay off of the coral. I did it just fine, but I don't think my wife could. Took about 40 minutes to do the whole swim at a moderate pace.
I plan on checking out the lagoon side of the over water villas and perhaps the family beach villa area tomorrow.
