It’s a fantasy that most of us have when we’re on holiday; the dream of never going back. One of uprooting everything to make a new, more peaceful life on a tranquil, tropical island. This is exactly what the owners of Peppercorn Beach Resort in Phu Quoc did. Robert and his wife, Linh, travelled to the island and completely fell in love with the untouched beauty of the place. They consummated this adoration, buying a plot of land and opening a place which does justice to its stunning surrounds. You couldn’t ask for more than that.
Location
The journey to the resort’s location involves driving over rugged dirt roads and glimpses of real island life. Peppercorn Beach Resort itself rests on a secluded beach in the northern part of the island, far away from the main cluster of hotels on Dong Hung. Up north its cleaner, calmer and more charming.
On these tranquil shores it feels like you’ve been cocooned in your own little island paradise. Cambodia lies visibly in the distance. Here you can appreciate Phu Quoc’s raw-natural beauty without the looming, multinational hotel towers of the south of the island. This is Phu Quoc as it should be.
Style and Character
Linh’s father is a passionate gardener and his work is apparent throughout the well maintained plot, the growing of fruit and peppercorn trees. This family-run feel, with the Aunt doing the cooking, permeates every corner of the place. The geniality of the owners puts punters at ease as soon as you arrive and the feeling lingers long after you leave.
Palm trees line the beach offering dappled shade and hammocks are slung between the trees and across the site seemingly at random. One is always available should you wish to snooze or star-gaze.
There are so many thoughtful touches. In the lobby you can help yourself to suntan lotion and insect repellent. There’s a library of books, magazines and DVD’s in a multitude of languages – a document of the veritable diversity of visitor here.
Environmental Sensibilities
With more and more hotels opening on the island, there’s a clutch of eco-savvy resorts here and Peppercorn is one of them. Eco-friendly practices are applied wherever possible including using solar panels and utilizing rainwater collection. These environmental sensibilities make the resort even more endearing.
However, of course this comes with it’s downside as they sometimes experience issues with hot water. Also the remote location sometimes means electricity cut-outs. However, if the thought of no air- conditioning occasionally makes you panic, worry not, the gentle sea breeze will keep you cool.
Rooms
The resort has quite a few different room categories, some on the beach and some in the garden. All are simply decorated, airy and bright, with a private deck. We stayed in beachfront double room, perched directly on the beach. At night the gentle soundtrack of the lapping sea will send you to sleep.
Food and drink
The resorts restaurant and bar are positioned poolside with the sea just yonder. Here Aunty (the owners actual aunt) cooks traditional Vietnamese food. We loved Aunty’s cooking so much, we’ve written a whole article on it here. You won’t find much need to venture out of the resort for lunch or dinner, however there are two local Vietnamese restaurants within walking distance. The staff will point them out to you when you arrive. The fact that they recommend other places to eat further shows the genteel, unselfish nature of the resort.
Facilities
Although the sea is perfect for a dip and also a float, it isn’t the best for swimming as the water is quite shallow and there are a few sharp rocks. However, if you’re a keen swimmer, there is aways the pool where you can get your laps in.
A small nail spa offers the chance to polish your digits and enjoy some room massage therapy. There’s also an old outdoor gym that looks like something out of the Flintstones – more for novelty use than a hardcore training session.
Apart from the hotel, there’s not a lot to be found nearby but this doesn’t matter as the resort is the perfect place for doing a whole lot of nothing. However if you’re feeling ambitious, you can take a Kayak to explore the coastline and row past a small fishing village.
The resort arranges numerous activities such as snorkeling and fishing trips.You can even borrow a complimentary bike and ride to the local village of Ganh Dau. Ask the staff to point you in the direction of a local eatery where fishermen will take you to some little islands, they’ll know what you mean. Also available are motorbikes for rent, and a jaunt to the nearby national park provides escape and appreciation of nature.
If you wish to visit the town centre, the resort arranges a daily complimentary shuttle service.
Why Go
Come here to stay in a beautiful resort on one of the most unspoiled parts of the island. This resort can’t be beaten for it’s atmosphere and location. It’s our favourite on the island and we hope it never changes.
Website: peppercornbeach.com
Disclosure: IDEAL Magazine stayed as a guest of the hotel