Tioman Cabana
We stayed in Tioman Cabana and have to say that this is the most laid-back, fun and happening little stretch of beach in all of Tioman. We'd arrived in Tioman without a room booking and were actually scouting around the village of Tekek for decent lodgings, when we heard the unmistakable sound of someone gently jamming on a guitar coming from a cute little wooden shack at the beach.
We decided to have a quick look. Well, suffice to say that what was supposed to be a quick look turned out to be an awesome 3 day stay.
Book your Tioman Cabana here
In fact, we were lucky that our trip to Tioman was on a weekday in the off-season, because I doubt we would have been able to get a Tioman Cabana room as a walk-in. So below, let me review Tioman Cabana's the good, the bad and the ugly. Which, as you'll see, is more like the good, the better and the best.
The first things you'll notice when you walk up to Tioman Cabana is the prime beach location and amazing Captain- Jack-Sparrow-meets-Hawaii-hang-loose-meets-East-Indies-rasta ambiance. The unique blend is cheerful, happy-go-lucky and ever so cool.
Welcome to Tioman Cabana
The Beach Lodge room we stayed in was new and clean and had a private bathroom, as well as a beach-facing balcony. The sea view here is picture-perfect, so bring your camera, because your friends need to see it, especially the spectacular sunsets. By the way, there's no air-con at Tioman Cabana, but during the day the sea breeze keeps things nice and cool and, surprisingly, by night the land breeze is pretty nippy. BTW, FYI, wifi, tv and a dryer are offered.
The "makan" served at Tioman Cabana is from East or West, your choice. as for us, we ended up having all our meals right at Tioman Cabana, simply because a) it was really tasty and b) sea view. The piece de resistance was the seafood BBQ fest, which really was memorable, not just for the superbly prepared food that we had, but also the fantastic Tioman Cabana atmosphere.
Book your ferry tickets to Tioman
From Mersing, Jan From Tanjung Gemok: N.A., [Tanjung Gemok = Teluk Gading] Mukut / Juara? Click here. Pro Tip: Don't know which jetty to choose when booking your ferry? Typically, the ferry stops at all the main jetties. However, there is the occasional exception, so once aboard, confirm the ferry route with the cabin crew. Taking the Tanjung Gemok ferry? Click here / here |
What about activities at Tioman Cabana? Well, one of our daily favorites was lounging on the rooftop, whilst listening to the songs being played and sipping fresh fruit cocktail (or something with a little more zing). But given Tioman Cabana's proximity to the sea, it's no surprise that there's plenty of sea-based fun to be had here too. Snorkeling, scuba-diving, kayaking and stand up paddling. Stand up paddling, or SUP, is like walking on water and our SUP session during sunset was a one-of-a-kind experience. Highly recommended. But you can also rent a bicycle for a fun spin around Tekek or go bouldering and even learn how to poi-poi.
Tioman Cabana is not just a drink or a meal or a room. Tioman Cabana is a way of life. And we'll be back for sure. Meanwhile, our regards to Sham.
Tip: Reservation-wise, Tioman Cabana is on Airbnb, so book a room there. Or you can try Agoda. Either way, best not wait until too close to your trip date, because Tioman Cabana is in demand. It's also a good idea to bring some bug spray, because, with the beach and the jungle being as close as they are, there's no avoiding some creepy-crawlies. However, nothing a few dabs of the "Off" won't cure. Lastly, Tioman Cabana are absolute stars at preparing all kinds of beverages, hot and cold. Their coffee is genuine and delicious, as are their fruit juices and their, well, slightly more potent drinks :) One more thing, home-made burgers! Nuff said.