5/5 Bruce H. 3 months ago on Google New
After
an
initial
hiccup
the
end
result
was
a
very
comfortable
and
enjoyable
stay.
We
initially
booked
one
of
their
modern
Grand
Reserve
Pool
Villa,
but
close
to
the
arrival
date
we
received
several
offers
including
for
a
room
upgrade
to
a
“Grand
Deluxe
Pool
Villa”
for
a
small
premium
per
night
per
night.
We
asked
about
differences
-
told
it
was
more
traditional
but
much
bigger
285m2
vs
215m2
with
a
bigger
pool
and
extra
lounge
area
outside
but
still
a
king
bed.
When
we
arrived
all
seemed
well
and
enjoyed
a
swim
in
the
large
pool.
At
the
end
of
the
evening
we
sat
on
the
bed
-
to
find
it
was
rock
hard
like
nothing
I’d
felt
before,
not
just
firm
but
actually
solid.
Tried
to
get
used
to
it,
as
we
had
a
firm
bed
at
home,
but
it
felt
like
sleeping
on
the
floor.
The
next
morning
I
talked
to
the
manager
and
she
apologized
and
immediately
arranged
for
us
to
check
out
the
original
Grand
Reserve
Pool
Villa.
The
bed
there
was
normal,
firm
but
very
comfortable
-
so
she
arranged
an
immediate
transfer
for
us
there
and
refund
of
the
upgrade
price.
It
is
night
and
day.
The
Grand
Reserve
Villas
are
the
future
of
Santiburi
-
lovely
spacious
modern
design,
great
lighting,
large
private
pool
with
waterfall
feature,
loungers
with
huge
canopy,
much
quieter
area
than
60x
numbered
traditional
villas
(which
are
also
near
the
kids
activity
center),
very
comfortable
living
rooms
with
a
very
large
flat
screen
TV
with
high
quality
picture
(unusual
in
a
resort
or
hotel)
and
Yamaha
soundbar.
There
is
also
a
large
TV
in
the
bedroom.
There
is
an
HDMI
socket
in
the
wall
to
plug
in
your
iPad
or
computer,
and
you
can
also
connect
to
the
soundbar
via
Bluetooth
to
enjoy
great
sound
quality
too.
The
other
highlight
was
breakfast.
Lovely
breakfast
area
with
terrific
food.
They
don’t
ask
your
room
number,
everything
for
breakfast
is
included
and
top
notch.
The
on
site
Thai
restaurant
Sala
Thai
was
superb
-
both
the
food
and
the
genuinely
friendly
and
professional
service.
The
spa
is
also
excellent
-
beautiful
inside
-
I
recommend
the
Posture
90
minute
for
guys
with
lower
back
problems.
The
Beach
House
offers
great
service
and
good
food
(Thai
but
also
great
burgers)
and
cocktails
(good
Martini)
with
options
to
sit
at
a
table
in
the
sand,
or
under
a
modern
canopy
for
more
shade.
Areas
for
improvement
would
be
to
move
the
gym
building
to
a
much
more
central
location
-
it’s
really
a
bit
of
a
hike
under
the
sun
to
get
there.
Also
the
beach
furniture
could
be
a
lot
nicer
and
grander.
There
are
plenty
of
standard
sunbeds,
but
only
a
larger
loungers
they
group
very
close
together
in
one
area
(unnecesssrily
since
there
were
areas
of
beach
not
used
-
maybe
more
convenient
for
the
staff)
and
they
only
have
one
curtained
bed
which
you
have
to
rent
for
a
whole
day
together
with
a
large
set
amount
of
alcohol
and
non-alcoholic
drinks.
That
is
not
an
optimized
way
to
run
a
5
star
beach
area
-
I’d
suggest
they
take
a
look
at
Belmond
Naphasai
Koh
Samui
nearby
to
see
a
great
beach
experience
with
a
long
row
of
curtained
beach
loungers
which
are
free
to
reserve,
with
waiter
service.
I’d
suggest
they
bulldoze
the
older
60x
numbered
large
villas
and
build
more
in
the
style
of
the
Grand
Reserve
villas
-
so
so
much
nicer,
it
really
is
their
differentiator
(while
Belmond
Naphasai
do
their
beach
area
better,
they
should
look
at
Santiburi
Reserve
lodgings,
since
Belmond’s
sea
view
lodgings
are
not
aging
well
at
all).
Then
it
would
all
be
perfect.
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