Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort and Spa

Heads up for room 1103 (Sea View Pool Room)! There were a lot of bugs on the bed, especially at night. I initially thought it was because of all the wooden furniture, but after asking around, I found out other rooms didn't have this problem. The view is great, but the service is just okay, and the restaurant food isn't good. Breakfast is fine, but it gets really hot. I recommend bringing your own alcohol. They provide large bottles of mineral water daily, which is enough to drink. Also, I wouldn't recommend this place if you're not comfortable with English. **Absolutely DO NOT order the mango sticky rice!!!** Overall, I'd still recommend it as long as you don't run into any bad experiences. Just avoid that specific room!

I traveled with my two kids this time and booked two rooms. The other review is quite detailed, so you can refer to that one. All in all, it's definitely worth a visit. To add, the hotel was very thoughtful. On my eldest child's birthday, several lovely waitresses brought a small birthday cake to my child during breakfast. We were all surprised, and my child was overjoyed. While our room was being cleaned, we were on the balcony enjoying the sea view. When we returned to the room, we found they had arranged a birthday greeting pattern on the bed – so incredibly considerate! Each room received 1500 Thai Baht in credit daily, which was more than enough for food and drinks. It felt like great value and we didn't feel trapped or unable to spend outside the hotel, because the hotel chef's cooking was excellent. This trip, I discovered a new favorite dish at the hotel – cashew chicken. The Tom Yum Goong soup at the restaurant was also delicious. While the hotel's welcome dessert was not good, the cakes and desserts at the restaurant are definitely worth trying. I forgot the name of the cake I ordered, but it had a wonderfully delicate texture and was very tasty.

This hotel was the biggest disappointment of our trip to Phuket. First, getting to the island: After a 30-minute drive to the pier, we had to wait in line for a speedboat. To top it off, the pier's restroom charged a fee. I'd advise future visitors to use the facilities at the airport instead. Now, the room: We booked a two-bedroom suite, but the two bedrooms were on separate floors. To get to the other room at night, you had to walk outside on a dark concrete staircase with a ledge in the middle – I almost broke my toe. The toilet on the second floor was outdoors! It was incredibly hot outside! And the hotel was crawling with snakes, insects, rodents, and monkeys! The bathtub was dirty upon check-in. We had someone clean it the next day, but when we returned that evening, it was still dirty because it's open-air with no cover, so leaves just fell right in. There was no way to take a bath. In the end, we were forced to sleep on the first floor, which was damp and sticky. Every time we flushed the toilet, water would seep onto the floor, and ants were crawling on the toilet seat. The noise from the air conditioning and refrigerator was so loud that we couldn't get a good night's sleep. Of course, the hotel's cliffside restaurant was indeed beautiful, and the drinks were delicious – but as a hotel, if it can't even provide the most basic cleanliness, safety, and a good night's sleep, no matter how beautiful the scenery, it can't make up for it. In short, the photos are beautiful, the facilities are terrible, and the reality is a rip-off. Please choose wisely.

Very relaxing hotel service, predominantly white guests, and absolutely stunning views. Authentic Thai service, the sunset views are a must-see. Plus, they offer 1500 points daily, which is equivalent to 1500 Thai Baht.

What can I say about this magnificent hotel? Simply bravo! First, the location. It's on Yao Yai Island, with an entire hill belonging to this spa hotel. Buggies transport guests to their rooms around the hotel grounds. The area is lush and green, with plenty of birds, cicadas, and squirrels. Second, the restaurants. There are four of them. Breakfast is a buffet by the Infinity Pool. The selection of dishes is huge, including Indian, Thai, and European cuisine, plus a children's menu. Dinner in the evenings is served at other restaurants near the reception. The prices are pleasant, not sky-high. Everything is delicious and diverse. Third, the pools. There are two. One large one near the restaurant and reception, and the second, an infinity pool on the hill, offers simply amazing views. Besides that, there's massage and spa services, all befitting a hotel of this category. I must also mention the view from the balcony. It's something you simply have to see. A unique spectacle!

It's very quiet with many international guests, but not overly crowded. The views are undeniably stunning. However, the beach is quite average. Breakfast is decent, and dinner options are limited. My only real complaint is the check-out process, which was incredibly cumbersome and inefficient. It took a full 50 minutes to complete, which I hope they improve upon.