Unlock the Secret Wellness Journey: How Westin Hotels Transforms Your City Escape into a Beachside Fitness Paradise

Ever wondered if a vegan traveler can discover true luxury without compromising on comfort or cuisine? Our recent escapades across Asia put that question to the test, as we cozied up in some of the most iconic Westin Hotels & Resorts. From sinking into their famed Heavenly Beds after a day of city exploration or beachside bliss, to savoring vegan delights that might just outshine the local fare, each stay told a story of warmth, indulgence, and plant-based innovation. Whether you’re a city slicker hunting for upscale vibes in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, or a beach bum chasing tranquility in the Maldives or Malaysia, we’ve uncovered spots where your taste buds and downtime receive equal pampering. Ready to embark on a journey where vegan travel meets five-star comfort? Dive in and discover our top Westin picks that’ll have you booking your next stay before you finish reading.

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On our recent vegan travel adventures throughout Asia, we’ve chosen to stay at a number of Westin Hotels & Resorts. At each and every one, we’ve enjoyed a warm welcome, upscale amenities and a great night’s sleep in their signature Heavenly Bed. During these trips we have been served some delicious vegan food which has kept us coming back for more, whilst at the same time looking for the next Westin hotel in the region to visit. So whether you’re looking to enjoy city centre luxury at Westin hotels in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, or the relaxed beach vibes at resorts in the Maldives and Malaysia, please read on as we’ve got you covered.

The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok

First up was The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok which is located in the heart of the exciting and vibrant Thai capital. It proved to be an excellent option, with our stay being everything we had hoped for and more. The central location allows for a stress-free arrival via either the BTS or MRT, which are both just a stone’s throw away. The varied selection of rooms and suites, alongside an equally varied selection of dining opportunities, has made this hotel continually popular with both business and leisure travellers since it opened more than thirty years ago. We made the most of the 24-hour gym for our daily workout, and headed to the Westin Club Lounge for a refreshing drink at the end of each day. For our invigorating early morning swim and lazy poolside evenings, the pool on the eighth floor was exactly where we headed.

Breakfast is served daily at Seasonal Tastes, which is the all-day dining restaurant at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit and where we were happy to find a selection of vegetarian and vegan options on the buffet. The team at Seasonal Tastes were also happy to adapt other dishes and prepare vegan versions of them for us, these included a delightful chia and coconut yoghurt pudding, with fresh and seasonal berries.

But it was our lunch at Kisso, the Japanese restaurant on the eighth floor, that was the culinary highlight of our stay. It was good to see a vegetarian bento box on the à la carte menu, which, upon request, can be prepared vegan. We enjoyed our lunch in one of their private rooms which added a certain ambience to the experience, but the vegan food was the true highlight. Our vegan bento box featured dishes including crispy tempura, creamy avocado salad, and a tofu steak, with each dish being so good it was impossible to select a favourite. The attentive service that we received, the refined ambience of the private dining room and the elevated plant based Japanese cuisine at Kisso all combined to leave us suitably impressed.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort in Baa Atoll is just a short seaplane flight from Velana International Airport, and it’s where we headed for our latest Maldivian vegan travel adventure. Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, meaning there’s plenty of marine life around the islands, which is one of the reasons why this part of the Maldives has such a strong reputation. It’s an ideal place for snorkelling and diving, but for us, it was also about enjoying the relaxed luxury of The Westin and having a few days to ourselves on our own little island in the Maldives. From the moment we arrived, the friendly team was always on hand to ensure our stay was as enjoyable as possible, and it was hard to imagine a better welcome. Our Deluxe Beach Pool Villa was simply sublime, which alongside the attentive service, stunning location and delicious plant based food all combined to create a memorable experience.

Island Kitchen at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is their all day dining restaurant, and is where we enjoyed a leisurely start to each of our days. Smashed and seasoned avocado on toasted sourdough, light and flavoursome vegan congee, indulgent vegan pancakes and scrambled tofu were just some of the plant based options that were available, meaning that we most certainly had plenty to choose from for breakfast.

During the day, there was an ‘Indian Vegetarian’ section on the à la carte menu, and a ‘Vegan Avocado Creamy Cake’ which was absolutely delicious. The friendly and helpful team also prepared a number of off-menu vegan dishes for lunch during our stay, including quinoa salad, hummus with falafel, pasta arrabbiata, and a plant based version of the Thai favourite, pad krapow. In addition to the plant based food that we were served at Island Kitchen, we also enjoyed vegan Asian street food on the beach at ‘Hawker’ and refined Japanese plant based cuisine in the over-water location of ‘The Pearl’. Everything combined to ensure that we most certainly didn’t go hungry as vegans at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort.

The Westin Kuala Lumpur

Our penultimate stay was at The Westin Kuala Lumpur, situated in the Bukit Bintang area of the cosmopolitan Malaysian capital, just a short walk from both Pavilion Mall and an MRT station. Upon arrival, we were impressed by the spacious and elegant lobby, where we checked in with ease before heading to our One Bedroom Residence. The residences at The Westin Kuala Lumpur are perfect for a longer stay and have a living room, kitchen and even an office for those of you who are on a work trip. There’s also a private entrance, which made coming and going during our stay more private, whilst also adding to the residential rather than hotel-like feel. It also allowed us to take the private lifts directly to The Westin Club, which we liked very much. Once again, their signature Heavenly Bed ensured an excellent night’s sleep, whilst the saltwater pool, which is located on the fourth floor, was where we enjoyed a refreshing swim in the evenings after a busy day exploring Kuala Lumpur.

In addition to refreshments in The Westin Club, we enjoyed breakfast, lunch and even an afternoon tea at ‘The Living Room’, which is the all-day dining restaurant at The Westin Kuala Lumpur. The service team and chefs were always on hand to help us with our requests, and adapted dishes where they could to make them suitable for vegans. We especially loved the Indian selection they served us for breakfast one day, including mini uttapam which were delicious.

With a clearly labelled plant based section on the à la carte menu, ordering lunch as a vegan was much easier than at many other hotels we’ve stayed at. We enjoyed a selection of 100% vegan dishes including creamy and flavour-packed soups, crunchy Asian slaw, a salad with chickpeas and quinoa, and an excellent spaghetti bolognaise with vegan meatballs made our lunches varied and exciting, whilst desserts including mixed berries panna cotta and mango sago gula Melaka with coconut cream and treacle more than satisfied our cravings for something sweet.

The Westin Desaru Coast Resort

Last but most certainly not least is a beachfront resort that is just a short drive from where we currently live. That means we’ve actually lost count of how many times we’ve enjoyed staycations at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort. We are welcomed by the smiling and friendly staff team like family, and over the last few years, have enjoyed each and every stay at this luxury resort. We’ve even got our favourite room that we select, making it feel like our ocean-view home away from home. For anyone based in Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, it is an excellent option to enjoy an escape from the pressures of everyday life and get some rest and relaxation on the beach. With two spacious pools, a 24-hour gym, an on-site ‘Heavenly Spa’ and bicycles available, you can choose to be as active or as indulgent as you wish during your stay. For us, it’s all about the golden sand beach that stretches into the distance in both directions and is where you’ll find us when we’re not reading on our balcony or dining in one of the restaurants at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort.

Having stayed at Westin Desaru Coast Resort multiple times in recent years, the wonderful team knows that we are vegan and has always been on hand to prepare something delicious and vegan for us. But recently, life as a vegan guest at Westin Desaru has got a whole lot better, with our good friends Chef Jaffrey, Chef Azlan and their talented team creating vegan dishes for the menus at both Prego and Kedidi. So now, vegan and plant based guests, or those who are wanting to try something healthy and nutritious during their stay, can easily select from the vegan options on either menu.

Whether you fancy dishes including plant based pizza with pine nuts and vegan pesto, fusilli primavera with roasted vegetables, or a creamy and delightful ‘Avocado Pottage’, they’ve got you covered at Prego, the Italian restaurant at Westin Desaru. Or if you prefer al fresco poolside dining at Kedidi, the menu features dishes including the simply divine ‘Jackfruit Rendang’, alongside mapo tofu, coconut bisque and an excellent vegan adaptation of asam pedas, the traditional sour and spicy Malaysian favourite.

Each of these four Westin experiences exceeded our expectations, with both our city stays and our beach escapes all delivering excellent service and deluxe accommodations. We certainly have our favourite memories from each of them, making it impossible to choose an outright favourite. There were also plant based culinary experiences at all four Westin properties that were so very enjoyable that we would love to try them again. But with The Westin Desaru Coast Resort being less than an hour from our current HQ, that’s the only one that we already have future reservations confirmed for and we really can’t wait!

Paul Eyers

Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Food Quest who write about luxury hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia with a focus on sustainable travel, eco travel and vegan travel. Currently based in Malaysia, Paul also writes about sporting events and some of the finest golf courses throughout the region.

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