Koh Russey Resort

The food was terrible. The menu and wine list were limited and never changed. The cheapest champagne was $190, there was no decaf coffee or matcha, and breakfast was à la carte with lots of pork but no chicken, turkey, or fish. The fruit plate had only two pieces each of pineapple, watermelon, and pitaya. The villa itself was beautiful, with a pool, a well-kept garden, excellent cleaning, a pleasant sandy beach, and plenty of free drinking water. But the bathroom layout was awkward for three people, since the toilet and wardrobe had no partitions. Hot water also ran out quickly. Service was very weak. Staff seemed reluctant to respond, and most spoke little or no English. They were intrusive when it wasn’t needed and absent when it was. The boat only runs for check-in and checkout; at other times it costs $160. There wasn’t much to do beyond the free kayak, SUP, bodyboard, pétanque, and ping-pong. The hotel grounds are small, with few guests. The sea had so much plankton it irritated my skin. The gym was small and poorly equipped, internet was weak and often stopped working, and although bikes were provided, the only jungle path was overgrown and hard to use. There’s no store or lifeguard.

We had some trouble with our private pool, but the staff did their best to sort it out, and we’d still recommend staying here. Our pool villa had a beautiful view, and even though there are two hotels on the island, it felt like we had a private island to ourselves. The staff were kind and helpful throughout, and we could message them whenever we needed something. They did their best to accommodate our requests. The hotel offers boat trips, movies under the stars, and a spa, which was okay. We also saw hornbills and lots of other birds, big and small. It was clear the hotel takes good care of the wildlife in this protected area. A really lovely stay with an amazing view.

The room was comfortable, clean, and well maintained, and the setting was beautiful and convenient. Staff were excellent throughout, friendly, helpful, and professional. We found the activity options limited, and the activity guide could do more to engage with guests. Food choices were restricted too, especially since only one restaurant was open for dinner during our stay. I’d also strongly suggest management consider getting a golf cart, as the walk from the pier to the rooms can be difficult for older guests. Addressing those things would make an already pleasant stay even better.

Ezekiel made our birthday and anniversary trip feel like a real five-star stay. On the first day, the kids’ food was delayed, but he sorted it out right away. My husband and I wanted a massage together but didn’t know what to do with our two boys. Ezekiel quickly arranged for someone to watch them in the playroom so we could relax and celebrate our tenth anniversary. He checked on us and the other guests at breakfast and dinner, too. Special thanks to him. We were there last December with our two sons. It was my husband’s birthday as well as our tenth anniversary. The room was nicely designed, clean, and had a comfortable bed and private pool. The boys especially loved the rice cakes left during turndown service. There were lots of activities, but no one proactively approached guests. We always had to go to the lobby ourselves. The food was good, though the options were limited. There was no kids’ menu, and happy hour had only four cocktails to choose from. The hotel has a lot of potential. Management could improve service efficiency by hiring more staff and adding another kitchen at the beach shack. Even so, we had a wonderful birthday and anniversary stay.