We arrived at around 3.30 pm but were a little disappointed because there was no staff at the entrance to welcome our arrival. There was no welcome drinks or wet towels provided as well. It seems that the resort was a little understaffed so I guess that was the reason why they could not provide all of these. 

The lobby was packed with arriving guests, each waiting to be checked in. It was a little chaotic because there was no proper queue for check in. The check in process was also a bit slow as there were only two staffs at the counter. Some of the guests were starting to get frustrated because they were informed that their rooms were not ready for check in yet. But fortunately, the staffs were very polite and have apologized for the delay.

We were lucky that our room was already ready at check in. After confirming all our details, the staff handed our room key card to us. We were asked to wait for a buggy at the entrance, which will take us to the doorstep of our room. It was disappointing that the staff has not provided us with any information about the resort or activities available.

Room 

The resort is a hidden gem, comprising of a collection of private villas in four categories - Sara Cottage (Wetland Cottage) Jala Villa (Water Villa), Vana Villa (Forest Villa) and Amani Villa (Orchard Pool Villa). Whether you are celebrating an anniversary or planning for a romantic break, this will be a perfect place to spend your time together with your loved one at.

Other than that, it also offers several family sized villas that are great for families or group of friends travelling together, 

We booked the 3 days 2 nights Jala water villa - Nature Escapade package as we have fallen in love with the lake view while looking at the pictures. The package includes a 2 nights stay at Jala Villa, daily breakfast for two and a set dinner for two. We can either choose to have the dinner on the first or the second day.

The Jala villas is built on stilts over the peaceful lake and surrounded by beautiful, natural greenery, which creates a serene and relaxing atmosphere. Each villa is well spaced out from each other, offering absolute privacy.

It does take some effort to walk from the lobby to the rooms (with the Vana villas being located the furthest away), the view is scenic. You could call for a buggy service to get around the resort if you are lazy to walk. But most of the time, we prefer to get around by foot to experience the beauty of nature.

Designed in modern Balinese style, the incredibly spacious room features a large king-sized bed, a private balcony, a pantry, a sitting area and an ensuite bathroom. Fitted with wooden flooring, the room is comfortably clean and well-maintained.

The bed is large, but is a little too hard for our back. The pillows, on the other hand, are too soft for our liking. We could not sleep well at night because it was uncomfortable. 

A small corner of the room is taken up by a sitting area, which features a single seater sofa with pillows. Other in room amenities include a flat screen TV with cable channels, complimentary WiFi, safety deposit box, ironing facilities and hair dryer.

The room opens to a large, covered balcony fitted with natural wood decking and furnished with a coffee table and comfortable seating for two. There is a ceiling fan installed in the balcony as well to keep you cool during the warm afternoon.

The balcony overlooks the beautiful and serene lake, which is the central feature of the resort. This is also the main resort why we chose to stay at the Jala villa.  The lake is surrounded by trees with lush green foliage, which is home to a lovely variety of wildlife. The trees shows the bright and deep green reflection over the lake with schools of fishes swimming below the surface. However, fishing is banned in the lake so as to protect the ecosystem.

Staying here will bring you closer to the nature. It was nice to wake up on a king sized bed to stunning view of the lake every morning, with the sound of birds chirping and insects buzzing in the trees.

Home to over 100 species of birds, the resort is perfect for bird watching. Bird watching lover can enjoy bird watching right from your balcony. You will never know what you will spot throughout the day. One morning we opened our balcony door and spotted a pair of love birds. They spent the entire day sitting and hanging out with each other. Well, maybe they are not couple, but they are always together.

We spent most of our day sitting on the balcony, watching the lake and doing absolutely nothing. It was so calming, especially on cold and rainy afternoons. We enjoyed every second of it. Being surrounded by nature made us feel at peace. The clean crisp air and scent of the trees leave us feeling refreshed. Surprisingly, there are not many mosquitoes while we were sitting on the balcony.

In the heavy rain, we spotted a monitor lizard swimming around in the lake. It looks a little scary but is harmless if you do not disturb it.

The bathroom was amazingly spacious as well. It features double sink vanity, a Jacuzzi bathtub and  rainfall shower with natural skylight. We enjoyed a good soak in the jacuzzi bathtub. It helps us to relieve stress and soothe our tired muscles. We love the rainfall shower as well, except that the water pressure was a little low.

A generous variety of toiletries are provided in the bathroom, which includes shower gel, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, body lotion, sewing kits, cotton buds, shower cap, shaver, comb, nail file and disposable toothbrush and toothpaste.

The room comes equipped with a small pantry area complete with a mini fridge, coffee machine, electric kettle, two coffee capsules, coffee and tea. Four complimentary bottles of mineral waters are provided as well. However, I would suggest putting a water dispenser in every room instead so that guests can refill their own water bottle just to be more environmentally friendly.

Dining

Our package includes complimentary daily breakfast, which is served at the Lakeside Restaurant. The Lakeside restaurant is an all day dining restaurant offering buffet / a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner. It serves a mix of local and western dishes, but choices were a bit limited. Food was mediocre and can be improved.

The restaurant offers both outdoor and indoor seating. Guests are free to choose where they would like to sit and enjoy their food. The outdoor seating are situated next to the infinity pool, looking out to the lake.

We chose to sit indoor that looks out to the green gardens. Surrounded by unspoiled beauty of greenery, the Lakeside Restaurant is a beautiful place to eat.

We had a set dinner included in our package, which was served at the Lakeside Restaurant. The set dinner included two main course, two drinks and a dessert. We were allowed to choose whatever we want to eat from the menu, regardless of the price.

I ordered Rib Eye Steak, which was the most expensive item on the menu while my husband ordered Lamb Chop. The steak was disappointing. It was overcooked and tough, so it was hard to bite. The Lamb Chop was so much better but not amazing.

For dessert, we had blueberry cheesecake because this was the only item available. It was delicious! Well, at least the dessert tastes good.

At night, you can enjoy alcoholic drinks at the adult-only Lakeside Bar, which offers a panoramic view over the lake.

Activites 

Located beside the restaurant is the highly instagrammable outdoor infinity pool with deck and lounge chairs that overlooks the lake. Take a refreshing dip in the pool and enjoy the tranquility in a quiet natural ambience.

There are not many things to do at the resort. Most of the time, we enjoyed strolling around the gardens. The vast land and open space provide plenty of privacy. It feels like we have the entire place to ourselves. We seldom meet other guests while we were exploring the resort's grounds, even though it was fully booked during the period of our stay. You can also rent a bicycle and and ride through the oil palm plantations. 

Other than that, the resort also offers various recreation activities and excursions at an additional charge. Onsite recreation activities include archery, kayaking, horse riding, picnic and board games. You can also book a half day or full day tour to some of the famous attractions in Kuantan. We did not participate in any of the activities of excursions while we were at the resort because we actually enjoyed the state of doing nothing very much.

There is also a gym for gym enthusiasts. Overlooking the lake, the gym is equipped with treadmills, exercise bikes and weights. You can workout while enjoying the view of the lake.

Guests who are looking for a pampering session can visit the spa centre at the resort. Located on the hill overlooking the lake, the spa center offers a variety of massages and spa treatments. But unfortunately, it was closed during our stay due to Covid-19.

Mangala Resort & Spa is a perfect place for nature lovers to immerse in the nature. The resort is ideal for couples seeking for a romantic getaway or city dwellers who are just looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. We had a very wonderful time staying at the resort and we really enjoy the spaciousness and privacy of our villa.

The quality of food was not bad, but definitely not up to 5-star standard. Service was good but not exceptional as well. Most of the staffs are friendly and greet us with smiles when they see us. The buggy driver were also nice enough to ask us whether we would need a ride when they see us walking around or climbing the hill. However, there was one particular foreign manager (I believe he is from Austria) who always made us feel unwelcomed. He did not even bother to greet or smile at us whenever he sees us.

Another bad thing is there was no housekeeping service provided on the second day, despite that we have actually requested for it. My husband was really upset because no one came to replace our towels, empty the trash and replenish our mineral water, coffee, tea and bathroom suppliers. Luckily, we were only staying at the resort for two nights because our trash were already starting to stink when we were leaving. Perhaps they are trying to be environmentally friendly, but at least, please help us to throw out our trash and replenish our supplies. Or maybe, they are simply understaffed and do not have enough cleaners to provide the service.

For those who are intending to stay here, please note that the resort is located about an hour drive away from Kuantan town. Food option is very limited around the resort, so you might want to bring along some snacks and drinks to fill your stomach if you are lazy to drive out, but do not want to dine at the onsite restaurant.