Deva Beach Resort Samui

The food was a letdown throughout our stay, bland, badly prepared and overpriced. There were bugs and hair in the breakfast buffet, and getting a drink brought from the bar to the pool took 45 minutes, even with maybe five guests between the restaurant and pool. The pools were freezing, and the rough, sharp floor cut our feet. The beach was no better, with dark, murky water that looked dirty and wasn’t suitable for swimming. It didn’t feel like the tropical beach experience Koh Samui is known for. We also felt the hotel charged guests over small things. When we checked in early, we asked for pool towels and left them by the pool while we moved into our room. Later, the hotel tried to charge us per towel, as though we’d stolen them. Friends we met by the pool, who were traveling with a baby, were charged for a small bed sheet stain from baby food. That struck us as petty and unwelcoming. The place looked run-down and poorly maintained when we arrived before check-in. The online photos gave us a very different impression. We regretted booking and immediately tried to cancel, hoping to lose only the first night. The front desk staff seemed confused and unhelpful, and made no effort to resolve or escalate the matter. It felt as if no one knew what to do or cared. We’ve had few hotel stays as disappointing as Deva Beach Resort & Spa. The location also felt isolated, without the charm or beauty we expected in Thailand. Between the misleading photos, state of the property, policies and service, we wouldn’t consider this a luxury resort. We’d strongly discourage booking here. It was a waste of our time and money.

We liked the secluded, mostly quiet setting and the easy beach access, but at 600€ for four nights, we expected more. Planes were landing every 60-90 minutes, so keep the airport’s position in mind. In our room, the air conditioner caused a lot of condensation. We asked maintenance to check it, but they said everything was ‘okay’, which seemed odd. The room itself was okay. Restaurant service was the bigger disappointment. It was nearly empty, yet the waitress spent most of her time sitting behind the desk. We had to tell her our food had been sitting at the pass for ten minutes and was getting cold. Nobody checked how the meal was or noticed when our drinks were empty. It felt inefficient, like there wasn’t much interest in us as hotel guests. Some beach beds were faulty and stayed that way throughout our four-night visit.

The room was clean, and we appreciated how friendly the staff were. Still, the shared facilities weren’t worth paying extra for a more expensive room. The pool sunbeds were really dirty, and the gym was in similarly poor shape. The beach wasn’t especially nice either, though that isn’t the hotel’s fault. We chose the cheapest room category, but I expected more from a place calling itself a four-star resort and charging four-star prices at the restaurant and bar. The bathroom setup was inadequate: a tiny shower cabin, a sink right in the room, and a very small toilet cubicle inside it. I’m sure the pricier rooms are better equipped, but even the basic rooms should meet a minimum standard at a four-star resort. I’m glad we didn’t spend more on an upgraded room.

The gardens, waterfall and koi lake made for a beautiful setting, and we loved the infinity pool and other amenities while the ocean was full of sediment during our stay. The room, location and staff were all wonderful. Nu did her best to meet all our needs, and my husband thought the gym was quite amazing. The stain policy left me stressed. I understand the hotel’s point of view, but the way staff showed us the stains and discussed them was poor, and unlike anything we’d experienced at other stays. We were told we’d have to pay for new bedding if it got stained, so I kept towels over the linen. In the end, I was charged for a towel stain. Mixed feelings.