Weekend escapade

At Thistle Port Dickson, repeat guest at the refurbished spa and relaxes by the beach chills out

IT has been a long busy week and all I need is a getaway from the city, just relaxing by the beach and perhaps a little bit of pampering in a five-star resort. Well, since I only have a short weekend, Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan is my best shot. Plus, I won’t need to waste time on the road as it is just an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur.

Thanks to AirAsiaGo Mobile App, I am able to do a quick last-minute booking with just one click and I am lucky that Thistle, one of Port Dickson’s five star choices, is on the list. So, here I am with my husband, arriving at this beautiful resort situated on a gorgeous stretch of Port Dickson’s finest beach, Teluk Kemang.

Well, this is not my first time at Thistle Port Dickson. I stayed here a few years back before I was married, and I remember it as really enjoyable. This trip will relive those memories, but this time, I am bringing my husband!

COASTAL PANORAMA

My husband and I arrive quite late as we both headed out from our workplace. We

Try out the rack of lamb at Glass.

Enjoying the sunset as you stroll along the beach.

Who wouldn’t want to relax in this room?

are tired and all we can think of is to call it a night.

The clock shows 9pm when we finally reach the resort. We immediately check into the Deluxe Sea Facing King Room. As my husband freshens up, I explore. Our room is spacious, with a simple contemporary design, yet it has a warm ambience.

Its king size bed can fit three. Yep, this is the luxury I am looking for — comfort!

The room also has a day bed at a corner, a mini bar with coffee- and tea-making facilities, TV, work desk and a balcony. It is already dark outside but I can see the light blue pool area and nearby outdoors there’s a movie showing, Some children and their parents are watching the show. Perhaps this is one of the new activities catering especially for families.

After taking a warm shower, I jump into the bed and within minutes I doze off. Well, the plush mattress, soft pillows and sleek bed linen definitely help! In the morning, I wake up fresh and the first thing I do is go to the balcony with a cup of hot tea and sit on a lazy chair overlooking the peaceful Straits of Malacca. There is a rainbow across the horizon, aah... what bliss.

PUTERI DEWI PAMPERING

Although there are plenty of activities at Thistle Port Dickson — watersports and such — my main intention is to relax and pamper myself. Of course, going to a spa is a must.

As Thistle Port Dickson recently refurbished its spa and outsourced Puteri Dewi Spa, I am quite excited about trying it out.

The new spa has a totally different ambience from my last visit. It has a Balinese feel, very warm, very inviting. The treatment menu is also different.

Upon entering the spa, my husband and I are welcomed by two lovely women in black tops and batik sarung. They explain the types of massages available; both of us choose the Balinese Herbal Compress.

We are then ushered to the couple room and change into the batik sarung.

The treatment starts with a foot scrub and continues with a relaxing oil massage. My massage therapist has very strong hands and I like the pressure. It feels like all my stress has been released from my body.

Then, the massage continues with a hot herbal compress which is gently applied along the energy lines of my body. That instantly induces relaxation from within!

By the end of the one-hour treatment, I feel like a princess and my body feels very light, very relaxed!

SUNSET ROMANCE

For more relaxation, my husband and I head to Cumulus, the beach bar set against the magnificent backdrop of the Straits of Melaka just before sunset. We order a mocktail each and sit at the lounge looking over the horizon waiting for the orange hues.

There is also an Infinity Pool facing the beach near the bar.

After finishing our sunset mocktails, we walk to the Glass, an Italian restaurant, where our outdoor romantic candlelight