If you're in Singapore or the southern states of peninsular Malaysia, you’ll be hard pressed to find half-decent diving and snorkelling anywhere nearby but around Tioman, a small island off the coast of Pahang state. Venturing to this jewel of the South China Sea for a long weekend is a no-brainer, but which of the various accommodation options do you go for?
  
Berjaya Hotels and Resorts have a classy answer in the shape of Berjaya Tioman Resort - exclusive chalet-style accommodation with more facilities than you could shake a snorkel at. Located on the western side of the island and occupying an area of 80 hectares, it comprises some 361 rooms, chalets and suites, surrounded by gorgeous palm-fringed beaches, lush tropical rainforest, misty peaks, and clear turquoise water.
 
While the majority of guests are accommodated in its spacious standard, superior and deluxe chalets, some will opt to stay in one of the suites - either the single studio suites, two-room family suites or three-room penthouses. Whichever type you go for, you can look forward to full air-conditioning, private balconies and en suite bathrooms.
  
Visitors don't come all this way to enjoy the in-house movies in their rooms though; there is a whole raft of options when it comes to savouring this tropical paradise. Above all, it's the perfect place to dive - or learn how to. In no time, the PADI-certified dive centre will get you kitted out in scuba gear and discovering Tioman's impressive underwater life for yourself. With over 300 fish species and 130 species of corals across more than 20 dives sites around the island, you should have no problem getting your fill of colourful reef action.
           
The resort will be also happily organise a whole array of other activities, both above and below the surface, including snorkelling trips, banana boat rides, fishing trips, excursions to the Marine Park, donkey rides, cycling, tennis, beach volleyball, and more. The 18-hole golf course with its good club facilities will keep the golfers busy too.
 
The island's densely forested interior also makes for excellent jungle trekking possibilities. For some routes, be prepared to tackle some steep trails and negotiate the occasional fallen tree trunk - and make sure you're back in time to try Berjaya Tioman's gastronomic delights. With seven different on-site food and beverage outlets - from the fine-dining at Bali Hai Restaurant to the live entertainment, cocktails and snacks at the Beach Bar - you shouldn't have any difficulty piling on a couple of cheeky holiday pounds.
           
If you really must mix business with pleasure, there are also meeting rooms and a 400-person capacity convention hall available. But we know what we'd rather do: dissolve for a while in the sauna and then check in to the Ayura Spa for some invigorating Malay-style pampering. Meet you at the beach afterwards.

>>WHERE
Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia

>>HOW MUCH
RM 400 (US$ 110 or €80) for a standard room, RM 550 (US$ 155 or €110) for a standard chalet, and RM1,000 (US$280 or €200) for a family suite

>>CONTACT
+609 419 1000
http://www.berjayahotel.com/tioman/index.asp

Courtesy from SMILE