TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo

Rooms and decor

Picture a resort stretched along roughly 16 hectares on a quiet bay at Wae Rana, near Pantai Pede just outside Labuan Bajo, with a timber boardwalk running out over clear water to villas where the steps off your deck drop straight into the sea. That is the appeal of TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, a new Marriott Luxury Collection property that opened in late 2023. There are around 70 rooms and villas in total, from garden- and sea-view suites up to the highlight — 7 overwater villas built out over the water with private decks and steps down to the sea. The decor tells the story of the Bajo Sea Nomads with taste, mixing warm-toned woodwork, local woven textiles and sea-inspired pieces. Rooms are open and high-ceilinged, with soft beds that many reviews call easy to sleep in, and airy bathrooms stocked with the essentials. If you like a high-end stay with a clear local character — not the kind of resort that looks the same everywhere — this should land well.

Food and amenities

If this resort has one beating heart, it is the Olympic-sized pool that many reviews call a highlight — long enough for a real swim, with the view opening out to the sea, so it works for both serious swimmers and afternoon sun-soakers. Pair that with a seaside spa and a fitness center open to guests. Food is a genuine selling point, with 5 restaurants in one place covering authentic Indonesian dishes, fresh local seafood and international menus. The cleverest touch is the overwater bar built out over the sea, which reviews agree is one of the prettiest spots in town for a sunset drink — watching the sun sink behind the scattered islands with a cold cocktail in hand is the image a lot of guests say stays with them. Many villas also come with a private 24-hour butler who handles meals, room prep and coordinating boat trips so you do not have to.

Location and getting there

The setting here is more out-of-town getaway resort than downtown hotel. It sits on the Wae Rana bay near Pantai Pede, a quieter and more private corner than the busy harbour area. From the resort it is about a 10-15 minute drive into Labuan Bajo harbour and 15-20 minutes from Komodo Airport (LBJ), with a resort shuttle on hand. The advantage of this location is that it is close enough for easy Komodo and Padar island boat trips and the well-known dive sites, since the boats leave from Labuan Bajo harbour a short drive away — but far enough to escape the bustle of town for a genuinely calm stay. In short: if you want this as a luxury base for relaxing between trips out to sea, trading the convenience of being in town for privacy and a sea view, the location fits beautifully.

Things to know before booking

To help you decide, a few honest points. First is the out-of-town location — the resort is on the bay at Pantai Pede, not in the town center or next to the harbour, so reaching the market, town restaurants or the harbour means a 10-15 minute drive each time. If you like walking out the door straight into a lively town, it can feel a touch far; use the resort shuttle or have them call a car rather than flagging one down. Second is price: this is the highest tier in Labuan Bajo, especially for the overwater villas, and food and drink sit at luxury-resort rates, with some reviews feeling it runs premium for what you get at certain times. Last is that it is a new resort that only opened in late 2023, so some early reviews found a few service and operations points still being fine-tuned — the pace of food service or coordinating trips — though the overall picture keeps improving. Come for the luxury, privacy and sea views, treat the small things as adjustable, and you will enjoy it most.

Our take

From reading through a lot of real reviews, TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa delivers the flagship luxury of Labuan Bajo — overwater villas with a 24-hour butler, spacious uncrowded grounds, and sunsets at the overwater bar with full confidence. If the trip in your head is opening your villa door to clear water, soaking in the Olympic pool late morning, heading out to Komodo or Padar the next morning, then coming back for a cocktail at sunset on the overwater bar, this is about as right as it gets for couples and luxury travelers. But if you want to be in town walking out to markets and restaurants, or you are on a tight budget, an out-of-town luxury resort may not be the best fit. Overall we give it 9.2/10, best for couples and luxury travelers who want a private, high-end base before a Komodo boat trip.