Sun, sand and a two month old baby - The St Regis, Maldives
The Maldives is no longer just for your honeymooning couple. Having just had a baby, only 2 and a half months ago, I wanted a luxury experience where I could relax in a hassle-free environment. I wanted a great beach (beautiful sea and sand), great food at my beck and call and most of all uninterrupted family time since my husband’s job is demanding. Now, when I look back, I realise how spontaneous and borderline risky it was to travel with a 2 month old to a deserted island. Nevertheless there could not have been a more accommodating place than the St Regis, Maldives. Here’s my low down, on the experience we had on this wonderful island.
On Arrival at Male Airport
The St Regis luxury experience starts the minute you step off your plane in Male. The St Regis is on a private island and there are two ways of getting there. You can take a Sea Plane on Trans Maldivian Airlines costing 695pp or charter the resorts very own Azimut luxury yacht – The Norma. We chose the former.
After picking up our luggage around 9am, we were met at the terminal by a St Regis “Male Airport” Butler. Escorting us and our luggage to the private transfer desk in the International Airport, the Butler did all the hard work for us. While we focused on our newborn, he took all our documents and luggage, checking us in at the departure desk. Unlike with other hotels, where you would have to queue at a Sea Plane Terminal, the St Regis experience starts as soon as you get off your international flight at check-in.
The Airport Lounge
For perspective, some hotels share a lounge while others visiting are asked to sit in the sea plane terminal itself. This is literally a few chairs in a room.
However, many of the top hotels have their own lounge and the St Regis is no exception. The St Regis own a luxury van, a Land Rover and yes you heard right, the only Bentley on the island. These vehicles are used to shuttle guests between terminals and to and from the St Regis PRIVATE lounge. With a child, we were more than happy with the luxury van option. All vehicles are also equipped with Wi-Fi and beverages are offered on this short 5-minute journey.
The lounge itself is an intimate space consisting of several areas and seating options as well as two lovely bathrooms with a good selection of Remede toiletries and amenities. This was a welcome surprise allowing myself and my family to fully freshen up before getting to the resort. Everything (including toothbrushes, razers, mouthwash and so on) were provided so not having my main bag was absolutely no issue.
The lounge also has a small kitchenette where you are able to help yourself to a good selection of high-end snacks and drinks. Greeted by a lounge manager, I was offered hot and cold beverages and breakfast items via a menu on an IPAD. Anything consumed in the lounge is complimentary and a very fast Wi-Fi connection is also on hand once again. The Butler then handles all check-in formalities while you are in the lounge so you are free to enjoy the resort on arrival.
Having transited through Male Airport before, it was and is clear to me that the St Regis experience is second to none in comparison. It’s excessive yet easy, which of course it should be considering the price tag of a stay.
On Arrival at The St Regis
Just WOW. The St Regis has its own jetty so unlike other luxury resorts in the area, you land ON the resort not in the sea (which would have been difficult with baby in tow).
As we approached we were greeted by a sea of St Regis staff waving calmly from the deck. The St Regis offer a signature Butler service and so our very own butler Haroon was also on deck to introduce himself and welcome us to the resort. Leaving Haroon to locate our bags and get them to our room, he then escorted us to the sofa area at the jetty where we were given fresh coconut water as a welcome drink and cold essential-oil infused towels.
After gathering our thoughts and having a moment to take-in the breath-taking views, Haroon then took our permission to escort us to our Villa in our very own golf buggy.
Before dropping us to the villa, Haroon gave a very comprehensive tour of the resort. What was clear was his passionate for his job and the resort. His welcoming attitude made us feel at ease and as though no request would be too big or too small. This was definitely the case. The service we received from both Haroon and the staff at the St Regis was consistent, collected and genuine. It deserves no less than a 5/5.
The Rooms
The St Regis has 33 on-land and 44 overwater villas, all with private pool. Every villa (except the estate) has the same level of finish and almost identical luxuries including a 46” BeoVision Bang & Olufsen rotating TV (with access to NetFlix, Sky TV and more), IPAD room controls (privacy, cleaning, curtains, room service), his and hers sinks/toilets, a stand-alone bath, and outside showers.
All rooms also have complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. The difference is the view and the outside amenities e.g. the over water villas have over water hammocks to accompany.
The Villa
The room I had booked was the base level room – Garden View Villa. As a Silver Elite Member, I was offered free-wifi and complimentary late check-out which was so very appreciated with our flight back to Dubai being 4pm. It meant we could continue to enjoy a sixth day with our little one without the stress of being without hotel comforts. The hotel kindly upgraded us to a Beach Villa which worked really nicely for us. We would put the baby monitor on and were able to soak up the sun on the beach only a few feet away without having to roam too far. However, we paid for our stay like any other guest and I used points that I had accumulated fair and square for the initial booking, all excursions, spa treatments and food.
Arriving in to the room we were blown away by the architecture and the amenities. Below are some pictures I took of the Beach Villa we were allocated:
Amenities included Remede toiletries, sunscreen, complimentary water daily, high quality flip flops, beach bags, high-quality grooming kits to name but a few. We certainly did over pack considering what was on offer!
In the room were also two glasses and a bottle of champagne, a fruit platter and an assortment of welcome sweets/baklava presented in a glass case near the coffee machine. As neither myself or my husband drink champagne, Haroon allowed us to pick one bottle of premium spirit from the mini bar at no cost instead! Brilliant!
It is clear that the staff at the St Regis are trusted to make decisions that work for their guests without always having to go through senior management. This means a more fluid service which is very much apparent in cases like the above. This baklava was almost certainly some of the best I have ever had, and as Haroon knew I liked it so much he kindly replenished it at no extra cost a few days later!
The Signature Butler Service
On arrival your butler will send you a message via WhatsApp (what else!?), and this will be your main form of communication with him. Haroon was at our service within minutes of any conversation. Hotel bookings, spa reservations, forgotten baby toys, Haroon ensured our stay was absolutely seamless. No ask was too big or too small.
Haroon also provided us transfers to and from all venues on the island at any hour, including reception, fine dining venues, the spa and Vommuli House.
Here’s the thing. We had no idea what the renowned signature Butler service was here until we got here. It was amazing. Services included a packing and unpacking service, garment pressing, in-villa checkout and more.
We were also presented with some goodies for our little one including some rubber animals and a Burt’s Bee’s toiletry set. What a nice little touch! Haroon also offered to have our daughter’s inflatable ring blown up. We definitely should have rung in advance as we certainly packed far more than we required for her also, considering within minutes he had arranged for a baby bath and sterilizer in our room at his own suggestion.
Exploring The Island
There’s a beautiful beach around most of the island, however the only way to really explore is by foot or bike. Alas, every room is equipped with two Priority bikes, exclusively made and branded for the St Regis.
I managed to cycle the entire Island (with photo stops!) in just under one hour. Should you wish to walk back, no problem. There are bike racks in every single part of the resort. As each bike has a villa number assigned to it, the staff of the resort will soon enough, return the bike to your villa on your behalf.
Built with coastal climates in mind, the luxury bicycles can resist salt, sand and water thanks to their ultralight aluminium rustproof frame and forks. Each bike is built without a traditional chain.
Instead, the bikes use a unique Gates Carbon Drive Belt, which will not rust and are less prone to coming loose or breaking as metal chains. I must admit, they look as good as they ride. Pretty damn cool.
Excursions
My husband decided on our second to last day that he would like to join the sunset fishing trip. He thoroughly enjoyed the trip and caught three different styles of fish which they prepared for us in three different styles (with side dishes) at lunch the following day. During the fishing trip they suggested the best ways to have each of these fish cooked.
The trip and also the lunch did not disappoint. Other trips include dolphin watching, snorkelling and diving excursions.
The Fitness Centre
Although I didn’t use the gym personally, my husband is a gym junkie so it was important that the gym fulfilled his needs. In his view, the gym was of a good standard with the main equipment that you would find in an average London gym. There were cold towels in the fridge and also a variety of infused water drinks. All fitness classes were included with exception of the private tennis classes and the aerial yoga.
I decided to give the aerial yoga a go. As the first hotel to offer this form of yoga in the Maldives, it was quite the experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The instructor went at our pace and helped us to understand the basics of this form of yoga. However, for The $80pp per class, I would like to see this included as a unique selling point as it seems like more of a fad than a learning experience if you can only do one class.
The Spa
Set over the waters of the Indian Ocean, the St Regis is home to what can only be described as a wellness sanctuary. At 19,913-sq-ft, the overwater Iridium Spa is the best resort spa I have EVER had the pleasure of visiting.
Each treatment room has sliding-glass doors and sea views. It really is paradise found. Features include six couple’s suites, two Ayurvedic suites with private steam rooms, saunas and cold-drench showers as well as the expansive Blue Hole Pool, the largest hydrotherapy pool in the Maldives (which my husband said was excellent!).
On arriving, I was quite overwhelmed by the views and the beautiful white oak interior of the spa. There is also the glass floor where you can admire the abundance of marine life. As a loyalty member, on arrival at our Villa we were offered a special 50 minute “Ikhlaastheri massage” at a rate of $125++pp. As value goes, this was an excellent option. Starting with a wonderful energy drawing process using Maldivian shells, the massage is then conducted using warm organic coconut oil over the body and hair.
The massage ends with what I can only describe as the “dreamiest” head and scalp massage.
I then went on to relax and use the other facilities in the spa. My husband did use the Hydrotherapy Pool which is $80++ per use. The hydrotherapy pool can also be booked for private use. Considering the Hydrotherapy Pool is a USP of the resort, if a guest books a treatment, 20-30 minutes of complimentary use should be included (in my view).
The Room Service
We used the Room Service for a couple of lunches and one dinner. To summarise the experience, having your food delivered to villa, at the St Regis did not mean compromising on quality. To be able to serve such well-presented hot meals in room is quite a challenge and one that the St Regis do very well. On the menu are dishes from around the world including breakfast, oriental, Indian, and more. Room Service is ordered via the Ipad.
The butler will then call you to confirm your order which will always arrive within 45 minutes. My husband said that his rack of lamb was one of the best he had ever had and I also recommend the Khow Pad (Asian Wok).
The Alba
The Alba restaurant is open for all three meals of the day. With views of the Indian ocean and the resorts largest pool, in the main, Alba serves Italian-inspired dishes throughout the day. We had one lunch and one dinner here with our favourite dishes being the King Prawn salad (perfect for lunch), the Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni and the Chocolate Fondant. I must admit we did have the fondant on the first night and it was very overcooked so we didn’t pay for it. However, for our preceding dinner, the chef insisted on making another complimentary and it was sublime.
It is the only restaurant within the resort where breakfast is served (apart from your room). The breakfast costs 55 dollars pp++ unless included in your stay. The breakfast spread for me was only comparable to the one I had at The Chedi in Oman. Various types of bread, pastries, juices (including coconut water!) and anti-pasti adorn the tables. Different chef tables serving Chinese, Indian and continental items can be devoured.
While these are self-serve there is also an A-La-Carte Menu. You can order as many dishes from the menu as you like. Included are various types of eggs and omelettes, salads, Japanese specialities including sashimi and cooked breakfasts (which include eggs, mushrooms, spinach, etc etc). There is also a great selection of pancakes and waffles, coffees and teas and a “Luxury Sensations” section on the menu. The Waffle and Duck Leg Confit was a favourite.
Everything from watermelon to specialist items such as fresh lychees are available. The hotel was aware of my husband’s fetish for mangosteen’s, a specialist Sri Lankan fruit which he ate to his hearts content every single day.
If we chose to have room service when we didn’t want a full breakfast, the cost simply wasn’t warranted. With a bowl of cornflakes coming in at a hefty $15 and 3 slices of toast at the same, it was a much better option to simply have a late breakfast in the restaurant.
Crust Pizza
Crust is open for lunch daily and serves Italian starters and pizza as well as a few continental dishes such as Nachos, burgers and tacos. The cheapest meal we ate was here, but still expect to pay 60++ dollars pp for a small starter, pizza and a beer or milkshake. A fabulous view, and good (not excellent) food, we chose to only eat here once during our stay. The pizzas could do with being slightly more authentic (aka more Italian) and the seating area does need to be fitted with fans or air conditioning. Considering this is a resort where anything is possible, this would be a great improvement to the lunch experience. This restaurant was a miss for me.
The Whale Bar
The Whale Bar’s distinctive shape recalls the majestic whale shark. It is best known for having the best views of the sunset on the island. We spent most evenings here enjoying cocktails and bar snacks, tapas and locally sourced sea foods. We enjoyed copious amounts of our favourite dish, the lobster popcorn. This is the signature dish at the island, unbeknown to us. It was definitely our favourite dish of the trip.
On the occasional evening they also have bespoke dinners that you can book on your arrival through your butler. Spread across quite a large space, the Whale Bar is semi-covered with a lowly-lit deck that spreads quite far into the ocean. Be sure to arrive early for the best seats in the house for sunset. There was also a female DJ playing chill-out music in the background and an accompanying female saxophonist.
The Orientale
We also ate at The Orientale one evening. Only open for dinner expect three open kitchens serving all kinds of Asian dishes including Indian, Korean and Chinese. The Tandoori scallops and the Dim Sum were a total must. Our dinner here was in fact one of our favourites, but unfortunately the baby did not cooperate so we had to eat as quickly as we ordered! However the staff did help to look after while we finished our food and if we were to recommend any single restaurant at the resort, it would be this one.
Cargo
There’s Cargo, which is the hotel’s “pop-up” restaurant, serving Middle Eastern dishes; if you want to dine here make a reservation in advance, as it’s small and gets booked quite quickly. This will cost approximately 250++ for two and you will be given a series of menus to choose from in advance. Dishes will be served in Tapas style and include a series of Lebanese-style dishes including Hummus, Tabbouleh, Babaganoush, Falafel, Okra Curry, Samboussek, King Prawns, Shwarma and more.
The restaurant is set in the midst of the Islands private garden where the resort also grow their own herbs, spices, vegetables and more.
We were unable to make it to the restaurant, again due to having a newborn. However, we really wanted to experience the food from Cargo and so our butler Haroon arranged for the entire menu to be served to us in our room as if it was a private dining setting. They went above and beyond to ensure that we had the Cargo experience from the comfort of our very own Villa. Although they made an exception to the rule, if possible we would have preferred for each course to be served as in the restaurant – one after another. With it all arriving in the room at once, some of it did go cold before we could even tuck in.
Decanter
There is also Decanter, which serves a five or eight course meal with wine tasting, for 12 guests at the most. We did not get a chance to eat here since we did have a newborn, however we heard great things.
Dining Tip
I would advise that all restaurant bookings are made either in advance of arrival or as soon as you arrive so that you are able to get your first choice every evening. Capacities can be small. The resort also do one-off dining events around the resort on different days of the week that can also be pre-booked.
Room Recommendations
With older children, I would recommend either the one or two bed Beach or Over-Water Ocean Villa which would accommodate your entire family. With the latter you can literally jump off your own jetty straight into the ocean for a bit of snorkelling or a quick dip in-between martini’s.
With young children, the safest and most convenient bet is the Beach Option. Children’s beds/bedding can be added at an extra charge.
Other Inside Spaces
What is striking about this resort, is that the inside spaces are just as stunning as the outside areas. Below are some pictures of Vommuli house where there was also a large children’s play centre which was better equipped than most of our homes!
There is also a library and the Jungle Cinema where you can watch a film daily at 7pm under the stars. There are a choice of menus and bar snacks on offer. Again, the Jungle Cinema comes at an additional charge. It would have been nice if at least one visit is included.
Why I chose the Maldives?
I cannot stress enough, the Maldives should not be overlooked for your next family vacation. Although I did not use the facility, the St Regis also had a fabulous Kids Club for toddlers and older children, activities planned throughout the day and a baby-sitting service should you wish to have some time away from your brood.
Activities include private fishing trips to a deserted sandbank, followed by a barbecue prepared by your chef and butler; glass kayaking, sand castle building, and movie nights in your very own private cinema.
