Alma Boutique Hotel

The garden is beautiful, and there are free sailing trips over the coral waters. The chefs take turns, and one of them is outstanding, especially for world-class tuna dishes. Out of the three boutique hotels my partner and I stayed in, Alma was the best. It’s family-owned, with Italian class and a lovely balance of genuine, welcoming service and space to enjoy some solitude.

We were walking along the beach and thought we’d stop for lunch and a drink, but the security guard stopped us as we came toward the restaurant from the beach. He told us it was a hotel, as if we hadn’t realized, and said entry was only through the front reception. On a sunny day, that felt like too much hassle, especially with so many other welcoming hotels and restaurants nearby, however nice this place may be. If passersby really aren’t welcome, they could put up a guests-only sign so people know to stay away.

The hotel is lovely, right on the beach, with pretty rooms, tasty food, and really friendly staff. It’s a little farther from central Paje, though a tuk-tuk gets you there easily. We’ll be back!

The restaurant serves very good food, and the staff are so friendly. When the lock on my first room’s door didn’t work, they moved me to an upgraded room. The hotel itself is beautiful and right on the beach, with nice rooms and modern interiors. Aside from sorting out the door locks, I’d suggest putting water bottles in the gym. It’s a wonderful, quiet place to relax for a few days.