Sandalwood Villas

Stayed at Sandalwood with family and friends, and these are simply amazing villas.....unbeatable views, beautiful and spacious villa and top staff who are super helpful...6 stars. Food at the restaurant was also delicious. Great stay! Few reviews mention the steep hill, but this is actually a positive, as you get the stunning views and tranquillity. Plus there is on site transport to wherever you want to go, Thoroughly recommend.1

We really liked staying here- and ultimately I think it was the right choice for our stay. However, it’s really important to understand before your stay that this hotel is secluded and you are therefore reliant on the hotel for transport, and to an extent also food.

It’s definitely worth booking an infinity pool villa as this made it a special and unforgettable experience, if you don’t do this you might be better off staying down on the beach as the selling point of this hotel is the view and the private pools.

The transport up and down the hill and to other places gets expensive fast- we paid about 3000 baht extra just in shuttle costs into town. The cheapest way to deal with this is get the free shuttle to crystal bay beach and then hire a bike, but you might struggle to get the bike up the hill, so again you’re reliant on paying the hotel for transport which even at the beach costs you after 5pm.

The other issue is the food. You’re stuck with the restaurant there’s literally nowhere else to go. The Thai food was fine but expensive compared to everywhere else, the drinks weren’t great, but the problem for us was the breakfasts. They were unpleasant both thai and western options. Better to hold on and avoid eating there if you can, but as stated if you’re at the hotel it is the only option without paying for transport- there is nowhere else to eat.

The service however was lovely and friendly.

If you’re after a quiet escape then it’s worth it, and if you want to prioritise the pool and the view, otherwise you might be better off somewhere more central.