Lots of room to improve
Not worth the money
We book the buy 1 get 1 promotion, which is supposed to be superb deal. The transfer from airport to the pier is good, though I am worried that the small waiting area in the marina was packed back to back in COVID19 situation where there's no distancing so we opted for a restaurant near the pier.
For the service and overall with the room rate that is charged is not really worth it. The welcome experience which is very important was not to a great start, I had to fill in like 3 separate paper forms, which I am a foreigner but was handed Thai form; which is not difficult to see from arrival list or my passport that I am not Thai.
The 50% promotion benefits which I feel was a gimmick as most prices are marked up, was not explained upon arrival and there were inconsistency, for example we can get buy 1 get 1 at restaurant but not at Bean and Co; on the last day we decided to have cocktail again which they say not entitled on third night (buy 1 get 1 only on second and fourth night), a very complicated promotion to say the least that doesn't make it easy for guests. As my friend is Thai, so we also want to opt to use the government campaign again the staff at Bean and Co said cannot, it only applies to non alcoholic. Which we've been to many resorts that allow us to use the government campaign for any kind of meal or drinks. Later, the restaurant staff came over and said we can use. There's a lot of miscommunication with the team here and inconsistency that is very basic. So, we ended up ordering a bottle of wine, which they almost opened and we noticed it's the wrong label. The story hasn't ended, in the morning the staff came and said the charge for the wine is wrong and we need to pay more; we said ok. But seriously it's just one misstep after the others.
The room is good, spacious and clean with a nice patio but beware of mosquitoes. Bed and shower facility is good. They provide towels for beach as well, I wish they have rubber slippers and beach bag for us to lend but not a deal breaker. The mini bar is ordered through the application of handigo. The bath amenities like soap etc was not replenish the 3 nights I stayed.
The breakfast is sub standard, nothing really exciting but not that bad. We only had one lunch on the first day, but the pasta I had was bad and bland that we decided to just eat at nearby village (which after the first night we never ever dine at the hotel anymore). Let me share that the restaurants at the village (Phad Thai Phi Phi, highly recommend), the owner takes time to appreciate us. Talk to us and share with us that tonight she has fresh catch fish, spends time with us and by the second night she already called us by name. This is a local restaurant vs the Phi Phi Island Resort, where I don't see any hospitality spirit or sense to try to connect with guests.
The spa is not bad, currently it's under heavy renovation so they move it to a bungalow behind which the staff will drive you in buggy. My only complain is that I've filled the consultation form and remark to focus on back and avoid head massage as I don't like it. The therapist ended up messaging my head that I had to stop, so what's the point of consultation form?
When it's dark, it is very difficult to get around as the bungalow numbering is not great. Staff that pass by also doesn't take time to help us find our room, instead just point finger and continue their journey. At one stage, a buggy that pass by just speed up which I think it's a bit not polite (I've been to many resorts where they slow down and stop, to allow guests to pass by first).
I am also concerned, there's no security to be seen. Especially at the back entrance, only the chair remains. I think the entire stay, we have only spotted security once or twice. Good thing is probably checkout, the team did went to the room to check if you leave anything behind.
I'm not going to say it's all bad, the beach is nice. Pool is nice. There's two sections of the beach, the one on the right side has this deck by the ocean which is cool for suntanning or photo op. But no service team there, but not a downside. Overall, I just don't think it's worth the money.
We arranged our own boat trip with the local village, which was superb. The guy really knows his islands and spots to take us to.
Also, I stayed there for 3 nights, there's many opportunities to connect with us especially if the hotel management is on top of the guests. But alas, there's no attempt to connecting with guests, no personalization, no hospitality.
5361 reviews
