Bridge the Gap
July 28, 2023
This would receive a 1 if it wasn’t for the fact that my room with the dipping pool was mostly lovely (the child in the room next door who kept throwing trash into the pool, and the random cleaners who showed up at 7am - without advanced warning - to clean the pool while I was in bed, undressed ruined it) and the views from the hotel are stunning. Were it a regular room I’d have given a 1, despite the scenery. The service is HORRIBLE! First off, they forgot to send a driver to the airport for me so I was stranded for an hour. Upon arrival I was checked in and immediately accosted by someone from their time share arm trying to sell me something. Seriously? Read the room, ******. I was told I was given a "special fruit plate" (8 pieces) as compensation and they would provide the return trip to the airport. The next morning I saw the staff delivering the same plate to every room. So much for “compensation.”! Adding insult to injury, the hotel is in the middle of NOWHERE! Nothing around except a fair Mexican restaurant and a reggae themed ********* depot. In order to get to either, you have to walk on the sharp curve of the main two-land road that has no curb or sidewalks. To get anything other than an overpriced taxi provided by the hotel takes forever. I waited over 30 minutes for a car, and it’s hot, so I asked at the bar for a glass of water. They wanted 70baht. I explained I only wanted a glass, not a bottle… they said they have no glasses. THE BAR HAS NO GLASSES???? The other bar had no water in the pitcher, and refused to get any, laughing. The worst - the front desk - despite handing a glass of coconut water to everyone who registers - claimed they also had no water. I literally watched them hand a glass to someone moments later. The “beach” they promote is non-existent. It’s a pile of rocks and even in low tide you can’t go down because there’s nowhere to stand (see photo). Plus, the steps down have rotten wood and more than one lifted as I stepped on it. Coming up, I took a wrong turn and ended up in some sort of maintenance shop - no door, no sign, nothing … I was just suddenly surrounded by building supplies and paint - wood with exposed nails, etc. SO unsafe. Much of the walkways are made of rotted wood. There are absolutely no accommodations for the handicapped (pathways are rotted wood beams or uneven and slippery stone - there are no handrails anywhere), and as someone with a chronic illness that often leaves me debilitated, this was a big problem. The hotel couldn't have cared less. The overpriced and weak breakfast buffet is the only option. And even though I couldn't eat most of what they served, they told me there was no menu or ala cart, and when I tried to order from in-room dining, the entire menu section is blank. I booked 3 nights and after the first asked to be let out of only my third (I wanted to give at least 24 hour notice). They refused, claiming they had compensated me with food (remember the subpar fruit plate?). Stay away. Stay far away from this dump. Unless you’re on a honeymoon. Then, only if you get the room with pool and just don’t leave.