We arrived for a 3 day stay. They had arranged to pick us up from the ferry but did not turn up. They did pay for the taxi that took us there.
Every thing looked fantastic. Very clean. We was showed the room. It looked fantastic. Just like the pictures. Then we noticed was not a tv. They said was a fire once because of a tv. So removed them all. Then noticed no kettel to make drinks. You could only get drinks in main building between 7-20.30h. After unpacking my wife, went for a shower. In both showers (inside and outside showers) were no warm water. This was our final small thing we did not like for a 4* hotel. We checked out and moved on..
Our few days in a quiet ‘retreat’ was spoiled by loud music in the pool by other guests. Not really the resorts fault I guess but would have been nice to see them actively do something about personal loud speakers being played in the pool and throughout the resort. I really do not like to listen to music where the words refer to bodily fluids being wiped over the sheets unfortunately. Upset at the lack of respect for fellow human beings. Makes me sad ☹️. We have returned to our room and can still hear the music. Just didn’t think that was the kind of place I’d booked!
The front Manager organized the free pick-up from another resort - nice and he is the heart of the good things there ! Resort villas have a great potential, need some additions, but all in all it was a good experience: great infinity pool, nice and good quality dinner, ... service need to be trained better, english is difficult, if you are not talking to front management. Rooms are clean, would need bathrobe for clients and more towels - outside shower, Jacuzzi on balcony works, but they need to explain, which they did not upon arrival, so if you book this room, please ask for "how to use it proper"! service all in all good, ... breakfast is soso, and they really need to change coffee, as they offer only Nescafe machine, and this is not healthy.... special order on breakfast is included, but could be improved. Dinner was always excellent Thai-Food and view is stunning ! Beach is clean and special, really nice. The front management is the key, and he tries his best. you can rent easy scooter there for 300 tb, which is a normal price there, when you rent in the hotel and not go out....
Service was five-star, especially from the gentleman working the front desk/restaurant.
Facilities were no doubt five-star when the resort opened but time has not been kind. It’s time for a refresh. Maybe four-star now. For example, chair cushions on deck chairs are badly soiled, room cabinetry is due for re-varnish, rooms have no side tables.
Handling of plastic debris on beach - ZERO stars.
Beach-front villas with jacuzzi are more expensive but the regular cottages are better value. The hotel’s beach is one of the rockier on Koh Mak so being beside the beach is no advantage.
There is not much near the resort. Food in the resort restaurant is very good but if you tire of that a taxi ride is needed to get anywhere else. You’ll need to rent a hotel scooter if you want to explore the island.
I almost gave the hotel one-star because of its handling of plastic waste. Staff dump organic waste (eg tree leaves) in a pile beside the beach about 50 metres past the last cottage. No big deal. That will compost. However, there is a large amount of plastic waste - probably what’s raked off the beach - also dumped there. (See the pictures.) Before posting this review I sent the resort pictures of the garbage and asked for a response. I got none.
None of us is perfect, but the resort really needs to do better in this case.
Stayed for few nights.
From BKK by car - 4-5 hours
Speedboat roundtrip @900 per pax, can be booked and paid by the hotel
Room - spacious but Jacuzzi not working, waiting to be fixed (was they sold as it is and i was informed)
- no TV, no hair dryer
- internet is ok
- comfy bed
- effective AC unit
Beach - disappointed. Not nice when it’s probably rock bed but they put load of sand to make a beach
Food drink is very expensive. For example, drinking water 500 ml at 25THB
Thai quick dish starts from 150THB
I suggest to take a taxi to restaurants where it’s more reasonable (taxi@ 100 THB per trip for 2, so 200 roundtrip and it’s still cheaper ... oh stock enough groceries as well, taxi will stop for you)
Anyway, it’s pleasant.