2 independent reviews for Thailand holiday resort in Chanthaburi

Anna Hughes Corden review 21 Feb 2010

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

We just adored this quiet and friendly resort and spa which was genuinely eco inspired and eco friendly. Our most memorable experience was going to the Phliu waterfall with a tour from the resort. We went on the nature walk which was great and after working up a sweat we were able to swim in the base of the beautiful waterfall with thousands of very friendly fish. We bought green beans and fed the fish which was lots of fun. We also really enjoyed a cookery lesson at the resort and had some first class massages. The resort also has a lake 5 minutes down the road with many fish some huge, some tiny and that was lovely to explore; you can kayak there too. I learned about various herbal remedies growing within the grounds and was generously offered a few having mentioned some ailments and these were almost magical in their effectiveness.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Don't expect a 5 star hotel; this wonderful resort should be appreciated for being very peaceful, homely and natural. Bring a Thai phrasebook as the locals don't see that many foreign tourists and so have limited English. We loved this element of our trip though and never really had a problem getting what we wanted. I would also take a stick when walking in the local area as there are lots of dogs around (although they are mostly friendly or indifferent). Hire the bikes and go exploring. We really enjoyed seeing the shrimp and rice farms in the area and the locals are incredibly friendly and waved at us as we cycled past.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

The resort is very eco friendly and almost all the produce was purchased locally, often to order depending on what you wanted. We saw locals coming to the resort selling various goods to the staff and this meant a lovely and varied diet was on offer depending on the season. The resort is one of the only places to holiday in the area which means that there are some foreign tourists here, rather than only the Thai tourists the area is used to, but because of the way the resort is run this is a benefit to the locals and does not have any negative impact that I can see. Hopefully the resort attracts the sort of people that want to treat the area with respect.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

We have had a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful time and have enjoyed exploring the local area and swimming in the pool. This was the perfect place for us to stay and we have been made really welcome, almost like a homestay but with our own bungalow and separate meals.