Make no mistake: I did not stay in this hotel, but merely visited and stayed in the premise. Unfortunately, a prior commitment to another local hotel (without knowledge of this resort existing) had prevented me from moving. Still, if I were ever to return to this area, I would not mind booking a bungalow over there.
The layout of the hotel was very much like any hotels in Bali: a vast and open lobby area accompanied with a pond of koi fish. From the entrance, one could see the Nha Trang Bay way in the background. After the lobby area, going to the left one could find the New Restaurant and the Lobby Bar, while going to the right one could find the Library and Internet room, the hotel shop, the swimming pool, and the Ana Mandara Restaurant.
Rain or shine, sitting at the veranda of the New Restaurant facing the Nha Trang Bay was a quite a treat. Over desserts on an overcast day, some friends and I chatted the afternoon away. Desserts were heavenly with local flavors of ice cream (rambutan, soursop came to mind). The restaurant offered buffet in the morning, up until around 10:30 am, serving the usual Western breakfast fare, along with more traditional Vietnamese dishes like the fried noodles and Pho, the noodle soup. The ham and jam were fantastalicious!
A pool table was available at the Lobby Bar, another relaxing area adjacent to the New Restaurant. Between this Lobby Bar and the opposing veranda on the southern part was a long rectangular pond with koi fish. Fish food was provided near the pond. At the Library, two desktops and one laptop were provided for guests to access the Internet. Directly in front of the Library and also near the shop, one could find some seats to sit and read or just to gaze across the pool to the Bay. A table with a supply of ginger candies were at one's disposal.
Any hotel in Vietnam, be it in Saigon or in Nha Trang, with a price tag of USD200 is considered a luxury hotel, and as such, the Ana Mandara fits that description.
Ana Mandara Resort & Spa
Beachside Tran Phu Boulevard
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Tel: +84-58-829-829
Fax: +84-58-829-629
resvana@dng.vnn.vn
www.sixsenses.com/ana-mandara
