Sakoo Valley Resort

The owner kept our money for a day we never stayed, saying she wouldn’t refund anyone or cancel the booking. I called her today and she was rude, telling me to get lost. Booking.com then charged us a 50% cancellation fee. We’d booked the place for two days, but the photos didn’t match what we found. There was sewage stench inside, a puddle in the shower because the drain wasn’t working, and dirty bed linen. The furniture was extremely old, nothing like the photos. There was damp smell and live mold on the walls, and the house clearly wasn’t maintained. Outside, a pool with green-yellow water was blooming, and a trash can sat opposite, right in front of the house. This place was terrible, and the area felt out of this world.

It feels like a little village, with a guarded entrance. Our beautiful villa had two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, dining room, and a small pool.

The grounds are beautiful, and it’s about a 15-minute drive to the beach. Still, we weren’t satisfied with our Booking.com stay. Nobody greeted us at the entrance, they just handed over the key. The air conditioner remote didn’t work, and the neighbors’ pump made a terrible noise in the morning. The toilet smelled strongly of sewage. I wouldn’t recommend a two-bedroom villa with only one toilet.

It’s close to the airport and makes a great base. The walk to the beach is short, and the beach itself is wide, sandy, and beautiful. I’d suggest renting a car or scooter, or using Uber or Grab. The villa has new furnishings, lovely spacious bedrooms, and fantastic beds. Each bedroom has its own bathroom, plus there’s another one, so that’s three bathrooms for four people. There’s a small private pool, and the staff were very helpful and easy to communicate with.