Whale Island Resort

I don't typically stay at resorts, but thought the seclusion and natural beauty would be a nice change from the bustling beach towns. We stayed for 5 days/4 nights. 1. Scenery/seclusion: The grounds, waterfront and lagoon area are quite attractive. There are several hiking trails through dense jungle on the island that were very enjoyable. One of these leads to a rocky outcrop at the highest point on the island where you can enjoy 360 degree panoramic views of the bay. There is a surprising amount of interesting wildlife. In particular, the foot-long geckos were the largest I've encountered in Asia. We observed very unique schooling behavior by a 100 or so catfish swimming in a continually evolving blob. 2. Staff: They generally stay out of sight unless you need something. The staff were very helpful and accommodating....preparing hot congee and ginger for me when I fell ill. 3. Even the smaller beach bungalow is large, airy and tastefully decorated with handmade wooden furniture.

1. Limited food options. I had read complaints about breakfast and initially didn't understand what the fuss was about. There were lots of Vietnamese and Western choices on the breakfast buffet. When we first arrived, a large tour group was also staying at the resort. When this group departed, the buffet breakfast ceased to exist and only a small a la cart menu was available for the rest of our stay. In a way, it felt as if the individual guests aren't as important as the groups are. As for the food itself, I would rate it very average. Menu items such as "prawns cooked in beer" appear repeatedly during a multi-day stay. You eat it because there's nothing else there. 2. Limited connectivity. The only wifi available is at tiki bar/lounge area. There is a sign at the beach that proudly proclaims that there is no wifi and that guests should pretend like it's 1995 and talk to each other. That's great, except that there's no one to talk to at the beach because everyone is up at the bar where the WiFi is. Now I didn't come to sit on my phone all day. I came to snorkel and hike and enjoy the scenery, except that the first two days were stormy and rainy and then when the weather cleared, I fell ill. Bedridden for 3 days with no connection to the outside world, no ability to research local medical facilities and pharmacies from the comfort of our bungalow, we considered leaving early. 3. The Noise. As peaceful as the setting appears, the resort faces a major shipping lane and is sandwiched between a busy port and several aquaculture areas. The vessel traffic is endless and every fishing boat is powered by noisy unmuffled diesel engines. The busiest times is between 4am and 7am. If you value sleep and tranquility, resist the temptation to stay on one of the beachfront bungalows as the fishing boats will drown out the gentle sounds of waves lapping near your doorstep. 4.

Alles

Niks

Everything

What I liked most was how the resort ran so organically – solar power, sun-heated water, and almost no plastic. No fanfare, just quietly doing the right thing. When I got home, I kept thinking about how I was living.

An island paradise with an Indonesian flair. A very beautiful place (but use the mosquito repellent). I only stayed one night because I was on a cycling tour, but it would have been worth staying longer.

If you want luxury, this isn’t it. But if you want authenticity — barefoot mornings, warm smiles, salty hair, and no phone signal — you’ve found heaven.

Amazing stay with AMAZING staff! The island was stunning, and the room was very clean. I forgot my headphones in the room and only realized after traveling halfway across Vietnam - the team went out of their way to get them back to me. Above-and-beyond service, super kind people, and a place I’d happily stay at again. I highly recommend to anyone!!!

The first sound I heard each morning was birds, not traffic. The sun slipped through the curtains and painted the room gold. Who needs an alarm clock here?