Exclusive Pool Villa by Intira Villas

Our group of 18, including four families, stayed at Intira Villas. Three families, mine included, had booked different versions of the villas under the same host. The smooth self-check-in and easy bond collection the following day made a good first impression, but things went badly after that. Given the high ratings, I had looked into guest feedback before booking. Our experience didn't match those glowing reviews, which I found misleading. On the second or third day, four boys under 7 from my family jumped into our villa's pool and immediately complained of intense burning, especially in sensitive areas. Their skin was red and swollen. I tested the water and found the acidity dangerously high. As a pool owner, I know the risks of swimming in badly balanced water. This was unacceptable from a management team running more than 20 properties. The children were uncomfortable for days, which had a real effect on our holiday. The host's response felt inadequate. The pool had to be drained and refilled, leaving it unusable for half their stay. The compensation was minimal and poorly handled, with little regard for the danger. We were also charged a lot for electricity connected to the pool filtration system, a problem I believe came from their negligence. It left me feeling the hosts showed very little care for their guests. The electricity bill was another major concern. I've been visiting Phuket for over ten years and had never paid more than 3,800 baht, typically at 7bht/kw. This time the bill was over 7,000 baht at 6bht/kw for less than two weeks, despite our limited use of the villa. The host was dismissive when we questioned the amount and didn't seem willing to discuss it. Their advertised guidance says normal use with AC on all night should cost 250bht a day, with another 200baht for normal use if AC runs all day and night. We didn't use that much electricity, so I believe we were overcharged. They sent a meter photo from eight hours before we checked in, but after dealing with the hosts I don't trust that it showed the correct reading. The villa was dated and fell short of what was advertised. The listing claimed indoor and outdoor pools, but there was no indoor pool. The security gate was left open all the time, and we didn't see any security staff. The entrance didn't feel welcoming. Cleaning was also poor: as far as I know, the linens were changed only once during our stay, and the villa was cleaned twice a week. Other private pool villas charge less and offer daily cleaning. The remote location was inconvenient, and the advertised distances to landmarks seemed inaccurate. Wi-Fi kept dropping, so we had to reconnect constantly. The showers had very little hot water, and running both at once made the water cold. We also had to put used toilet paper in bins beside us, and those were cleaned only twice in a week. Yuck. For the thousands we paid, the value was nowhere near adequate. I've rarely left a negative review, but our stay at Intira Villas points to serious service problems and worrying safety oversights. I hope this helps other guests find a better holiday experience.