In a country where barefoot luxury has become the norm, the recently opened St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort makes a subtle but clear statement about what that should mean. Its 77 airy timber-framed villas are wonderfully pared-down, ensuring that your gaze remains on the endless cerulean waters beyond your private pool deck. Aside from the brand’s 24-hour butler service—which begins once you step off the plane at Malé—island pleasures run the gamut from a spa equipped with a heated seawater jet pool to an underground wine cellar, where vintages come paired with exquisite five-course degustation menus. There’s also an art trail of pop-up installations using found objects and locally sourced materials. Like the St. Regis Maldives as a whole, that should be quite an eyeful (960/676-6333; stregis.com; villas from US$1,771).