Cox’s Bazar Mermaid Eco-Resort
This place is GREAT! It's located 18 km from Cox's Bazar, allowing you to get away from the tacky, noisy, and crazy city. The bungalows are comfy and clean. You can take a boat to a gorgeous private beach. There is also a spa where you can get a massage. The Eco-Resort can provide transportation (for a fee).
Food is good--although it takes FOREVER to get and there aren't many vegetarian options. Seafood is good. There is no alcohol for purchase (there is at the Mermaid Cafe in Cox's Bazar).
This place is new, so there are a lot of kinks being worked out. But I totally recommend it!
Mermaid Tour to St. Martin’s Island
Katrina and I paid 5,000 taka each for a one-night tour package to St. Martin's. This included transportation and lodging. We don't recommend it. Here's why:
It wasn't clear to staff at the Eco-Resort that we needed to go into town to the Mermaid Cafe. This was quickly sorted out and someone drove us in. He was stopped at the Mermaid Cafe between the Eco-Resort and Cox's Bazar Cafe by some men. They said they were Mermaid employees, that their CNG had broke down, and that they needed to go back to the Eco-Resort. They asked us to turn around and take them back to the Eco-Resort. The driver didn't say anything--my sister and I said "No, we need to go to the Cox's Bazar Mermaid Cafe now." With time changes, we didn't want to risk missing our Teknaf transport. Also, as 2 foreign women, we did not feel comfortable letting 5 men into the van in the dark in a deserted area.
We did get picked up at the Mermaid Cafe in Cox's Bazar by a Mermaid employee and the Teknaf transport. The ride was harrowing--the driver drove at a breakneck speed to Teknaf. My sister and I could handle this; however, I think this would be a very hard ride for an older adult or someone prone to car sickness. The Mermaid employee got us our tickets at Teknaf on a different boat, since the Keari was full. Upon arriving in St. Martin's, the Mermaid employee took us to Hotel Probal by rickshaw. He told us we would be responsible for our transportation back to Cox's Bazar and we said "no, we paid to have everything arranged." We said the same thing when he asked us to pay for the rickshaw. I realize that perhaps there was a miscommunication--but being told that we would be responsible for our transportation back to Cox's Bazar was really upsetting.
We had been told on the phone that Hotel Probal was not as nice as Blue Marine and Prasad--the preferred accommodations that were full. The room at Probal was noisy, smelly, and very uncomfortable. I told the Mermaid employee and he explained that Blue Marine and Prasad were full. We understood that there was nothing to be done about the nicer accommodations being full.
My sister and I moved to a different lodging to get out of Hotel Probal. We stayed at Sheemana Pereye Resort. We paid for this out of pocket. While it was dirty, it was quiet and close to the beach.
COX'S BAZAR & ST. MARTIN'S ISLAND PHOTOS
I am glad you put your foot down and didn't let those strange men in the car with you. I had to do the same thing in Costa Rica and South Africa, and men just don't understand. Good thing you put safety first!
ReplyDeletexo
Jessica
what was the mermaid employee's name? do u have any picture of him?
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the employee's name--it was almost a year ago.
ReplyDeleteI did email management to express my concern following the experience, but I received no response.