It may sound like a cliche but I found paradise in Tioman Island, Malaysia. Drama aside, this place is wonderfully perfect for a romantic getaway. The website states the resort's philosophy as "jungle luxury living", which I think fits the place to a tee.
When to go?
Anytime from February to October. Peak season is from April to October so the rates are higher and the place is more crowded. November to January is the rainy season and although the rates are cheaper, you won't get to enjoy swimming in the beach that much. Make sure to book at least 2 months in advance as Japamala only has 14 chalets/sarangs so it gets filled up rather easily. My husband and I booked 3 months ahead and there were only 4 spots left.
How to get there?
Berjaya Air flies to Tioman Island every day at RM428 ++ (around $115) for a round trip. Book your flights at https://www.berjaya-air.com Their planes are a bit old, cramped and they scare me so if you're frightened of flying, take a boat.
You'll arrive at a very small airport that doesn't even have air conditioning.
Staff members of Japamala will pick you up in a cool speedboat and serve you a refreshing lemongrass drink. The boatride from the airport to the resort takes around 10 minutes. Japamala has its own coast, that is secluded from the other areas of Tioman, so the only way to get there is by sea.
Our Chalet
We booked a Sea Cliff Chalet which I think is the best accommodation in the resort because of its breathtaking view.
It's a luxurious wooden hut with a king size bed that's surrounded by aromatherapy candles,
have a lot of balinese decor and mood lighting,
an open toilet and shower room overlooking the sea (I kid you not, I kept wondering if someone can see me, but I guess we were so far up, nobody can),
and a big terrace overlooking miles and miles of ocean.
The Food
Well, since the resort is far away from everything else, we had no choice but to eat at the two restaurants available there. But that's not actually a bad thing since the dishes served are delish! Mandi-Mandi restaurant serves rich Italian and Western cuisine (fresh tagliatelle...hmmmm)
and Tamarind Terrace serves Asian food.
The fish above was the one that we caught on our fishing trip. Food is around $15 to $30 including drinks. It's a bit expensive but portion sizes are very big and they are really really yummy. Breakfast is included in the room stay. They also serve complimentary Asian snacks (fruits, yam cakes) around 10am and 5pm.
If you're staying for a long time (7 or more days), I guess you'll get tired of the food selections and long for something more. We stayed for 4 days so it was just right.
The Facilities
They have an excellent spa where you can have a massage overlooking the ocean,
a chillout area with books of different languages and music
a small swimming pool that I don't think anybody uses (well, when I was there anyway)
and equipments for snorkeling, kayaking and hiking. Plus, you can go take their boat to go snorkeling or diving in other parts of the island, visit Tioman town or go fishing, which we did. At a price, of course.
The Beach
is excellent with light powdery sand.
There are corals a few steps from the shore and you can snorkel as much as you can without even going through deep waters. The abundance of marine life is just amazing. We were able to see schools of fish of every different color. It's almost like diving. The best spot is the one surrounding the Mandi-Mandi restaurant where corals are still full of life.
One thing I don't like is that the beach turns this way during low tide which is in the morning around 7am to 9am.
But it goes back to being beautiful around 10am.
The Service
They know who you are and call you by name (formally, of course). I must say that this is the best service I ever had from a resort or hotel. Everyone was friendly and you can tell that they are doing their best to make your stay a great one.
They also give your room an aromatic turndown while you're out for dinner so it becomes oh-so-romantic when you get back. And if you want to have a private wine and dine at the beach, they can set it up for you.
The Cost
A Sea Cliff Chalet costs around RM480 to RM890 (around $140 to $260) based on the season. If you don't like heights, they also have Treetop Chalets, Jungle Sarangs and Seaview Sarangs but I think the Sea Cliff one is the best. The cost is only for the room and breakfast and does not include airport-hotel transfers and food. For more information, go to http://www.japamalaresorts.com/Malaysia-boutique-resort-Tioman-Island.html
If you've found the love of your life and want to spend some romantic time, I recommend to splurge and go to Japamala. It's worth every penny. Really.
