Family Retreat to Chuti Resort

It had been quite a while since I went on a family tour with my entire family. The last one was back in 2024 at Cox’s Bazar. That trip was extra special since it was the first time we had gone on holiday with my daughter. Since then, life got busy again, and the thought of another family getaway kept lingering in our minds.

In August this year, during a family gathering in Comilla, we brought up the idea once more. After lots of discussions about the venue and budget, we finally decided to plan a short retreat during the Puja holidays.

Planning the Trip
After weighing different options, we chose Chuti Resort, Gazipur. Knowing the resort would be packed during Puja, we decided to go on a working day by taking leave from work to avoid the crowd.

Our group had 12 people in total: my family, my sister’s family, and my brother-in-law’s family. We hired a 15-seater Hi-Ace and started around 10 AM, reaching the resort at 1 PM. By 2 PM, we checked into our rooms.

First Impressions
The resort felt peaceful, surrounded by greenery. After resting a bit, we headed for lunch. One important thing to note: you have to pre-order as the restaurant doesn’t serve ready food. Thankfully, I had placed an order earlier, so our lunch was served without delay. For dinner, we avoided the limited-value buffet and ordered from the menu instead.

In the afternoon, some of us enjoyed the swimming pool while others strolled around the resort. Unfortunately, it began to rain before evening, so we gathered back in our rooms.

Evening at the Resort
By night, the rain stopped. The resort had arranged a folk music show, but apart from us, only two other people were listening. I genuinely felt bad for the performers as they sang to an almost empty audience.

Dinner was paratha with BBQ chicken, which tasted great (though they mistakenly served more parathas than we ordered). A cup of hot tea wrapped up the meal perfectly. Later, we strolled around the rain-washed resort under beautiful reflections of light on the leaves.

The Night Stay
Before sleeping, my sister-in-law warned about cockroaches and hung up a mosquito net. Our room had one too, but it was torn, so I skipped using it. Luckily, the insects didn’t disturb us. We slept fine, though my brother-in-law’s family struggled with cockroaches, an uncomfortable bed, and noisy AC.

Breakfast & Daytime Activities
The next morning, we had the complimentary breakfast. Though the spread was limited, every item tasted good, and the tea was excellent. By 10 AM, more corporate guests started arriving, so we wrapped up breakfast.

The ladies took advantage of the empty pool while I went for a daylight walk. In full view, the resort felt smaller than it looked at night, with several construction works in progress. At lunch, we were disappointed to learn the restaurant was only serving buffet due to 250+ guests. Since the buffet didn’t seem worth it, we decided to have lunch on our way back instead.

The Car Trouble
We checked out at noon and waited for our driver. Around 1 PM, he called to say the Hi-Ace was stuck in mud just 100 meters from the resort gate. Heavy rain had softened the roadside soil, and while crossing a pickup van, our car slipped off the concrete road and sank deep.

Despite several attempts, the car didn’t move an inch. Finally, resort drivers, locals, and even a rickshaw puller joined in. A kind pickup van driver lent two bottle jacks, bricks, and ropes to help pull the vehicle out. After half an hour of combined effort, we finally freed the car. We were deeply thankful and compensated those who helped.

After freshening up, we left the resort around 3:30 PM. To avoid traffic, we took the Gazipur Bypass and Purbachal Link Road, reaching home by 5 PM. We skipped lunch and ordered food online, which arrived just in time.

Final Thoughts
Despite the hiccups like cockroaches, food limitations, and the car mishap, the trip was refreshing. It helped us shake off boredom, bond as a family, and create memories to cherish. We’re already planning another trip later this year.

My Take on Chuti Resort

Pros ✅

• Quiet, surrounded by greenery
• Relaxing views, close-to-nature feel
• Cordial and helpful staff
• Activities: horse riding, boat rides, swimming pool, swings, tree house, etc.
• Good basic infrastructure

Cons ❌

• Smaller than other resorts at the same price point
• Rooms need better maintenance (cockroaches, torn nets, old furniture)
• Low-quality toiletries and limited bathroom accessories
• Buffet food not worth the price
• Overall price feels high compared to service

My Rating: 6/10

If you’re looking for a quick escape near Dhaka with family, Chuti Resort can be a decent option. Just go with the right expectations.