Laman Pesona Resort & Spa

I was pleasantly surprised by the service and the beautiful scenery. The room was neat and just right, though a little small, and it’s a nice place to relax. The mosquitoes were a drawback. Their bites made me extremely itchy, maybe because they’re a different species here. Bring insect repellent, and don’t leave the window open while you sleep.

This is a nice, relaxing place with a good concept, and I’d like to visit again. I gave it four stars, though, because rides to the rooms in the jeep can feel unsafe on the steep, narrow road. The driver shouldn’t speed, especially when lots of guests need rides around busy lunch and dinner times. I’d suggest electric cars instead of petrol or diesel ones, since they’re quieter, and making sure passengers have enough room to sit and hold on safely.

From a distance, the chalets built along the hillside look fantastically natural, and the view is very nice. The resort runs a 4x4 shuttle to and from the chalets from 8am to 12am. The ride was breathtaking, but scary when the driver went in reverse. My room felt cramped, with nowhere proper to put my luggage, so I ended up putting it on the bed.

The staff were amazingly friendly and helpful, and I really appreciated their hospitality. The resort is close to nature and has potential, especially for writer retreats if you want peace away from the crowds. But the units need better maintenance. Some lights didn’t work, the toilet flush leaked, the bed was hard and uncomfortable, and there were stains on the upholstery and walls. The kitchen cabinets smelled so bad I didn’t dare store anything in them. There were few amenities in the room: sparse toiletries, no hairdryer, and no sanitary bags. Most concerning for a chalet in the wilderness, there was no insect repellent. Ants and all kinds of bugs got into our chalet. I know it’s a nature resort and bugs come with that, but a Ridsect wouldn’t bankrupt them. The slopes are dangerously steep and jagged too. Bring hiking boots, since other footwear could have you rolling downhill. You can call the jeep, but doing that several times a day gets old. I’d bring a mosquito coil.