The Philea Resort in Melaka – The largest luxury Pine lodge resort in Malaysia

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Recently we spent four days at the Philea Resort in Melaka, the largest and first pine log resort in Malaysia.

The Philea Resort is located within close proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Melaka, in an area called Ayer Keroh, just off the North South Highway. Prior to our arrival we did our usual fact finding exercise on the Internet to give us an idea of what to expect during our stay but as we had never stayed at an ‘Eco-resort’ before what we really wanted was to be surprised in the best way. Luckily for us the resort proved to be far more than we dared hope which will become evident a little later. Getting to the Philea Resort in Melaka is very simple as the resort is clearly sign posted from the North South Highway. So driving from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang or even Thailand is as straightforward as taking a single road and turning off at the resort sign.

The Lobby/Reception area at the Philea Resort in Melaka is a huge and imposing log structure and extending to what must be 40-50 feet in height. After a warm greeting from the resort manager and his staff, we sat down to have a rest after the long drive before checking into our suite. It was at this stage that we started to see the lengths that the resort has gone to back up its Eco-friendly credentials. The Large central Christmas tree was constructed of recycled plastic bottles, not evident until closer inspection, electric vehicles are lined up out the front to ferry the guests around the resort and the lobby was constructed from interlocking Siberian Pine logs shipped in from Russia. Even the perfectly polished chairs and tables around us were made from high quality reclaimed wood from a sunken ship, everywhere you looked you could see the extent that the Philea Resort had gone to in creating an Eco-friendly place of peace and relaxation.

Once we had refreshed ourselves with a welcome drink and done the usual patting of faces with the cold towels it was off to board the electric buggy and a short drive to our choice of accommodation – a Philea Suite.

The Philea Suites at the Philea Resort in Melaka

As mentioned, we would be staying in one of the 19 Philea signature suites, upon arrival it becomes immediately evident to us that this would be a unique experience. The Philea Suite is a detached log cabin that reminded me of the beautiful log cabins I’d seen in the forests of America and the slopes of the Alps. Standing in front of the suite made me want to get out my camera, take a photo and email it to friends and family saying “look at where we’re staying’ – it was that pretty. As we entered the suite my wife and I gave each other a knowing glance, one of those ‘Yes, this is nice’ looks. The spacious bedroom/living area continues the Eco-theme with uniformed, interlocking log walls, wooden flooring and high vaulted wooden ceiling. Comfortable sofas, sumptuous curtains, large LCD TV, storage areas and a desk complete the decor. The bathroom in the suite is as impressive as the bedroom/living area with a freestanding claw foot bath in the centre of the bathroom, rainfall shower, twin monogrammed scalloped gold basins set within a marble top and the usual WC area. All of the furniture was made specifically for the Philea Resort in Melaka and perfectly complemented the overall theme.

Having completed our exploration of the cupboards, drawers, nooks and crannies it was time to kick off the shoes, connect to the wireless complimentary Internet and stretch out on the bed to let our family and friends know we had arrived. One of my ‘pet hates’ at hotels and resorts is the use of cheap linen, so it was with great joy that I can announce the Philea Resort in Melaka does not follow that trend. The huge pillows were filled with soft feathers as was the quilt, the sheets and covers were of the highest quality, everything we would need for a peaceful and re-invigorating nights sleep.

Once settled and unpacked it was off to explore some of the facilities on offer at the Philea Resort. The first thing that you’ll notice is the stunning swimming pool and water features. The Philea Resort swimming pool is bounded by cascading waterfalls with cabanas and loungers, the pool is of a large size with and inset pebbled floor, the adjacent water features that surround and indeed exceed the size of the large pool extend back towards the main lobby and reception area creating a feeling of being in a valley with log cabins on the horizon.

Other types of accommodation at the Philea Resort in Melaka

While we are on the subject of accommodation, we should also discuss the other types of property you can book during your stay. As we have mentioned, we stayed in one of the 19 Philea Signature Suites, the most popular choice for people staying at the Philea Resort are the Pavilion Rooms, there are 180 of these. One thing to bear in mind is that the properties are constructed from wood, so if you decide to go for a ground floor room, you will hear some noise especially if the guests above have young children or decide to jump up and down. Finally the most spectacular properties within the resort are the Royal Villas, there are two of these detached double storey properties, each with its own private pool, private outside spa treatment and lounge area, two bedrooms and every other conceivable luxury. Previous occupants of the Royal Villas have included Leaders of Countries and International Movie Stars.