Resort Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa

We had such a nice time on our honeymoon that I wished we’d booked more than two nights. The quiet, tucked-away location made for a relaxing break, even though it’s far from everything happening in koh pangan. Our room was lovely, and we really enjoyed the private pool. The grounds are huge and hot in the jungle, so getting around can be hard, but shuttles run 24/7. We enjoyed the pools, gym, spa, breakfast, views, and the activities we had time for. The staff were lovely. The fruit and vegetables at breakfast are in a standing fridge, which makes them a little awkward to get to, and there’s no cooled dining area. The gift shop was adorable. They also surprised me on my birthday morning with songs and cake at breakfast, which made our day. Would definitely recommend.

The shuttle is how you get around a lot of this resort, and there are plenty of hills, so keep that in mind. The 10% restaurant service fee is clearly shown on each item, but I’d rather see the prices raised and the extra fee removed. I usually treat a service fee as the tip and don’t tip again. We had a great stay and would recommend it. The staff were welcoming and the service was amazing, and breakfast was fantastic. Most things were better than I expected. One downside was the pool suite, which smelled strongly of mold or mildew after the candle heating the oil went out.

The staff were friendly and helpful, breakfast had everything we wanted, and the property was beautifully designed down to small details. We stayed in a spacious room with a private balcony and sea view. It was all in very good condition when we visited. The wooden buildings have a natural patina that suits the surroundings, despite some past guests mentioning wear and tear. We chose the hotel for its secluded Koh Phangan setting and the rooms and facilities. The steep grounds have frequent shuttle service, and you can walk along a well-lit beach path to the nearby village. Hotel dinners have plenty of options, though the village has cheaper food of equal quality. There are lots of trees and shade, so if you mainly want to lie in the sun and tan, expect to move around a bit. We had a wonderful stay.

The beaches here and nearby were among the nicest I’ve seen on the island, and the village close by was lovely to walk around. I might come back for the quiet and the beach, though the hot-water trouble and dated bathroom may send me elsewhere next time. I think four stars is generous, definitely not more. The staff were friendly, and breakfast was delicious. Lunch and dinner were okay, nothing more. Getting to this east side of the island took quite a drive, and the return trip cost a lot, so I didn’t explore the area much. The resort has a shuttle, which is helpful but takes away some spontaneity. Getting on and off it can be awkward, especially with bad knees. There are also lots of stairs and steep hills, and the humidity can make them tough if you’re not in shape, particularly with bad knees or poor cardio. My room was outdated, which I could live with, but there were old stains on the floor that looked like blood or spilled wine. The bathroom was off-putting and really needs renovation. The bath had stains that wouldn’t come off, and the shower looked very old. For two of my three days, the shower had no hot water. Maintenance came, then cleaners afterward, twice on consecutive days. It was a hassle to wait after a beach day, and it killed the mood. Why not fix the problem properly once it’s found? It was very annoying and left a bad taste, with no compensation or complimentary gesture.