Bhuvarin Resort

The pool water was wonderfully refreshing when I was there in November or early December. From the infinity pool you can look out over beautiful Bang Bao Bay, though the setting means there’s no sunset view and the forest and mountain keep the sun limited. That shade can be welcome when it’s really hot. A lovely change of pace from Koh Chang’s beaches.

We were ready to leave almost as soon as we arrived. We asked if we could cut our stay short, but there was no refund. The room was acceptable, though nothing else made up for the price: no proper beach, exhausting stairs to reach the rooms, and no hot water for the whole stay. We reported it, but it was never fixed, so every shower was cold. That’s unacceptable at this rate. The pool perched above the cliff was the one feature worth mentioning, but it’s a long way from the rooms. It’s open to the public, yet the remote, inconvenient location means hardly anyone comes, and the place felt lifeless. Getting there is a slog too: a long drive on winding, dangerous roads where taxi trucks speed and nearly hit motorbikes. Riding a motorbike there late at night seems especially unsafe. Taxis charge up to three times what they do at other hotels because this property sits far from the main routes, down a narrow, uncomfortable, very windy road. The roadside rubbish and debris made the drive depressing rather than scenic. There’s nothing luxurious about a place with this luxury price tag. It felt dead, boring, and frankly depressing. We eventually accepted a major financial loss and paid for a different hotel on a nice beach just to get out. Massively overpriced and a huge disappointment.

The restaurant serves good Thai and western food, with drinks at sensible prices, but it shuts at 9PM. If you want to party late, you’ll need to go elsewhere, or probably choose a different place to stay. We came for quiet and rest and got exactly that. It’s a little remote, which suited us, and the clean, spacious rooms were well equipped and serviced every day. A small dose of paradise for us. We’d go back in a heartbeat.

The pool area is lovely, with a marvelous view and good prices. I didn’t stay overnight, so I can’t comment on the rooms.