(An audio version of this article starring my unbearable voice is available!)
A mere 45 to 50 minutes drive from Kathmandu, the Terraces Resort & Spa offers splendid views of the ever-growing metropolis and the Himalayas and a truly relaxing experience for its guests.
Certainly a spontaneous and last-minute decision (we made our reservation at around 2:00PM), we decided to stay the night at the recently opened Terraces Resort & Spa to unwind and get rid of the stress from work and the recent Dashain festival (festivals are fun and all until you’re the one that has to do all the preparations). With us taking our time getting dressed and packing, we finally were on our way and left at around 4:30PM.
Getting There:
The Terraces has a pickup service, so booking a few days ahead to utilize it would be wise. But for those who would prefer to get to the resort in their own vehicles, like we did, make sure it is capable of driving through uneven uphill slopes because once you stray further from the city, the road goes from bad to worse (well at least at the time of writing).
Two routes lead to the resort (though we took the same route for getting there and back), and the one we took was a longer route that did quite a number on our poor, ill-equipped car. Before you head out, make sure to have the resort’s phone number on hand or save the directions offline on Google Maps, as the network will get a little iffy, and the path can get a little confusing as you make your way up.
Arrival:
After the guard at the gate asked for our names to confirm our reservation (probably due to their only-for-resident-guests policy), we were allowed to enter the resort and were then greeted by the staff, who were kind enough to park our car as well as take our luggage to our suite. At the same time, we checked in at the front desk. Not more than five minutes had elapsed since we arrived, and we had already witnessed such stellar service!
We were offered a warm towel to freshen up, alongside a cup of relaxing tea at the lobby and we had a little chat with the very welcoming and informative staff.
We were then escorted to the suite, and on the way, I ended up tripping down the stairs, and I wasn’t even drunk then! I’m assuming all of you are probably not as clumsy as I am, but do be wary of the stairs as they aren’t wide.
The Suite:
The Living Room:
Despite having the extra bed (for me, the third-wheeler) set up next to the patio door, the living room still had a lot of room and did not feel cramped at all. There was a large 55’’ TV with primarily Nepali channels, but the network stopped working midway, so we watched some shows on Netflix instead. The picture and sound quality were pretty good, and the streaming had little to no loading times.
The counter had a mini-fridge that stocked bottled water, sodas, and energy drinks (there’s another one at the bottom right that houses a selection of alcoholic beverages as well), an espresso machine, an electric kettle, and an assortment of snacks and nuts.
A bottle of champagne (Botega for those who’re curious) in a bucket filled with ice and an array of fruits on a nanglo was also set on the table.
The Master Suite:
As expected of a master suite, the room was pretty spacious (you’ll see this word a few more times in this post). The bed (I laid there for a few moments for research) was amazingly comfortable and, just like the room, was very sizable.
To the right was a huge closet with more than enough space to store a weekend’s worth of items and a safe to store valuables.
The bedroom also had its own TV, although it was smaller than the 55” TV in the living room. We did not use this TV during our stay, but it must’ve had the same operating system alongside Netflix access as the one in the living room, so you can enjoy streaming movies or shows from the comfort of your bed.
The Bathrooms:
The Living Room Bathroom:
The bathroom next to the living room was, well, just a basic bathroom, aside from having a heated floor and one of those fancy new-fangled light-up mirrors that’s great for taking selfies. Fortunately, there are two bathrooms in the suite, so there is no need to burst your kidney waiting for your turn while your loved one is on their 44709th selfie but still can’t find the right one to post on their Instagram story.
The En Suite:
The en suite was absolutely gorgeous and quite spacious (2), and just like the bathroom in the living room, the floor was also heated.
Directly in front of the entrance was a huge (and beautiful, if I might add) mirror, his and her sinks, and a drawer at the bottom which housed personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shaving kits.
To the left was a bathtub with a window that offered a view of the nearby forest and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to flash an animal living in said forest. I sadly didn’t use the bathtub during my stay, but my sister did, and she said that she enjoyed it (looking at the morning view, not flashing the animals, just so you know).
To the right was a toilet and a shower, and the great thing about them was that each had its own glass door, meaning more than one person could use the en suite at a time.
The Patio:
Again, as with all the areas in the suite, the patio was very spacious (3) and included an outdoor dining area (meals can be delivered to guest’s rooms by request, although we went to the main restaurant for all of our meals), a pretty cozy lounge, and a jacuzzi.
Speaking of the jacuzzi, make sure you call the front desk and let them know that you want to use it first, as they will come to drain out and fill in fresh water and set up the system for you. The configurations for most settings were locked during our visit when we tried to play with it a little, and I’m guessing it’ll probably remain that way, so again, make sure you let them know while they set up the jacuzzi.
Dinner & Breakfast:
Dinner and breakfast were included in the package, and I’ll talk about my experience in a more detailed manner in a separate review, so stay tuned!
Update: Read the review here!
The Spa:
Also included in our suite package was a 60-minute spa session which was divided between my sister and me, making it 30 minutes each, and we had scheduled our appointment at around 10AM the next morning.
We were very much looking forward to getting a well-needed massage, so we were very on time (not Nepali time, mind you) in making it to the spa, though it didn’t really take much effort to get there since it was right next to our suite.
The lovely and relaxing fragrance of lemongrass permeated the spa, making our very short wait in the lobby a sort of aromatherapy session in itself, and we were escorted to the massage rooms after being greeted by our massage therapists.
Each room had a shower, and a large window with a nice view, which greatly contributed to making the room feel more open and spacious (4).
As for the massage, it was just fantastic. The light yet firm pressure applied by the masseur managed to hit all the right spots and left me feeling refreshed and energized instead of lethargic and sore all over. Unfortunately, we couldn’t extend our session because we’d be late for checkout, but if you have time you have to make time for an hour-long session at the spa. You will most definitely not regret it!
Recreational Activities:
Aside from the spa, there was a beautiful infinity pool, a recreation room with a pool table and some board games, and a gym available for guests. For the more adventurous, the Terraces offers a variety of things to do outside the resort as well, such as hiking trails and tours to the nearby village, so do make sure to check their website for more information and communicate with the staff before you arrive at the resort to ensure they are currently organizing such activities.
We did not make use of the offered recreational facilities besides the spa as we were sort of strapped for time; however, we did head up to the private helipad the following morning (which was a quick five to seven-minute walk), and at the time of writing the stairs were not properly built yet. Hence, the path was a little uneven and rocky, although getting there wasn’t much of a hassle.
The view up there was even more stunning, and even on a day when the sky wasn’t at its clearest, we still managed to see the majestic mountain ranges and a good chunk of Kathmandu and Lalitpur.
Also, for the drone enthusiasts out there, while camera drones are a no-no in the resort due to potential privacy issues and whatnot, flying it when at the helipad, however, is allowed, and the amazing pictures and videos you can take from that vantage point will keep you there for hours!
But just to remind you again, be respectful and adhere to the resort’s policies, and please don’t be the reason why drones get banned in and around the resort, period.
Final Thoughts:
Our stay at the suite offered by the Terraces was certainly, without a doubt, an absolute delight, as the wealth of amenities that were offered, spacious (5) areas, a stunning bathroom, a lovely view of the Kathmandu Valley and the mountains, and a personal jacuzzi definitely made our experience a luxurious and comfortable one. The outstanding service and hospitality we received was a highlight of our stay as well, as there wasn’t a single staff who didn’t greet us with a warm smile or offer us their assistance.
For those looking for a private and luxurious weekend getaway and have no qualms about spending a considerable amount of money, I wholeheartedly recommend the suite at the Terraces because of its closeness to the city and unparalleled service. Trust me, you will get your money’s worth.
[With additional expenses, our total came to around NRS 57,000.]
Let me know if you went to the Terraces and had a wonderful time like I did!
(This article was originally written on the 8th of November, 2021)
The Terraces Resort & Spa
- 📍Anantalingeshwar 44709 (अनन्तलिङ्गेश्वर 44709)
- 🕘 Check-in / Check-out: 12AM / 12PM every day (make sure to check availability during religious holidays)
- 🏢 City Office: Suryabinayak-7, Bhaktapur (सुर्यविनायक-7, भक्तपुर)
- ☎️ +977 9802322755
- ✉️ info@terracesresort.com
- 🌐 Facebook, Instagram
[18/12/2022: Minor grammatical adjustments and a table of contents were added.]
[20/02/2023: Minor grammatical adjustments made + I finally gave in to Grammarly Pro©]
LLAMASODA 
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