St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort [Master Thread]
Dec 12, 2017, 1:10 pm
#811
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
Its been 6.5 years since I stayed at the W (on my honeymoon). But when I did, the reef and fish were great. Its also more of a couples vibe much higher % of guests on their honeymoon when I was there, and I dont think they allowed guests under 16. That may since have changed. I guess the question is how much of a trade off youre willing to accept of luxury vs fish/coral/sand. I can tell you that for our next trip there, if the two resorts were the same price, I would choose the W and my wife would choose the St Regis. I spend a lot more time in the ocean.
Dec 12, 2017, 1:25 pm
#812
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
I would expect that any newly built overwater resort construction is going to severely impact the aquatic life and coral structures nearby that encourage aquatic life. It likely takes a few or more years for those ecosystems to recover, and Im sure it varies wildly on a number of factors, I wouldnt expect much life near the OWVs at the StR because it is a newly built property. I would expect that to improve over time as the coral communities rebound and the concomitant aquatic life returns.
Dec 12, 2017, 4:19 pm
#813
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: LAX
Posts: 288
Plat recognition/treatment: Pretty poor in my case. As for upgrades, maybe they would have done it in advance had they updated their systems... I'll never know. But I asked at check-in... they were 60% occupancy, and no upgrades for either of our rooms... I think they're exempt from the upgrade policy, or so our butler explained.
Our experience was mirrored to ps9a beside the departure hiccup. We are currently dealing with the resort trying to get refund/compensation. I will disclose more detail once everything is settled. I have to say it does leave a bitter taste when everyone is so nice.
Dec 13, 2017, 6:58 am
#814
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,773
You might argue that the sunset villas aren't much of an upgrade especially those close to Whale bar. To be fair even the OWV is excluded from the upgrade pool so it seems a little churlish to complain about not getting a further upgrade.
There is a lack of polish about much in resort service which is rather less forgiveable and I would have hoped had improved as the year progressed.
There is a lack of polish about much in resort service which is rather less forgiveable and I would have hoped had improved as the year progressed.
Dec 13, 2017, 5:15 pm
#815
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
You might argue that the sunset villas aren't much of an upgrade especially those close to Whale bar. To be fair even the OWV is excluded from the upgrade pool so it seems a little churlish to complain about not getting a further upgrade.
There is a lack of polish about much in resort service which is rather less forgiveable and I would have hoped had improved as the year progressed.
There is a lack of polish about much in resort service which is rather less forgiveable and I would have hoped had improved as the year progressed.
Dec 13, 2017, 10:57 pm
#816
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
I actually kind of disagree with that. First off, the sunset villas have more sun during the day, making the pool actually usable (otherwise it tends to be too cold). As well, I had the first villa on the left (facing the Whale Bar) and I actually found it to be one of the best ones - it's far more private than the sunrise villas since you can't see anyone and the only people who can see you are the Whale Bar people, but a) it's usually pretty dead in the morning, and b) in the evening people look at the sunset which is on the other side, and not your villa, so it's sort of an ideal location.
Last edited by ps9a; Dec 13, 2017 at 11:05 pm
Dec 14, 2017, 3:08 am
#817
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
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I actually kind of disagree with that. First off, the sunset villas have more sun during the day, making the pool actually usable (otherwise it tends to be too cold). As well, I had the first villa on the left (facing the Whale Bar) and I actually found it to be one of the best ones - it's far more private than the sunrise villas since you can't see anyone and the only people who can see you are the Whale Bar people, but a) it's usually pretty dead in the morning, and b) in the evening people look at the sunset which is on the other side, and not your villa, so it's sort of an ideal location.
Dec 18, 2017, 5:31 am
#818
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA ExPlat, DL Plat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 109
Plenty of the other WV's are really private. We absolutely had no visibility of the other villas or their occupants, had sun on our deck all day and the pool was perfectly usable from dawn til dusk. I do think the cold water/shade problem is hugely overstated and personally wouldn't pay a penny more for a sunset villa and would reject those in proximity to the whale bar entirely.
Dec 22, 2017, 10:34 am
#819
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Accor Diamond, AC 35K, National Exec, Hertz Gold
Posts: 376
Does anyone know when the rates for future dates start to normalize based on demand? I am planning for May 2019 for my Wife's 40th birthday and an Overwater Villa is 3751 a night versus May 2018 at 1896 for the same Preferred Rate + Breakfast w/ cancellation.
Has anyone found the property being able to offer anything better booking directly? When we went to St. Regis Bora Bora 5 years ago, their director offered us a good deal booking directly.
Also, did anyone experienced the property in May this year? What was the weather like?
Thanks!
Has anyone found the property being able to offer anything better booking directly? When we went to St. Regis Bora Bora 5 years ago, their director offered us a good deal booking directly.
Also, did anyone experienced the property in May this year? What was the weather like?
Thanks!
Dec 22, 2017, 10:39 am
#820
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM 1.77MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 2,786
We were there during the first week of May this year. Weather was great = hot, but rarely cloudy...only had one patch of rain (and we strategically made that a spa day so barely felt the effects). From what I've read, May weather can be YMMV.
Dec 27, 2017, 2:13 am
#822
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
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They are not all the same, sure there are some suboptimal villas but you could say the same in many other resorts and the time of year will also be a factor.
Dec 27, 2017, 2:44 am
#824
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 794
The sunrise villa currently has a huge eye sore in plain view. Some massive ugly floating structure is right between the villas and the mainland. I donīt know what it is or why it is there.
Sunset villa doesnīt have this problem.
Dec 27, 2017, 9:47 am
#825
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Then it is a waste of space since it takes up a large amount of estate that could be for something else. I asked a few of them why itīs so cold and if they plan on addressing the issue and there is no plan. I think they have to add a heater, circulating pump, etc..., which would be hard to put in at this point.
The sunrise villa currently has a huge eye sore in plain view. Some massive ugly floating structure is right between the villas and the mainland. I donīt know what it is or why it is there.
Sunset villa doesnīt have this problem.
The sunrise villa currently has a huge eye sore in plain view. Some massive ugly floating structure is right between the villas and the mainland. I donīt know what it is or why it is there.
Sunset villa doesnīt have this problem.