The story
Matlai is owned by Inge and Ingulf Becker-Boost and opened in May 2012. Inge Becker-Boost is Tim Hennig’s mother; Tim is General Manager and works on site, and one of the two is always at the hotel. The name means the first wind that turns the sails and brings the fishermen safely home.
Four story angles
A family-run hotel of six rooms
Six rooms in two villas: four in Asili House and two suites in Villa Kidosho, looked after by more than 40 staff. The owners are Inge and Ingulf Becker-Boost, the General Manager works on site, and one of the family is always at the hotel.
A day set by the tide
The hotel stands on an open stretch of the Indian Ocean, not in a bay, so the tides carry seaweed back out within days; it arrives mostly around full and new moon, and the staff clear the beach every night. Swimming in the sea depends on the tide, while both pools stay available. At low water the sandbank in front of the hotel can be walked, and the neat rows on the flats are seaweed farms, a living part of local culture. We never promise a beach without seaweed.
Breakfast on the water
At Villa Kidosho, a floating breakfast, served on a tray on the pool, is an extra on request, not part of the daily breakfast. The villa’s pool lies at higher elevation above the beach and is shared by the villa’s rooms. Photographs of the tray, from above and on the water, are in the image section below.
One restaurant, two kitchens
Zatiny is one restaurant with two kitchens: Indian Ocean fusion from Zatiny and Vietnamese home cooking from Duyên. Both menus are served at every table, so a table can order from both. Duyên is the second kitchen of the same restaurant, not a separate business and not a separate booking. The kitchen is halal-friendly, pork is offered, and vegetarian and vegan dishes are available.
