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HILTON: a brand of hotels and resorts and an American multinational hospitality company founded by Conrad Hilton and doesn’t need a long introduction–the world knows.
Hilton Ngapali Resort & Spa was set up in the centre of serene gardens and lagoons. The anterior faces the beautiful Bay of Bengal, the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. The resort is accessible and conveniently located, being only 2 kilometres from Thandwe Airport. Guests will find the Fisherman’s Village and several pagoda attractions are any easy 10 kilometres drive, cycle, or trek away.
Hilton Ngapali houses 51 guest rooms, suites, and pool villas with breathtaking ocean views. The resort is a winner of two prestigious awards from World Luxury Hotels Awards: Luxury Spa Resort 2017, Luxury Ocean View Resort 2017 and again in 2019.
Pros: Hilton presents opulence, grandeur and magnificent with its ocean villas, outdoor infinity pool with a stunning sunset view, and a boutique spa. Cons: Hilton’s front beach is cloak with desert and rocky outcrops.
In this review, Booking, Location, Check-in, Room, Food and Beverage, Amenities, Service and Overall Impression will be included.
Booking
Price rates at Hilton starts from $105 with Deluxe Room with Lagoon View and Balcony. The Ocean View Villa with Private Pool sets a rate of $225 at the best available option. To give you greater peace of mind, Hilton now lets you change or cancel any reservation made by 30 April 2020 for free of charge, up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival day. But Hilton has an exclusive membership called Hilton Honors and you can join it for free to get special deals. Check more details and book here.
We got ourselves an Ocean View Villa with a private pool. The booking includes an airport transfer, daily breakfast for two people, access to the outdoor swimming pool and gym, complimentary Wi-Fi and a welcome fruit basket to your door.
Location
Located at a 5-minutes drive from Thandwe Airport, Hilton defines solitary “luxury” – no crowd at all. At the beach side, Hilton really makes its location perfect for those who would like to walk around the shore. With palm trees all the way down to the coast, Hilton’s front beach is blanketed with smooth sand and rocky outcrops. For things to do, Hilton is 20 minutes away from the beautiful Pearl Island, Gyeik Taw local market, and other attractions.
Check-in
As soon as we landed at the airport and gathered our luggages, we were greeted by a friendly driver and he accompanied us to the transport vehicle. Minutes later, we arrived at the resort and my partner ran towards the ocean–leaving me with the luggage. I wasn’t alone for long; a staff member walked with me and brought our belongings with a warm smile – the universal language of kindness.
We were welcomed in a huge and elegant reception area with glasses of fresh fruit juice. The receptionists seemed to be busy with other guests so we waited and walked around even though there were plenty of sofas and small lounges to sit down. The atmosphere was quite peaceful and we received many smiles as the staff members passed by. The infinity pool is set next to the reception and it was beautiful in the midday light. When we got back to the reception, we were greeted by the Resident Manager, Eugene Win. “Thank you for choosing us”, he smiles, by way of promoting their hospitality, “We recommend you try our signature Daung Lan Gyi dish and a session of aromatherapy massage.”
After check-in, we were delivered to our private pool villa by a helpful staff member. On the way, we passed through a resident restaurant FLOW which lodges a bar upstairs – SHORE. We were excited to try out both.
Room
Here comes my favourite part of the trip: our villa! Ocean View with a Private Pool is nothing but a paradise.
As we entered, we were delighted by a small pond and fountain in the middle then our bedroom on left and bathroom on right. We went to the bedroom first to see the view and it was just as lovely as we expected. There was one king bed, a coffee desk, and a giant flat tv on the wall. Well positioned lamps lit the interior with warmth. The outdoor private pool area was the best part. There were two sunbeds, a mini bamboo table and a gazebo with a hammock and a comfortable sofa and, oh yes, our private pool.
In the bathroom, you will see cabinets accompany you as you walk in while the bathtub is put on the wide area next to the hand basin where the toiletries are. The bathroom and toilet are separated on the other side yet there’s no ceiling in the bathroom so you can see the palm trees above whenever you tilt toward the sky in the shower.
Food & Beverage
The following morning, we strolled to FLOW restaurant for the hotel buffet breakfast. There were a lot of options to choose from: Rakhine Mote Te, fried rice and noodles, baked potatoes, bacon, salads with different sauces, pastries, hot and cold beverages, and yogurt. The egg bar and pancake station are placed outside the restaurant by the pool. For lunch and dinner options, Hilton offers Late Night options with Burmese plates and Western dishes for order. You can also find the menu in your room and they even have a menu for kids! At FLOW restaurant, you can order a wide array of seafood options but your order has to be placed with 24 hours of notice. Their fresh lobster starts at 15,000 Ks per 100 grams. Hilton also offers In-room Breakfast of your choice – find the menu card on your door lock and hang outside your room before 10:00PM once you have filled it in. Make sure you put the right desired Service Time (between 5:30 AM – 10:00AM) and your breakfast shall appear at your convenience.
Cocktails and spirits are available at SHORE rooftop bar where you can enjoy the view of the sun sets on the Indian Ocean. And don’t forget to try their signature Daung Lan Gyi with traditional Burmese dishes (16,000 Ks), which is big enough for two.
Amenities
Pool: Hilton’s infinity pool is elegant and beautifully designed with waves and steps amid the palm trees. There are many sunbeds all around the pool and even on the sidewalk to the beach. For villa guests like us, we got to enjoy our own pool with a beautiful view of the ocean while reading a book on a hammock under our gazebo roof.
Gym: The gym is located next to the spa, eforea, and reception. Even though we didn’t try it we took a peek inside and it was large enough to house 10 people at once. It has all the equipment you need to keep yourself active.
Spa: Well I have to admit that it was not the best I’ve experienced, but it was definitely amazing. We tried the aromatherapy massages for two people. At the entrance, we were welcome with ladies with beautiful smiles and given a form to fill in – A Massage Intake Form about your Medical Records, Do’s and Don’ts.
The masseuses were skillful, friendly and professional. Our aromatherapy was followed by a goodbye with a glass of juice.
Library: Hilton has a grand library with books of different languages: Spanish, French, Japanese and more. There are computer desks for your comfort should you need to work while enjoying the resort.
Service
I have to say Hilton has trained their staff very well. I watched them all day as I walked to and from my room. They work so hard to maintain not only my room but other guests’ rooms and the premises; as they worked they always said hello and smiled. From the driver to all staff members, Hilton got five stars for the service–even their bicycle service was excellent. Hilton is also quick and very responsive to replying messages on Facebook as well.
Overall
When I feel sad leaving a hotel, I know it’s one of those hotels that will always appear on the top of my list whenever I think of travelling. This property is nothing but home. What makes it special is all of the staff. From the front desk, housekeeping, waiters, driver, every single person had a smile and positive attitude. That is what makes this resort a special place. I won’t forget the beautiful landscapes of Hilton Ngapali Resort & Spa and the people who make it amazing.
Hilton Ngapali Resort & Spa
Address: 2 Airport Street, Zee Phyu Gone Village, Thandwe, Myanmar
Tel: +95 43 2042130
Fax: +95 43 2042290
Email: ngapali.info@hilton.com
Website: www.hilton.com
