This Maldives Resort Is the Grande Dame of Overwater Bungalows

We're all familiar with those eye-popping, make-your-jaw-drop kind of overwater bungalows in Bora Bora, Moorea, the Caribbean and Mexico. But when the St. Regis opened its first-ever private island resort in 2016, all eyes shifted to the Maldives. The St. Regis Vommuli Resort has since cemented itself as the grande dame of overwater bungalows.

So, indulge us for a moment, and picture yourself there...

Seventy-seven private villas are spread across Vommuli Island -- 23 acres of private paradise located a 45-minute seaplane flight away from Male.

The St. Regis brand sets a standard of excellence that goes unmatched. So it's no surprise that its "base" garden villa room looks like it was peeled off the pages of Architectural Digest.

If you upgrade to the overwater room, which we highly recommend, the focal point of your villa will be the private plunge-pool terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean.

The architecture of the resort reflects the marine environment intrinsic to the Maldives. The aptly named Whale Bar mirrors the shape of the ocean's gentle giant -- the whale shark – with its wide-open porch.

From an aerial view, the sloping silver roofs of the overwater bungalows resemble manta rays gliding in the water.

The resort curated a unique range of dining options for guests, from toes-in-the-sand casual eating to Middle Eastern fare dished up in a lush tropical environment.

Undoubtedly, the star of its culinary roster is the Mediterranean-inspired Alba. Don’t let the unusualness of an Italian restaurant set in the Indian Ocean cloud your judgment -- the food is the caliber one would expect from St. Regis.

We’d be remiss not to spotlight the resort's most luxurious suite: The John Jacob Astor Estate – which goes for a whopping $20,000+ a night. We're talking three separate wings, a private cinema room, spa treatment rooms attached to each bedroom, three Jacuzzis and a private gym to boot.