The Sarojin

Words are not enough to describe this hotel, the setting, the service, the food impeccable. So relaxing with staff who couldn’t do enough for you thanks to Ju, Jack, Peak, Wuth, to name a few. Would come back in a heartbeat and did not want to leave. The food around the hotel restaurants is first class we didn’t have a bad meal, & if you don’t like Thai food you’ll do just fine here as there is a good selection of international/western dishes. Tranquil and a fabulous start to our holiday. Thank you team Sarojin

We spent two weeks at Sarojin at the beginning of November 2023. The journey with the paid hotel transfer from Phuket Airport took about 90 minutes and offered every comfort, including WiFi and drinks. Our driver was friendly and helpful; we were given lots of information about the hotel and the surrounding area during the journey.

Check-in/room

The check-in with Khun Nee was extremely efficient and friendly. We were offered an upgrade and were able to view both rooms before deciding. Probably because it was low season, the price was negotiable and we ended up in a jacuzzi suite. These suites are located on the top floor of the buildings and have separate bedrooms and bathrooms from the living room. The room offered numerous amenities, but was also quite noisy, as we found out later.

Facility

The grounds of the boutique hotel were really beautiful and a real highlight. The open lobby with a view of the garden landscape with biotopes, fountains and streams emphasised the hotel's aspiration to blend in as naturally as possible with its surroundings. Even when the hotel was at full capacity, the limited number of rooms meant that only a few people were to be seen, giving you the feeling of being almost alone. The flora and fauna of the grounds were fascinating and there were numerous species to discover (see PDF on the hotel website).

Restaurants

There are two restaurants at Sarojin: the Edge on the beach and the Ficus in the garden area by the pool. At Ficus, you could order the included à la carte breakfast from 6.30 am until late afternoon, ideal for late risers and perfect for evenly distributing the guest load. The breakfast was generally excellent and the service (warm regards to Khun Mon) was first class. The chargeable lunches and dinners in the Michelin-certified restaurants were undoubtedly outstanding! Almost everything we tried, from lobster tagliatelle to fresh fish and fillet of beef, was very good - with a small deduction for the mushroom sauce with the fillet of beef and the spinach. Even the pizza was ok, especially if you find the rest of the selection boring after 14 days. Room and pool service were available at all times. The prices included a 10% tip in each case, and although they were very high from a local point of view, the quality was quite reasonable. Both restaurants regularly organised themed evenings such as the "Lobster Buffet" with live music at fix prices. Lovers of local cuisine found a wide selection of good quality Thai dishes in the Edge Restaurant. The cocktails were first-class and we, as wine lovers, also got our money's worth. Tip: The "IQ Restaurant" is just a 5-minute walk from the beach. There you could eat really well and very cheaply right on the beach until 9pm and enjoy drinks for 140 TBH to save money. One critical note: We never drank the supposedly freshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast at the Ficus, although this was offered. We felt that the orange juice we drank was not freshly squeezed.

Excursions/Experiences

10/10 points. I'll be brief here, otherwise I could write a book. The organisation was almost Swissly precise and the experience factor was unique. The "private dinner under the wedding tree" will stay with my fiancée (which she has been since that evening) and me for the rest of our lives. Here, too, we were looked after better by Khun Mon on site and by Khun Fon by email in advance than by many a 5* concierge in other luxury hotels. The excursion to Khao Sok National Park was just as impressive; we had a driver and a guide (!) who accompanied us the whole day.

Staff

The outstanding feature of the hotel was undoubtedly the staff. There was a real family atmosphere. The staff seemed very collegial with each other and spread joy, even when they were just walking around the complex with each other, be it on their way to work or back. Every member of staff always greeted us respectfully with the "Wei" and endeavoured to fulfil our wishes without appearing only superficially interested - a feeling that is rarely experienced in many other places and hotels around the world. Special praise for this goes to Khun Kane because the whole concept seemed to work extremely well. We were particularly impressed by the warm care of the staff when my fiancée had cycle-related stomach problems. From the specially cooked diet menu to the daily enquiries from several members of staff about how my fiancée was feeling and the clarifying call to the pharmacy for us; we really felt like real friends! We appreciated this more than any other luxury of the hotel! I have rarely had such an experience in dozens of luxury temples around the world as I did at the Sarojin. Respect!

Beach/Pool

There were always free places at the pool. It was very quiet and fresh water was always provided. The sunbeds were cushioned and were regularly provided with fresh towels. You could watch the chipmunks climbing and the atmosphere was very relaxing and quiet. The hotel's own beach area was privatised, which is rare in Thailand. Nevertheless, I consider it a weak point of the hotel. It was bordered on the right side by a small stream, which also marked the boundary to the next hotel or restaurant, and was completely open to the left. Mile-long walks were no problem. As a result, there was a lot of through traffic in the front rows of the Sarojin deckchairs, especially at early high tide. In contrast to the loungers by the pool, these were not cushioned, which made it rather uncomfortable to stay for long periods. Nevertheless, attentive staff ensured that guests were comfortable here too. In the morning, we noticed a very penetrating, almost unpleasant, high-pitched sound or buzzing, which disappeared again a bit later every day.

Conclusion

I could describe many more impressions, such as the hotel driver Khun Jak, who spontaneously asked us for a detour to a waterfall on the way to the airport. How marvellous is that, please!? After check-out, when the whole lobby crew waved goodbye to us, in this "saddest" moment of our whole holiday, and when we were already mentally preparing for the exhausting 13-hour flight back to Switzerland, Khun Jak unexpectedly gave us another, last great experience on the way back to the airport. Our mood lifted noticeably! An absolutely outstanding, first-class customer experience! If this hasn't been in the programme so far, you really should give the man a bonus for an excellent idea and make this a standart! To summarise, the Sarojin and its team in particular impressed us all round. Nothing is perfect, and although the price for Thailand is proud (even in the low season), it is definitely and without a doubt worth it. Anyone looking for cultivated peace and relaxation will find warmth, world-class hospitality and luxury at the Sarojin Resort, embedded in a paradisiacal natural setting with exquisite cuisine, while the "original" Thailand is only a few minutes away by bike. We'll be back, but then, we are three 😉 Please send this also to Khun Nee and Khun Mon with the best wishes from Switzerland!