Vela Villa - Cha-am

With 17-19 of us trying to find a villa that could fit everyone comfortably, Vela Villa ended up being a lucky find. It’s about a 2 1/2-hour drive from Bangkok, Thailand, which made getting there convenient. The owner was responsive from the beginning and handled our questions quickly. They also arranged a driver to collect us, bring us to a recommended lunch place they had reserved, and stop at a supermarket for drinks and snacks. That made the trip to the villa feel easy and stress-free. Once there, we had a fully equipped kitchen and a BBQ area. We did find ants in the kitchen, a small nuisance, but having those facilities was useful. The staff, including the chef and assistant, were punctual and attentive. The first meal was a bit salty, but they adjusted the flavors to suit us. They helped with extra supplies and the karaoke setup, kept in touch over WhatsApp, and cleaned up after us. Massage services were available too, though with only two masseuses there could be a wait. Water activities were offered for an extra cost, and it was convenient having them right outside. A team member’s birthday became a highlight. The staff helped us buy a cake, arranged a surprise celebration, and made the evening memorable, down to the sparkling candles and singing together. The villa was impeccably clean, and the spacious bathrooms were a nice surprise. Remember to bring a toothbrush, since one wasn’t provided. Prices seemed reasonable for the service and memories we got. My team can’t wait to come back for another stay. 🤣

We had a great space for our office get-together, with thoughtful attention to detail throughout the property. The only small snag was that my bungalow had no hot water.

It’s a nice, very private place, and could work well for a family vacation. The housewares could have been cleaner when we arrived. There was no staff member on standby for us, though they came back to clean in the morning. That setup may not work as well for a pool party.

We had a great view of Long beach, and the room was nice and clean. Service was great too, with staff coming in to clean three times a day. There were lots of mosquitoes, apparently from the nearby shop, which is the one small thing to improve.