I like the fact that you don't talk in your recording directly but record it in your studio/office, etc. So it will not disturb other passengers/guests.
your Phuket videos has been very useful to me lately! anyway I feel the north of Phuket island along the west coast (Mai Khao) is truly the best part of the island. safe and comfortable travels wherever you're at, Kevin!
The building the rooms are in, along with the actual room with frosted glass panel, gave me serious 1970's vibes!! That's what low-rise apartments looked like in that era here. The garden space is the standout feature, making this such such a gorgeous relaxing resort 👍
This has to be one of the nicest and soothing and calming review video I have ever watched (apropos since I'm feeling under the weather today). It does appear like the room is sort of a miss (kinda made me claustrophobic), the outdoor space was so tranquil, I could stay outside for hours. It's interesting that they use the word SALA which in Filipino means the living area/space/room of the house. One can definitely see the living area of the resort and I can see myself unwinding here. I do love the new graphic for hotel scoring, distinguishes it from your flight reports. Thank you for bringing us along on this wonderful resort and looking forward to your next ones.
Superb coverage and narration Kevin its mind blowing no you tubers would have covered like you truly unbiased cut about the REST after watching every one like to dash thats the impact 🌹🌹🌹
Thank you for not being a typical reviewer..you’re honest and your feedback is thoughtful..I like to watch your videos before booking with my travel agent..
I love the style of this channel. Stay anonymous as long as possible. I wonder if you'll do a Caribbean series. 🤞 I'd love to see your take on places like Martinique, Jamaica, Barbados and Anguilla. You may even find some interesting flights too. I think there maybe a few 5th freedom flights. BA Nassau to Grand Cayman for example.
I'll be filming in the Yucatan later this year and plan for some Caribbean islands at some point next year. Excited to go, but along with Hawaii, it is some super (suuuuper) pricey content to make lol
Very much appreciate the comment. The list of hotel brands that actively engage on RU-vid has always been a surprisingly short one (unlike Airlines, for example) but I think it speaks volumes about the quality of the hotel's media savvy. Very much look forward to my next SALA visit.
@@tfft we highly recommend either our sala khao yai, sala ayutthaya or sala bang pa-in boutique properties next - we are sure it will offer another unique side of Thai hospitality Thank you again
Haha, I have no time to watch now, but saw you posted it 10 seconds ago. I have never been first to the party, but wanted to indulge in that moment 🤗 I will watch with my hubby in two hours, can’t wait!!!! 😍
An awesome awesome resort indeed. The common areas are spectacular and the location, the beach, the lawn and the whole layout is so special. Too bad the room spoilt some of the excitement, though. The rate was quite decent per my understanding. I really like it, Thank you!
Super cool review, nice to look at. Good and accessible information. All to the point without further ado. I chose a hotel for a long time and after this report I finally decided to stay for 3 nights in it. Thank you))) I take a villa with a pool, although it is expensive. But I want to stay there
Good review as usual Kevin. And i particularly like it for being about 17 minutes and a half. I notice that many of your recent videos have been more than 20 minutes. While I appreciate the need to put up as much as you can especially if it is a very good property and the need to put context into your comments, I personally think that it can be a bit draggy and hence the need to push that forward button 😂. But I really enjoy your reviews though
This’ll sound strange, but I don’t control how long the video is haha. I mean, I’ll ensure it’s not an hour long but otherwise it’s just about what there is to show. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Hello Kevin, nice to see a new video from you! keep up the great work! I have a question however. I have been like 10-11 time to Phuket already and always was gravitated towards Laguna area. Laguna Phuket is a special place to my heart since it has special atmosphere (mix of sea and lakes - you know). So the question is - do you have plans reviewing some hotels in Laguna area (i know you have reviewed the Banyan Tree there, but there are more hotels there to review)
When I choose resorts to stay at in Phuket I don't put too much thought into the location since the island is small enough to be able to move around quite easily (unlike places like Bali, for example). So I can't say for sure any future reviews will come from Laguna, but it's certainly a possibility. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Looks good the space is what gets me I would enjoy that. I am in Osaka no first stop of 30 days then KL for 3 months. But so let down so far from the arrival to the bar being closed on a Saturday night, Michelin star restaurant has min 2 people, (was going to be my first Michelin try) tired old room, also nobody speaks english which I have never experienced before, bit of a shock really. Great video again , the room service meal looked great.
I know you've been there already, but next Thursday's video will really make you glad you're going to The Slate and not the next door neighbor property lol.
I fell in love with this place and I'm seriously considering going there in my next Thailand trip. Although the Double room looks really crammed up, their pool villas are really good (IMHO). One question, the color/material of bathtub and the shower base look very interesting. What were they like? Limestone probably? Great videos BTW. Like and subscribe coming up!
@tfft I did go here last week and got to say the villas are much much more spacious and well done. Luckily for me, the villas were recently renovated and I got a brand new villa to myself. The bathtub was probably the biggest I have ever been in. The cushions on the beach bar were indeed next-level comfortable. I was sitting there even after sunset while the mosquitoes were feasting on my feet. Thanks for these videos and helping me make the right decision 😄
Thanks for the unbiased review! We booked this hotel after seeing your review and looking forward to our stay! Just one question, when did you go and how come there's no one there?
You’ve taken over from Mr K as my goto knowledge database for my 5 star hotel trips! Good work! However could you possible include with your beach resorts if there is any restaurants/ entertainment close by? I think it could be a deciding factor for a lot of people who don’t always want to pay hotel food prices . Thank you .
Hello Kevin I recently found this account and have been watching your content and I love it. Would definitely love to see you do some resorts in kerala which is in india
Another great review, thanks! When applicable, it would be appreciated if you would include some feedback on the water quality (cleanliness, temperature, swimmability, etc) of resort pools/ocean.
Thanks for the feedback. For things like this (as well as other aspects like, linen quality, resort scent, shower quality... the real nit picky stuff) I tend to mention it when it is far above or below a reasonable standard (for the price of that hotel), otherwise the videos will feel like a data analysis haha. So in cases like this video, I think the beach cleanliness and 'structure' if you will comes off accurately on camera, so I allow it to speak on its own. In the case of that not being true, I'd be sure to mention it specifically. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Damn, it looks so beautiful now that all the construction is finished. Definitely going to need to plan a return visit. Last time I was there the pool in front of the restaurant was a hole in the ground lol.
It's a great pool! I love how it was designed to be behind the loungers- a very clever way to add another use for the bar/lounge area. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Nice review. This hotel looks like good value-for-money, and the food-offering would have sated unsophisticated me, but I think I'd be put off by the lack of lounger-access to the beach. P.S. Enjoying this series as my only experience of Thailand was a week in Khao Lak.
@@tfft I did a Tui package-holiday and was kinda filtered and Wikivoyaged onto the resort, after much deliberation. A good choice? Maybe not. My usual practise is to choose the resort first and plan/book excursions later. Here, that left me having to do far more minibusing around than I would have wanted. Will I go back to Thailand? Probably not. Malaysia will get a 4th and 5th gig, Singapore a 3rd, Taiwan a 1st, and so too Indonesia (Java, Bali and Lombok). So much to see!
Great videos! Which resort in phuket is best for a beach wedding ceremony and honeymoon?? Based on your travels which resort in Phuket has the nicest and most luxurious look/vibe and best beaches? Thanks in advance for your time!
My personal favorites are the COMO and the Naka Island Resort, but neither are great beach locations. If you'd like to discuss in detail I'm happy to do so on Patreon. Thanks for watching 🩴
I did four properties in total in Fiji- nothing over the top since I want to see how some big name resorts do first... but the prospect of doing a trip next year and island hopping around that region is near the top of my short list.
@@tfft The island resorts are paradise. Pristine beaches and water. I spent a week at Treasure Island a few years ago which was super casual and relaxing. I expect Castaway to be a step up in terms of accommodation and food offerings. Can’t wait.
Love your videos Kevin! My partner and I are planning to visit Phuket soon and we're interested in staying at one of the resorts at Mai Khao. As you have reviewed a number of resorts in that area such as Sala, Melia, and JW Marriott, I was wondering how you would rank them and recommend for a young couple like us?
They're at different price points so it's hard to say. But for a young couple, the JW is certainly the least modern of the three. Thanks for watching 🩴
Hey Kevin! Great video as always 😃. We are planning a trip to Koh Samui for five nights and are going to be staying at the Vana Belle, W Koh Samui, and Hyatt Regency. Planning on two nights each at the W and Vana Belle, and one at the Hyatt (in that order). Do you think this is a good itinerary or would you switch it up? Thanks!
I've not been to the W, but have always felt like it was way overpriced, perhaps just for the times I was searching. I'll just mention that you've selected resorts on the opposite sides of the design spectrum- you likely know it already, but just pointing it out. I also have four new resorts coming out about Samui soon. Anything more specific I would need to save for a conversation on Patreon (Explorer/Roamer level). Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft thanks for the reply! The main reason we're trying out the W is we have access to Marriott's explore rate, along with a member of our travel party being ambassador elite (quite the combo 😂). We also are really looking forward to the vana belle due to your glowing review! Excited to see your reviews of the resorts!
Love your videos. Question, if you had to choose between this resort, Sala Phuket Mao Khao and the JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, which would you choose? I watched both your videos and am torn. It's for 3 nights over xmas. Really wanted the Intercontinental Phuket after watching your video on that one but unfortunately they're sold out.
Вы умеете точно передать атмосферу курорта. Несуразный номер вам достался согласна. Но мне все равно понравилось. Но вы так показываете свое видео. Как будь то все происходит рядом со мной. Спасибо
Lovely property, but I have to agree with you that the rooms are a tad unfunctional. The curtains near the toilet...yuck! And although I appreciate it is a modern/minimalist property, I think it would have been nice if they could have used some traditional Thai features to remind you of where you are. But that just makes you want to be elsewhere on the property: be it the pools or the fantastic beach! Did you ever get an opportunity to visit one of the villas?
I didn't (one of the downsides of not telling a hotel why you're there...) but from the looks online they're very much the same style as my room, but the larger the villa (three categories I believe) the larger the actual bedroom. Also, didn't notice any toilet drapes in any of the villas haha. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Thanks for the video! The price is nice, but I just don't get any Asian vibe. When I go to Asia, I want to feel like I'm in Asia. This resort could be in the Caribbean.
I understand why most wouldn't get a typical Asian vibe from it, but it actually is a pretty good representation of modern Peranakan (Straits Chinese) design, especially in many of the smaller details. Phuket is one of the few places in Thailand where you'll see such influences as the island is pretty much the furtherst point north that was settled by them.
Good morning! I was wondering, how much do you estimate it costs do travel like you do for a year. I'm not asking about where to money comes from, but i think i would consider the accrued points (airlines, hotels, etc) to be used during the year. Just wondering what it would take for me to do that.
Haha that would be an impossible question to answer. Kind of like asking “how many rocks can fit in a cup?” Without defining the volume of the cup or size for the rocks. Far too many variables such as where you’re based, which points systems you have access to, etc. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
“How much to travel like you for a year” is not the same “how much did you spend on travel last year?”… you asked me about a theoretical estimation and I told you it can’t be answered, simple as- If you’d like to know how much I personally spent well then I refer you to my video descriptions where I always publish the price I pay.
@@tfft i litterally closed all hotels , from the 1th of september till 22th, and i'll tell you in the hotel order , please tell me if to change something : 1.the shore at katathani - phuket 2.U samui - Koh samui 3.eastin grand hotel phayathai - bangkok 4.wyndham grand phuket kalim bay - phuket and im also thinking about closing the last 2 days in Keemala phuket resort . which most of them has a private pool do you think i should get rid of the private pool just for the fact the weather is not worth it for ?
Two things. World runs on money. So u should specify what u paid in the video. Secondly we all ain't rich nor white( most people staying at hotels u stay r white and rich) so do show some budget hotels and while u travel first or business do show the economy seats because that's pretty much were we r seasted. Mostly if u r travelling say from Dubai to say non tourist destination u generally see white people sit at front(aka rich) some Asians then all people of local country sit at back. We ain't from Europe or America so frankly for us a vacation a year is gr8. Now we do try to save some cash and say buy something like a phone or jewellery so we don't splash on business class or high end hotels. It's for develop people to enjoy. (I write it so u can understand our mentality ). So do show some cheap options to keep us entertained. While the 1st citizens would flock to first class or 5 star hotel anyways.
@@tfft I saw that you went in February, and the dry season was December-March.I probably should have asked when is the best time of the year to go to enjoy the beach without too much humidity. Maybe that was already answered. 😂
