Mangala Estate Boutique Resort — Hotel in Pahang

• UPDATE * : They switched us to the Amani and it’s much better 🙌🏿 clear pool photo of Amani.

The person in charge spoke to us first thing in the morning to address the issue. He was kind and polite and heard things out on our end first before explaining their side of things. He apologised as well which was very courteous.

Staying here now currently in Vana let me tell you, it’s not worth it. The rooms were expensive and we expected a tiptop service. The rating given was for a couple of reasons.

We were coming all the way from KL. On the way there, we received a phone call from them saying there’s a water disruption and if it’s okay to delay the check in time and will let us know if there are changes. This was around 1.30pm. Around 5.30pm we decided it’s too long of a wait and we called them instead, which is when we were informed that it’s already working out. So much of time wasted there.

We checked in around 6.30pm. Had the dinner package, by the time we came to the room it was dark. Guess what? The pool light was not working. We called the maintenance guy and had to wait for a quote sometime before they fixed it.

We came here for my birthday. And the pool water is so murky and looks dodgy. Few hours after coming out of the pool, I now have a terrible sore throat, I have no voice, on my BIRTHDAY.

We Informed them of the pool when we went for breakfast. At 9.30am. Told them the issues we were facing and how we wanted to change rooms maybe to Amani instead since this room was obviously not prepared. They said okay, housekeeping is working on it and will inform us. 2 HOURS we were chilling in the room. I decided to call at 11.30am to check, they said they’re working on it, the room is ready and checking with housekeeping. At 12pm we got a call, they now said the pool water is murky because of the water disruption and the Amani Villa as well is the same.But the main resort pool is okay??? I honestly don’t understand the reason they gave.

If the pool water was due to water disruption, don’t you think we should have been informed first? We requested to switch rooms anyways still.

More than 3 hours wasted just today waiting to hear. And 3 hours the first day.

4.The bidet in the toilet is leaking. We informed them but looks like that’s not a priority. Your pants gets wet if you have em when you use the bidet?

We booked the room specifically to enjoy the private pool and this is experience we get? Nevermind the water as that is something that can’t be helped but how they handled this initially...

Stayed for 4 days and 3 nights at the Vana villa with pool. Nothing much to complain, it was an amazing stay.

The staff there is simply amazing if you are friendly as well — there were a few we got to chat with every single day at the Lakeside restaurant and got to know personally. The buggy drivers were also very nice, giving us a tour of the area after we said we didn’t have time to check the place out yet. We would definitely come back purely for the people and service.

It rained heavily on the first night we were there and the pool became a bit dirty, so we requested for pool cleanings without any charges, which was nice. Also enjoyed a floating breakfast in the pool, which was totally instagrammable and fun.

Recreation-wise, we did a lot of cycling whenever we wanted to go eat or visit the garden/plantation. You can take the bicycles and keep them at your villa throughout your stay, which is fun. We also did some archery and paddleboating near the lake.

Food-wise, there aren’t many choices for lunch and dinner at the restaurant, but they’re alright with what they have. There were some hits and some misses. The burger, club sandwich, nasi goreng, cheesecake and tomato soup were some of the good and memorable ones. The drinks from their own farm are simply delicious too. We heard from the staff that they’re looking to improve their restaurant soon, so we’re excited to come back in a few months or a year to check it out again. Buffet breakfast offers sooo many great choices, and for the ala carte breakfast, the western and traditional breakfasts are good. The portions are also big — we were stuffed our entire journey. Keep in mind that the food is a bit pricey though.

There’s nothing much around Gambang so if you’re looking for parties or entertainment or anything alike, this might not be the place for you – but we didn’t mind as we were coming to get away from crowds in the first place. You can drive up to Kuantan in about 40mins if you want to explore the city though.

All in all, Mangala is perfect for couples or families that want a quiet and relaxing getaway. We came from bustling KL so the change of pace was AMAZING. You can hear birds chirping when you wake up and even just sit in a bubble bath outdoors at night while looking at the sky. The villas are limited and spread out too so if you’re looking for peace and privacy, this is the...

I had the pleasure of staying at Mangala Resort & Spa from 5–6 July 2025 with my wife and our 4-month-old son. We booked the Vana Villa with Private Pool (Room 316), which came with an additional Gazebo in the yard.

From the moment we arrived, we were impressed. The serene landscape, the quiet environment, and the privacy offered by the villa were truly unmatched.

We were warmly welcomed by Mr. Johan Kasper, the Operations Manager, with his signature winking eyes as a personal welcome gesture.

We received welcome drinks upon check-in (note: there’s an additional RM3 tourism tax for Malaysians), and a buggy transported us straight to our villa, adding to the seamless check-in experience.

The villa itself was amazing. Tranquil, and luxurious. It’s no wonder Mangala has received prestigious awards. The private pool, peaceful surroundings, and well-maintained greenery made it a memorable experience.

Unfortunately, we encountered a cleanliness issue (will not mention here) but kudos to the management team for responding immediately with housekeeping assistance.

That said, the follow-up fell short. I contacted the front desk (dialled ‘0’) asking if the management could provide a small token or gesture of goodwill. The staff said they’d inform Mr. Johan, but we received no feedback until checkout, despite even following up via WhatsApp and sending pictures. No reply was given at all.

Thankfully, during checkout, I spoke to Zafar, who acknowledged the incident and promised to take action. Later, Mr. Johan called me personally as I was returning to KL to apologise for the miscommunication. I sincerely appreciate his effort and told him directly that it’s clear that he’s doing his best, but perhaps some ‘rotten apples’ among the staff may affect the resort’s image. I hope he takes this feedback constructively to uplift the overall guest experience.

Despite the hiccup, I still rate the resort 5 stars. The villa, environment, and standout staff deserve it. But I believe some areas, especially in communication and housekeeping need tightening up.

Special shoutouts to:

Zafar (Front Desk) for always ready to listen, very professional; Chong (Restaurant) for being friendly and welcoming; and Hidayat (Floating Breakfast) for the great setup and smooth service!

Mr. Johan, please reward these threes, they’re your strongest asset !

p/s: Will...