Absolute Magazine

LUXURY RESORTS
The St. Regis
Starwood Group’s St. Regis Vommuli resort has added
another sparkling star to Maldives’ hotel heaven. In
November 2016 the 77 villa resort opened its doors
in Dhaalu atoll, about 45 minutes flight from Male.
The very spacious and bright villas are surrounded
by lush tropical vegetation, beaches of fine white
sand and a beautiful turquoise lagoon. Clear lines and
a contemporary design work in perfect symbiosis
with this idyllic landscape. The luxury villas all have
a private swimming pool with pool deck and provide
beautiful views of the sea or the tropical gardens.
The house reef with its schools of fish swimming
in crystal clear water above colourful corals are an
invitation for guests to go snorkelling. Five specialty
restaurants offer delicious culinary creations, all of
which can also be taken privately in any beautiful
corner of the resort. The spacious spa area with
its warm seawater pool and its incomparable
views make a stay at the St. Regis Vommuli Resort
unforgettable as it can be.
Hurawalhi Island Resort
Opened in December 2016, the lush Hurawalhi
Island Resort, in the Lhaviyani Atoll, is well abreast
of environmental issues, but that doesn’t mean it has
skimped on lavishness. The adult-only resort (guests
must be a minimum of 15 years old) features an
undersea restaurant, a tropical champagne pavilion,
spa, and a collection of 90 generously proportioned
design-led villas strung across the glittering lagoon.
The accommodation is perfectly positioned, to make
the most of those jaw-dropping sunset panoramas.
With a strong environmental focus, Hurawalhi uses
solar panels, its own water-bottling plant, energy
saving solutions, hot water recovery and even has
an in-house marine biologist. Importantly, it is
also collaborating with Manta Trust, the marine
conservation and education specialists, to provide
educational guided dives and snorkelling excursions
to spectacular nearby reefs and shipwrecks. The
island is a nesting site for green turtles and a
breeding ground for manta rays which Manta Trust
helps preserve as well as educating visitors on
these endangered creatures. Carrying on the focus
on nature, the Duniye Spa offers treatments based
around the healing traditions of Asia and Africa,
including the use of locally sourced ingredients. The
‘5.8’ Undersea Restaurant is an adventure in itself,
so called because it is submerged almost six metres
underwater. Surrounded by impressive marine
views, the minimalist-designed restaurant focuses on
romance – and every table is set just for two.
Villingili Resort & Spa by Shangri-La
17,000 coconut palms, huge Banyan trees, 45 plant
species and three freshwater lagoons enrich the
extensive grounds of the Shangri-La BB´s Villingili
Resort Spa. The still little-developed Addu Atoll
enchants with untouched nature, an unspoiled
underwater world and palm-fringed white beaches.
In addition to its beauty and its luxurious equipment
the luxury hotel stretches over six kilometres (a rare
size for the usually smaller islands) and every guest
receives a bike to use around the island. This is the
only Maldives island with its own a 9-hole golf course.
The villas of the Shangri-La BB´s Villingili Resort
Spa are spread over the whole island and guests
can choose between romantic beachfront cottages,
glamorous over water bungalows or even tree houses.
Adventurers can dive around the beautiful house
reef or explore the ship wreck not far away or take a
trip on a 20 metre sailing yacht. The Shangri-La sets
new culinary standards, with dishes from the Indian
Ocean, the South China Sea or the Arabian Gulf to
entice the palate and there are two bars at which you
can enjoy exotic cocktails with great views over the
lagoon.
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