Nestled on the edge of Tumon Bay, lies Guam’s newest luxury hotel, The Tsubaki Tower. The property, just steps away from Gun Beach, scales 27 floors with 340 rooms and suites (bonus: all with a dreamy ocean view!). As we entered the lobby, I immediately noticed the style and sophistication of the nature-inspired design, and unique interior that infuse Guam’s island culture with a high end guest experience.
Rooms
Upon checking in at 3pm, we headed straight up to our room located on the 16th floor. As we slid in our key card, the curtains immediately started opening, which unveiled our sizable balcony with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. From our rare vantage point of Tumon Bay, we could peek down at the infinity pool, and look beyond to see swimmers and paddle boarders enjoying the clear blue ocean. This instantly snapped us into vacation mode!
Our room had all the essentials to make us feel right at home – crisp linens, plenty of space to unpack, and comfortable lounge options in the room and balcony. It also had some wonderful added touches like plush bathrobes, a Keurig coffee machine & a large flat screen TV welcoming us for our stay. Another big plus for me? A large bathtub with a stand perfectly designed for a book and cup of tea. The decor and colorful details in the rooms are a beautiful balance of modern yet warm with hints of island inspiration sprinkled throughout.
Pool
A quick change into our bathing suits, and we were eager to get down to the pool. We exchanged our pool cards for towels, and hopped into the refreshing 420㎡ infinity pool overlooking Tumon Bay. The pool setting is intimate with a view over Tumon on one side, and a view of the cool and casual Nunu Bar on the other. When not soaking in the pool, the best seats in the house are the large daybeds and the pool loungers where you can unwind with half of your body in the water. The view from the loungers line up perfectly with the edge of the infinity pool, making it a covetable spot to watch sunset with a cocktail in hand.
Dining
Back up in our room, we could hear smooth jazz playing by the pool as we got ready for dinner. A peek down, and we could see multi-colored sparkling pool lights come on to officially set the night pool vibe. We headed down to watch the nightly fountain show, something unique to The Tsubaki Tower, before our dinner reservation.
Off to Casa Oceano (meaning “The Ocean’s House” in Spanish), we opted for al fresco dining which overlooked the garden and offered a lit up view of Tumon Bay. The buffet restaurant offered a wide range of cuisines incorporating local, Asian and European influenced dishes. We sampled from the sushi & noodle bar, Spanish style tapas, charcuterie plates, and prime rib station. Be sure to save room for dessert! They offer a beautifully styled dessert bar including on-the-spot crepes, ice cream, cakes and more. While the food was delicious, what stood out to us most was the service. Warm friendly smiles from the staff, our glasses were never empty, and we felt noticeably taken care of throughout our dining experience.
Relaxing
With check-out at noon, that meant we could take our time in the morning (a big bonus especially for staycations!). We enjoyed coffee on our balcony as we watched a colorful sunrise and a group of paddlers make their way beyond the reef. We then popped down to Hinekka Deli (which means “harvest” in Chamorro) to pick up breakfast. Our spread included smoked salmon sandwiches, salad, and mixed fruits. The Deli specializes in high quality bread and pastries. We’ll definitely be back to try their assortments of desserts!
After a slow morning enjoying the views around the property, it was time for my spa appointment. I checked in at the front desk, and they drove me in their open air trolley to Spa Ayualam, the official spa of Tsubaki Tower. With a warm welcome from the spa staff, I got ready for my massage. An incredibly relaxing 60-minute experience coupled with tea at the end, was the perfect close to my staycation. Some treatments are only available to Tsubaki guests so book in advance!
I headed back to the room for a last look at the crystal clear ocean view from our balcony as we packed up and were greeted on the way out.
I’d highly recommend booking a night or weekend as the perfect couples getaway or staycation for locals. We can’t wait to return to try out the alternate dining options, morning yoga, and rooftop bar. The Tsubaki Tower is a welcomed new addition to Tumon that offers a fresh guest experience centered around Guam’s culture and hospitality. Book your getaway to Tsubaki Tower today!
PHOTOGRAPHY: Daylin Pelletier
