After months of not being able to travel due to MCO and RMCO restrictions, getting away to Tioman Island was just what my husband and I and our twins needed this month! Here are some highlights as well as a few challenges from our trip.
Family friendly facilities
Paya Beach Resort hosts a variety of chalets and villas to facilitate the needs of your family. With comfortable beds and convenient spaces, there is ample room for extra beds if needed in many of the rooms. If you are having a get away as a couple or are a family with one child, the Beach Chalets could be what you’re looking for.
Those with a larger number of kids will want to rent the Deluxe Villa. This accommodation has got a separate master bedroom and private bath. There is a hidden away loft space with a second king size bed, along with floor space for additional mattresses. It also comes with a sitting area with couch and tv, along with a second bathroom.
Outdoor adventures
Paya Beach is a great landing spot for exploring a variety of outdoor adventures. Snorkling was our favourite – with the breathtaking and colourful fish in amazingly clear water. It was a magical experience for our kids as much as it was for us adults. A great family bonding activity along with doubling with it being both educational and ‘in nature’.
My husband and boys also enjoyed walking the shallow waters at the long stretch of beach about 15 minutes from the resort towards a nearby island. If you aren’t worried about wildlife, there are ample opportunities to see monkeys and monitor lizards.
Outstanding staff
We were pleased again and again with the fabulous staff at Paya Beach Resort. The desk personnel were friendly and spoke decent English. When I was frustrated at the fact that the wifi was down, and explained in case of medical emergency we needed to have the ability to connect with my older daughter who has type 1 diabetes and had stayed in KL, they found a solution for us. When there was a small water leak in our bathroom, I called the front desk and a maintenance staff came within minutes.
The meals provided were generous and tasty, with a wide variety of meats in the evening meal especially. And at the drinks bar which was open from 11am onwards, one of the staff working there hand squeezed fresh orange juice for me. A delicious treat!
On our last morning, I was so thankful I took the time to squeeze in a last minute massage. If you have chance and the time, you should try the ABHYANGA Ayurvedic Body Massage! It’s an amazing combination using oils that heal, with an amount of massaging that relaxes and works the muscles in a deep but helpful way.
Eating outside of the resort
There are no great coffee options on site, but if you go down the beach towards the pier you can buy a hot drink at the Gingerbread Coffee shop. Beer is tax free and thus very cheap at any of the local convenience stores or restaurants. If you want a new place to get a bite, try Aunty Tiomon Paya Seafood Restaurant down the road. We didn’t have a chance to try it, but we heard from another expat: “It had the best food I’ve eaten in Malaysia in the past five years!”
Concluding remarks
Paya Beach Resort is a great place for a large family who is willing to rough it a bit, but wants a place that you “Don’t need to worry about getting sand on the dining area floor“. If you have super high, five star expectations, this is not the place for you. The playground is older and under construction, thus wasn’t able to be used. The pool area was useable but simple.
In conclusion, as we left our two days at the Paya Beach Resort, my husband and I were already starting to plan when we could come again to visit this amazing Tioman Island. Next time, we will bring all five of our kids. Check out the room rates of Paya Beach Resort here.
How to get to Tioman
From KL you can take an easy drive down to Mersing. You can park for RM10 a day next to the ferry terminal. From here, lots of boats leave to Tioman Island. Best to check with the resort on departure times.
On your way over to Mersing, you can do a pit stop at UK Farm. Have a look at our review here.
Our stay at the resort was partly sponsored. As always, our opinion is honest and our own.
