Sacred Jewel by GenuineHost

We only stayed one night and didn’t eat there, since we were meeting friends elsewhere. The place is very quiet, surrounded by nature, with birds and squirrels moving through the tall trees. Rooms on the reception level have hot and cold pools on the deck outside. The venue asks guests to sign waivers covering accidents or injuries on the grounds. I’m not sure how that would hold up legally, and lawyers usually want a lot of money to take something on. They also don’t allow outside food or drinks in the room, and there’s no alcohol served, as it’s presented as a healthy-living retreat.

The restaurant food was really good, and the cottages are lovely in the middle of the jungle. Ours did have a few things needing repair, including the shower. I also found the boundaries confusing: they didn’t clearly explain what was different between this hotel and the one next door, or which guests could use which areas. WhatsApp is a handy way to contact them, but replies can take a long time, and communication overall felt limited.

They seem perfectly willing to spy on guests, then call you a liar if you catch them doing it. The ethics are terrible, and this business should be ashamed of itself.

We were relieved when our two nights were finally over. The room was damp everywhere, even the mattress, pillows, and our clothes, and the mold smell hit as soon as we entered. Air freshener had been used to cover it, without much success. We asked to move but were told we couldn’t. For what it cost, it really wasn’t worth it. The staff were friendly and tried hard, though, and the service itself was good.