This is a state-of-the-art, blow-you-away hotel. It's enormous. It's swanky. It's jaw-dropping. And the service is pretty good too. I loved the breakfasts - the Cao Lau is a must-try for people who like to try local dishes. My other half likes his brekker traditional however, and his regular order of ham and eggs gave them some trouble. It either didn't come at all, and we had to send scouts out. Or it came before he'd even made a dent in his fruit plate. Or the eggs weren't over-easy. But these are quibbles.
In the end, the design is a little TOO architecturally pristine and perfect for my taste. Everything is utterly symmetrical and mathematical. We had a pool villa and the villa itself is very oddly designed - beautiful, with corner sofas in every corner, and a large board table for 8 people in the middle of the room, but nowhere where you could sit and play a game of cards, or just sit cosily. No armchairs, for instance. Just these flat corner sofas. We wondered if the overall design was perhaps inspired by Speer's plans for the New Germania, so impersonal was the feel! Even the gardens are pristine and somewhat over-regulated - only greenery and the very occasional yellow hibiscus bush allowed. You long for a lovely big pink bouganvillea to soften the edges and add a splash of colour.
However, it was an incredibly smart and well-run establishment, and we had a very relaxing and pleasant stay. To give it less than five stars would be churlish.
- Nam Hai Hoi An
- Nam Hai Resort
