Gloria Manor

Rooms and decor

We open the Kenting list with Gloria Manor, a luxury resort hidden in the tropical forest of Kenting National Park, about a 5-minute drive up the hill from Kenting Main Street. The air up here is noticeably cooler and quieter than down below, and that retreat-from-the-world feeling is a big part of why real guests rate it 9.2/10. The lobby is open to the hill breeze with the bay visible in the distance, and check-in is unhurried, with a cold herbal drink and a chilled towel on arrival. The Garden Suite runs NT$8,800 (about $270 a night): a roomy suite with a firm king bed and a clearly separate sofa and sitting area. The part we liked most is the private balcony that looks out over the green mountains and the bay, with thin morning mist drifting over the treetops. The bathroom is large, with the tub and shower split apart and organic-brand toiletries. At night it is completely silent apart from the forest insects, and you sleep deeply.

Food and amenities

Breakfast is served half-set at an open-air restaurant, built around local Hengchun produce — fresh vegetables, eggs and tropical fruit — and it arrives fresh and unrushed. The outdoor pool sits in the middle of the garden, ringed by trees, so swimming feels like being in the forest. The resort spa leans toward relaxing treatments; reviewers who booked an afternoon massage came away thoroughly content. There are also nature trails around the grounds for an evening walk.

Location and getting there

Gloria Manor sits up on the hill above Kenting Main Street. Its strength is the quiet and the privacy; the trade-off is that it is not on the beach. The resort runs a free shuttle down to the Kenting Main Street night market in only about 5 minutes, so it is easy to go down to eat or to swim at Dawan Beach. Coming from Kaohsiung, take the bus to the market and have the resort collect you, or drive yourself for more freedom.

Things to know before booking

The big thing to weigh is that this is not a beachfront resort — to get into the water you depend on the shuttle or a car, and up on the hill, without your own wheels, you are tied to the shuttle's set departure times. The evening runs down to the market get busy, so check the schedule at the front desk and plan around it. It also carries the highest starting price in this roundup, from $270 a night, and over long holiday weekends both the rooms and the spa book out, so reserve well ahead.

Our take

Gloria Manor is the most luxurious and the most peaceful resort in Kenting going by the reviews, scoring 9.2/10 — the pick for couples, honeymooners, and anyone who wants to escape the crowds and stay in the middle of nature. If your budget stretches and you want a hilltop boutique experience with the mountains and the bay in one view, this is the number-one choice.