Nirvana Hill Resort

If you’re after greenery, hills, spice gardens and waterfalls, this is a great place to look. It’s about 45 minutes from the nearest beach, so it may not suit someone who wants to spend all their time by the sea. The property is quiet, tucked among big trees, flowers and colourful plants, with thoughtful landscaping. Rooms are cosy and comfortable. Dinner by the pool was a basic but pleasant experience, though it could feel lonely at times. Breakfast is the main letdown. It starts practically after 9 AM, so you’ll miss it if you want an early start, and there was no ability or willingness to pack breakfast for our early checkout. The reception staff could also be more knowledgeable and helpful. When we asked what we could do locally, they pointed us to the booklet in our room. It has useful information, but local staff could tell us more than a book can.

Birdsong was what we woke up to, and I had a quiet, peaceful swim in the morning. The greenery really lifted my spirits, and the whole atmosphere felt calm, soothing and rejuvenating. Each villa has its own name, and the staff were very friendly. Breakfast is complimentary until 10am; we arrived at 10 and they kindly extended it by 15 minutes so we could eat. The trip was lovely, and I’d like to come back.

The setting is lovely, with lush, well-kept grounds and a beautiful view of the lake by St. Alex church. But for the room prices, the rest of the experience was disappointing. Breakfast was very limited, and service was average. Even an ordinary two or three star place serves a better breakfast and offers much better service. The rooms look good, but they weren’t maintained very well. The shower leaked onto the entry area, and we had to ask for cleaning after just the first day. I understand the idea of disconnecting from nature without TVs, but basic things like a hair dryer and iron were missing. If you just want to switch off from daily life, it may work; for the price, I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for a full experience.

The rooms and setting are beautiful if you enjoy nature, and the luxury rooms suit a stay focused on relaxing and enjoying the quiet around you. There are some downsides: no TVs in the rooms, very limited food choices, and compulsory service charges on food bills, which I believe goes against Consumer Law. Small items such as Kitkat and pringles were already overpriced and had additional GST charges.