Herbal Resort & Spa

We stayed for 21 nights, and it was a fantastic experience. The food was delicious and varied, and the beach is about a kilometer from the hotel. They gave us a ride there in an electric car. Manager Nancy was wonderful at helping us choose a massage at their lovely spa. We had two rooms with kitchens on the third floor, and everything was great. The garden on the grounds was beautiful, and we loved walking through it each day on our way home. The view and jungle sounds were peaceful and calming. It's such a quiet place, a good fit if you're tired of noisy, crowded streets.

For $30 AUD, I had a 60-minute full-body massage and use of the sauna and jacuzzi. The pressure was just right, firm enough to be remedial but still relaxing. The spa was exceptionally clean and hygienic, and the staff were very friendly. They also served complimentary tea and snacks. I'll definitely return, thank you!

The resort is far from the main city, with no nearby attractions or beaches where you can swim. Customer service was poor, and they made a commitment they didn't keep. On my second night, I booked because the receptionist promised a free airport transfer. At checkout, she asked me to pay 250k for arranging it. Very unprofessional, and I strongly advise people not to book here. There are many better choices in Phu Quoc. In response to the resort's reply, their account is incorrect, so I believe staff are lying. Please reread my review. I was told the transfer would be free, not that it would cost 250k. We didn't request two transfers. They arranged one for my friend and charged 250k despite promising it free. I arranged my own ride with Grab, so that had nothing to do with the resort.

The pool was cloudy during our visit, apparently because its filtration wasn't working, though it was repaired the day before we left and the water became clear. Some shared walkways and other public areas looked nice but needed care and maintenance. The gym was barely usable, more like a scrap yard, with broken gear and rusty weights. The beach buggy wasn't running during our stay. First we were told it was broken, then that it wouldn't operate until the end of February because of Tet. We understand the holiday, but a full hotel with mostly international guests should keep the service going. Breakfast was okay, with a good egg station, but the processed meat and cheese were cheap cuts, and local hot dishes weren't always replenished. There was no bar or restaurant as advertised. The restaurant only served breakfast, and the bar was being used for building storage, so for a cold beer by the pool we had to go to the shop next door. This review is specifically about the Garden Villa accommodation, not the resort's other rooms. We booked six nights nine months in advance, hoping for a quiet rest by a pool after busy Vietnamese towns and cities. Staff welcomed us warmly and let us check in early. They were generally friendly and helpful. The bungalow looked pleasant at first, but its bathroom didn't match the one shown on booking.com when we reserved. It had a tub with a wall-mounted shower hose at waist height. The rest looked temporary, with a tin roof full of holes insects could fly through, and a view of scrubland without trees or bushes. We raised this at reception and showed our original booking, but were told the resort was full. They put us in a new suite, which was a bad experience, then moved us into the bungalow we'd booked the following day. Most bungalows sit among pleasant leafy areas, but the villas and resort still had problems. Cleaning was poor, with streaks, marks, sticky surfaces, threadbare towels, and a chair cushion showing signs of mold. Some sockets didn't work and were in odd places, and there was no toilet roll holder. It all felt tatty and not worth what we paid. The terrace chairs had no cushions, and the pool loungers had none either, just hard plastic or wood. We didn't feel comfortable, and the resort needs some work across most areas. This was an honest account of our stay, even though the resort gets many good reviews and clearly suits lots of guests. We've traveled a lot and stayed in similar places, and this one didn't quite meet the mark. There are other places in the area, so look around before booking the Herbal Spa Resort.