Memento Resort

There's a good restaurant on a pleasant deck right on the beach, and the rooms are large and clean, with small balconies overlooking the sea. This is a beautiful resort along Ngapali beach, probably the cheapest one there with rooms that give direct beach access. The sunset beach bars are very close too.

I really want to come back to Memento. It was a fantastic place to unwind, get away from technology and enjoy myself. I visited in the off season, so not much was happening around the area, but I still had an amazing time. It's one of the cheaper options, though that didn't make the stay feel lesser. The main downside was having no internet service. That might be good or bad depending on what you want, but if you can manage without it, you'll have a great time. People always ask me about the beach. I can't say much about the events nearby, though I heard there's plenty of nightlife and bars. The ocean itself was so much fun. I'm from California, where the water can be cold even in summer, but in Ngapali it was warm enough to stay in all day. I didn't feel cold getting out, even in the evening. It's so humid that you really don't get chilled. The bungalows are close enough to the ocean that you're pretty much right on the beach. I could leave my things in the room and run down to the water in the morning, then get back to anything I needed just a few feet away. The room was large, with hardwood floors, a shower and toilet, plus little things like a toothbrush and soap. It was comfortable, though nothing fancy compared with some other hotels, and the lighting seemed a bit dim most of the time. Maybe being out in the sun all day made it feel that way, since I probably almost blinded myself. At night, after a full day playing at the beach, falling asleep to the sound of the waves was the best. Hands down, the best sleep I've had. My favorite part was the staff. I don't speak Burmese, and their English was limited, but they were so awesome and always kind and helpful when I had questions. They cleaned the room and brought fresh towels every day. Breakfast was included and delicious. I had fried rice with an egg on top, Burmese pancakes, orange juice, Burmese tea and fruit. You eat in the open air and can watch the waves. While I was there, they were cutting coconuts from their trees and shared a giant one with me. It was delicious, and my first time trying fresh coconut.

The breakfast tastes great, and the scenery makes for a relaxing stay. The price is reasonable compared with other places, though I don't know what it's like during local holiday periods. I really appreciated it. Well done!

The staff were slow to respond to complaints and didn't seem very active. The food wasn't good, and you'll need patience if you're speaking English. Still, it was good to get to know the real Rakhine taste.