Semakan
I have very mixed feelings about this hotel. 1. It is isolated from mainland and can only be reached on a boat (which has specific timings and if you don't time it, then you will be waiting for more than an hour at times). 2. The hotel itself has its private beach and the views are spectacular but the pool is pretty deep and is unusable by kids (the kids pool area is very small). 3. The rooms are great but if something were broken (light and drapes didn't work for us) and takes forever for them to send someone to fix. 4. Restaurants are good and the food and vibe are great.
2025.01.13
Our experience was similar to what others already noted as well. The location is beautiful. We met a bunch of friends here so overall we had a great time together. But the hotel has pretty glaring issues: rooms are very outdated, our toilet kept breaking and the room smelled, keys stopped working every day. I thought the staff was trying to be helpful, but they just weren’t. Spa was nice, food is ok at best. You could have a great time here, just expect a 3 star hotel experience- definitely nowhere close to a 5 star hotel. If refurbished it would be amazing.
2024.12.20
Fantastic resort in beautifullocation. We were two families with kids ages 8-10 and it was perfect. It's a good size resort, not too big and not too small. It didn't feel crowded at any point. Easy access to lots of excursions if you wanted to leave the resort for a few hours or the entire day. The staff is very friendly and service minded. The rooms are nice size and it worked fine to share two queen size beds for our family. The cleaning was not the best I've experienced and the property is in desperate need of maintenance as it can feel a bit neglected. The monkey trail to the beach on the other side is not bad if you're in reasonable shape. Our kids 8-10 climbed it easily and it didn't feel unsafe at any point.
2024.12.21
This is a 3 star hotel falsely advertised as a 5 star. Service was horrible, everything took longer than it should, from the moment we got to the pier to get on the speedboat to take us to Centara, through to the moment we departed at the pier.
Rooms are dilapidated. Dusty all over, dirty mirrors, old and not taken care of. Twenty years ago I’m sure it was nice, now it is in shambles.
Service was incredibly slow and largely inept. For example, after taking nearly 45 minutes just to check in, they “upgraded” us to a larger villa with no view that we didn’t like. When we asked to be placed in the room we booked it took over an hour making multiple calls (never to be called back) until they finally agreed to move us, then two hours for our luggage to get to the new room (and they don’t let you take it yourself).
Aircon rumbled throughout the stay, couldn’t get a quiet moment.
Club lounge was lacking, not worth it.
The food was actually pretty good. Breakfast is expansive and tasty. We had two dinners at the hotel and while very overpriced they were good.
It is in a beautiful location but being trapped there without options to leave except by boat, and subject to hiring a boat or relying on their always late shuttle, quickly detracted from the benefits of exclusive isolation.
Don’t waste your money at this dated and poorly serviced hotel.
2025.01.17
Although only accessible via the Monkey Trail or the hotel's complimentary shuttle boat service, the location and views are absolutely stunning. The surrounding mountains and the sea create a truly picturesque and serene atmosphere that feels like a hidden paradise. The staff has been exceptional throughout our stay, from check-in to check-out, making the experience even more enjoyable.
I want to give a special shout-out to Jomel and Zach at the Centara Club Lounge. From the moment we arrived, they welcomed us warmly and made us feel right at home. Their professionalism and genuine friendliness stood out. They were always ready to assist with any requests, offering great recommendations and personalized service—all with a cheerful smile. Their dedication truly elevated our stay and left a lasting impression.
2025.01.16