Amata Resort & Spa

The staff were attentive and friendly, and the pool was clean, about four feet deep. Rooms are spacious and the two-floor property seemed quite hygienic. The price is on the high side, but I felt it was worth it. There are discounts on rooms and massages during monsoon season. Parking is a little inconvenient since it's in a separate location, though you can ask to park in front of the hotel. There are restaurants across the road, and Light House cafe is about a five-minute drive to the far right.

The grounds and rooms were clean, and the bed and pillows were comfortable. Staff were friendly and attentive, although check-in itself felt inattentive. Breakfast was just okay. The advertised four-star rating feels inflated to me. The rooms are basic, with no indoor slippers or razors, broken power sockets that hadn't been fixed, very dim lighting, no gym, and few of the small amenities I'd expect at that rating. There was also no safety equipment for swimming, such as lifejackets or a buoy, and no lifeguard. The location is good, but boats for day tours are constantly out on the water in front of the beach. That's annoying and could be dangerous for children, especially with no lifeguard. The hotel should take that seriously.

The rooms are roomy and really nice, though there were lots of mosquitoes at night. They seem suited to couples, but don't give you much of a beach feeling. Some Cabana Cottage rooms have a bathtub, like 101, while others don't. Breakfast needs work compared with other resorts. I stayed three nights and got the same limited menu each day, mostly salad, tomatoes, cucumber and dressing. There was no meat curry or cereal. Some staff could also use better training.

The beachfront is clear and free of rocks, and the beach itself is beautiful. The hotel is clean and lovely, and the food is great, though service can be slow and the food staff need to pay more attention to customers. There are sometimes too many boats right in front of the hotel. I'd still go back.