Villa Occitana

This was an amazing find on our way back to Switzerland. We didn't expect it to be so beautiful, tucked into the heart of nature. The wooden rooms and villas were spacious and nicely decorated. The facilities and restaurant were the highlights for us. One night wasn't enough to enjoy everything they had to offer, so I hope we can come back.

The breakfast was amazing, and the food and drinks in general were really good and well priced. We also loved the view from the Sky bar. Villa Occitana has a really relaxing feel, a beautiful, clean pool, and our Cabane was spacious, with a private terrace that was lovely in the evenings. The room had a smart TV, great WiFi, a good-sized fridge, plenty of closet space, and air conditioning that wasn’t blowing on the bed. Thank you for that! The staff were great. We asked to swap the terrace chairs because they weren’t comfortable for sitting for long, and the team replaced them within an hour with a smile. The breakfast lady was fantastic too. It’s a brand new hotel, so a few finishing details were missing, like towel hooks, but I’m sure they’ll sort those quickly. The only slight downside to our private terrace was some traffic from Sky bar visitors being driven up from reception in golf carts. There was also a bit of a rush-hour queue on the main route to the bar, but neither issue spoiled our holiday. There are a lot of stairs and steep hills, so Villa Occitana may not suit people with walking difficulties. Staff are happy to drive guests up and down in golf carts, though. We had four wonderful days here and will definitely come back!

The staff were all very friendly, and when we asked to replace the two beach chairs on our cabana terrace with more comfortable ones, they sorted it out right away. The room was spacious, with two showers and quiet, effective air conditioning. We stayed for 10 days, though, and the limited closet space made it feel better suited to a stay of a day or two. The pool was pleasant and an okay size. On quiet days there were enough loungers, but on some days there wasn’t a bed available, and there wasn’t much shade. Poolside service could be better too. Staff could come by now and then to ask if people wanted drinks. A spa booklet in each room would also help guests see what’s available, and glass would be better than paper cups for the environment. The Skybar had nice cocktails and a tapas menu, but its popularity meant long waits for drinks to be made and brought over. I got the sense that the resort was still figuring out how best to run things. As a hotel guest, I didn’t always feel noticed. Twice, after a day out, we found no parking because of outside visitors to the Skybar. They seemed to get priority for golf cart rides too, while we had to walk up the hills each time. Some charging stations for guests’ cars could be a good addition in future.

The view is astonishing, and the atmosphere brought back memories of the time I spent living in Asia. The food has a clear Thai influence and tasted just as good as I remember. Lea, our waitress, and Arnaud, the owner, both deserve a special thanks. He took the time to talk with us about his project at Villa Occitana and life in Asia. The team was efficient, and the ambiance made the wait feel easy. We had a great time at the Skybar. If you want good food, welcoming service, and an Asian resort feel without the cost of a flight, this is a place to go.