Memorable Stay: St. Regis Maldives Pre-Anniversary Experience
Having now visited eight different Maldivian resorts, we’ve experienced some of the best luxury properties the destination has to offer. For a six-night pre-anniversary trip, we chose St. Regis Maldives, having high expectations as Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members. While there’s room for improvement in some areas, the stay as a whole was memorable and enjoyable.
· *Arrival & Transfer**
Our journey started with an unexpected challenge when our flight was canceled due to the Middle East conflict, requiring last-minute scheduling changes. Fortunately, the St. Regis team ensured a smooth arrival. The airport pickup was seamless, and we appreciated their generous 35kg seaplane baggage allowance—better than many resorts.
The private transfer to the St. Regis seaplane lounge was comfortable, though the lounge itself felt modest compared to those at properties like Ritz-Carlton Maldives, W Maldives, or Dusit Thani. As vegans, we had pre-notified about our dietary needs. While there were no dedicated vegan options in the lounge, the team thoughtfully provided vegan cookies and non-dairy milk.
Weather delays pushed our seaplane by two hours, during which the check-in process was efficiently completed at the lounge. Unfortunately, no villa upgrades were available during our six-night stay, which we learned is a limitation of Marriott’s Nightly Upgrade Awards for bookings over five nights. Splitting the reservation to utilize an upgrade wasn’t feasible without altering the rate.
· *Welcome & First Impressions**
Upon arrival, our butler Sinah greeted us warmly with tender coconut drinks. Our overwater villa was ready immediately, featuring a bottle of champagne, vegan treats, fresh fruit, and snorkel gear.
Unlike other luxury resorts, such as Ritz-Carlton Maldives, where the GM or Executive Chef welcome vegan guests personally, we didn’t meet either during our stay to discuss dining options.
· *Overwater Villa**
The villa offered breathtaking ocean views, especially as it faced the sea rather than the island. While spacious and elegant, it showed its age and could use refurbishment.
We encountered several maintenance issues:
· The television lacked sound and had to be replaced.
· A chandelier flickered repeatedly despite repairs.
· A sink tap leaked slightly, though we didn’t report it.
The staff responded promptly to the issues, even sending a fruit platter as an apology for the chandelier problem. However, the TV problem should ideally have been resolved before check-in. Unlike other resorts, St. Regis didn’t conduct in-stay feedback surveys, a practice that helps address issues proactively.
Despite these setbacks, the villa was stunning and became one of our favorites among Maldivian resorts—second only to Ritz-Carlton Maldives.
· *House Reef & Snorkeling**
The house reef was a highlight, offering encounters with turtles, reef sharks, and cowtail rays. We snorkeled daily from near Alba Restaurant to the dive center and were impressed by the resort’s coral restoration efforts. While remarkable, for us, W Maldives remains the standard for exceptional reefs.
· *Breakfast**
Breakfast was elevated by Waleed, who ensured our vegan needs were always considered, and manager Shiunaz, who arranged vegan pastries and cheese throughout the stay.
The buffet was vast, though the vegan options became repetitive over six days, with dosa, puri, Indian dishes, vegetarian dumplings, and some Asian-inspired options. Some traditional Maldivian dishes weren’t easily adaptable, and options like vegan crepes weren’t available.
In comparison, Ritz-Carlton Maldives had set a high bar, with its chef preparing bespoke vegan breakfast experiences.
· *Other Dining**
Dining options for vegans felt limited overall. A standout was the vegan biryani, which became a favorite. Still, St. Regis could expand its vegan offerings. Ritz-Carlton Maldives had dedicated vegan menus across multiple restaurants, and Dusit Thani even had a vegan specialty venue.
· *Wellness & Fitness**
The wellness facilities were among the best we’ve seen, with spacious, modern gym equipment. Daily yoga and meditation classes led by Amrutha were deeply engaging and one of our trip’s highlights.
The sauna was a regular feature of our visits, and for our anniversary, the resort provided a complimentary Blue Hole session, a unique treat despite the rain.
· *Whale Bar**
Our evenings at Whale Bar were enjoyable, marked by happy hours and the champagne sabering ceremony. Alex stood out with his exceptional service, making us feel welcome each night.
· *Butler Service**
Sinah, our butler, was the star of our stay. Among all the butlers we’ve had in the Maldives, he was the best. He checked in every morning, managed daily plans, and resolved any issues promptly and proactively. His dedication made our anniversary trip truly special, exemplifying the St. Regis butler experience.
· *Final Thoughts**
The stunning reef, exceptional villa, top-tier wellness facilities, and outstanding service from Sinah, Waleed, Shiunaz, Alex, and Amrutha made this a trip to remember. Among the eight Maldivian resorts we’ve visited, St. Regis is certainly one of our favorites, leaving us with cherished memories and the desire to return.