Wednesday March 25, 2009

Resort nestled within tropical rainforest is a haven for animals

Stories and photos by LIM CHIA YING

IN THE Forest, By the Bay.” The tagline for Mutiara Burau Bay Beach Resort in Langkawi is no marketing gimmick.

Guests get to enjoy the best of both worlds — nature and the beach — as the resort offers accommodation in cabanas scattered around parts of the forest, while the sea is just behind it.

The forest is not dense, but if staying beneath the tree canopy is your idea of bliss, then this may be just the place for you.

Still, there is lush greenery aplenty, with the grassy landscape and big trees that offer welcome shade from the hot midday sun.

For three days recently, press members got to laze amid nature and be caressed by the salty sea breeze during a media familiarisation trip sponsored by the resort.

Lure of sea and sand: The hot, humid weather will seem a minor point of contention when you have a beach and sea view like this.

Basking on the beach is not exactly my cup of tea, given Langkawi’s humid weather, but the soothing lapping of the waves was an irresistible lure for a dip!

The resort is tucked within 7.7ha of tropical rainforest, so it is a haven for animals.

Strolling on the greens, we spotted a small snake slithering among the tulips.

We even spotted a hornbill perched on the wooden fence of Seashell Beach Cafe, but just as we were sneaking up to get a better look at it, it flew off in pursuit of a cricket.

The hotel belongs to the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada), and is managed by Mutiara-TCB Hotel Management Sdn Bhd.

According to Mutiara Burau Bay sales director Dev Singh, 80% of the hotel guests are foreigners, and hence, it is looking to expand its domestic market.

“With the economic slowdown, long-haul flights have become relatively expensive, so this may be the right time to encourage travellers to choose domestic destinations. Hopefully, it will work for us,” he said.

The resort, he said, had won Tourism Malaysia’s Excellence Award in Hotel Services for the Three-Star Category in Malaysia for 2005-2006.

“We could be more than three stars if only our rooms were bigger. Despite this rating, our price rates are four-star and service, five.

“Customers have often asked us why our prices are higher than the usual three-star hotels. We tell them we are a beachfront hotel with the best of two beaches — the most amazing, scenic beaches you can get!” Dev said.

The resort has 122 Superior Cabana units, 26 Studio Cabana units, and two Burau Suites.

Great view: The Seashell Cafe looks out to the lovely seaside. From here, too, guests can watch the sunset.

I found the room in our Superior Cabana unit a tad small — smaller than what you’d usually get.

However, as guests would hardly be likely to coop themselves up in their room all day long, the room size should not matter too much.

Besides its award-winning Seashell Cafe, from which guests get to view the lovely sunset, there is also the Seri Mutiara Restaurant & Terrace with its local and international buffet.

A delightful tropical beverage or fruit juice is just a call away, at Oyster Bar & Lounge, next to the swimming pool.

Lounge chairs, complete with umbrellas, surround the pool, so guests can lie back and sip their drink. Ah, that’s the life!

For those who love the outdoors, sports facilities like mountain bikes are available for rent.

A host of motorised and non-motorised sports activities that sound just as tempting are also available.

Guests can also arrange to go scuba-diving and snorkelling around the nearby islands, or sooth their tired muscles at the spa.

The staff members are really helpful, too. A bellboy promptly came to my aid with a trolley when he saw me struggling with my luggage while checking out.

According to Dev, guests have a choice of different packages — the honeymoon package, family package, free & easy, and a seminar package.

“During the low season from April to June, we try to boost room occupancy by lowering our rates and throwing in freebies,” he said.

For some quiet, breezy nightlife, the Perdana Quay is just a short drive away.

Offering an elegant view of docked boats resting peacefully on the still waters, is a strip of six restaurants and bistros serving a host of cuisines, like Spanish, Mediterranean, Chinese and Russian.

Retired couple Hans and Rosi Krause from Germany must be two of the resort’s most loyal guests. They have been coming back to the resort without fail each year, for the last 18 years.

They have even stayed in the same room (number 1068) during the last 10 years!

“We’d stay here for about four months when we’re back every year. The beach here is just beautiful, so we’d spend our time just swimming and taking leisurely walks along the beach, for the good four months!” Rosi, 62, said.

“Also, as this is a three-star venue, we can dress down and as casually as we wish, and not be conscious about being prim and proper, like you’d be in a five-star place,” husband Hans, 70, added.

The couple are captivated by Langkawi’s people, lifestyle, nature, and the seaside. Even the humid weather does not seem to bother them in the least.

Having travelled quite widely during their younger days, they said only Langkawi would do for them these days!

Mutiara Burau Bay is offering various holiday packages until Dec 31, for Malaysian and Singapore residents, and expatriates in Malaysia and Singapore.

The Burau Getaway package is priced at RM279nett per person for three-day/two-night stay in a Superior Cabana Garden View, and RM339nett per person in a Studio Cabana Garden View.

The Romance in Burau package is priced at RM408nett per person for a three-day/two-night stay in a Superior Cabana Garden View and RM458nett per person in a Studio Cabana Garden View.

The resort is located at Teluk Burau, Langkawi. For enquiries, call 04-959 1061 or visit http://www.mutiarahotels.com/mutiara_buraubay