Whispering Palms Suite

We had a big room where the electricity, including the air conditioning, could stay on while we were out. That was a plus, and so was the helpful man in the orange top who carried our cases to the room. There’s also a small gym and a pool table. The view from the back balcony is attached to this review. On arrival, though, there was no clear sign showing where to go. Reception was by the pool, down a narrow corridor, and we had to drag four cases past the pool to check in. We were told cleaning cost 200 THB per night, payable even if the room wasn’t cleaned. It was very disappointing and set a negative tone from the start. Staff didn’t seem to know what was happening, and their English was so poor that I often wasn’t sure what was going on. We got no instructions about the gym or sauna, and no breakfast information. Breakfast was terrible: one cereal option, pineapple and watermelon, a hard-boiled egg, bread or toast, and coffee. It was served in the front room of an apartment. The pool area itself was okay, but the tiles just two steps away were very slippery. I fell and hurt myself while a cleaner walked past smiling as I lay on the floor. There was only one parasol for both pools and very few loungers. The main pool was okay, but the pool by reception had what looked like a broken waterfall and a water-jet sitting area that no longer worked. The place felt like a retirement home and was a 5-10 minute walk from the main road, where you could get a taxi. You could ask staff to order one, but they often just looked at you while trying to understand. The gym is small, but at least it’s there. Apart from the man in the orange top, staff didn’t seem very engaged with guests.

A very private and peaceful place, with pleasant surroundings. The rooms are spacious and fully equipped, the Wi-Fi is strong, and the staff are very helpful. There’s a fully equipped gym, two large pools, and a sauna. Highly recommended.

The place looks like paradise in the photos, with pools, palms, and an apparent sense of peace. Its charm might win you over during the first week, but living here full time is a different story. The lease is for at least a year, and the upfront payment is 60,000 THB: 20,000 in monthly rent plus two deposits. I don’t think it’s worth that, especially since the deposit isn’t returned for apartments No. 1/93 and 1/94. Their owner, Harvin, keeps it, which feels like a neatly calculated extra profit. There’s no privacy, with windows facing each other so neighbors can see what you’re doing. Walls and ceilings carry every sound, from conversations, calls, sneezes, and clinking dishes to music, even from the opposite building. If a smoker moves in next door, smoke from their balcony can hang around your apartment all day. The air conditioners are another problem: old and worn out, and as loud as a jet taking off. Noise travels across the courtyard, and if neighbors on both sides switch theirs on, sleepless nights are guaranteed. Almost everything seems to be falling apart, including the furniture, appliances, and fixtures. Many things are old, worn, or barely work, making the whole place feel like it hasn’t been maintained properly for years. And nearly every day, just beyond the fence, someone burns trash outdoors. Black, acrid smoke from burning rubber gets into the apartment and clings to clothes, furniture, and everything else. Maybe it’s okay for a holiday, but I’d never live here. It feels like a trap for people taken in by the glossy photos, not an oasis of peace.

The value is great, especially if you have a car or scooter and want to visit more than one beach. The three big shopping malls are close by, and you can get everything you need to cook at home.