St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort [Master Thread]
Dec 8, 2016, 3:41 am
#94
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
It is. But so is 320K considering you can get the same room for $435/n (40% off with a minuscule tax on top) just a week after opening. BAR and HHonors 'discount rate' are $809 and $774 respectively which makes a cash stay a good choice for that property.
Dec 8, 2016, 4:02 am
#95
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Marriott LT Platinum+Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Delta Plat, United Silver, AX Biz Cent
Posts: 705
Dec 8, 2016, 4:27 am
#96
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 787
Occupancy was quite low - I asked and I believe I was told something around 30% but don't recall for sure. Really didn't see a lot of people around other than at dinner, and even then it was very few.
Dec 8, 2016, 4:29 am
#97
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 787
Also interested in knowing answers to the above and also as to how far away the sandbar is (doable as a trip with jetskis?). Also wondering whether it's submerged only part of the time (if it is, it might not show up on Google or other map services). I suppose an email to the resort would clear that up if tylerc wasn't sure about the specifics.
Dec 8, 2016, 4:41 am
#98
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 787
Great! Pseudonim will be sad to see that I won't need to bring powdered water anymore. 
Here come some specifics and a ton of questions...
Did you feel very pressured/obligated by resort staff to spend on additional food/beverage and activities? Assuming you also had the 5 nights on points, did that seem to affect how attentive the staff was to your requests?
I didn't feel pressured or obligated by staff at all. I was staying on points, and if the service was less attentive I would hate to see what paid stays get - it was unbelievable how attentive everyone was.
How was the coral/sand underneath your hammocks at the OWV? How low was low tide? How high was high tide? Did you need reef shoes/were you able to jump off your dock into the ocean without slicing your feet?
The coral under the hammocks wasn't great, but there was some marine life. From my villa (525) it was quite rocky so I would suggest taking some reef shoes. I did snorkel right off the deck as well, and it was pretty good, but not as good as the reef near the Whale bar.
Did you go kayaking or use any of the dive center gear? How was the snorkeling?
I used their snorkelling gear, which they gave me for the entire duration I was there. I intended to kayak and paddle board, but just didn't happen. Paddle boards and kayaks are FOC.
Thinking we may go for one of the fishing cruises, or potentially the dolphin cruise like you did. Seems like a good value. One of my colleagues might have actually overlapped with you while you were there. She showed me pictures of a sandbar that one of the resort boats took her to. Did you hear anything about this sandbar?
I didn't hear anything about a sandbar but there was one visible from my villa. We went by it on the dolphin cruise - I'll check and see if I got pics of it, but I don't think so.
How about the spa? Did you guys use this?
We toured the spa, but didn't care to use it...it's expensive, and throwing another 35% on for us Canadians made it a poor value. We had just come from Thailand, so we didn't need massages!
Really REALLY nice spa though.
In my mid-20s-- did y'all see many other honeymooners?
I don't think I saw anyone quite that young (aside from a few kids in the kids club!), but did see some couples early 30s like ourselves. Honestly the resort was quite empty.
How about those golf cart buggies-- did you guys use these at all to get around the island?
Your butler is available to escort you anywhere you'd like to go on the island. We also walked the island to check it out, and it takes maybe 15 minutes to walk the entire island. It's really small.
I'm bummed for you that Cargo wasn't yet open and the Bentley wasn't yet in operation. At least it seems like you visited when the resort wasn't near full capacity.
We spoke to some other guests that asked about the Cargo menu and the chef made them some of the dishes he is planning to have on the menu. We also had some meals off menu...so if there is something you want, just ask, they'll make it happen if they have the ingredients.
What all did your butler do for you guys?
Our butler offered to pack and unpack, but we declined. Otherwise they'll press 2 items per guest per day, serve you coffee/tea/lattes/etc in your room at which ever time you prefer, or on demand. They take care of all dinner arrangements for you, provide transportation, arrange excursions, provide snorkel equipment, arrange seaplane transfer times, etc. Really, anything you want a hand with, just ask. We asked to tour the other villa categories, and our butler took us through the 2 bedroom family suite, the St. Regis OW suite, garden villa, and beach villa. It was nice to see all of the categories...not sure why anyone would 'upgrade' from OWV to beach villa. Also, we may have had a peek at the JJA suite, but I don't want to get my butler in trouble in case we weren't supposed to see it under construction.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Tyler!
Here come some specifics and a ton of questions...
Did you feel very pressured/obligated by resort staff to spend on additional food/beverage and activities? Assuming you also had the 5 nights on points, did that seem to affect how attentive the staff was to your requests?
I didn't feel pressured or obligated by staff at all. I was staying on points, and if the service was less attentive I would hate to see what paid stays get - it was unbelievable how attentive everyone was.
How was the coral/sand underneath your hammocks at the OWV? How low was low tide? How high was high tide? Did you need reef shoes/were you able to jump off your dock into the ocean without slicing your feet?
The coral under the hammocks wasn't great, but there was some marine life. From my villa (525) it was quite rocky so I would suggest taking some reef shoes. I did snorkel right off the deck as well, and it was pretty good, but not as good as the reef near the Whale bar.
Did you go kayaking or use any of the dive center gear? How was the snorkeling?
I used their snorkelling gear, which they gave me for the entire duration I was there. I intended to kayak and paddle board, but just didn't happen. Paddle boards and kayaks are FOC.
Thinking we may go for one of the fishing cruises, or potentially the dolphin cruise like you did. Seems like a good value. One of my colleagues might have actually overlapped with you while you were there. She showed me pictures of a sandbar that one of the resort boats took her to. Did you hear anything about this sandbar?
I didn't hear anything about a sandbar but there was one visible from my villa. We went by it on the dolphin cruise - I'll check and see if I got pics of it, but I don't think so.
How about the spa? Did you guys use this?
We toured the spa, but didn't care to use it...it's expensive, and throwing another 35% on for us Canadians made it a poor value. We had just come from Thailand, so we didn't need massages!
Really REALLY nice spa though.In my mid-20s-- did y'all see many other honeymooners?
I don't think I saw anyone quite that young (aside from a few kids in the kids club!), but did see some couples early 30s like ourselves. Honestly the resort was quite empty.
How about those golf cart buggies-- did you guys use these at all to get around the island?
Your butler is available to escort you anywhere you'd like to go on the island. We also walked the island to check it out, and it takes maybe 15 minutes to walk the entire island. It's really small.
I'm bummed for you that Cargo wasn't yet open and the Bentley wasn't yet in operation. At least it seems like you visited when the resort wasn't near full capacity.
We spoke to some other guests that asked about the Cargo menu and the chef made them some of the dishes he is planning to have on the menu. We also had some meals off menu...so if there is something you want, just ask, they'll make it happen if they have the ingredients.
What all did your butler do for you guys?
Our butler offered to pack and unpack, but we declined. Otherwise they'll press 2 items per guest per day, serve you coffee/tea/lattes/etc in your room at which ever time you prefer, or on demand. They take care of all dinner arrangements for you, provide transportation, arrange excursions, provide snorkel equipment, arrange seaplane transfer times, etc. Really, anything you want a hand with, just ask. We asked to tour the other villa categories, and our butler took us through the 2 bedroom family suite, the St. Regis OW suite, garden villa, and beach villa. It was nice to see all of the categories...not sure why anyone would 'upgrade' from OWV to beach villa. Also, we may have had a peek at the JJA suite, but I don't want to get my butler in trouble in case we weren't supposed to see it under construction.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Tyler!
Last edited by tylerc; Dec 8, 2016 at 5:54 am
Dec 9, 2016, 3:53 am
#100
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 787
EDIT: This looks more like the size and shape of it (you can see the sand in the satellite image), but maybe a bit further than I thought. 2.939066, 72.870209
Dec 10, 2016, 3:50 am
#104
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 787
Doesn't hurt to ask - they accommodated my requests for privacy, outward facing, etc, but did not upgrade my to sunset side. I'm gold as well, and occupancy was quite low. Honestly, the OWV is absolutely amazing.