5
Sarah K -
2 weeks ago
My partner and I stayed at SAii Choengmon in September 2022 and we didn't want our time here to end! We loved every second. Our very detailed review below, but if you don't want to read further please take this as our highest recommendation - we were on Cloud 9 the entire time!
FACILITIES
The room/bungalow is gorgeous, modern, clean and spacious and has everything you need. A/C worked without problems, and the blackout curtains are lovely. The hotel has an app where you can find information, contact reception, order room service, request more items etc. which worked great. The wi-fi worked without problems. The private pool is cleaned daily.
The grounds are very clean and extremely well cared for. The walk to the restaurants, spa, pool and beach is lined with greenery and you will be accompanied on your way by colourful butterflies, birdsong, and chirping cicadas. The pool area right by the beach is stunning! Lying on the upper deck you're in a lush green oasis; on the lower deck you're right by the beach. The bay is secluded and clean and the waters calm. The hotel provides snorkelling equipment, protective shoes and kayaks for free.
We didn't use the gym, but from the outside it looked like a clean, well-equipped fitness room.
STAFF
The staff are exceptional. Every single member of staff is extremely friendly and will go above and beyond. They perfectly balance being available and responding quickly to your needs without hovering or pestering you. At no point did anyone try to upsell anything to us. When we had day trips planned, the staff at reception made sure everything ran smoothly with the hotel transfers and were quick to help with contacting organisers etc., even though we hadn't booked the trips through the hotel! Truly fantastic. We hope these wonderful people are compensated well for their amazing work!
FOOD u0026 DRINK
The breakfast buffet is great. There's all the western breakfast you would expect; pancakes, french toast, croissants, hash browns, an egg station with omelettes etc. made to order, fresh fruit and juice, yogurt, cereals, bread and spreads, as well as a Thai breakfast buffet with soups, rice dishes and dim sum. Coffee and tea are served fresh by the staff.
Beyond breakfast, food and drink prices in the hotel are very much western. We ate lunch at the hotel once and the food was good, but the restaurants in the nearby towns and villages are much better and more authentic, while also being much cheaper. The pool bar has a nightly Happy Hour with 2-for-1 drinks, which we used a lot. They're generous with the alcohol in the cocktails.
LOCATION
The hotel is a little off the beaten track, which has the great upside of having the beach basically to yourself, but does mean that you'll need a taxi/moped/car to get into town. There's a 7-11 a five minute walk from the hotel, as well as a couple of restaurants on that particular strip (we highly recommend Pui Relax!) and The Moon massage spa which is FANTASTIC. Cheongmon village is about a 15-20 minute walk from the hotel.