Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge

The restaurant food was fine, and everything else went well beyond what I expected. The staff were welcoming and lovely. We could snorkel right from our cabin, and kayaks and snorkeling gear were free to use. Awesome place to stay.

I noticed the booking dates wouldn't work for my trip right after reserving, on the same day. The policy says I can cancel, but calls and emails have gone unanswered and I can't reach anyone. With no communication at all, I'm worried this might be a scam. Look elsewhere. It doesn't seem like a legitimate place.

At the owners' dockside house in Saigon Bay, sewage is pumped straight into the bay, despite their claims about “crystal clear waters” and “pristine nature.” Local complaints don't seem to matter to them. They appear to care about the environment only when it brings in money or helps their reputation. The owners should be embarrassed.

The sea life was the highlight for us. The water is pristine, and we saw more marine life around the hotel than on the tours we took. The owner knows the best sites and booking tours is easy. Getting to the mainland takes about 10 minutes by boat. There are free rides back through the day, especially a 10 pm return, and you can request other times for $10 per person. Service was very good for the most part. This isn't the place for modern, high tech rooms with AC or lots of outlets. There isn't much you can do with electronics or straighteners in the rooms. We booked through Chase Travel without problems, though that listing has limited details about in-room amenities.