Utopia Naiharn by Nara

The rooftop pool was the highlight, with great views and, since we visited in the off season, both loungers to ourselves. We wanted a simple place to lounge and relax, and that’s what we got. We didn’t run into the noise other reviewers mentioned. The facilities were in good shape, and most other guests kept to themselves. Staff were laid-back and hands-off, though the restaurant host was lovely each day. Our room was spotless, with daily cleaning and fresh towels and water. The area isn’t very walkable and doesn’t have much to do, so bring your own transport or be ready to call a Grab for restaurants and the beach.

I was booked for three nights and didn’t make it through even one. The bed in the main bedroom felt as hard as a board. The shower had almost no pressure and no hot water. The owner didn’t mention the 30k kw electricity allowance per 24 hours until after we’d been there for an hour, then sent a photo of the meter. It was 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside that day, and probably around 80 indoors. The location is manageable with a scooter, but not ideal.

The room was so dirty it even irritated my skin. The bathroom smelled awful, and the floor was still wet, like someone had just showered. They only cleaned the room after four days, and the sheets took about a week. I wondered how it had so many good Agoda reviews, because it didn’t seem to have been cleaned before we arrived. Check-in was three hours late. We couldn’t reach the booking contact through Agoda, and although they said they’d message us on WhatsApp the day before, nothing came, even after we got there. Replies on Agoda took about a day, and we had no phone number to call. We nearly cancelled. Never again.

For a luxury hotel that caters to tourists and expats, not having a regular TV, let alone a smart TV, is a joke. Even $30 rooms and island huts have smart TVs. It feels sad and backwards. The gym and corridors were a little unclean too.