Nha Trang: Evason Hideaway at Ana Mandara
"Where are you going to next?" asked the girl at Nam Hai's front desk. Nha Trang, I replied. "Oh, it will be sunny there," she said. Well, it's not exactly sunny here. But then again, it's not raining either. It is very windy though. The journey to Evason Hideaway at Ana Mandara involves a hour-long car ride and a 20-minute speedboat ride, which was a bit choppy ('tis the season of restless seas). During the speedboat ride, I was having doubts about the suitability of this property for the group of 25 executives for which I was scouting out the property for their April retreat. I even started working through Nam Hai as the back-up option.
My doubts were laid to rest the moment I saw the approach. If Robinson Crusoe or the crew of Gilligan's Island were to set up shop and open up a luxury resort on a deserted island with all the amenities of a luxury hotel (including in-room broadband access and an iPod mini piping music through an in-room sound system that encompasses the toilet), Evason Hideaway is how it should be. While the decor is rustic, the service is incredibly attentive. There are 58 villas, all with private pool and butler. The peak-season rack rate for a beach pool villa is currently US$817++.
As I disemberked from the speedboat, I, along with the other arriving guests, was greeted by both the general manager of the property and the assistant general manager. I was then greeted by my butler, My, who walked me to my beach pool villa and explained how the resort worked (i.e. where the restaurant, pool and spa are) and all the amenities in the room (there's an in-room wine fridge). Each villa comes with its own bicycles for guests to get around the resort. Of course, one can always walk or call a buggy, but I find biking a lot more fun and time efficient.
I had made an online booking for a massage at the spa just yesterday. My reminded me of my appointment and came to pick me up from the swimming pool bar, where I was having a late lunch, when it came time to head to the spa. Having just come from Nam Hai, the spa facilities and experience seemed a bit more basic. Changing rooms are separate from the treatment rooms and treatments are not ritualized (for example, there isn't the usual foot bath with welcome tea that one has come to expect these days. But afterwards in the spa reception, tea and fruit platter were served).
Am looking forward to touring the island tomorrow, scouting interesting sites for lunches, dinners and perhaps even a Survivor-like game or a Lost-like game where the group is broken up into two teams, one hunting for the other. Am also toying with the idea of having the group race around in those bowl-shaped fishing boats. But first, they have to figure out how to get into them. Jean-Paul Riby, the GM, laughed when he recounted how difficult it was for him to get into one. Even though it's an island unto itself, there's plenty to do on the island alone not to mention all the other activities available in Nha Trang. There's all the watersports equipment (including a PADI dive center), yoga and other holistic health sessions, challenging mountain trekking, tennis, cooking class etc.
NOTE: photos to follow.
My doubts were laid to rest the moment I saw the approach. If Robinson Crusoe or the crew of Gilligan's Island were to set up shop and open up a luxury resort on a deserted island with all the amenities of a luxury hotel (including in-room broadband access and an iPod mini piping music through an in-room sound system that encompasses the toilet), Evason Hideaway is how it should be. While the decor is rustic, the service is incredibly attentive. There are 58 villas, all with private pool and butler. The peak-season rack rate for a beach pool villa is currently US$817++.
As I disemberked from the speedboat, I, along with the other arriving guests, was greeted by both the general manager of the property and the assistant general manager. I was then greeted by my butler, My, who walked me to my beach pool villa and explained how the resort worked (i.e. where the restaurant, pool and spa are) and all the amenities in the room (there's an in-room wine fridge). Each villa comes with its own bicycles for guests to get around the resort. Of course, one can always walk or call a buggy, but I find biking a lot more fun and time efficient.
I had made an online booking for a massage at the spa just yesterday. My reminded me of my appointment and came to pick me up from the swimming pool bar, where I was having a late lunch, when it came time to head to the spa. Having just come from Nam Hai, the spa facilities and experience seemed a bit more basic. Changing rooms are separate from the treatment rooms and treatments are not ritualized (for example, there isn't the usual foot bath with welcome tea that one has come to expect these days. But afterwards in the spa reception, tea and fruit platter were served).
Am looking forward to touring the island tomorrow, scouting interesting sites for lunches, dinners and perhaps even a Survivor-like game or a Lost-like game where the group is broken up into two teams, one hunting for the other. Am also toying with the idea of having the group race around in those bowl-shaped fishing boats. But first, they have to figure out how to get into them. Jean-Paul Riby, the GM, laughed when he recounted how difficult it was for him to get into one. Even though it's an island unto itself, there's plenty to do on the island alone not to mention all the other activities available in Nha Trang. There's all the watersports equipment (including a PADI dive center), yoga and other holistic health sessions, challenging mountain trekking, tennis, cooking class etc.
NOTE: photos to follow.
posted by 10000miles at 22:54
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