Aristo 2 Surin Beach by Chiwa Apartments

At 5 AM, a cockroach crawled across my friend’s face and mine while we were asleep. I sent a photo to receptionist Onnicha right away, but in the morning all she said was, “Oh okay.” There was no apology, concern, or follow-up. Saying this was the first time a cockroach had entered the room is absurd when we were there for just one night. The place looks promising, and I liked the location and ambience, but that one night came with several problems. We were charged 1,000 THB for cleaning and 100 THB for electricity, neither clearly disclosed when booking through travel sites. I was also handed a “temporary receipt” when I asked for proof of the cleaning charge. I’d spent most of the day out and only used the room to sleep, so the fee felt unjustified. I’d thought I might come back, but the service and professionalism didn’t match the price or expectations. With a cleaning charge that high, the room should at least be hygienic and pest-free.

The advertised 900 Baht rate doesn’t tell the whole story. After booking, they add a 1,000 Baht cleaning fee, and I only found out about the construction noise and dust, plus extra electricity charges, when cancelling was no longer an option. I wouldn’t choose this place if you’re looking for clear pricing and a quiet stay.

There was no help when I went back to the hotel asking for assistance, and they hadn’t even told me they’d found my passport. It was left in the room after cleaning, even though I’d already checked out. Staffing was limited. Two people were on duty in the morning; later, the security guard said he knew nothing about the hotel and was only there for security, so he couldn’t help with anything. They also only mentioned the extra energy and cleaning fees, on top of the reservation price, when I arrived to check in. Simply the worst hotel.

The apartment had nearly everything we needed, from a kitchenette and blender to a washing machine, air conditioning, and reliable internet. It felt more complete than other places we’ve found in Phuket, like a home away from home. We stayed in the compact 30 sqm unit. The sofa was the one small letdown, since it wasn’t very comfortable for two. Tatiana made a strong impression as a host. She was warm, attentive, and professional, and explained things carefully using the app’s translation tool. We felt welcome and at ease from the start. Thanks, Tatiana and Edward. The building has a pool, gym, and co-working space, and there are shops, massage places, restaurants, and lovely beaches within walking distance. It was quiet, with respectful neighbors, so it worked well for resting and remote work. We had a wonderful stay at Aristo 2 and would happily return after visiting the Phi Phi Islands. Sorry about the video quality.