A resort is a resort is a resort is a resort. Be they in the Maldives, Costa Rica, Australia or the US, beach resorts are, generally speaking, lavishly appointed, deliciously relaxing, expertly staffed and, it seems, painfully expensive.
But worth it. For they are pure decadence, utterly self-contained little havens, leeching money from you at every turn but offering a complete escape from everything external to their manicured borders.
After around a decade of business, the Furama Resort in da nang has solidified its name among the list of these quality spots. But since the competition is stiffening in Viet nam (and, let’s face it, Ha Noi’s growing hotter, more humid and more miserable by the day), I decided to see how the favoured central stopover was faring now that she’s in her prime.
I wasn’t disappointed.
With just under 200 rooms, the space is sprawling, with winding gardens and multiple swimming pools, with tennis courts and a driving range, a gym and spa facilities. There are jet skis and kayaks, scuba diving options and billiards. You can go paddle boating or take tai chi lessons, play snooker or mah jong, eat and drink in any number of settings and order in at any hour of the day.
It’s everything you’d expect from a five-star facility. Passing through its gates enables a total departure from the sometimes hard and bewildering business of travelling in a foreign country. It’s not "authentic" Viet Nam, but arguably neither is the nearby "Stone Art Carving Tourist Village" which has transitioned from craftsmanship to mass production. Neither are the budget hotels where young Western tourists congregate. And on and on.
Sure, there are some flaws, but they are minor, irksome details – a blistering hot lobby, no wireless in the rooms (and no free internet unless you are in said blistering hot lobby), and buttonless, touch-sensitive elevators that don’t always seem to work. The rooms are sadly not created equal; unless you are willing to shell out well over the around US$200 basic rate, your view may be of cement tennis courts.
But these are mere annoyances. The pristine beach and the plethora of amenities more than compensate. And of course, such problems are inevitably manifest (though in perhaps slightly varied form) at most resorts of the same calibre and price point.
However, the Furama is doing something to set it apart, something that may inspire responsible travellers to feel better about their resort choice and will certainly benefit all parties involved in the future. According to the resort’s general manager, Duncan Maclean, the Furama is taking steps towards becoming a little greener, a little cleaner and a little more sustainable.
"As a responsible company we feel obligated to do our part," Maclean explained regarding the new "green" action plan. They are networking with the Green Leaf Programme, which has helped other companies in Southeast Asia make the transition to more sustainable operations working together on system changes and inspections.
Maclean went on to explain specific plans, like how the resort would cut down on plastic consumption and chemical usage by switching to eco-friendly products. They would pursue using solar power for the boiler system and install an updated waste-water recycling system so the vast lawns would no longer be draining the fresh water supply. They were even considering a reservoir.
As it stands, they have figures that the resort will be able to reduce its utility consumption by 25-30 per cent. Given the staggering amount of waste and consumption that are a part of resort operations the world over, this is no small sum.
"It’s good business sense and cost effective," Maclean commented. "It’s a modern business necessity."
He’s right. Sustainability is as much a buzzword as standard upkeep and renovations (something the Furama is also very attuned to).
And though there will clearly always be an inherent disconnect between "green" and resort living, it’s still nice to know that some companies are investing in this type of change.
So come for the amenities or come for the small relief to your environmental conscience. Come because it’s too damn hot to do anything else or because you want a quick and tasty cocktail. Come because you want quality time with your lover or a break from the kids or because you want to do nothing, lots of delightful nothing, for a few days.
Regardless of the reason, you’ll be hard pressed to want to leave.
(Source: VNS)
Tag: Asia , Da Nang , Environment , Ha Noi , Hotel , Resort , Tour , Tourist , Travel , Viet Nam Mature selection: rediscovering Furama Resort
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