Sandbox Beachfront Villa 1 (3BR-Max14 guests)

The location is excellent, and the housekeepers were lovely and helpful. It's a shame the problems at Sandbox 6 weren't addressed, because we can't recommend staying there unless they are properly fixed. We first found this accommodation on Airbnb and had a good experience. We were a group of eight still looking for somewhere to stay, so we called the host directly to check availability. On Sunday night we stayed at Sandbox 2. It was beautiful, spacious, clean, and had an amazing sea view. We liked it so much that we booked for a full week. Since other guests had already reserved Sandbox 2, the host offered Sandbox 6 instead. We accepted, expecting similar quality and upkeep. We moved into Sandbox 6 on Wednesday morning. It was much smaller, but that wasn't a major issue since we were four adults and a two-year-old. The serious problem was upstairs, where there was a strong damp or water-pipe smell. Several rooms showed obvious signs of past water damage, and the floors had been wet and seemed possibly still wet. Photos would show it clearly. Carpets appeared to cover the floors, perhaps hiding the damage, and the floor underneath seemed like it could be rotten and moldy, which may explain the awful smell. Proper ventilation wasn't possible unless we left doors or windows open all the time. We had paid for the whole week in advance, so we called the host with our concerns and hoped to work something out. We were told to keep the windows open and offered a discount of 1,000 baht per night. Worried about possible health risks, especially for the young child, we asked for a refund for the remaining nights so we could find somewhere safer. That was refused. There was no real solution or flexibility from the host, despite the serious maintenance concerns and potential health risks.

At sunset, the view over the sea was absolutely stunning. The place was tidy and clean, looked just like the photos, and had all the basics we needed. The bedroom and bathroom were both cozy and clean.

My family and I stayed for two nights at Sanbox 2 during our trip, and everything was excellent. The bedrooms were spacious, we had a good sea view, and there was a large dining room with a nice kitchen. A maid was there to help 24 hours a day.

The villa group has a range of styles and layouts. I especially like the Muji style villa with four bedrooms, each fitting at least two people and up to four or five. It has a rooftop jacuzzi with colored pool lights, a party table, and a restroom, plus a garden with a table and BBQ grill. There's a hydraulic lift and parking for two cars. The design and materials are efficient and cozy in that Muji style. Shared areas are on the first and second floors, with the kitchen on the second and bedrooms across the third and fourth. The kitchen has all sorts of utensils and party gear, including a screw cork, nutcracker, bottle opener, and pan. There are four bedrooms, with a shared bathroom on the third floor and a private shower room in the fourth room. Wardrobe hangers, towels, toilet paper, a hairdryer, shampoo, body wash, and hand soap are provided.