Hidden gem resorts around Southeast Asia to add to your list

by Aisha Capulong

From rustic boutique rooms in the heart of the city to balcony terraces hanging over forest cliffsides, these five 'hidden gem' resorts bring much to the table despite understated acclaim. Explore some of Southeast Asia's more illusive spots and escape the everyday by stepping into these enigmatic getaways

Known for its tropical climate and gorgeous natural landscapes, Southeast Asia boasts a plethora of experiences from thrilling sea sports to local-led walking tours through nooks and crannies that are oftentimes unknown to visiting tourists. This only means one thing: there is bound to be an attraction tailor-made for everyone, no matter how niche one’s interest may be.

If your Google searches tend to include ‘travel like a local in [city]’, this article is for you. We’ve put together five lesser-known spots around Southeast Asia offering incredibly unique stays that will give you a story to tell when you return home. It’s okay, you can thank us later. Scroll on for a peek into some exquisitely ‘hidden’ hotels in SE Asia.

5 hotels off the beaten path in Southeast Asia

Photos: The Mustang Blu

The Mustang Blu, Bangkok

Bursting at the seams from a stunningly curated rustic quality is this central Bangkok boutique hotel, The Mustang Blu. Despite its location right in the heart of the capital, the hotel’s unassuming entrance makes it one that can be easy to miss, but make no mistake — beyond the narrow wooden door is a mystic world of aged charm and distressed walls that will transport you to an entirely different realm.

The Mustang Blu inhabits a triangular edifice, one that is similar to New York’s iconic Flatiron Building, and its distinct colonial facade further adds to the affair that awaits within. Warm lighting, weathered wood details and plush velvet envelop the inner spaces. Fitted with antique furniture, each room offers a one-of-a-kind stay, creating a different experience for every visiting guest at any given moment.

Photos: Hanging Gardens of Bali

Hanging Gardens of Bali

This breathtaking resort in Bali, true to its name, hangs over a green expanse of dense forestry that stretches far into the horizon, giving the entire area a secluded feel that blankets and heals the soul. Each room at the Hanging Gardens of Bali faces outwards, allowing every guest to enjoy the stunning view that is undoubtedly what makes the stay at this ‘hidden’ resort.

Heavily featured at the Hanging Gardens of Bali is traditional Balinese architecture, from its thatched-roof villas to the suspended wellness pavilion where yoga classes and sound baths are offered. A look into the inner spaces tell a modern story of Balinese influences — the wooden pillars with concrete bases, for example, can be seen paired with white marble finish countertops at the in-room bar areas, rehashing local culture with a fresh contemporary take.

Photos: Hotel de la Coupole

Hotel de la Coupole, Sapa

As if straight out of a Wes Anderson film is Hotel de la Coupole in Sapa, Vietnam. Vibrant colours and art deco furnishing coat the entire dream-like property, and each new step through the hotel comes with it a new visual discovery. Nothing seems out of place yet everything contains character and is a statement on its own: that is Hotel de la Coupole’s sui generis charm.

The marvelous facade, one that is architecturally art nouveau in style, is known as the “castle in the mist” cutting wondrously through the layer of fog that covers the mornings in Sapa. Chosen as this article’s header image and can be seen first in the above image carousel, Hotel de la Coupole’s main highlight is its Le Grand Bassin — an impressive indoor pool area made of emerald and royal blue shades that both pair and contrast beautifully.

Photos: The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh

This unique spa resort in Ipoh, Malaysia, accentuates its local strong point, the natural hot springs, by presenting a luxurious approach to experiencing the site. Made of 44 villas, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat thoroughly pampers its guests with global standards of service, and in a whole class by itself, its cavern haute cuisine restaurants, bars and wellness pavilions are a reason on its own to visit the resort. It is not everyday that you get to say you happened across a fine dining meal in a cave.

An accent at The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, the Water Villas are elegant chalets set on the property’s Lotus Flower Lake, each with its very own pool and dedicated geothermal spa bath with water sourced from the prime hotsprings. The inner spaces at the resort paint a picture of sophistication and timelessness with its achromatic colour palette paired with warm lights and dark wood tones.

Photos: The Farm at San Benito

The Farm at San Benito, Batangas

This scene-stealing resort tucked away in the lush woodlands of Batangas, Philippines is The Farm at San Benito. While its alluring sweeping vistas need no introduction, it is worth mentioning that this 52-acre property is the first and only Medical Wellness Retreat in the Philippines, which should come as no surprise. Doused in pristine nature and greenery for days, it is no wonder guests of The Farm at San Benito come away feeling sound and well.

The resort stars architecture reminiscent of the traditional Filipino ‘bahay kubo’, or huts made out of woven bamboo. Throughout the different venues within The Farm at San Benito’s 52 acres, leisure outdoor living shapes the spaces. As you step into the suites, a clean-cut modish look is tailored to create a soothing ambience, so prioritisation is given to healing.

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